The Commission’s proposal for the Services Directive needs to be rejected and EPSU will be present to underline this at the Euro manifestation in Strasbourg 14 February. The EPSU Deputy General Secretary called on delegates of the Congress of FILCEM to resist the run-away neo-liberal policies. FILCEM General Secretary Alberto Morseli, ex FNLE General Secretary Giacomo Berni and others of the union will be present at the demonstration.

The EPSU Deputy General Secretary further addressed the failing internal market for gas and electricity and the many problems it causes. Europe needs a European Energy Policy that meets the many challenges such as dependence, depletion and climate change. To achieve this, we will have to cooperate, not compete. The focus is to be on creating jobs, ensuring investment, and bring Europe on a path towards sustainable development. And this policy needs to be democratic and involve workers and citizens and not be decided in the backrooms of governments and boardrooms of companies. Public services are worth defending. The EPSU call for action for world water day, 22 March is part of that struggle.

It was the first congress of the new union FILCEM, of which EPSU affiliate FNLE will now be part. EPSU wishes the new union success in its struggle to defend public services.

To read the speech (Italian)

Speech FILCEM IT