11 July 2025
On 7-8 July 2025, SGI Europe joined the Informal meeting of Employment and Social Affairs Ministers (EPSCO) of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU, bringing together Member States, the European Commission, and social partners. The meeting focused on fair labour mobility and strengthening Europe’s competitiveness, in the context of skills shortages and the twin transitions.
The first panel discussion on free and fair labour mobility provided SGI Europe with the opportunity to recall that skills shortages must be at the top of the EU's political agenda. SGI Europe General Secretary, Valeria Ronzitti, took this opportunity to call for establishing a European Observatory on Labour Mobility and Territorial Cohesion to monitor how mobility patterns impact local labour markets, the sustainability of services of general interest, and to bring to life a “Freedom to Stay” combining competitiveness with social and territorial cohesion.
Representing Local Government Denmark (KL, member of SGI Europe), Martin Steen Kabongo, Head of Division for Collective Agreements, contributed to the second session on competitiveness, highlighting the need to strengthen practical skills ecosystems, effectively simplify the administrative burden and ensuring that the Quality Jobs Roadmap increase the EU’s productivity and competitiveness. It will, in particular, need to recognise national approaches and sectoral agreements, supporting capacity building for social partners and promoting voluntary guidance.
Contact: Guillaume Afellat
On Thursday 10 and Friday 11 July, Valeria Ronzitti, SGI Europe General Secretary, joined the Ukraine Recovery Conference, hosted this year in Rome. On this occasion, SGI Europe General Secretary, Valeria Ronzitti represented employers and services of general interest providers in this high-level political event dedicated to the swift recovery and long-term reconstruction of Ukraine. The aim was also to support the Ukrainian Association of Critical Infrastructure Operators (OKI), a newly created employers' organisation in Ukraine representing operators active in fields of water, wastewater and energy. Services of general interest providers, from the local to the EU level, are ready to work with their Ukrainian counterparts for the future of Ukrainians.
Contact: Benoît Cassorla
On 10 July, the European Commission organised a dedicated hearing with social partners to launch discussions on a new Action Plan for the European Pillar of Social Rights. The meeting brought together representatives from employers’ organisations and trade unions, as well as Mario Nava, Director General at the European Commission’s DG EMPL. The European Commission presented its objectives, timing, and priorities: the Action Plan aims to monitor progress on the 20 principles of the Pillar, close implementation gaps, and respond to new challenges linked to competitiveness, productivity and simplification.
SGI Europe considers that this process should not take place in isolation and has called for clarity on how the Action Plan will interact with other major initiatives, such as the Quality Jobs Roadmap, the Anti-Poverty Strategy, the Gender Equality Strategy, the Union of Skills and the Competitiveness Compass.
During the hearing, SGI Europe emphasised the importance of focusing on implementation and simplification, highlighting that recent directives, such as the Pay Transparency Directive and the Platform Work Directive, create uncertainty and impose heavy administrative demands on employers. SGI Europe also called for more targeted support for social partners in applying existing rules, through technical assistance and funding. SGI Europe also emphasised the need to better link Principles 16–20 on access to services with territorial cohesion, climate adaptation and the “freedom to stay” as proposed by Enrico Letta in her report on the future of the Single Market.
Contact: Guillaume Afellat
On Monday, the European Parliament’s Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) committee adopted a report presenting its priorities for the upcoming revision of the EU’s public procurement framework. The report, adopted ahead of the European Commission’s expected legislative proposal in 2026, urges a move away from awarding contracts solely based on the price criterion.
Instead, MEPs advocate for greater use of the best price-quality ratio, taking environmental and social impacts into account. They caution that low-cost bids can lead to higher long-term costs, weaker labour protections, and environmental harm.
The report also recommends simplified rules to facilitate participation by SMEs. With over 900 pages of legislation currently in force, MEPs argue that smaller enterprises are often excluded. They recommend dividing tenders into smaller lots and streamlining procedures.
Additional recommendations include allowing public authorities to favour local economic development, supporting European enterprises in strategic sectors, and updating procurement thresholds to reflect inflation. MEPs also favour encouraging the use of in-house workers to improve accountability and working conditions.
SGI Europe emphasises the need to reduce the administrative burden for both enterprises and contracting authorities, enabling smaller companies to compete more effectively. While recognising the role of public procurement in promoting high environmental, social and innovation standards, SGI Europe stresses that a one-size-fits-all approach would be counterproductive, and that local and regional authorities must retain flexibility in how they apply strategic criteria.
Contact: Maxime Staelens
Today, the European Commission published an Action Plan aimed at strengthening the competitiveness and resilience of the EU chemicals sector, alongside a sixth simplification omnibus package and a proposal to reform the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). The Action Plan addresses challenges such as high energy costs, global competition, and weak demand, while aiming to support innovation and sustainability.
Key measures include the creation of a Critical Chemical Alliance to identify production sites needing policy support, coordinate EU and national investments, and expand trade defence and import monitoring. The Commission also plans to reduce energy and feedstock costs, revise state aid rules, and encourage the use of clean carbon sources, including chemical recycling.
The Plan proposes fiscal incentives to boost demand for low-emission chemicals and highlights upcoming legislation such as the Industry Decarbonisation Accelerator Act and the Circular Economy Act. New funding under Horizon Europe will support safer substitutes and innovation hubs.
SGI Europe takes note of these efforts but reiterates strong concerns about the environmental and health impacts of PFAS, a group of highly persistent and hazardous substances. While the Action Plan confirms the Commission's intention to restrict PFAS use, it still allows for continued application under vague "essential use" criteria.
The simplification package includes changes expected to save the sector €363 million annually, but must not weaken environmental and public health protections.
Contact: Henriette Gleau
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