President Prodi shares trade union concerns on future of public services in the EU (5 April 2004)
“ The longer we wait for positive concrete action on Services of General Interest (SGI), the harder it becomes to demonstrate that workers’ rights and public services remain part of the EU equation. Otherwise, all that will be left is growing citizens’ disenchantment with the EU.” This was the key message an ETUC-headed delegation also composed of its service federations, EPSU, UNI-Europa, ETF and ETUCE, conveyed to the President of the Commission, Romano Prodi, at a meeting on 31 March in Brussels.
The ETUC pressed President Prodi to take action on a regulatory framework on SGI, in line with Parliament’s request of last January. Enlargement and pending internal market proposals make the need for a legal counterweight to market forces all the more pressing. Competition rules must be brought into line with the general interest while an evaluation of ongoing liberalisation process must be carried out based on quality service, employment and social criteria.
Press release 5 April 2004Press release 5 April 2004 - Italian version
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