Newsletter June 2006

General Secretary views - June 2006 This month, the issue of public services as defined by the European union has moved to the top of the agenda. The term used in Brussels to describe public services is ‘services of general interest (SGI)’. The significance of this term has grown in the aftermath of the Services (Bolkestein) directive debate. EPSU has been fighting a long battle to have public services fully respected in the EU, particularly by the European Commission and Council. This is why we launched, in April, our ‘Quality public service - quality of life’ campaign. EPSU has committed considerable resources over the next 18 months to highlighting the need for a framework directive on services of general interest. In designing this campaign, we have recognised that the route to success is through you - our affiliates. >>Read more

Failure of Employment Council to reach Working Time deal further highlights validity of European Parliament Position

Press communication
(2 June, Brussels) The failure of the Employment Council to reach a settlement on the working time directive yesterday, (1 June) is further illustration that Employment Ministers continue to avoid political reality on the issue, and continue to ignore the clear demands of the representatives of EU workers and citizens. The Austrian Presidency was unable to break the deadlock despite last minute manoeuvrings. "After 12 hours of debate yesterday, the Ministers were still (...)

National Administration social partners make progress on EU level dialogue

Press Communication
EU Directors’ General of EU Member States’ civil service and EPSU-led trade union delegation -TUNED- sign statement on workers’ mobility, 29 May 2006, Vienna
(2 June, Brussels) As part of the ongoing efforts to improve the social dialogue in national and European administrations, the EPSU-led trade union delegation and directors general for Public administration agreed a statement on mobility of public sector workers. This statement marks the second occasion an accord (...)

Pensions debate focuses on portability, equality and socially responsible investment

The portability of individual pension rights was one of the main debates with Henri Lourdelle of the ETUC explaining the implications the current draft directive on portability. While EPSU supports measures to improve the portability of pension rights across Europe there was a feeling that the directive didn’t go far enough in improving individual rights. Delegates also revealed some concern that the directive might compromise their collective agreements in this area. EPSU will be (...)

EPSU to look to European Parliament to resolve Council Services Directive contradictions

Press communication

(31 May, Brussels) In the light of the Council of Ministers vote on the services directive on 29 May, EPSU will be pushing hard for the European Parliament to resolve many of the outstanding problems when it returns for second reading in September. “The Services Directive still contains many problems for Europe’s public service workers, and in the context of the wider EU legislative agenda, there are some flat-out contradictions contained in the text,” said EPSU General Secretary, Carola Fischbach-Pyttel.

Campaign for Public Services Directive takes off in European Parliament

(Brussels, 31 May) The campaign for public services saw growing momentum build in the European Parliament (EP). On 30 May, both the Party of European Socialists (PES) and the Green Party/EFA launched initiatives calling for a framework directive on Services of General Interest. In addition the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee of the European Parliament debated the draft EP response to the Commission White Paper on Services of General Interest.