Defense of the public services and social services of general interest
The policy of the European Union poses certain problems for public services in general and social services of general interest (SSIG) in particular. The competition policy and the rules of the internal market make this sector, which is essential for citizens, a vulnerable one.
For this reason, the Belgian Presidency of the European Union has taken the initiative of organising a Forum in order to discuss these fundamental questions. For the first time, the Forum was held in the presence of the competent Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, the Commissioner for the Internal Market and the Commissioner for Competition, as well as the president of the "Employment and Social Affairs" Committee of European Parliament.
This 3rd Forum on the SSIG was held on 26 and 27 October 2010 in Brussels. It offered a chance to conduct a wide-ranging discussion on SSIG, and the role they play in various European countries, particularly during this time of economic crisis and budgetary restrictions.
"The market is not an end in itself, but a means that must contribute to social progress, with the aim of constructing a social market economy" declared Laurette Onkelinx, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health, who organised the event.
At this Forum, 15 concrete recommendations were adopted by the participants and expressed in plenary session before several high-level panels: social partners, civil society and institutional representatives (European Parliament, Commission, Member States).
The minister also added: "We must continue the invaluable work that has been done at the 3rd Forum and take action on multiple fronts: we must give the existing rules greater visibility and make them better known among the primary parties concerned, and even guide them in the procedures. It is also time to provide greater legal security and to recognise the specific nature of SSIG and therefore adapt the rules which, ultimately, were not made with them in mind".
The final sessions of the Forum were opened with a message from Professor Mario Monti. The remarks of the former European Commissioner for competition and the internal market and the author of the eponymous report on the renewal of the internal market preceded the round-table talks made up of high-level figures. The latter held discussions and called for the necessary balance between the economic and social spheres.
Within the highly topical context of the crisis, the lasting impact of an event of this type and above all the intermediary work involving all of the interested parties (institutions, social partners, civil society) was emphasised. It was deemed important for the Council to continue this analysis and its activities within the Council for Social Protection with the support of the Commission. This issue is one of the priorities of the Belgian Presidency and therefore conclusions will be presented before the Ministers for Social Affairs on 6 December.
All preparatory documents and the reports from the plenary sessions and workshops are available on the Internet site.
