Brussels, 19/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - The day before the Commission's adoption of its vision on the single market in the 21st century and its new social vision for this century, the secretary general of the European Confederation of Trade Unions (ETUC), John Monks, and the secretary general for the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EFPSU), Caroloa-Fischbach-Pyttel, presented a petition on Monday 19 November to European Commission president, José Manuel Barroso. This petition was launched in November 2006 and contains 500,000 signatures calling for a Union directive on public services. John Monks declared: “The Commission is negative and short-sighted if it does not respect the essential role of public services and accord them adequate protection from market forces. Many services in our societies must continue not to be subject to the profit motive and shareholder value but be governed by the ethos and values of public service”, explained the ETUC secretary general. Mr Monks concluded that “The ETUC petition, which has already attracted 510,000 signatures, reflects public affection for public services, which the Commission should recognise and act upon.”
An ETUC press release pointed out that the Commission is poised to reject proposals for a directive on services of general interest (public services). It affirmed that the ETUC Steering Committee on 15 November had demanded the Commission to give a proper place to public services in the EU single market, and not subject them to the same tests as the market sector. (G.B.)