Brussels, 25/06/2004 (Agence Europe) - The Social Platform (of European NGOs active in the social sector) is organising a conference in Brussels on 28-29 June on “Social services of general interest in the EU”, looking at the specific nature of utilities, how they perform and the framework of criteria for providing such services. The German Federal Minister for the Family, the Elderly, Women and Youth, and the Monitoring Centre for the Development of Social Services in Europe are jointly organising the conference, which is also supported by the European Commission. A Social Platform press release points out that participants will look at the themes covered by the European Commission in its White Paper on services of general interest, and will prepare substantial conclusions and recommendations for the Commission during the conference.