24 February 2023
One year ago, Russia initiated its war of aggression against Ukraine. As Ukrainians continue to strive for freedom, democracy, peace and the EU values, SGI Europe, both as a cross-industry social partner and as a member of the European Movement International, continues to support their fight for independence and their path toward European integration and membership of our Union. Find more about the statements and activities of the European Movement International about the war in Ukraine.
On Thursday 23 February 2023, the European Commission presented the long-awaited Connectivity Package, consisting of the start of a public consultation on the 'fair share', the Gigabit Infrastructure Act and a Gigabit Council Recommendation.
The Gigabit Infrastructure Act (GIA) proposes revising the 2014 Broadband Cost Reduction Directive (BCRD) in line with the increasing needs of businesses and citizens for very high-capacity fixed networks. The GIA aims at reducing administrative costs and burden for permit procedures by rationalising and digitalising them, facilitating coordination of the civil engineering for all procedures to be speeded up and streamlined. GIA also sets rules for access to infrastructure and provision of information and reasons for refusing it.
The European Commission also published the questionnaire on "The future of the electronic communications sector and its infrastructure" or 'fair share' This consultation addresses a very broad perspective into the future of telecoms, in line with the increasing needs for high-speed and high-volume infrastructures. The ‘fair share’ debate is highly-politically sensitive, pitting against each other telecom infrastructure operators and online platforms and services providers relying on networks, whilst preserving net-neutrality. The consultation will run for 12 weeks (closing on 18 May), with a legislative and/or non-legislative follow-up expected before summer.
The proposed Gigabit Council Recommendation aims at supporting and guiding National regulatory authorities (NRAs) in setting the conditions for accessing the networks of operators with significant market power.
Contact: Manca Pocivavsek
On 22 February 2023, the summary report of the Global Deal Forum, which took place on 2-3 November in Madrid, was presented. Under the umbrella topic "Towards Just Transition and Secure Labour Markets", the event brought together high-level speakers from the world of work to exchange perspectives on the role of social dialogue and good industrial relations in shaping effective solutions to today's labour market challenges. The summary report features essential takeaways from each session, notable quotes, participant statistics, and insights on media coverage.
Valeria Ronzitti, SGI Europe General Secretary, addressed the opening panel discussion, focusing on "Social dialogue for the greening of the economy in times of crisis". Representing one of the EU cross-industry social partners, Mrs Ronzitti highlighted the need for a solid institutional framework to ensure that social partners can tackle today's numerous labour market challenges, both at international, national, local and company levels.
Following the Forum, SGI Europe joins the Global Deal network. The Global Deal is a multi-stakeholder initiative led by the OECD for social dialogue and inclusive growth, bringing together governments, businesses and employers' organisations, trade unions, civil society and other organisations. The Global Deal partnership aims to benefit from, and contribute to, a platform that highlights the value of social dialogue and strengthens existing cooperation structures. SGI Europe was the first employers' association of the EU cross-industry social dialogue to join the Global Deal.
Contact: Maxime Staelens
On Tuesday 21 February 2023, the European Commission adopted a communication marking the second anniversary of the creation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the key instrument at the heart of the EUR 800 billion NextGenerationEU recovery plan for Europe.
The Facility is a temporary recovery instrument. It allowed the Commission to raise funds to help Member States implement reforms and investments aligned with the EU's priorities and address the challenges identified in the European Semester's country-specific recommendations.
With this communication, the Commission takes stock of the RRF's achievements in supporting green and digital reforms and investments across the 27. It outlines further steps for the continued implementation of national recovery and resilience plans. The annexes to the Communication clarify certain technical aspects of how the Commission assesses Member States' progress.
SGI Europe welcomes the setting-up RRF and remains committed to successfully implementing the NextGenerationEU and the national recovery and resilience plans (NRRPs) to boost productivity gains and long-term investments in SGIs. SGI Europe calls for increased transparency and stakeholder engagement to improve the efficiency and predictability of investments. SGI Europe remains committed to ensuring a strong involvement of social partners at all levels in implementing the plans to achieve the right balance between conditionality and ownership.
Contact: Benoît Cassorla
Next month, the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) will start a 6-month public consultation to assess the list of PFAS (per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances). This consultation will address a proposal submitted by Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden to restrict PFAS in the environment and will focus on both the risks to people and the environment and the impacts on society.
PFAS – a persistent group of substances also called 'Forever Chemicals' have been frequently observed to contaminate groundwater, surface water and soil and remain in the environment for decades due to their chemical stability, with harmful effects on people and the environment. The clean-up process of PFAS is both costly and technically difficult, with pollution accumulating in the environment, food and drinking water.
SGI Europe is highly concerned about the occurrence of PFAS in the environment, including in drinking water sources, and calls for a total ban on PFAS. A source-control approach is the only correct way to prevent a persistent group of substances such as PFAS from ending up in the environment and drinking water sources. This source-control approach matches the European precautionary principle and has proven effective.
This topic will be on the agenda of the upcoming Water Task force meeting on 8 March.
Contact: Henriette Gleau
On 26 April 2023, the European Parliament’s committee for Employment and Social Affairs is expected to adopt an own-initiative report, addressing the institutions’ recommendations ahead of a possible revision of the 2014 Council Recommendation on Quality Framework for Traineeships. As highlighted in the draft report, the Committee is expected to welcome the 2023 EU Year of Skills and to call for particular attention to the need to improve quality and pay for traineeships.
As traineeships are beneficial for young people to gain working experience before finding stable employment and enhancing the transition to the labour market, it is important that the traineeship's learning and training components are organised to guarantee high quality. SGI Europe shares the opinion of the European Parliament on the fact that high-quality traineeships can contribute to combatting skills mismatches and labour market shortages.
However, SGI Europe calls for avoiding proposing a directive setting out minimum requirements for adequate remuneration for traineeships: the 2014 Council Recommendations on Quality Framework for Traineeships already proved to be sufficient to support Member States in improving the quality of their traineeships. Due to the correlation between traineeships and the national educational system, it is up to Member States to ensure the quality of traineeships and the eventual adequate remuneration. Together with the EU employers’ organisations, SGI Europe is preparing a joint statement on the issue.
Contact: Guillaume Afellat
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