Unions argue for a social dimension in South East European Energy Community

EPSU's Hungarian affiliate VdSzSz organised a seminar on development of the South East European Energy Community. EPSU Deputy General Secretary criticised the lack of transparency in the negotiations. He questioned the benefits for the people and workers in SEE in the light of the negative experiences of the internal electricity and gas market in the European Union. The draft Treaty to establish the Energy Community has not a single reference to the social dimension while imposing EU competition policies on the SEE countries. EPSU Standing Committee Utilities Vice-Pesident Reszo Gal called on the unions “to get involved and argue for Social Europe so citizens and workers are not paying the price for ill-conceived policies”. The seminar took place 21 November, Budapest. Unions from South-East European countries, Hungary and Russia took place. The seminar was organised together with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.