3 July 2026
As part of the European Week of Regions and Cities 2026, SGI Europe will host a crucial policy debate, "Making the Freedom to Stay a Reality: The role of SGIs in strengthening territorial cohesion." The onsite event will take place on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, from 16:00 to 17:30 at Square Brussels.
Under the overarching theme "Strong regions, strong Europe," this session will bring a diverse lineup of speakers spanning multiple levels of governance. Building on the momentum of the multi-stakeholder Coalition for the Freedom to Stay launched in February 2026, the debate will explore practical ways to support citizens in living and thriving in the places they call home.
The discussion will focus primarily on how essential Services of General Interest (SGIs), including housing, transport, energy, postal services, healthcare, and local authorities, act as pillars for regional resilience and attractiveness. By focusing on these core services, the session aims to address regional disparities, champion strong local leadership, and highlight the necessity of long-term investment and multi-level partnership.
Participants will have a unique opportunity to explore local case studies, share insights, and discuss how cross-border cooperation can more effectively reinforce territorial cohesion and the EU Single Market. To ensure an inclusive dialogue, interpretation will be provided in English, French and Spanish.
Registrations for the event are now open, with a deadline of Friday 17 July 2026.
Join the debate and register here.
Contact: Benoit Cassorla
SGI Europe has joined the Implementation Dialogue organised by Wopke Hoekstra on establishing a predictable, balanced framework for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) technologies, emphasising the critical role and specific needs of services of general interest.
SGI Europe reinforced that direct emission reduction remains the first line of action. However, to reach the EU’s 2040 and 2050 targets, CCS and CCU are indispensable last-mile solutions for hard-to-abate sectors. The meeting emphasised upgrading critical infrastructure financed through the CEF, improving cross-border cooperation, and building EU storage and cluster networks.
SGI Europe redirected the focus to the waste management and Waste-to-Energy (WtE) sector. On average, up to half of residual waste consists of biogenic, sustainable material. By deploying carbon capture at WtE plants, municipal operators can permanently capture biogenic carbon, enabling public facilities to achieve net-negative emissions.
SGI Europe highlighted that current EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) signals create immense financial pressure without clear pathways to reward these biogenic removals. If the regulatory framework only penalises municipal operations without incentivising bio-CCS, it risks stifling local investments in accessible areas that are needed for rapid European decarbonisation.
To accelerate deployment, SGI Europe urges Cabinet Hoekstra to secure three demands: equal, non-discriminatory access to CO2 infrastructure for public utilities, ETS financial rewards for biogenic carbon removals/CCU, and a strict groundwater-protection safeguard approach.
SGI Europe remains committed to building a well-funded, technology-neutral carbon management market that respects the long-term planning horizons of public service providers, ensuring a stable, environmentally secure transition.
Contact: Henriette Gleau
On 2 July, representatives of SGI Europe joined the meeting of the European Partnership for Integration, which brought together DG HOME, DG EMPL, and EU-level social and economic partners to discuss recent policy developments, Ukraine, Talent Partnerships, and the integration of migrants in less-densely populated areas.
The discussion took place in the context of the European Asylum and Migration Management Strategy, presented by the European Commission in January 2026, which places legal pathways, labour market needs and effective migration management high on the EU agenda.
Participants discussed the Commission’s proposal to extend temporary protection for people fleeing Ukraine for an additional year, as well as the need to prepare clear transition pathways. The exchange underlined that legal certainty must go hand in hand with continued support for labour market access, skills recognition, language learning, civic orientation and the fight against gender-related barriers and discrimination. SGI Europe also presented the latest updates from the LABOUR-INT III project, highlighting ongoing work with partners to strengthen labour market integration of third-country nationals through skills matching, access to services, social partner involvement and decent employment pathways.
The Commission further updated partners on Talent Partnerships and the future EU Talent Pool, expected to become operational by the end of 2027. Upcoming AMIF support will target labour mobility projects, Member States’ participation in the Talent Pool, consular capacity, and refugee labour pathways.
The meeting also addressed integration outside major urban centres, in line with the agenda’s focus on labour shortages, recruitment and retention barriers, and the local conditions needed for employment to lead to long-term integration. For SGI Europe, the discussion confirmed that integration succeeds when employment opportunities are matched with strong local ecosystems. Access to housing, transport, education, care and other essential services is key to turning labour market entry into long-term inclusion and making the Freedom to Stay a reality.
Contact: Cecilia Martin
On Thursday 25 June 2026, FedEpl, one of the SGI France members, celebrated its 70th Anniversary in Paris.
The occasion for Valeria Ronzitti, SGI Europe General Secretary, to bring the European perspective on the local mixed economy to the debate. During the last panel discussion of the day, speakers offered a forward-looking perspective, bringing together European perspectives.
Together with Jeanette Grenfors, SALAR Senior Legal Adviser and Chair of the SGI Europe Social Affairs Board, the SGI Europe General Secretary highlighted a key point: the local mixed economy is deeply rooted in the European model, with a long history and is fully embraced in many countries.
Across Europe, local public enterprises are being mobilised to respond to major transformations: the energy transition in Germany, sustainable cities in Spain, demographic adaptation in Sweden, and so on. They are genuine instruments of strategic steering, capable of acting simultaneously on several fronts in the service of local communities.
This comparative perspective invites participants to reflect on one thing: in countries where they enjoy full political backing, local public enterprises are part of a long-term vision and constitute a key driver of public policy. They offer a valuable source of inspiration for strengthening their role within our own model.
Throughout this conference, drawing on European history, the local mixed economy emerges more than ever as a strategic tool for taking action, coordinating efforts, and bringing about sustainable transformation in local areas.
SGI Europe supports strengthening the local mixed economy to reinforce the social, territorial and economic cohesion of the European Union.
Contact: Benoit Cassorla
On Monday, Utilitalia officially inaugurated its new representative office in Brussels, marking a significant milestone to reinforce the Federation’s strategic dialogue and institutional presence within European decision-making bodies.
The inauguration ceremony opened with a special video address by Utilitalia President Luca Dal Fabbro. The official ribbon-cutting ceremony was led by Director General Annamaria Barrile, alongside Roberto Tasca, Vice-President with specific responsibility for European Affairs, and Bruno Manzi, Coordinator of the Environment Steering Committee. Also in attendance were Yuri Santagostino, Vice-President of SGI Europe and a member of Utilitalia’s Executive Board, and Valeria Ronzitti, Secretary General of SGI Europe.
As highlighted during the event, this opening arrives at a truly defining moment for both environmental and energy policies, coinciding with the crucial final implementation phases of Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). In this context, future European directives are set to exert an increasingly direct and profound impact on national legislative frameworks. Through this new office, Utilitalia aims to foster even closer cooperation with key European partners, particularly within the valuable SGI Europe network. By bridging the gap between national realities and EU policy-making, the Federation is fully committed to supporting the green transition, advancing sustainable infrastructure, and shaping a resilient future for services of general interest. This new chapter underscores Utilitalia’s proactive role in advancing the European agenda, ensuring that essential public services remain modern, efficient, and perfectly aligned with shared EU environmental and economic objectives.
Contact: Maxime Staelens
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