28 October 2022
On Thursday 27 October 2022, SGI France held an event dedicated to the topic “The role of SGIs actors in greening the economy”. Wrapping the activities of SGI Europe’s French section before, during and after the French Presidency of the Council of the EU, the event brought together representatives of the European Commission, the French government, as well as members of SGI Europe, to discuss the green transition.
Following a welcome address by Laurent Leger, Deputy director for European affairs at Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC), and Pascal Bolo, SGI France President, Valérie Drezet-Humez, Head of Representation of the European Commission in France, presented the current state of play at EU level regarding the implementation of the EU Green Deal. Aurore Bivas, Advisor in the Ministry of European Affairs, highlighted the priorities of the French government in this transition.
Concrete examples regarding the ongoing transformation and contribution of SGIs to the green transition were presented by Mihai Chirca (Transdev, transport), Christelle Defaye-Geneste (La Poste, postal services) and Jean-François Cognet (Orange, telecommunications).
Wrapping up the roundtable discussion, Raphael Arnoux, Deputy Director of Public Procurement at the Ministry of the Economy, and Gautier Chatelus, Deputy Director of the Infrastructure and Mobility Department at Banque des Territoires (CDC), addressed more specifically the regulatory framework for the green transition, as well as the financial dimension.
This event was a crucial opportunity for SGI France and its members to strategically position themselves as key actors in the EU-related priorities in Paris. It also highlighted the urgent need to boost green jobs in SGIs, whilst promoting sustainable development. This approach must involve the promotion of long-term investment, but also the full implementation of the EU Green Deal to promote the transition while ensuring EU competitiveness.
Contact: Maxime Staelens
In the context of improving the capacity of national social partners following the COVID-19 crisis, SGI Europe and Malta Employers' Association are starting a joint project “Social partners supporting anticipation and management of change after COVID-19”, co-funded by the European Commission’s DG Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion.
The project aims to update and build expertise about anticipation, preparation, and adaptation given management changes, new business strategies and sustainable workplace transformations, focusing on those caused by the pandemic.
Through different activities including surveys and roundtable discussions, the project will reach out to 150 companies within target sectors such as tourism, retail, commercial and professional services. It will identify the challenges for the anticipation capacity and the adaptation gaps to management changes, invite to exchange good practices and improve procedures for consulting the social partners at the national level.
At the final stage of the project, the collected information and research will feed into the manual ‘Regeneration Plan to Build Stronger Workplaces’ which will be distributed amongst SGI Europe and Malta Employers’ Association members.
Contact: Stefan Enica
On 26 October, the European Commission tabled a set of proposals to strengthen EU rules on ambient air, surface and groundwater pollutants, and urban wastewater treatment (UWWTD). SGI Europe welcomes the proposals to review those vital environmental directives, and adopt a holistic approach to address pollution in water and air, whilst ensuring the stability of natural ecosystems and the protection of public health.
The proposals are a further step for the European Green Deal zero pollution ambition of having an environment free of harmful pollution by 2050. They also respond to specific demands of the Conference on the Future of Europe. For the first time, the European Commission is putting forward a genuine “polluter-pays-principle” and making big industries such as pharmaceutical and personal care products responsible to pay for the additional treatment phase. We now call to further streamline this principle across all EU Green Deal initiatives.
Whilst SGI Europe supports the Commission to step up the targets in the UWWTD to reduce greenhouse gases and reach climate neutrality by 2040, SGI Europe strongly underlines that this objective should not jeopardise the reduction process of pollution from wastewater. Energy Efficiency requirements should go hand-in-hand with cleaning wastewater and be closely linked to the EU water protection targets.
For the next steps, the files will be considered by the European Parliament and the Council in the ordinary legislative procedure. The adoption process will be progressively on a step-by-step basis from 2030, 2040 and 2050.
Contact: Henriette Gleau
On 27 October 2022, the European Parliament’s Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) hosted a special hearing for the 30th anniversary of the European Single Market. The meeting was opened by the European Commission’s Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, by Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni, Tomáš Prouza (Special Envoy of the Czech Minister of Industry and Trade for Czech Council Presidency) and Giulia Barbucci (Vice-President of the European Economic and Social Committee).
Throughout the hearing, the successes of the single market were celebrated, such as the facilitation of the free movement of goods, capital, and people increased mutual trust between Europe’s regulators, the protection of consumers, etc.
Considering how crucial competition policy is for the functioning of the Single Market, some strong messages were echoed during the hearing, in line with the current management of the crisis. Mario Monti, EU Commissioner for Competition from 1999 to 2004, and Tomáš Prouza, Special Envoy of the Czech Minister of Industry and Trade, pointed out the current partial suspension of state aid rules (with the Temporary Crisis Framework) highlight how important those rules are for maintaining the level playing field and prevent the fragmentation of the Single Market.
Regarding the TCF, the European Commission announced on Wednesday that it is further consulting the Member States on the proposed amendments and prolongation. The European Commission already announced that the amendment will include a clarification on the assessment of recapitalisation support measures in form of grants, reconsider increasing of maximum aid for limited amounts of aid, and a simplification of the calculation of eligible costs. According to the Commission, the TCF should still be adopted by the end of the month.
In 2023, the 30th anniversary of the Single Market will address crucial challenges and will be an opportunity for a reflection on its future. As it was pointed out during the hearing, while there was a lot of talk about the full completion of the Single Market 30 years ago, we now realise that it should rather be seen as a living concept that needs constant adaptation.
Contact: Manca Pocivavsek
On Tuesday 25 October, the European Parliament’s Committee for Employment and Social Affairs exchanged views with Nicolas Schmit, Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights. During that meeting, Mr Schmit presented the proposal of the European Commission to review the Asbestos at Work Directive, as well as the proposed Council Recommendation on Minimum Income and the European Year of Skills.
The amendments to the asbestos directive include a lowering of the exposure limit to 10% of current levels, an updated list of asbestos-related diseases, and mandatory screening, registration and safe upgrade of existing buildings with asbestos. Next, the minimum income recommendation encourages Member States to focus on individual economic independence through labour market participation in improving access to essential services, easing administrative barriers, and ensuring compatibility with other side jobs.
Finally, the Commissioner expanded on the European Year of Skills in 2023 as the need for re- and upskilling of the European workforce has been and will continue to rise in the light of the digital and green transitions. The Year of Skills will encourage just transitions, improved skills matching, and enhanced coordination of skills measures in all Member States.
Given the energy and cost-of-living crises, SGI Europe will continue to monitor and work with the European institutions to ensure coherent, adequate and timely policy responses that will maintain the provision of services of general interest and decent quality of life for all Europeans.
Contact: Guillaume Afellat
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