Strasbourg, 21/11/2001 (Agence Europe) - Voting on the report by Werner Lange (CDU) on the Commission's Communication on services of general interest in Europe, the European Parliament went further than its rapporteur, but adopting an amendment tabled by the Socialist Group, calling on the Brussels-Laeken European Council to support a framework directive on the objectives and modalities for organising services of general interest, based on Article 95 of the EC Treaty, thereby creating a legal framework guaranteeing the provision of services for citizens (the original text simply called on the relevant EP committee to draw up a report with the aim of asking the European Commission to present a framework directive). An amendment tabled by the Greens outlines that services of general interest should not only guarantee safe supply and continuity, but also high quality and democratic responsibility. High quality services should be provided at "reasonable" prices or, where justified, "free of charge".
Parliament also felt that competition rules should not apply to air traffic control, national security, the administration of justice, implementing foreign policy, or social and education policy, but is in favour of completing liberalisation of transport, electricity and gas services and post services. In terms of water, the EP feels that despite the particular conditions that apply, the provision of water and sewage services should be provided in line with economic criteria. Adopting an amendment by the EPP-ED, it asks Member States to check (where possible) whether the privatisations carried out to date have led to an improvement in the functioning of water supply and sewage services.
Parliament also wants the Commission to outline the common principles that should underlie services of general interest, and the responsibilities of local and national authorities. Companies involved in managing services should not benefit from unusual advantages like not having to pay VAT. A clarification of the rules is also needed, according to the resolution, in terms of how competition rules apply to public broadcasting. Finally, while asking for pluralist and contradictory assessment procedures to be developed, the EP is no longer calling for a European monitoring services for services of general interest to be set up, following the adoption of a Liberal group amendment.