12 January 2024
On 11 and 12 January 2024, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU organised in Namur its first event: the Informal meeting of Employment and Social Affairs Ministers, focusing on the future of social Europe and gathering EPSCO Ministers, European Commission and social partners. SGI Europe was represented by a delegation featuring Valeria Ronzitti, General Secretary, and Michael De Gols, Vice-chair of the Social Affairs Board. Amongst others, the meeting addressed the connection between the European Pillar of Social Rights and the EU strategic agenda, access to social services” and a stronger Social pillar for a stronger economic governance.
During the different panel sessions, Valeria Ronzitti highlighted the need to step up efforts to provide opportunities for up- and re-skilling and to give a renewed impetus to the implementation of the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights on access to housing, care, social and essential services. She also called for a balanced implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Fund, which includes a social dimension, to ensure that social services are resilient to change, while improving access for social services to the new funding opportunities mobilised during the pandemic.
Finally, SGI Europe’s delegation also had a bilateral meeting with Pierre-Yves Dermagne, Belgian Vice Prime Minister in charge of minister of economy and labour, and Christie Morreale, Vice-President of the Walloon government in charge of Employment and Social Affairs. The discussion focused on the importance of social services employers’ participation in social dialogue and assessed how the Belgian presidency can help improve the situation across Europe.
Contact: Guillaume Afellat
On 27 December 2023, Jacques Delors, President of the European Commission from 1985 to 1995, passed away. SGI Europe would like to express its deepest condolences to his family and friends while acknowledging his legacy and heritage in shaping the EU into the Union we now know.
Under his leadership, the European Communities adopted the Maastricht Treaty (1992) and became the European Union. Building upon the legacy of the Founding Fathers of Europe, Jacques Delors created the #SingleMarket, allowing the free movement of persons, capital, goods, and services across the EU.
As a counterpart to the Single Market, he also spearheaded the creation of the EU Social Dialogue in cooperation with CEEP (now SGI Europe), UNICE (now BusinessEurope) and the European Trade Union Confederation (CES - ETUC).
Jacques Delors paved the way for the adoption of the Euro as a common currency across the continent (introduced on 1 January 1999), the Schengen area (established on 26 March 1995), the Cohesion Fund to support least developed regions (founded in 1992) or the Erasmus programme (1987).
Jacques Delors’ relentless efforts to build an EU model balancing the economic and social dimensions are at the heart of SGI Europe’s vision for the future of Europe. In 2024, with crucial EU elections on the horizon, may his vision, foresight and commitment to the European project continue to inspire us to move forward.
You can read more about Jacques Delors' life and career on the website of Jacques Delors Institute, a leading EU think tank he founded in 1996.
Contact: Maxime Staelens
On December 14, 2023, the Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on the reform of the EU electricity market design, which includes a revision of several EU laws (including the Electricity Regulation, the Electricity Directive and the REMIT Regulation).
The reform aims to reduce high and volatile fossil fuel prices for consumers and businesses. At the same time, energy sovereignty and climate neutrality should be guaranteed. The agreement supports the EU's goal of achieving a 45% share of renewable energy by 2030. Among other things, through new renewable energy auctions at the EU level in conjunction with the European renewable energy financing mechanism.
Regarding electricity purchase agreements, it was decided to give Member States the possibility to promote the purchase of electricity exclusively from renewable energy sources, provided that this is compatible with their decarbonisation plans. Furthermore, based on a proposal from the Commission, the EU Council can decide whether there is an electricity price crisis. It was also agreed that the possibility of reducing electricity prices for vulnerable and disadvantaged customers would be maintained, taking into account provisions to avoid market distortions.
In addition, it was agreed to use bilateral contracts for difference (CFDs) or equivalent arrangements as a model when incorporating public funds into long-term contracts in the form of direct price support systems. These regulations concern investments in new plants to generate electricity from wind, solar, geothermal, and hydropower without storage and nuclear energy.
To ensure legal certainty for ongoing projects, the regulations on bilateral contracts for difference only come into force after a transition period of three years. SGI Europe and its members of the Energy Task Force agree with such an approach as it creates more flexibility in redistributing revenues from contracts. Member States may pass on surplus revenue from these CfDs to consumers directly or to finance the costs of price supports or investments to reduce electricity costs.
As a next step, the European Parliament and the Council must formally adopt the provisional agreement.
Contact: Henriette Gleau
The members of the SGI Network represent Services of General Interest (SGI) and Public Services’ employers and providers through the European Union (EU).
SGIs and public services are a cornerstone of the EU Social Model and democratic societies; they have a central role in ensuring the citizens’ quality of life, contributing to informed citizenship, supporting the development of European businesses, and contributing to the growth and competitiveness of the EU.
The quality and access to essential services such as education, energy, healthcare, public service media, public transport and services provided by local and regional governments are instrumental to the realisation of our common objectives, and SGI network members are committed to doing their part in balancing the economic and social dimensions of the EU.
In the context of upcoming European Elections and identifying the new political priorities for the EU, we call for SGI providers and public services to be placed at the heart of the project for a striving Europe, as their empowerment should be a vital issue in every Member State. To do so, SGI network members cooperate to share common ground through press releases, joint declarations, common participation in events, conferences, meetings with EU institutions, etc.
For more information, check the SGIs Network dedicated page on our website.
Contact: Benoît Cassoria
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