2 June 2023
On Saturday 27 May 2023, SGI Europe General Secretary, Valeria Ronzitti, took part in the Porto Social Forum. This high-level forum was the occasion to take stock of the implementation of the commitments made two years ago during the Porto Social Summit and reflect on the way forward. Two main issues were at the core of the debate in Porto: the EU Year of Skills as a driver for the twin transitions and the role of the EU social model as a geopolitical lever.
On top of the EU social partners, this forum was also the opportunity to gather and exchange views with representatives and high-level ministers from several EU Member States and international organisations, such as António Costa, Portuguese Prime Minister, Nicolas Schmit, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Pedro Silva Pereira, European Parliament Vice-President, Oliver Röpke, President of the European Social and Economic Committee, Vasco Cordeiro, President of the European Committee of Regions. Karien van Gennip, Dutch Minister of Social Affairs and Employment, Olivier Dussopt, French Minister of Labour, Employment and Economic Inclusion, Franck Vandenbroucke and Pierre-Yves Dermagne, Belgian Deputy Prime Ministers, and Camilla Waltersson Grönvall, Swedish Minister for Social Services.
Both during the plenary and bilateral meetings and exchanges, Valeria Ronzitti reaffirmed SGI Europe’s commitment to the European Pillar of Social Rights and stressed the importance of services of general interest across Europe to turn the Pillars’ principles into a reality. SGI Europe also joined its voice to representatives of EU governments, institutions and civil society organisations and co-signed an op-ed, “Two years after the Porto Social Summit: bringing the Pillar of Social Rights to life”, published on the day of the Forum.
Contact: Benoît Cassorla
On Saturday 27 May, SGI Europe addressed the panel focusing on “The European Social Model as a geopolitical lever” in the afternoon of the Porto Social Forum. Represented by General Secretary Valeria Ronzitti, SGI Europe joined Pierre-Yves Dermagne (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Economy and Employment, Belgium), Oksana Zholnovych (Ministry of Social Policy, Ukraine), Yolanda Diaz Perez, Vice-President of the Government, Spain), Esther Lynch (ETUC, Secretary General) and Piotr Sadowski (Social Platform, President) on this occasion.
In that context, Mrs Ronzitti emphasised that the EU social model, based on strong SGIs and public services, is a core element of EU competitiveness and can help attract investment and increase productivity and well-being at work. She also highlighted that the EU social market economy is also a driver for promoting democracy at work, values and the rule of law, which are all central elements in the global context.
To ensure that the social model supports the EU’s geopolitical ambition, Mrs Ronzitti stressed two core elements. First, she called for a new narrative on competitiveness, which must include a comprehensive reflection on the role of quality, affordable and accessible SGIs. Mrs Ronzitti also underscored that autonomous social dialogue and collective bargaining must be supported. In line with principle 8 of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the Council recommendation on social dialogue, SGI Europe calls for further supporting the capacity-building of employers and trade unions for social dialogue to deliver.
Contact: Maxime Staelens
On Thursday, 1 June, SGI Europe submitted its response to the public consultation on the SGEI de Minimis Regulation. You can read it here.
The SGEI de minimis Regulation is an important Commission Regulation that allows for small amounts of support (less than 500 000 EUR over three consecutive fiscal years) to be considered no aid. Without the prolongation, the SGEI de minimis Regulation would expire by 31 December 2023. With this prolongation and the amendment of the SGEI de minims Regulation, the ceiling is being raised (and aligned with the inflation) to 650 000 EUR, a mandatory register is being introduced, and some definitions will be aligned with the ‘ordinary’ de minimis Regulation.
Generally, SGI Europe appreciates the efforts by the Commission to adjust the SGEI de minimis Regulation, which goes in the right direction. However, SGI Europe suggests some improvements regarding the threshold, definitions and the introduction of the mandatory register. Increasing the threshold to 1.000.000 EUR would better meet the needs of the providers of services of general economic interest that existed before the inflation spike. Before the unprecedented rise in living costs, SGI Europe advocated for the ceiling to be 800.000 EUR, and thus significantly higher threshold is the only reasonable solution. Furthermore, SGI Europe rejects the introduction of the mandatory register, which would add to the complex and costly administration to be managed by public authorities without a clear added value. The experience of our members shows that the system of self-declaration functions well.
Lastly, SGI Europe calls for more clarity about some of the crucial notions for defining the existence of aid., especially demarcation between economic/non-economic activity.
Contact: Manca Pocivavsek
On 31 May, SGI Europe organised an extraordinary Energy Task Force meeting ahead of the upcoming trilogue on the Energy Performance in Buildings Directive (EPBD), scheduled to start on 16 June.
In this context, members of the Task Force have raised serious concerns about the ambitions set by the European Parliament for all new buildings to be zero-emission by 2028 and to apply this obligation from 2026 to all new buildings occupied, operated or owned by public authorities. Evidence owned by SGI Europe’s members from the housing sector highlights the impossibility of achieving these targets financially and in light of the lack of workforce in the renovation sector (to install new boilers, solar panels on roofs and other applications to reduce emissions in buildings).
The Energy Task Force intends to prepare a trilogue paper to raise awareness of EU institutions on these concerns concerning the implementation of the directive, highlighting the agreed renovation wave rates of 2-3% within the Fit-for-55 Package (from the Renewable Energy Directive and Energy Efficiency Directive).
The next regular Energy Task Force will occur on 28 September in Brussels and should focus on the Electricity Market Design and the Net Zero Industry Act.
Contact: Henriette Gleau
On Thursday 1 June, MEPs adopted in plenary with 483 votes in favour, 38 against and 100 abstentions, a resolution calling on the Commission and EU Member States to commit to increasing collective bargaining coverage to at least 80% by 2030. This resolution is adopted in the context of the ongoing discussions in the EPSCO Council about the Council recommendation on strengthening social dialogue in Europe.
In their resolution, MEPs consider collective bargaining a crucial tool for a well-functioning social market economy. They demand the proper involvement of, and consultations with, social partners and want the EU to address anti-trade union practices. MEPs also strongly call for Member States to ensure an enabling environment for bipartite and tripartite social dialogue and due respect for the social partners' autonomy. They further state that societies with strong collective bargaining systems tend to have more competitive and resilient economies and are wealthier and more equal. This shows the need to support social dialogue at both national and EU levels. Before the vote, in a debate on Wednesday, MEPs asked the Council how it plans to ensure that Member States can remove institutional or legal barriers to social dialogue. They also asked the Commission how it intends to monitor progress in strengthening social dialogue across the EU.
SGI Europe has been strongly involved by the European Commission since the inception of the Council Recommendation on strengthening social dialogue. SGI Europe now calls for the swift adoption of the proposal from the Commission at the June EPSCO Council by Member states to bring support and recognition to social partners all over Europe.
Contact: Guillaume Afellat
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