12 June 2026
On 6 May 2026, Raffaele Fitto, EU Commission Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reform, launched the work on the upcoming Right to Stay Strategy, opening a Call for Evidence on the topic.
SGI Europe took this opportunity to contribute to the strategy, reflecting the realities of services of general interest from the ground and shaping a strategic framework for territorial resilience, inclusion and competitiveness, with SGIs as a whole at its core.
SGI Europe translates this ambition into several priorities, starting with the request to anchor the freedom/right to stay as a European objective that complements freedom of movement, strengthens territorial cohesion, and ensures that the Single Market and competitiveness agenda deliver for all regions. This requires recognising SGIs as the foundation of the Strategy and as part of Europe’s competitive infrastructure, since access to quality, affordable, resilient and accessible SGIs enables citizens to stay, enterprises to invest, workers to participate in the labour market, and territories to develop. The Strategy should also be place-based, embedded across EU policy and funding frameworks, and supported by proportionate monitoring tools to assess territorial disparities, access to SGIs, investment gaps, demographic pressures and competitiveness over time.
You can consult SGI Europe's response to the call for evidence here.
For more information on the initiative, please check and join the Coalition for the Freedom to Stay, launched by SGI Europe and the SGIs Network on 23 February 2026.
Contact: benoit.cassorla@sgieurope.org
On 11 June, SGI Europe participated in the conference "Delivering intergenerational solidarity: the role of services of general interest", co-organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the Basque Government in Brussels. The event brought together policymakers, social partners and civil society representatives to discuss how services of general interest can help strengthen intergenerational fairness across Europe.
The discussions took place in the context of the European Commission's Intergenerational Fairness Strategy, with a focus on the role of services of general interest in ensuring equal opportunities, social cohesion and participation for people of all ages. Speakers highlighted the contribution of sectors such as healthcare, long-term care, housing, education, transport and social services in supporting citizens throughout their lives and fostering solidarity between generations.
SGI Europe highlighted the importance of ensuring adequate long-term investment in services of general interest and stressed that underinvestment in these services today merely shifts these costs to future generations in the form of weaker infrastructure, decreased accessibility and increased territorial disparities. In this context, SGI Europe called for the next MFF to recognise investment in SGIs as a long-term investment in Europe’s social model, territorial cohesion and the freedom to stay for all generations.
SGI Europe will continue to promote a long-term approach to investment in services of general interest, ensuring that Europe’s social model, territorial cohesion and the freedom to stay are preserved for current and future generations alike.
Contact: Astrid Nordberg
As part of SGI Day, on Tuesday, June 23, from 14:00 to 17:30, SGI Europe will host an event on "The Coalition for the Freedom to Stay: how Services of General Interest can support in operationalising the Freedom to Stay across Europe" at the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels.
This year, representatives from the European Commission, including Executive Vice-President Roxana Minzatu, the EU Parliament, particularly Camilla Lauretti, co-chair of the Intergroup on Social Economy and Services of General Interest, important EU stakeholders, including Seamus Boland, President of the EESC, Sandra Parthie and SGI providers, will gather at SGI Europe's annual flagship event.
The Coalition for the Freedom to Stay, which was formed by SGI Europe and sectoral partners in response to Enrico Letta's recommendations on the future of the Single Market, will be the focus of this year's edition.
The event will connect the Freedom to Stay with key EU policy developments, from the recently published Anti-Poverty Strategy to the upcoming Action Plan on the European Pillar of Social Rights. It will also feed into the broader discussion on the EU's preparedness and resilience. At the same time, participants will reflect on how strengthening the capacity of SGIs will support social cohesion, territorial resilience, the EU competitiveness, and citizens’ trust in the European project.
Join us by registering here.
Contact: Benoit Cassorla
On Tuesday 9 June, the Water Task Force, chaired by Michele Falcone, met and addressed the intense political pressure surrounding the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme in the implementation of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive.
The Task Force welcomed MEP Oliver Schenk (DE, EPP), initiator of a proposal for a resolution in the EU Parliament to delay the EPR for pharmaceuticals due to potential cost increases for generic medicines. SGI Europe members pushed back against MEP Schenk’s arguments, citing BDEW’s study, which highlights an unrealistic assumption in the worst-case scenario in which all wastewater plants deploy quaternary treatment simultaneously. Consequently, the Task Force reaffirmed its commitment to keeping the EPR scheme on track for implementation in 2027.
Members also reviewed the Water Framework Directive (WFD), agreeing that a full revision is unnecessary. A recent European Commission guidance paper confirmed that the current WFD offers sufficient flexibility for the mining sector to extract Critical Raw Materials. Lastly, a presentation on supporting nature-based solutions, by expert Wolfgang Deinlein, showing that organic farming achieves 135-137% higher water infiltration rates than conventional farming.
On Wednesday 10 June, the Environment Task Force, chaired by Bernardo Piccioli, focused on the Circular Economy Act's state of play and implications for other EU legislative proposals to keep the Task Force on track for monitoring. Members had the opportunity to exchange views with a representative of the European Commission’s DG AGRI on the EU Fertiliser Action Plan, which balances fertiliser affordability for farmers with EU strategic autonomy by promoting bio-based, low-carbon alternatives.
Finally, the group discussed nutrient recovery, noting that the Commission is preparing a delegated act on phosphorus recycling targets under the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive by 2 January 2028, with potential nitrogen targets to follow.
Contact: Henriette.Gleau@sgieurope.org
On 4 June, SGI Europe attended the first meeting of the EU Talent Pool Steering Group established under the EU Talent Pool Regulation, which focused on the practical implementation of the new platform following the conclusion of legislative negotiations. The meeting brought together mainly AMIF managing authorities, employer representatives and national ministries responsible for employment and migration.
Discussions were structured around two main issues: the development of the IT platform and the funding available to national authorities.
The European Commission presented the EU Talent Pool as a tool to strengthen EU competitiveness and attractiveness for talent from third countries, while supporting employers in addressing skills and labour shortages. This is particularly relevant for services of general interest, where many sectors face persistent recruitment needs and require predictable, fair, and efficient procedures for accessing skills from abroad. From SGI Europe’s perspective, the success of the Talent Pool will depend on its ability to provide a simple, user-friendly and trusted framework for employers and third-country jobseekers alike, while ensuring safeguards against fraud and abusive practices. The platform will build on existing EU tools such as Europass and EURES, with national authorities playing a central role in validating employers, opening vacancies to third-country nationals and ensuring interoperability with national systems.
Overall, the meeting confirmed that the Talent Pool’s added value will depend on practical implementation, efficient employer validation and a platform that remains attractive, accessible and reliable for all users.
Contact: Cecilia Martin
Join us, stay informed
Subscribe to have all the latest news and developments delivered straight to your inbox.