Services Directive EP vote means focus is now on public services
Press Communication: Brussels Immediate release, 17 February 2006
“Significant progress but the focus is now on definitively excluding public services from the scope of the directive” This was the opinion of EPSU General Secretary Carola Fischbach-Pyttel on the vote on the Services Directive in the European Parliament today.
Questions remain as to how the water, waste and energy sectors will be affected by the directive. Of particular concern is how the ‘right of establishment’ will influence Member State capacity to define, deliver, manage and fund these sectors.
The Education sector remains a key concern.
Clarification is needed that ALL social services are excluded from the scope.
“Thanks to considerable pressure by EPSU, the issue of Services of General Interest was central to the debate. We must ensure that this political recognition of the fundamental role of public services in the European Social Model is not temporary. The momentum must be converted into genuine political action”, she stated.
Specifically EPSU will be requesting:
That the European Commission takes this signal from the European Parliament and outlines an inclusive definition of social services in it’s Communication on social services of general interest on 20 April
That the European Parliament itself recognises that as a balance to the services directive a legal framework on Services of General Interest must be the next focus.
EPSU will be working closely with the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) to ensure the political pressure applied in reducing the dangers of this proposal are now channelled into a positive definition of public services at the European level. Yesterday’s vote in the European Parliament on the Services directive has gone some way in allaying the fears of European workers. Significant dilution of what was originally a radical European Commission proposal has been achieved. The focus is now to ensure that EVERYONE in the EU has access to good quality Public services.
Summary
labour law is excluded, and in particular issues linked to the posting of workers;
sensitive sectors such as temporary work agencies and private security services are excluded;
fundamental rights to collective bargaining and action are respected;
the country of origin principle has been abolished, which should enable Member States to exercise better supervision and apply rules to protect the public interest.
EPSU thanks all affiliates who mobilised for the 14 February demonstration in Strasbourg: Public Services - Europe’s Strength!
For information please contact Brian Synnott +32 474 98 96 75 or send an email to bsynnott@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
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