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Challenges of Social Services of General Interest in Europe

Explore the main challenges faced by social services of general interest in Europe, including the conflict between the single market and general interest, the role of market freedoms and competition, and the implications for national sovereignty. Learn about key milestones, such as treaty provisions and directives, and the importance of recognizing the specificity of social economy enterprises. Discover the Social Platform's position on general interest and the need for common principles at the EU level.

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Challenges of Social Services of General Interest in Europe

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  1. Social services of general interest and social economy : elements of a challenge Patrick De Bucquois Social policy consultant Information session, Belgian Ministry for Social Integration, Brussels, 25/9/2007

  2. Some key Belgian and European networks EESC liaison group (www.esc.eu.int) Social platform (www.socialplatform.org) EP intergroup social economy CEP-CMAF (www.cepcmaf.org) Caritas Europa (www.caritas-europa.org) Comité européen des associations d’intérêt général (www.cedag-eu.org) Conseil national du travail (www.cnt-nar.be) Caritas Belgica (www.caritas.be) Confédération des entreprises non-marchandes (www.cspo-cenm.be) CESR-W (www.cesrw.be) Caritas en Belgique francophone et germanophone Union francophone des entreprises non-marchandes (www.ufenm.be)

  3. I. SOCIAL SERVICES OF GENERAL INTEREST • Main challenge : single market vs. general interest • Market freedoms and competition, key elements of the European Union • General interest, a key element of (national) sovereignty • Milestones : • The Treaties : art. 16 and 86 § 2 : « Undertakings entrusted with the operation of services of general economic interest (…) shall be subject to the rules contained in this Treaty, in particular to the rules on competition, in so far as the application of such rules does not obstruct the performance, in law or in fact, of the particular tasks assigned to them » 2. 1986 : « Single market »

  4. 3. 2006 : Communication from the Commission : « Implementing the Community Lisbon programme: Social services of general interest in the European Union » + Launch of a consultation under the responsibility of the Social Protection Committee, European Council’s highest advisory body in social matters4. End 2006 : Directive on services adopted – with a large exemption for health and social services

  5. 5. June 2007 : political agreement on a « Reform treaty » including:- A change of article 16 which includes a stronger legal basis for an European law - A protocol6. 2007 : Communications expected on (social) services of general interest. 7. EU parliament reports : « Langen », « Herzog », « Rapkay », « Hasse-Ferreira »« Vergneaud », « Toubon »,

  6. What is at stake with social services ?- Scope (what is a « service » ? What about health services? What about education and other « person-related » services ?) - Which values ? (3 « A » (Availability, Accessibility, Affordability), quality, …) - What division of tasks ? - Which legal instrument ?- …

  7. II. SOCIAL ECONOMY IN EUROPE- No recognition in the Treaties, but a lot of mentions in official documents- Art. 295 : « Neutrality principle » (What counts is the activity, not the legal personality of the provider).- In practical terms : Cooperatives, Mutualities, Associations and Foundations- Common objective : EU recognition of the specificities of social economy enterprises through EU statutes and in particular provisions - Diversity of activities (agriculture, consumers, financial sector, …)

  8. III. SOCIAL ECONOMY AND SSGICEP-CMAF’s proposal : the « faisceau d’indices » method (« set of indicators »).- Two main issues : 1. Quality and the role of private standardization organizations2. Finding the right way to « include inclusion » in social economy

  9. IV. SOCIAL PLATFORM’S POSITION ON SSGI1. « General interest » implies fundamental rights are involved2. There is a need for common principles at EU level3. There is a need of consistency across all SGI’s, whatever way is adopted (general or sectoral approach)

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