Newsflash - 22 May 2026

SGI Europe participates in the meeting of the Urban Agenda Partnership on Innovative and Responsible Public Procurement

On 18-19 May, SGI Europe participated in the meeting of the Urban Agenda Partnership on Innovative and Responsible Public Procurement (UAPP) in Haarlem, the Netherlands, alongside representatives from cities, regions, Member States, and European and national umbrella organisations.

The Partnership aims to strengthen the use of public procurement as an instrument for public authorities to access forward-looking solutions that fit their specific needs.

Over the two-day meeting, discussions included the use of AI in public procurement. Partners discussed the various applications of AI and shared practical AI tools and best practices developed within their respective organisations to support public buyers in advancing towards more sustainable and digitalised procurement processes.

Attendees also exchanged on the upcoming revision of the EU Public Procurement Directives and on related sectoral legislation containing procurement rules, such as the Industrial Accelerator Act.

Finally, partners discussed the UAPP Action Plan 2025–2028, which is centred on capacity building, advocacy and better regulation, and improved funding to encourage the use of strategic procurement. Particular attention was given to issues such as preliminary market engagement, innovative procurement structures that support local ecosystems and citizen participation, and ecosystem-based collaboration.

As a partner, SGI Europe shared its recent activities and events linked to the revision of the Public Procurement Directives, underlining the importance of a practical, flexible, and legally certain framework. It also presented the Coalition on the Freedom to Stay to the attendees and highlighted the contribution of services of general interest to territorial cohesion and European competitiveness.

Contact: Raquel Carro-Andollo

SGI Europe French national section General Assembly – Debate around the Coalition for the Freedom to Stay

On Friday 22 May 2026, SGI Europe General Secretariat attended the SGI France General Assembly in Paris.

The meeting provided an important opportunity to exchange with SGI Europe’s French members on the main policy files currently followed by the General Secretariat, as well as on the state of play of the French section. Discussions also focused on ways to strengthen further the contribution of French members to SGI Europe’s work at the EU level, ensuring that national experiences and priorities continue to inform the organisation’s advocacy.

The General Assembly was followed by a debate dedicated to the Freedom to Stay. On this occasion, SGI Europe General Secretary, Valeria Ronzitti, presented the concept and introduced the Coalition for the Freedom to Stay, launched on 23 February 2026. The Coalition promotes a balanced vision of Europe, where the Freedom to Move is complemented by the Freedom to Stay. Emphasised in Enrico Letta’s report, this approach calls for a revitalised Single Market that strengthens economic, social and territorial cohesion, while ensuring that people can live, work and thrive in the territories they call home.

The meeting also marked Pascal Bolo's last General Assembly as President of the French section. A former President of SGI Europe, Mr Bolo has played a key role in defending and promoting the contribution of providers of services of general interest, both in France and at the European level. The General Assembly, therefore, offered a timely opportunity to acknowledge his long-standing commitment and thank him for his continued engagement.

Contact: Benoit Cassorla

Commission announces the upcoming consultation of Social Partners on Labour Market Activation

As part of the implementation of its first-ever EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, adopted on 6 May 2026, the European Commission has announced its intention to launch a first-stage consultation of the European social partners under Article 154(2) TFEU in the second half of 2026.

The consultation will seek the views of social partners on possible EU action to support the activation of persons excluded from the labour market and to promote equality between women and men in labour market opportunities. According to the Commission, the initiative would aim to strengthen the identification and outreach of persons furthest from the labour market, improve cooperation between relevant authorities and services, and support the development of individualised pathways towards employment.

The initiative reflects the central role given to labour market participation within the Anti-Poverty Strategy. The Commission considers that, for those who can work, access to quality employment remains one of the most effective safeguards against poverty and social exclusion. Particular attention is expected to be given to groups facing persistent barriers to labour market participation, including long-term unemployed persons, inactive individuals and parents with caring responsibilities.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also highlighted the forthcoming consultation during the European Parliament plenary debate on the Single Market on 20 May. Referring to the Anti-Poverty Strategy, the President confirmed that the Commission would consult social partners on a new initiative to support people into work, with a particular focus on facilitating labour market participation for parents, especially single parents. She underlined the importance of access to childcare and quality employment as key elements of poverty prevention.

For SGI Europe, the forthcoming consultation will be particularly relevant given the strong links between labour market participation and access to services such as childcare, education, healthcare, long-term care, transport and employment support. At the same time, the initiative touches upon areas where responsibilities are shared between different levels of governance and where national systems and institutional arrangements vary considerably across Member States. The consultation will therefore provide an important opportunity for social partners to assess both the added value and the appropriate scope of any potential EU action, while ensuring full respect for subsidiarity, proportionality and the diversity of national approaches.

Contact: Guillaume Afellat

European Commission publishes its Passenger Package to standardise multimodal transport and rail rights

On 13 May, the European Commission officially published its long-awaited Passenger Package regulatory framework, comprising three legislative proposals to standardise cross-border transport policy and simplify integrated travel bookings across the European Union.

Presented by Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas and Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto, the package is structured around three core initiatives:

• Multimodal Digital Mobility Services (MDMS): This regulation targets B2C and B2B digital platform providers, requiring neutral display criteria (such as final price, travel time, and greenhouse gas emissions) and explicit labelling of paid placements to facilitate sustainable transport choices.
• Single Digital Ticketing and Booking: This measure requires transport operators to enter into fair, non-discriminatory commercial agreements with third-party vendors. Rail operators controlling 50% or more of a domestic market must open their online distribution channels to competitors and ensure that tickets are available at least five months in advance. Implementation relies on unified Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) linked to the TEN-T Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Directive.
• Revision of Rail Passenger Rights: This amendment expands consumer protection by legally defining a single ticket for multiple consecutive rail connections purchased in a single transaction. Under the new rules, the operator responsible for a delayed connection bears liability, guaranteeing passengers the right to alternative routing or a refund, mandatory assistance (meals and overnight accommodation), and financial compensation.

While independent travel associations have welcomed the increased market access, rail operators have opposed the rules, citing unprecedented regulatory overreach, including forced data sharing and competitor sales. The proposals have been transmitted to the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union for review under the ordinary legislative procedure. The next SGI Europe Transport Task Force, to be held on 9 June, will focus on analysing the package.

Contact: Henriette Gleau

Employers of Poland to host the Polish Economy Summit on competitiveness, resilience and strategic investment

On 28 May 2026, Employers of Poland – Polish national section of SGI Europe – will organise the Polish Economy Summit, under the theme “Time of Advantage”, at the Polish Army Museum in Warsaw. The high-level event will bring together business leaders, policymakers and experts to discuss how Poland can strengthen its competitiveness in a rapidly changing geopolitical and economic environment.

The Summit will focus on the need to move from general reflection to concrete strategic decisions. Discussions will address key issues for Poland’s economic future, including geoeconomics, investment, industrial competitiveness, energy prices and security of supply, resilience, cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, circular economy, artificial intelligence, data, health and the role of innovation in driving growth. The agenda will also include debates on Europe’s ability to remain competitive, the future of industry, the cost of decarbonisation, and the role of strategic infrastructure and logistics in strengthening the Polish economy.

Employers of Poland, the largest and oldest business community in the country, presents the Summit as a space to build long-term strategies for Poland, based on competitiveness, investment and courageous decision-making. The event will combine keynote interventions, 1:1 discussions and a final political debate on the strategy for the Polish economy.

The Summit is particularly relevant as it connects competitiveness with resilience, energy security, critical infrastructure and long-term investment, all of which are central to the capacity of services of general interest to support economic development, territorial cohesion and preparedness across Europe.

Contact: Maxime Staelens