(12 September 2006) The EPSU campaign for Quality Public Services was one of the main themes addressed by the leadership of the Finnish public service unions, celebrating the 10th anniversary of their cooperation FIPSU. FIPSU was created to assist the unions to react to the demands of EU membership of Finland. It also demonstrated great foresight of what was to come, the impact of the EU on public services. The 9 unions representing more then ½ million public service workers were addressed by EPSU Vice-president Tuire Santamaki-Vuori, JHL, Finland. She argued that citizens and workers are losing faith in the EU and the Commission when they do not promote a Social Europe and when they continue to attack public services. “The European Commission fails to recognise that a welfare state with quality public services, regulated labour markets and strong trade unions is key to our world class competitiveness”.

EPSU Deputy General Secretary congratulated FIPSU and thanked them for their contribution to the work of EPSU. He focused on the crucial months to come for public services with key votes in the European Parliamentand the aim of the Finnish Presidency to agree a statement on public services. “Our campaign for a legal framework on public services is to ensure the EU is more then the internal market and competition policy. Our campaign is about core values and European citizenship”