The following points emerge from the Internal Market, Consumer Affairs and Tourism Council's open debate on 28 September 2000 and from Member States' contributions in writing:
Article 16 of the Treaty establishes the role of services of general economic interest in ensuring the European Union's social and territorial cohesion. Without prejudice to Articles 73, 86 and 87, it also recognises the important place occupied by services of general economic interest in the shared values underlying...