(30 June 2015) EPSU welcomes the opportunity to respond to the EC consultation on the future of the European Neighbourhood policy and to answer some of the questions put forward for discussion with partners and stakeholders. This response is intended to complement the input into the consultation from the Pan-European Regional Council (PERC), European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
EPSU’s comments focus on quality public services and the role they play in developing sustainable, democratic and cohesive societies. In the current ENP, including in the Communication of March 2013 there is little reference to the role of public services, or to social and economic cohesion. However, the EU Treaty recognises the special role and values of public services in the EU’s social market economy, i.e., Protocol on Services of General Interest (SGI) (number 26), Article 14, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, as well as in Article 3 (solidarity). EPSU considers that these Treaty provisions provide for a more social interpretation than has been made to date Article 8(1) that provides the basis for the ENP, i.e., 'the Union shall develop a special relationship with neighbouring countries, aiming to establish an area of prosperity and good neighbourliness, founded on the values of the Union and characterized by close and peaceful relations based on cooperation'.
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