Brussels, 28/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - The Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament has backed the petition from the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) for a framework directive on services of general interest (SGI). The Greens have long argued for a framework directive to protect and even further develop services of general interest (SGI). Only a framework directive would define the criteria and objectives for SGI, limit the effect of competition rules on these services, guarantee local, regional and national public authorities' right and ability to fund and manage these services as they saw fit in the pursuit of things like social and territorial cohesion, protection of the environment and cultural diversity, said Belgian MEP Pierre Jonckheer in a press release. He pointed out that, with there being no horizontal legislative act, the directive on services on the internal market would serve as a “horizontal instrument for all services of general economic interest” (SGEI) and sectoral liberalisation will continue, as in the postal sector.
In mid-November, the EP, in second reading, approved the Council's joint position on the services directive (see EUROPE 9307). This removed SGI from its scope. Only arrangements on the freedom of establishment will apply to SGEI. In September, the EP adopted the “Rapkay report” on the Commission White Paper on SGI, which did not request a framework directive, but called for the launch of “appropriate legislative initiatives” (see EUROPE 9274). At that time, Commission President José Manuel Barroso promised a communication from his staff on how this debate could be continued. The ETUC petition can be viewed at http: //http://www.petitionpublicservice.eu/ (mb)