EPSU

The Services in the internal market directive1 - next steps

epsuadmin — 2007-08-31T13:41:01Z

The Services in the internal market directive1 - next steps
EPSU briefing note (as discussed by NCC meeting 18 April 2007)

On 15 November, 2006 the European Parliament voted in favour of the Services directive and agreement, ending almost three years of debate and political manoeuvring. The directive aims to facilitate the provision of cross-border services by removing obstacles to the free movement of services in the internal market.

Full text in English, French, German, Spanish and Swedish:


Services note - EN


Services note - FR


Services note - DE


Services note - ES


Services note - SV

EP yes vote for Services Directive increases need for balancing Commission proposal on Public Services

2006-11-15T10:52:36Z

EP yes vote for Services Directive increases need for balancing Commission proposal on Public Services "The Commission has no excuse now to keep stalling"

Press Communication Immediate release, 15 November 2006

(15 November, 2006, Strasbourg) The Services Directive vote, which took place in the European Parliament today, marks the end of almost three years of debate and political manoeuvring. "It is now high-time for the European Union, and the European Commission in particular, to give equal weight and consideration to building a modern social Europe", said European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) General Secretary Carola Fischbach-Pyttel. "The European project must now re-engage with citizens through a genuine debate on a concrete legal text for public services in the EU," she continued. "Today's vote in the European Parliament on the services directive should mark a line in the sand."

During the three years that encompassed the services debate, the EU has seen a drift in enthusiasm and a sense of disengagement from citizens. The focus on the single market and the original attempts of the Commission to include public services such as health and a wide definition of social services; has alienated many citizens who now question the EU focus. "Even in today's debate there were unanswered questions. The Commission, in its clarifying statement, missed a golden opportunity to state that it will now give genuine consideration to the promotion of high quality public services. It really cannot keep stalling ".

The 2nd reading in Parliament was little more than a formality, with the European Peoples Party (EPP) having already given up its right to table amendments at committee stage. Key questions on Labour law, Criminal Law and particularly Social Services were addressed in a "clarifying statement" by the Commissioner for the Internal Market Mr. Charlie McCreevy. EPSU believes that the pledges within this statement will need to be monitored very closely. It is questionable whether they have any legal weight and indeed if they will apply to the following College of Commissioners. On the issue of social services there is still much confusion. The Commission has launched a consultation to define what is meant by "social services" but at the same time, with EPP support, it tries to include some social services under the scope of this directive. This confusion and contradiction means that a sector that the Commission has yet to define could be included in this key EU legislation.

EPSU is currently conducting a campaign for quality public services - quality of life. Further information is available at http://www.epsu.org/r/271

"EPSU is the European Federation of Public Service Unions. It is the largest federation of the ETUC and comprises 8 million public service workers from over 200 Public Service Unions in 36 countries. We organise workers in health and social services, local and national administration, energy, water and waste. We are the recognised European social partner organisation in each of these sectors. EPSU is committed to building a European Union that promotes democratically accountable public services of the highest quality, within and beyond its borders. For more information on EPSU and our work please go to: www.epsu.org"

Services Directive Committee vote strengthens Unions' resolve for November plenary vote

catherine — 2006-10-23T22:00:00Z

Press Communication: Brussels Immediate release, 24 October, 2006 supporting document: ETUC letter sent top EP IMCO committee

Services Directive Committee vote strengthens Unions' resolve for November plenary vote

"We are committed to getting a fair result for the users of social services" says Union leader

(24 October, Brussels) The result in the Internal Market Committee of the European Parliament yesterday has "strengthened the resolve" of the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) to get a fair result for public service users on the services directive. Speaking to affiliates yesterday, Carola Fischbach-Pyttel, EPSU General Secretary, stated that; "We will make sure, on Social Services, that there is an unequivocal exclusion from the scope of the directive". She added that; "We are fully confident that we will find sufficient allies in Parliament for this, simply because the European Parliament has acknowledged that we have yet to properly define social services at EU level. A process to define social services, to which all political groups have signed up is underway at EU level and should not be short-circuited by the Services Directive".

The European Parliament committee for the internal market (IMCO) has chosen to concede on the three following issues, which the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) had called for:
The necessity of a reference in the directive text to the charter of fundamental rights
The clear exclusion of labour law from the scope of the directive.
The clear exclusion of all social services from the scope of the directive

Ms Fischbach-Pyttel stated that: "it is up to those directly affected, like EPSU as providers, and social service NGO's as facilitators and user groups, to stand up for those at risk from this decision, and to say that yesterday's vote is a compromise too far".

Commission 'clarifying text' irrelevant on social services

The IMCO committee has stated that a clarifying text from the European Commission on these key issues will be sought and that this text will influence whether or not amendments are re-tabled for the plenary session (scheduled for 14-15 November). However it is clear to EPSU that whatever form of wording the Commission produces it will simply have no bearing on the status of social services; "Social Services must be excluded from the text until properly defined", concluded Ms. Fischbach-Pyttel.

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 and comprises 8 million public service workers from over 200 Public Service Unions in 36 countries. We organise workers in health and social services, local and national administration, energy, water and waste. We are the recognised European social partner organisation in each of these sectors. EPSU is committed to building a European Union that promotes democratically accountable public services of the highest quality, within and beyond it's borders. For more information on EPSU and our work please go to: www.epsu.org"

Brian Synnott Communication and Campaigns Officer European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) Tel: +32 2 250 10 89 Tel gsm: +32 474 98 96 75 e-mail: bsynnott@epsu.org website: www.epsu.org

Consultation on the future of the Internal Market - Europe's focus should shift towards social priorities

catherine — 2006-05-31T22:00:00Z

EPSU's response to the open consultation by the European Commission on the future of the Internal Market calls for the EU to reorientate it policies towards the central objectives of sustainable development, equality, and social and economic cohesion. The Internal Market should be evaluated and judged against its contribution to these objectives, not the other way round.

EPSU recalls that solidarity, which is embedded in public services, is necessary for societies to function. Europe needs a positive EU law to anchor public service objectives such as just and fair pricing, universality, and continuity of service firmly in the EU's legal architecture. The Internal Market's insistence in seeing such objectives as obstacles to the quest for "dynamic markets in which firms can enter and exit more easily" and are only subject to "voluntary" standards, is in direct opposition to these objectives.

Furthermore, Europe is now confronted with problems, for example the need to conserve and reduce energy consumption, that cannot be solved - and indeed will be made worse - by the Internal Market's single-focus on ever-increasing cross-border trade and goods and services.

The open consultation is a first, but insufficient step, towards a broad evaluation of the Internal Market's policies to date and to a structured dialogue with all actors on its future reorientation towards the wider goals of Europe.

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

catherine — 2006-05-31T14:39:15Z

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.

The three main problems for EPSU are the following:

Services of General Interest (SGI/SGEI), including social services are still covered by the directive.
The sections on labour law have excluded any reference to the EU charter of fundamental rights.
The possibility for Member States to maintain necessary requirements is further curtailed.

The contradictions embodied in the services text include the fact that social services of general interest are currently part of an EU debate specifically designed to define their characteristics. The Council has almost willfully ignored this process by including social services within the scope of the directive. Similarly the debate clarifying services of general interest is ongoing and such a core debate on ensuring quality public services in the EU, should be given time.

Ms. Fishbach-Pyttel added that; “it is particularly frustrating that despite the declared commitment of the Council to the ‘spirit of the EU constitutional treaty' there is no recognition of the charter of fundamental rights, nor of the right for member states to designate their services of general interest. It is as if the Council is operating in a parallel world where promises to reconnect to EU citizens by protecting public services does not have to matched with any action”.

EPSU will coordinate with the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) to ensure that the European Parliament's second reading strongly endorses; reference to the Charter; exclusion of SGI/SGEI; and a reasonable authorisation regime based on clear criteria.

- End -

For more information please contact EPSU Communications Officer Brian Synnott, bsynnott@epsu.org, gsm +32 474 98 96 75

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.

Boss of Austrian public sector union says: Water out of the scope of the Services Directive

catherine — 2006-03-09T23:00:00Z

Privatisation will cost the user dearly says GdG leader Rudolf Hundstorfer. First examples have demonstrated this. Water must be taken out of the Services Directive to prevent liberalisation through the back door.

For the full press release and a link to the water pages of GdG.

- EPSU affiliates actions

Compromise on Services Directive can have consequences for water-services

catherine — 2006-03-08T23:00:00Z

The Compromise of the European parliament on the Services Directive is not enough for water services, argued Ver.di executive member Erhard Ott on the ocassion of World Water Day. The danger exists that municipal public services will be emptied of meaning. This has implications for more then 70% of 100.000 workers active in these services in Germany (22 March 2006).
To read more (in German)

What next for the Services Directive? The European Federation of Public Service Unions' Perspective

catherine — 2006-02-28T09:16:13Z

FR - DE - SP - IT - PL (see also right-hand column)

(24 February 2006, Brussels) Following the European Parliament plenary vote on 16 February, the spotlight is now on the 13 March Competitiveness Council of Ministers (i.e. the Member State Governments). EPSU concluded that the results of the vote on the Services Directive represented “significant progress”, particularly on health and social services. EPSU invested in a highly visible mobilising and lobbying presence to ensure these gains. The focus is now on unambiguously excluding all public services from the scope. What does this mean in practice? The 200 plus public service unions that make up the membership of EPSU are being urged to contact their national governments to call for a clear exclusion of public services from the directive. There are two key concerns:
Demanding that all Public Services (Services of General Economic Interest in ‘E.U. speak') are excluded from the directive.
Ensuring that those sectors already excluded by the European Parliament are not reintroduced by the Council of Ministers (e.g. social services, all healthcare, transport)

EPSU has identified the following key risks that still remain in the directive:

The sectors covered by the directive include Water, Waste, Electricity + Gas (metering and billing services etc), Education and Culture. While the directive says that national governments can organise their public services, it also says that they must do so in conformity with Community law. Because there is no legal instrument protecting public services at the EU level, this phrase translates as; “National Governments can organise their public services in compliance with the Services Directive!”

The European Commission will have the right to scrutinise how national governments organise their public services (authorisation clause). The only question the Commission will ask is “Is this service following internal market rules?” rather than the question “Is this public service of the highest quality?”

The European Commission can block new regulations that a national government introduce to protect the quality and provision of a public service (requirements clause).

The text of the directive demands that administrative procedures are simplified. The EPSU concern is that the reason for this measure is that “simplified administrative procedures = less regulation. EPSU is fully in favour of better co-ordinated administrative systems, both between and within EU member states. However this should not mean that well thought out regulations, which protect quality standards should be regarded as inherently bad. The directive gives little detail on how the right balance between streamlined procedures and ensuring quality standards can be achieved.

There is now a “window of opportunity” for affiliates to press national governments to support the general exclusion of public services (SGI and SGEI) before the Council adopts its common position and the Commission issues a revised proposal. This particular battle in defence of high-quality public services is by no means over, and ordinary public service workers still have a crucial role to play.

Public Services - Europe's Strength!

The Services Directive Timetable

13 March Council of Ministers (Competitiveness Council) is due to give its opinion on the European Parliament changes
April European Commission will propose a REVISED text
15-16 June European Council (Austrian Presidency summit meeting)

Note to editors: This article can be considered as a press release or an opinion piece by EPSU General Secretary Carola Fischbach-Pyttel


PR 24 Feb 2006 - EN

EPSU participation in the ETUC demonstration on 14 February in Strasbourg (photos)

La Directive sur les services : Et maintenant ? Le point de vue de la Fédération syndicale européenne des Services publics

catherine — 2006-02-26T23:00:00Z

(24 février 2006, Bruxelles) Après le vote en plénière du Parlement européen, le 16 février, tous les regards vont maintenant se tourner vers le Conseil des ministres de la concurrence du 13 mars (c'est-à-dire les gouvernements des États membres). Pour la FSESP, le résultat de ce vote sur la Directive sur les services constitue un "progrès significatif", en particulier pour les services sociaux et de santé. La FSESP n'a pas ménagé ses efforts dans des actions de lobbying pour arriver à ce résultat. Il faut maintenant obtenir que tous les services publics soient exclus sans ambiguïté du champ d'application de la directive. Qu'est-ce que cela suppose concrètement ? Les syndicats de la fonction publique membres de la FSESP - qui sont plus de 200 - sont instamment priés de pressentir leurs gouvernements nationaux pour réclamer une exclusion claire et nette des services publics de la directive. Nous avons deux soucis majeurs :

Réclamer que tous les services publics (les services d'intérêt économique général, dans le jargon européen) soient exclus de la directive.
Faire en sorte que les secteurs déjà exclus par le Parlement européen ne soient pas remis en cause par le Conseil des ministres (par exemple, les services sociaux, tous les soins de santé, le transport).

La FSESP estime que plusieurs risque majeurs subsistent à propos de la directive :

Les secteurs couverts par la directive sont notamment l'eau, les déchets, l'électricité et le gaz (relevé des compteurs, facturation, etc.), l'éducation et la culture. Bien que la directive stipule que les gouvernements nationaux peuvent organiser leurs services publics, elle dit aussi qu'ils doivent le faire dans le respect du droit communautaire. Vu qu'aucun instrument légal ne protège les services publics à l'échelon européen, cette phrase signifie en fait que "les gouvernements nationaux peuvent organiser leurs services publics dans le respect de la Directive sur les services" !

La Commission européenne aura le droit d'examiner la manière dont les gouvernements nationaux organisent leurs services publics (clause d'autorisation). La seule question que posera la Commission sera "Ce service respecte-t-il les règles du marché intérieur ?" plutôt que de s'interroger sur sa qualité.

La Commission européenne peut bloquer de nouvelles réglementations qu'un gouvernement national voudrait adopter afin de protéger la qualité et l'offre d'un service public (clause d'exigence).

Le texte de la directive réclame une simplification des procédures administratives. La crainte de la FSESP est que l'équation à la base de cette demande soit "procédures administratives simplifiées = moins de réglementation". La FSESP est totalement favorable à une meilleure coordination des systèmes administratifs, tant dans les États membres qu'entre eux. Cependant, cela ne doit pas vouloir dire que ces réglementations bien conçues et qui protègent des normes de qualité doivent être considérées comme foncièrement mauvaises. La directive ne donne guère d'indications sur la frontière à tracer entre la simplification des procédures et le maintien de normes de qualité.

Nos adhérents ont maintenant une "ouverture" pour exhorter les gouvernements nationaux à appuyer une exclusion générale des services publics (SIG et SIEG) avant que le Conseil adopte une position commune et que la Commission publie une proposition révisée. Cette bataille pour la défense de services publics de qualité est loin d'être terminée et chaque travailleur de la fonction publique a un rôle essentiel à jouer.

Les services publics : la force de l'Europe !

Calendrier de la Directive sur les services

13 mars : Le Conseil des ministres (Conseil de la concurrence) doit remettre un avis sur les changements apportés par le Parlement européen.
Avril : La Commission européenne va proposer un texte RÉVISÉ.
15-16 juin : Conseil européen (réunion au sommet de la Présidence autrichienne).

Note aux éditeurs : Cet article peut être considéré comme un communiqué de presse ou une prise de position de la Secrétaire générale de la FSESP, Carola Fischbach-Pyttel


FR communiqué 24 février

Participation de la FSESP à la manifestation de la Confédération européenne des syndicats (CES) du 14 février à Strasbourg (photos)

plus d'info' : Analyse préliminaire des résultats du vote du 16 février en session plénière du Parlement européen par rapport aux secteurs de la FSESP et appel à l'action - pour nos affiliés seulement

Dienstleistungsrichtlinie - was jetzt? Die Perspektive des Europäischen Gewerkschaftsverbandes für den öffentlichen Dienst

catherine — 2006-02-25T23:00:00Z

(24. Februar 2006, Brüssel) Nach der Abstimmung im Plenum des Europäischen Parlaments am 16. Februar liegt unser Augenmerk nun auf dem Wettbewerbsrat am 13. März (d. h. den Regierungen der Mitgliedstaaten). Für den EGÖD sind die Ergebnisse der Abstimmung über die Dienstleistungsrichtlinie ein „signifikanter Fortschritt“ besonders im Bereich der Gesundheits- und Sozialdienste. Der EGÖD hat einen stark beachteten Einsatz als Mobilisierungs- und Lobbyinstanz gezeigt, um diese Ziele durchzusetzen. Jetzt geht es darum, unzweifelhaft alle öffentlichen Dienste vom Geltungsbereich der Richtlinie auszuschließen. Was bedeutet das in der Praxis? Die mehr als 200 Gewerkschaften des öffentlichen Dienstes, die EGÖD-Mitglieder sind, werden nachdrücklich aufgefordert, sich bei ihren Regierungen für den eindeutigen Ausschluss öffentlicher Dienste aus der Richtlinie einzusetzen. Es gibt zwei wichtige Forderungen: • Alle öffentlichen Dienste (im EU-Jargon Dienstleistungen von allgemeinem wirtschaftlichen Interesse) müssen von der Richtlinie ausgenommen werden; • Es muss darauf geachtet werden, dass vom Europäischen Parlament bereits ausgeschlossene Sektoren (z. B. Sozialdienste, Gesundheitsdienste, Verkehr) nicht wieder vom Rat eingeführt werden.

Der EGÖD hat die folgenden wichtigen Risiken benannt, die nach wie vor in der Richtlinie verbleiben:

Zu den von der Richtlinie erfassten Sektoren gehören Wasser, Entsorgung, Strom + Gas (Ablesen, Rechnungsstellung usw.), Bildung und Kultur. In der Richtlinie heißt es zwar, dass die nationalen Regierungen ihre öffentlichen Dienste selbst organisieren können, aber auch, dass dies in Übereinstimmung mit dem Gemeinschaftsrecht erfolgen muss. Da es auf EU-Ebene kein Rechtsinstrument für den Schutz von öffentlichen Diensten gibt, bedeutet dieser Satz eigentlich: „Nationale Regierungen können ihre öffentlichen Dienste in Übereinstimmung mit der Dienstleistungsrichtlinie organisieren!”

Die Europäische Kommission wird das Recht haben zu prüfen, wie nationale Regierungen ihre öffentlichen Dienste organisieren (Genehmigungsregelungen). Die Kommission wird nur interessieren, ob die Dienstleistung den Binnenmarktgesetzen folgt; sie wird nicht fragen, ob dies eine öffentliche Dienstleistung höchster Qualität ist.

Die Europäische Kommission kann neue Regelungen blockieren, die eine nationale Regierung zum Schutz der Qualität und der Erbringung eines öffentlichen Dienstes einführt (Anforderungsklausel).

Der Wortlaut der Richtlinie schreibt vor, dass Verwaltungsverfahren vereinfacht werden müssen. Der EGÖD hat hier Bedenken, dass der eigentliche Grund für diese Forderung darin zu sehen ist, dass „vereinfachte administrative Verfahren gleichgesetzt werden mit weniger Regulierung.“ Der EGÖD ist vorbehaltlos für besser koordinierte staatliche und zwischenstaatlich kooperierende Verwaltungssysteme. Das darf aber nicht dazu führen, dass wohlüberlegte Regelungen zum Schutz von Qualitätsnormen als per se negativ angesehen werden. Die Richtlinie enthält kaum Einzelheiten darüber, wie denn die richtige Balance zwischen verschlankten Verfahren und der Sicherung von Qualitätsnormen erreicht werden soll.

Es gibt jetzt ein „Zeitfenster“, das unseren Mitgliedern die Gelegenheit bietet, ihre nationalen Regierungen für die Unterstützung der Forderung nach dem Ausschluss aller öffentlichen Dienste (DAI und DAWI) zu gewinnen, bevor die Kommission einen überarbeiteten Vorschlag vorlegt und der Rat seine gemeinsame Position verabschiedet. Dieser besondere Kampf zur Verteidigung qualitativ hochwertiger öffentlicher Dienste ist keinesfalls schon vorbei, und alle im öffentlichen Dienst Beschäftigten haben hier noch wichtige Aufgaben zu erfüllen. Öffentliche Dienste - Europas Stärke!

Zeitplan Dienstleistungsrichtlinie

13. März Ministerrat (Wettbewerbsrat) nimmt Stellung zu den Abänderungen des EP
April Europäische Kommission schlägt einen GEÄNDERTEN Text vor
15.-16. Juni Europäischer Rat (Gipfel unter österreichischem Ratsvorsitz)

Hinweise an die Redaktion: Dieser Artikel kann als Pressemitteilung oder als Stellungnahme der EGÖD-Generalsekretärin Carola Fischbach-Pyttel betrachtet werden.


PR 24 Feb 2006 - de

EGÖD-Teilnahme an der Demonstration des Europäischen Gewerkschaftsbundes (EGB) am 14. Februar in Straßburg. (fotos)

Erste Analyse des Ergebnisses der Abstimmung in Plenartagung des EP am 16. Februar mit Relevanz für die EGÖD-Sektoren; Aktionsaufforderung - for our members only