12 September 2025
On Wednesday 10 September 2025, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, made her traditional State of the European Union address at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
During her speech, the President of the European Commission addressed several geopolitical and defence issues. However, she also mentioned some topics that will directly affect the European internal market, as well as SGI providers.
Alongside the reinsurance of translating the Draghi report into action, President von der Leyen underlined the ambition to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness through the Single Market Roadmap and the Industrial Accelerator Act. A strong commitment to the EU economy development is welcomed by SGI Europe, a strong supporter of the need for innovation while maintaining simplicity and predictability for providers of services of general interest, among other economic actors.
The President also emphasised the need to implement the Clean Industrial Deal and make rapid progress on the Circular Economy Act, to protect European industries while continuing on the path to a green transition. SGI Europe will keep contributing to the EU Commission's work on both.
Finally, SGI Europe noted the emphasis on social fairness. A Quality Jobs Act will be proposed to support modern employment and maintain competitiveness in the contemporary economy. An ambitious EU Anti-Poverty Strategy will also be laid out to tackle the issue of the cost of living and affordability of essential services.
Contact: Benoit Cassorla
On 9 September, the European Parliament adopted its own-initiative report outlining priorities for the upcoming revision of the EU public procurement directives, expected in 2026. The report was approved with 432 votes in favour, 95 against, and 124 abstentions.
A key demand from MEPs is to shift away from awarding public contracts solely based on the lowest price. Instead, they call for a stronger focus on the best price-quality ratio, with greater consideration of environmental, social and employment-related criteria. The report also recommends allowing contracting authorities to favour in-house service provision and to prefer local or European suppliers in strategic sectors, without resorting to protectionism.
Simplification is another central theme. MEPs highlight that the current 900+ pages of procurement legislation pose excessive burdens, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The report recommends shorter, more explicit rules, improved digital tools, and smaller lots to facilitate SME participation. It also proposes reassessing procurement thresholds in light of inflation and rising construction costs.
Political reactions diverged. The EPP and ECR underlined flexibility and competitiveness. At the same time, the S&D and The Left criticised the report for lacking ambition on workers’ rights and environmental standards, and for rejecting mandatory social and sustainability clauses. They urge the Commission to go further in aligning public procurement with fair pay, decent working conditions, and climate goals.
The European Commission is expected to put forward proposals for reviewing the public procurement directives in 2026.
Contact: Maxime Staelens
On 12 September, the Social Finance Framework Group, led by former EU Social Taxonomy rapporteur Antje Schneeweiss, met to advance the development of the theory of social criteria within the sustainable finance framework. This regular gathering unites diverse stakeholders, including trade unions, employers, and public banks, to discuss and refine social criteria.
A key highlight of the meeting was the presentation by SGI Europe on the results of their Finance4EPSR project. This two-year initiative, which concluded with a final conference the day prior, aimed to empower providers of Services of General Interest to access sustainable finance and contribute to the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR).
The Finance4EPSR conference, co-hosted by SGI Europe, HOSPEEM, and HEAG Holding, showcased the project's key deliverables, including a Self-Assessment Tool and a Guiding Methodology. These tools were specifically designed to help SGIs demonstrate their social missions and contributions, going beyond traditional economic metrics.
The innovative Self-Assessment Tool is a capacity-building exercise for SGIs to report on their social contributions, drawing on frameworks such as the ICMA Social Bond Principles, the proposed Social Taxonomy, and the EPSR. This tool is designed to help SGIs attract socially minded investment and potentially pave the way for a new social label.
Key takeaways from the meeting included the urgent need to reorient capital flows beyond environmental goals to include social outcomes, the risk of underfunded SGIs, and the importance of practical, low-burden tools that accurately reflect the realities of SGIs as well as public banks and investors. The success of the Finance4EPSR project serves as a compelling example of how to utilise social criteria in financial reporting better.
Contact: Henriette Gleau
The European Network of Public Employment Services (PES) has placed employer engagement high on its 2025 agenda, recognising the need for closer cooperation with enterprises to address labour market challenges arising from the green, digital, and demographic transitions. SGI Europe supports this ambition and will contribute to this agenda by participating in two upcoming activities of the PES Network.
On 21 October 2025, SGI Europe will take part in the PES Network Stakeholder Conference “Partnerships in shaping and delivering employment services”, held in Brussels. The conference will explore how partnerships between public, private, and third-sector organisations can enhance employment services, improve job matching, and address skills mismatches.
Later in the year, on 19 November 2025, SGI Europe will represent employers at the high-level online roundtable “Strengthening PES–Employer Cooperation in the Context of Labour Market Transitions”. Bringing together around 50 participants, the roundtable will focus on three key themes: engaging with and supporting specific target groups, facilitating labour mobility across sectors and borders, and reinforcing PES–employer collaboration with the ambition of PES becoming strategic human resource partners.
These two activities will provide significant opportunities for SGI Europe to highlight the role of services of general interest as major employers and contribute to shaping stronger partnerships between PES and employers at the European level.
Contact: Guillaume Afellat
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