"UK MEP says Balkan energy policy should have no social obligations or requirement"
Press Communication
(25 October 2005) In a confrontational reply to the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) UK MEP Giles Chichester (EPP, Con) and Chair of the Energy Committee in the European Parliament stated that social obligations and requirements only serve to shackle business, even in fragile regions such as the Balkans. EPSU had early condemned the signing of the South East European Energy Treaty as irresponsible, as there was no social dimension included. For the original press release
In a direct reply to the EPSU condemnations on the lack of social provisos in the treaty, the chair of the EP Energy Committee stated that "It is difficult to ensure a competitive and successful sector, if the legislators shackle businesses to additional social obligations/requirements". No reference or consideration was given by Mr. Chicester of the specific requirements of the Balkan region and the need to establish strong Services of General Interest with solid foundations.
EPSU Deputy General Secretary Jan Willem Goudriaan stated that "this illustrates the complete lack of understanding of the requirements for stable societies". He added that "For Mr. Chichester to state that no social obligations are required even in an area such as the Balkans, where societal cohesion is still extremely fragile, is but another example of a slavish disciple of the free-market showing extreme insensitivity. What makes this even more worrying is that he is speaking not as a voice on the sidelines but as someone who is the Chair of the Energy Committee" .
Read THE ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE
Read the statistics on the internal market, the evaluation, employment figures and EPSU’s position
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For information please contact Jan Willem Goudriaan, + 32 2 2501080 or send an email to epsu@epsu.org
EPSU is the European Federation of Public Service Unions. It is the largest federation of the ETUC. 8 million public service workers and their 213 trade unions are members. They organise workers in health and social services, local and national administration, energy, water, waste.
In the energy sector EPSU organises in electricity and gas, in production, transmission, distribution, retail and auxiliary services. Our members work in power plants using all fuels such as nuclear, hydro, coal, renewables, gas and wind. Our employers are small and large public (state and municipal) and private companies.
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