Strasbourg, 14/03/2007 (Agence Europe) - With the adoption of the report by Joël Hasse Ferreira (PES, Portugal) on social services of general interest (SSGI) in the EU, the European Parliament describes as “erroneous” the SSGI approach consisting of opposing, on one hand, the standards relating to competition, public aid and the market and, on the other, the concepts of public service, general interest and social cohesion. It also takes the view, however, that it is necessary to reconcile the above by promoting “positive synergy” between the economic and social chapters, and states that the standards in relation to competition, state aid and the internal market must be compatible with public service obligations, and not the other way round.
The Parliament calls in particular on the Commission and member states to: (1) respect the diverse modes of SSGI organisation and management; and (2) create public-private partnerships to provide these services with a concern for the general interest and effective and quality services. It also calls on them, and on SSGI service providers, to develop action in the area of vocational training for worker adjustment to working conditions that are more specific to these services (stress, posted or night work, dangerous or difficult work).
MEPs consider member states are free to choose whether SSGI should be entrusted to mutual societies, social enterprises or the private sector, but that they must ensure service providers respect the principles and values that are proper to SSGI. They say they are “concerned” by the “recent attempts to apply to certain SSGIs rules of procedure and principles specific to commercial services”. MEPs take the view it is urgent to develop a clear legal framework for these services, that can above all protect current forms of employment in this sector such as women's work, flexibility and adjustment of working hours, part time work and voluntary work. According to a press release, the current legal insecurity in the context of these SSGI is partly caused by the ambiguity existing between several different notions: public services, services of general interest, social services of general interest and services of general economic interest.
Presenting his report to plenary, Joël Hasse Ferreira stressed the fact that SSGI, “that are considered as one of the pillars of the European social model”, are “an essential element for obtaining social peace and for the EU's economic, social and territorial cohesion” and, from this, that they “they cannot be considered a burden on public authorities” as they are, on the contrary, a “source of benefit at both economic and social level”. (gb)