11 June 2021
In the framework of the European project ‘Green Skills in VET’, the project partners SGI Europe and European Federation of Education Employers (EFEE) invite you to the kick-off conference of the project, which will take place online on 6 July 2021, from 10:00-12:45.
SGI Europe and EFEE will welcome on this occasion, amongst others, Mr Nicolas Schmit, Commissioner for Jobs and Social Affairs, who will open the event and provide a keynote speech.
The kick-off conference will focus on raising awareness on green skills shortages within services of general interest, whilst addressing the development of teaching methods and staff competences to deliver green-oriented trainings by providers of vocational education and training. Findings of the project’s initial survey, capturing the state of play of provision of green skills in the water, energy, and transport sectors will be presented during the conference.
The event will take place online via Zoom platform. Interpretation will be provided in French, German, and Spanish. You can consult the draft agenda here, and register with the following link: Registration form for the Green Skills in VET kick-off conference.
Contact: Stefan Enica
On Tuesday 8 June 2020, SGI Europe took part to the hearing organised by the European Commission on the upcoming Social Economy Action Plan. During the hearing, SGI Europe and its delegation emphasised that social economy enterprises need a financial ecosystem to support them when they need to develop new services arising from new challenges. They also need the right conditions to respond to growing demands for social services due to demographic or societal changes, poverty and social exclusion and unemployment especially when public budgets are shrinking.
With the Social Economy Action Plan, the European Commission can effectively support social economy enterprises with the future action plan. During the hearing, representatives of the European Commission highlighted the significant role played by social economy enterprises in building resilient and inclusive communities and manage major transitions, and recognised their important diversity - encompassing a variety of businesses and organisations, based on a range of legal forms and sharing the objective of systematically putting people first and producing a positive impact on local communities.
In terms of concrete actions which could be part of the future action plan, the European Commission referred to the need to:
The publication of the Action Plan on the Social Economy by the European Commission is expected in the last quarter of 2021.
Contact: Guillaume Afellat
On 2 June, SGI Europe submitted its policy recommendation to the public consultation and the Sustainable Finance Platform to the Delegated Act on Disclosure Obligations in the Taxonomy Regulation on Article 8. Having an observer role within the Sustainable Finance Platform, SGI Europe is in clear favour and supports the European Commission on its path to further develop the EU Taxonomy and strengthen its tools and applications for a functional sustainability reporting scheme that will serve investors, insurers and EU citizens on the performance of companies and how they contribute to the vision of the EU Green Deal to make it into a reality for everyone.
SGI Europe underlined however some worries on the planned extension of the reporting requirements to avoid overburdening companies with unnecessary complex reporting obligations that create significant additional costs for companies. Ultimately, it is likely that this will make the EU Taxonomy framework less attractive, especially for smaller undertakings. Therefore, SGI Europe asked the Commission to find a balance between providing necessary sustainability information to investors and the civil society and recognised the extra burden such overloading reporting entails for the reporting companies in the context of the recent Commission proposal for a Corporate Sustainable Reporting Directive (CSRD) and during the finalisation of the DA on reporting obligations in the Taxonomy (Article 8).
SGI Europe has therefore asked to allow for an adequate implementation phase, focus on one environmental objective, avoid retroactive disclosure obligations, emphasise the importance of forward-looking metrics recognise national accounting principles and clarify the definition of CapEx and OpEx.
You can read the entire SGI Europe policy recommendation on the Disclosure Obligations in the Taxonomy Regulation on Article 8 here.
Contact: Henriette Gleau
In the framework of the project ‘Involving SGIs in the European Semester’ co-financed by the European Commission, SGI Europe aims at upgrading its members’ involvement and capacity to engage in the European Semester process.
SGI Europe appointed in this context one National Semester Contact Point for each national section, to reinforce its members’ participation in the Semester and improve the coherence between EU and national levels. Within the project, SGI Europe will organize a series of trainings to help the National Semester Contact Points to become more knowledgeable and aware of the European Semester process.
In the next 2 years, with the help of the National Semester Contact Points, the project will create different tools and methods for improving the quality of SGI Europe’s members input and for empowering our members to be more vocal in the consultation process, based on a common SGI Europe methodology for the European Semester.
Appointing the National Semester Contact Points becomes even more important in the setting of the European Semester Spring Package 2021, presented by the European Commission on 2 June. SGI Europe welcomes the idea of relaunching the public debate on the economic governance framework, focusing on long-term investments’ priorities, such as productive public investment in essential services and in key physical and social infrastructures.
Contact: Stefan Enica
On Monday 7 June 2021, the Competition Policy report 2020 was discussed in the Plenary Session of the European Parliament. The rapporteur, MEP Johan Van Overveldt (ECR, BE) presented his report which was with a vast majority adopted in Plenary the next day.
The report highlights the importance of free and fair competition, which must be updated concerning the digital age. Importantly, the rapporteur welcomed the State aid Temporary framework, adopted in the context of the outbreak of Covid-19 and further called for ensuring and monitoring the proper use and distribution of state aid measures staid in accordance with the EU competition and state aid. Post covid roadmap in order to preserve jobs. Mr Van Overveldt further warned of foreign state-owned enterprises that are acquiring the EU enterprises. As he pointed out, EU is now at the historical point to preserve our welfare, for which monitoring, and a robust competition policy would be much needed.
At the Plenary Session, also the EVP Vestager debriefed the audience about the developments of the last year. She stressed out that the Commission adopted over 500 decisions and approved EUR 3 trillion in aid under the Temporary Framework. Most of the aid was channelled into the sectors that were the most hurt, such as hospitality, tourism, culture, and transport. As the Temporary Framework was already prolonged several times and extended in scope, the current version is valid until the end of 2021. In her closing words, the EVP Vestager updated that the Commission is currently consulting Member States on what can be done for the most hit sectors. As an option, she mentioned the possibility of transferring what was given as loan into grants.
Contact: Manca Pocivavsek
On Saturday 5 June, finance leaders of the G7 reached a historical breakthrough unveiling a broad agreement to overhaul international tax laws that aims to close loopholes for multinationals and ensure they pay more in the countries where they operate.
Negotiations started back in 2013, with talks at the OECD level yet stalling as US and European Member States were left at loggerheads particularly over taxation of big US tech companies.
However, with governments being on the lookout for revenues to refill their stretched coffers and finance their stimulus in the aftermath of the pandemic, a rather favourable public opinion towards tacking on multinationals profit-shifting to tax havens and the election of Joe Biden as new US President, prospects for a deal rose significantly.
What the preliminary agreement envisages?
The proposed reforms include two main pillars:
According to a report by the newly-inaugurated EU Tax Observatory, the agreed minimum corporate rate of 15 per cent will allow the EU to collect an extra €50 billion in 2021.
Sticking points
Despite the agreement represent a landmark, there are yet several sticking points which stand in the way of a smooth and speedy implementation.
Concerns about US tech companies avoiding pillar one is likely to push European countries for a broader scope which would enable them to capture parts of a company’s business. An approach known as “segmentation”; whereby profitable parts of businesses would pay tax in their own right.
On the contrary, the US wants European countries to drop unilateral digital services taxes whether a multilateral agreement is reached. However, this seems rather uncertain as that global deal could take years of implementation.
On top of the above-mentioned, the agreement amongst the G7 is only a first step in a long process.
In fact, whilst the reform now moves to the finance Ministers of the G20 who are meeting in July, negotiations will then involve 139 nations under the aegis of the OECD.
This might realistically mean a few years’ delay before the measure is fully implemented.
Contact: Antonio Astolfi
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