CEEP Activity Report 2009 INCREASED ACTION IN TIMES OF CHANGE Editorial CEEP is on the eve of celebrating its 50 year anniversary in Brussels. As an organisation which initially came into existence shortly after the signing of the treaty of Rome establishing the European Economic Community, it has participated in the development and establishment of the European Union. CEEP has evolved in tandem with Europe, reflecting the needs of a changing society, gaining increasing recognition for Public Services who make up and contribute to the fabric of our society as we know it. We will all remember 2009 for different reasons –o bama’s inauguration in the US, world recession, financial crisis, a botched Copenhagen Climate Summit etc. For CEEP, 2009 was significant as it became increasingly clear that the importance of Public Services and their contribution to the European economy on a number of levels, from employment to GdP, particularly in times of economic instability, was still not fully recognised. Public Services, also known as Services of General interest (SGis), are services whose provider is entrusted by a public authority (national, regional or local) with specific missions by virtue of general interest. These services can either be of economic or non-economic nature and their missions can include Public Service obligations or universal service obligations. Public Services include energy, water, public transport, postal services, telecommunications as well as healthcare and social work, public administration, defence, education, etc. in response to a question from Nicolaos Vakalis (former MEP) to Commissioner Špidla on the significance of Public Services in Europe, CEEP, with the financial support of the European Commission, embarked on a comprehensive, Europe-wide measurement and analysis of Public Services. the full results of the study will be made available during the course of 2010 and we look forward to using these hard facts to continue our representation of Public Services and Services of General interest at policy level in Europe. 2010 will bring new policy priorities to the fore. Europe’s 2020 vision and strategy, the single market, and the need for crisis counter measures will require huge input if we are to emerge from this crisis without using our Public Services to bear the costs. our aging population and the creation of so-called Green Jobs are other key areas to focus on. CEEP and its members are ready to rise to the challenge. We have set ourselves ambitious objectives which we feel are strongly needed in light of the year just gone. Carl Cederschiöld Ralf Resch, President General Secretary the European Centre of Employers and Enterprises providing Public Services (CEEP ) represents enterprises and organisations from across Europe, both public and private, at national, regional and local level, which are public employers or providers of Services of General interest and is one of the three European cross sectoral Social Partners. EditoRiAl 1 Introduction CEEP Your Constant Friends in Times of Change CEEP, the European Centre of Employers and Enterprises providing Public Services, established in Brussels since 1961, represents employers and enterprises providing Services of General interest in such vital sectors as transport, Energy, Water, Environment, Housing, Hospitals, Education and training, Postal Services, Communications, local Administrations etc We believe that modern Public Services, or Services of General interest (SGis), serve the fundamental goals of the EU, its Member States and its regions supporting business, delivering social and territorial cohesion, economic and social solidarity and a better quality of life for all citizens. We strive to ensure that SGis play a key role in helping move forward the integration of the EU Member States into a common economic area in a manner supportive of the internal market concept, while at the same time delivering the maximum possible choice to local and regional democratic institutions over how Public Services are delivered. As one of the three recognised European general cross-industry Social Partners, we believe that employer consultations as well as social dialogue are essential to promote the lisbon treaty’s targets for innovation and growth. in order to help our members achieve these goals, we focus on the European Employment Strategy (EES), promoting adaptability to change, addressing regional disparities and helping build partnerships at regional and local levels. We support sustainable development and call for environmental criteria to be included in all decisions implementing EU policies such as transport, energy, water supply, waste disposal and telecommunications. Services of General interest (SGis) are services that are entrusted by a public authority to a service provider by virtue of general interest criteria. these services can either be of economic or non-economic nature. their missions can include Public Service obligations or universal service obligations. At European level, Public Services are known as Services of General invest (SGis). 2 CEEP ACtiVity REPoRt CEEP Driving Policy the contribution of Services of General interest is underestimated in Europe, yet it is clear that Public Services are key drivers of the European economy. directly, they contribute to more than 26% of the EU27 GdP (2006). indirectly they create employment in other sectors, for instance through investment in local businesses and infrastructures. the employment dimension of SGis in the EU is even more impressive with 30% of the workforce being employed by providers of SGis. this corresponds to more than 64 million employees (2006). the main infrastructure networks (Electricity, Gas, Post, telecommunications, Public transport, Railway, Water management, etc.) invest important sums of money into the economy. their share in the total investment in Europe is about 6.4%, representing more than 153 billion € for 2006. All in all, more than 500 000 providers (public, private, with mixed capital, operating at local regional, national or sometimes at European level) deliver essential services for about 500 million Europeans. Services of General Interest in Europe contributing to (2006): • 26 % of the EU GdP (2 412 billion €) • Employ 64 million people (30% of the EU workforce) • 6.4 % of the total EU investment • 500 000 enterprises serve 500 million Europeans Through its General Secretariat in Brussels, CEEP represents the interests of its members to the European institutions. CEEP Priorities SErvices of GEnEral IntErest (SGIs) to advocate their special position with regard to competition rules and to emphasise their crucial contributions to the European social and economic model EUROPEAN SOCIAL DIALOGUE to use social dialogue as a means to modernise Public Services and to help build a European labour market based on more and better jobs; to focus on some crucial aspects of the European Employment Strategy (EES) such as promoting the adaptability to change and address regional disparities; and to promote a stronger development of regional and local level partnerships SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND TERRITORIAL COHESION to assist the European integration process by offering higher quality Public Services; to emphasise the importance of Services of General interest (SGis) in future cohesion policies, as well as priorities for the development of an enlarged Europe; to advocate that those services are supported by adequate social and physical infrastructures SuStaInablE and ECo-EffICIEnt dEvEloPmEnt to reinforce sustainable development in all decisions implementing EU policies and to support a just transition towards a low carbon economy CEEP dRiViNG PoliCy 3 was left to the European Court of Justice to develop a 2009 – A year response to every question concerning SGEi based on quite vague legal provisions on a case by case basis creating uncertainty in the process. in Review in practical terms, the adoption of thet reaty and Article 14 means that a specific policy approach to SGEis needs to be developed, particularly in relation to competition New Faces in the European Parliament and the internal market; the European Parliament and Along with the Czech and Swedish Presidencies, and the Council have an obligation to act in order to establish the likely ratification of thel isbon treaty, at top of mind principles and set conditions which would enable SGEi were the Parliamentary elections, signalling both the to fulfil their missions, and effectively meet the needs of re-election of old MEPs, and the arrival of new faces, European citizens. not yet familiar with CEEP and its resources. CEEP developed a handbook targeted at all MEPs, outlining Social dialogue: CEEP is the representative areas within which it could support policy discussions, of Public Services Employers particularly in the field of Sociald ialogue and Services of General interest. the concerted communications effort throughout 2009 CEEP has continued to strive for an in sending the handbook to all MEPs and subsequently effective and result oriented European Social dialogue. following up with more targeted, sector specific fact Negotiations have brought two major achievements for sheets, opened numerous doors for CEEP, and kick- public employers: started a more proactive approach for the organisation. 1. FramewoRk Agreement oN ParentAl article 14 – finally, a sound legal basis for Leave. the treatment of SGEIs1 in Europe in June 2009, in the presence of Vladimir Špidla, the adoption of thel isbon treaty on 1 december