Newsflash - 18 July 2025

Advancing gender equality: SGI Europe’s contribution to the EU strategy

SGI Europe has submitted its contribution to the future EU Gender Equality Strategy, building on the recent social partners’ hearing and ongoing consultation with the European Commission.

In its position, SGI Europe calls for a strong focus on making existing rights effective through practical support and investment, rather than introducing new legal obligations. The opinion highlights that, while EU legislation has advanced significantly in recent years, implementation remains uneven across Member States, with many employers facing uncertainty and capacity constraints. To address this, the strategy should prioritise clear guidance, sector-specific tools, and closer involvement of social partners in transposition processes.

The contribution also highlights the need for substantial investment to match ambition. SGI Europe calls for dedicated funding in the next Multiannual Financial Framework and ringfenced ESF+ resources to expand childcare and support gender equality measures across the labour market. Recognising that discrimination often intersects with other factors, the opinion stresses the importance of aligning the Gender Equality Strategy with other EU frameworks such as the Anti-Racism Action Plan, the LGBTIQ Equality Strategy, and the European Care Strategy to maximise impact and coherence.

Finally, SGI Europe underlines the critical role of social dialogue in addressing gender-based and third-party violence, particularly in frontline services. Sector-specific agreements and training are identified as essential tools to create safe and inclusive workplaces. SGI Europe stands ready to engage further to ensure that gender equality becomes a practical reality across Europe’s workplaces.

Contact: Guillaume Afellat

Adoption of an EESC opinion on “The role of services of general interest for competitiveness, social cohesion and democracy in the EU”

On Wednesday 16 July, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted its own-initiative opinion on the role of SGIs during its Plenary session.

The own-initiative opinion highlights the crucial role of SGIs in the European single market and a socially, green, and economically sustainable EU. Indeed, SGIs significantly contribute to value creation, employment, and investment, thereby strengthening the EU’s resilience in crises such as Covid-19 and the energy crisis. In 2021, SGIs and services of general economic interest (SGEIs) generated €3,721 billion in value creation, accounting for 28.4% of the EU's total.

The opinion calls:

• on the Member States to secure universal and equal access to affordable, high-quality basic services. This is a matter of social justice, since SGIs are delivered at a price that does not depend on the purchasing power of users
• for a holistic approach towards services of general interest policies (SGIs), as opposed to the current sectoral approach of EU policies, recognising the central role of modern SGIs in promoting sustainable prosperity and competitiveness.

In this spirit, the EESC calls on the Commission to take concrete follow-up action to the Letta report in the form of an SGI action plan.

SGI Europe welcomes the EESC initiative and calls on the EU and member states. Valeria Ronzitti, SGI Europe General Secretary, contributed to its making as an expert adviser to the EESC Group I (Employers’ Group).

Contact: Benoît Cassorla

The European Commission presented its proposals for the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework

On 16 July 2025, the European Commission presented its proposal for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028–2034, outlining a EUR 2 trillion long-term EU budget aimed at addressing key challenges, including competitiveness, cohesion, defence, migration, and climate resilience. The proposal includes new own resources, a streamlined funding structure, and an expanded role for social and territorial investment.

Among its key features, the MFF proposal introduces simplified access to funding through a single application portal, greater flexibility across programmes, and National and Regional Partnership Plans as the primary delivery tool. The Commission proposes earmarking €100 billion for social priorities, complemented by €50 billion through the Social Climate Fund, and reinforced support for education, skills, and civic participation through increased Erasmus+ and AgoraEU budgets.

SGI Europe has expressed support for several elements of the proposal, including the focus on simplification, the reinforcement of multi-level governance, and the strategic emphasis on social investment and territorial cohesion. These align with SGI Europe's long-standing priorities, particularly the need to better connect EU investment with local needs and capacities.

However, SGI Europe also identified critical shortcomings in the proposal. The absence of any explicit reference to Services of General Interest (SGIs), the lack of dedicated budget lines or tagging mechanisms, and the unclear role of SGI providers in the governance of the new funding framework remain significant concerns. SGI Europe emphasises that essential services play a crucial role in delivering EU added value, supporting the green and digital transitions, and promoting inclusive growth across all regions.

SGI Europe will continue its engagement with EU institutions to ensure that SGIs are fully integrated into the final MFF.

Contact: Maxime Staelens

Debate at the European Parliament on the priorities of the Danish Presidency of the EU

On Tuesday, 8 July 2025, the Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, introduced to the members of the European Parliament, Denmark’s main priorities for the next 6 months EU Council presidency and their “strong Europe in a changing world” strategy.

For Mette Frederiksen, Europe must take responsibility for its security by investing more and strengthening its defence industry so that by 2030 the EU will be able to defend itself. The Danish Prime Minister added that a competitive and green Europe is becoming a top priority for all, as Europe falls behind globally. Regarding the climate change and biodiversity crisis, she stated that Europe must continue to push for a global green transition and that an ambitious EU 2040 climate target needs to be agreed upon quickly to demonstrate international leadership and predictability for companies. On the EU’s next long-term budget, she was in favour of making it more flexible, simplified, better equipped to deal with unforeseen events, and more focused on EU political priorities.

SGI Europe is, as always, ready to support the Danish Presidency on all the critical topics it will be addressing, such as the Multiannual Financial Framework, for which the European Commission unveiled its first proposal on 16 July 2025. With organisations operating on the ground, at the local and regional levels, SGI Europe members are best placed to bring solutions that ensure the economic, social, and territorial cohesion of the European Union.

Contact: Benoît Cassorla