25 April 2025
Register here to attend the event on “The Revision of Public Procurement Directives – Setting the scene for Social Economy, Services of General Interest & the EU”, organised by the EP intergroup on Social Economy and Services of General Interest. You can find the agenda here.
SGI Europe, together with the Social Economy Europe and MEPs involved in the European Parliament’s intergroup on Social Economy and Services of General Interest, will organise the second event of the Intergroup on Tuesday 13 May 2025, from 10:30 to 12:30 at the European Parliament in Brussels (room Antall 6Q1).
Focused on the revision of public procurement directives, this event will be the occasion for Services of General Interest and Social Economy providers to promote their views on the topic. It will also be the occasion for them to exchange and address their points to a panel of MEPs working on the public procurement file and representatives from the European Commission and Member States.
To register, please fill out the form here. The deadline to register for the event is 30 April 2025. Registration is mandatory, and seats are limited. We will return to you with a registration confirmation in due time.
Contact: Benoît Cassorla
During a dedicated hearing organised by the European Commission on the revision of the EU Public Procurement Directives on Wednesday 23 April 2025, SGI Europe delegation highlighted the organisation’s views on how to support high-quality SGIs through a modernised procurement framework.
Highlighting the specific voice of SGI Europe as representative of both contracting authorities and enterprises of services of general interest, members of the delegation underlined the importance of a balanced and pragmatic approach. Regarding simplification, SGI Europe encouraged an update of the thresholds and procedures to reflect local realities better and reduce unnecessary administrative burdens, particularly for smaller-scale procurements.
SGI Europe also called for improved coherence across sectoral legislation. It maintained that public buyers should be supported in making context-specific decisions based on price or wider strategic, social or environmental value.
Building on concrete examples, SGI Europe also stressed the need for greater flexibility within contracts, highlighted the value of long-term partnerships and called for clearer options for adapting contract terms during implementation.
SGI Europe was represented on this occasion by Valeria Ronzitti, General Secretary, and the chairs and/or vice-chairs of our three boards. The voice of Services of General Interest was further reinforced through the participation of the European Broadcasting Union (sectoral member of SGI Europe) and the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (partner of the SGIs Network).
Contact: Maxime Staelens
On 24 April, the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) exchanged views with the European Commission on its forthcoming actions concerning per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
During the debate, the Commission reiterated its intention to phase out PFAS in consumer products, echoing earlier commitments made by Commissioner Jessika Roswall and Executive Vice-President Thierry Breton. Both had previously expressed support for a broad ban on PFAS use, while acknowledging the continued need for specific industrial applications until suitable alternatives become available.
SGI Europe raises strong concerns about PFAS contamination in the environment, especially in drinking water sources. SGI Europe highlighted that meeting the health-based guidance values for PFAS, as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) outlined, would pose significant challenges for conventional water treatment facilities due to the substances' persistence and removal cost.
SGI Europe firmly advocated for a complete European ban on PFAS, emphasising that a source-control approach is the only effective strategy aligned with the EU’s precautionary principle. While welcoming the restriction proposal under REACH from five Member States, SGI Europe warned that limiting the ban to ‘non-essential uses’ leaves too much room for interpretation and delay.
A more comprehensive policy is expected in 2025 within the Commission’s chemicals package.
Contact: Henriette Gleau
The European Commission is preparing new LGBTIQ equality and anti-racism strategies post 2025, as outlined in the Political guidelines 2024-2029 and the mission letter for the Commissioner for Equality. Building on the existing frameworks, the forthcoming strategies will include targeted actions across key areas, with the promotion of equal opportunities in the labour market remaining a central focus.
In its preliminary communication about the future strategies, the European Commission emphasises diversity and inclusion as enabling mechanisms for organisations, public authorities, and Member States to unlock the full potential of their workforce, driving innovation, attracting talent, and supporting better decision-making.
The Commission also notes that inclusive workplaces support employee well-being, experience higher productivity, and enjoy stronger reputational standing. The Commission also underlines that equality has a broader societal impact in promoting social cohesion, reinforcing shared values, and ensuring fair access to opportunities—principles that underpin the forthcoming strategies.
In this context, the Commission plans a small-scale hybrid hearing with the EU social partners on 13 May to gather input on the proposed strategies. Members who are interested in participating are welcome to contact the secretariat.
Contact: Guillaume Afellat
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