4 July 2025
Following up on the hearing of the social partners on the upcoming EU Multiannual Financial Framework, and as the European Commission prepares proposals for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), SGI Europe adopted a statement on the upcoming MFF, welcoming the move away from the status quo and calls for a more agile, strategic, and focused EU budget. Facing challenges such as geopolitical instability, the twin transition and demographic shifts, the future MFF must prioritise services of general interest (SGIs), territorial cohesion, and long-term investment in Europe’s resilience.
SGI Europe outlines five priorities. First, simplifying access to EU funds is essential. Local actors too often face barriers due to complex procedures. Application and reporting processes must be more user-friendly and proportionate. Second, local and regional authorities must remain central in EU funding governance. Their proximity to citizens and experience make them essential for effective project planning and delivery. Third, the EU should invest where it adds the most value. This includes infrastructure, skills, innovation, and SGIs, particularly in regions with weaker administrative capacity. Fourth, every euro must be used strategically, including through dual-use investments and integrated programmes that connect innovation, training, and services. Blending public and private funding should be encouraged. Fifth, the MFF should promote EU public goods - cross-border infrastructure and services that contribute to the EU's resilience and cohesion - while fully respecting national competences and subsidiarity. Transparent governance and clear criteria are key.
SGI Europe calls for a simplified, value-driven, and inclusive MFF that supports enterprises and citizens through transitions, strengthens trust, and delivers on the EU’s promise of common progress.
Contact: Maxime Staelens
From 25 to 27 June, the Fondazione Rubes Triva hosted the fourth edition of the International Health and Safety Festival at the Spessa Castle in Gorizia, Italy. Over three days, the event brought together national and European institutions, enterprises, and academia to explore how innovation, safety and social cohesion can be reconciled in the age of digital transformation.
The final day, centered on “The Challenge of Human-Centeredness”, opened with remarks from Senator Cinzia Pellegrino, member of the European Union Policies Permanent Commission of the Italian Senate, and concluded with interventions from Senator Maria Cristina Cantù, Vice President of the Senate Committee on Health and Labour, and Professor Paolo Pascucci, President of the Olympus Observatory.
A standout moment of the day was the “Projects and Best Practices” panel, moderated by Giuseppe Mulazzi (Festival Director), which featured concrete examples of impact-driven initiatives. Panellists included representatives from INAIL, Utilitalia, UNIMORE, and SGI Europe, represented by Secretary General Valeria Ronzitti.
Ronzitti presented the evolution of SGI Europe’s CSR Label, the only European recognition dedicated to enterprises providing public and general interest services, launched in 2008 to recognise responsible service providers. Building on this legacy, she introduced a new methodology developed by SGI Europe during the implementation of the "Finance for the European Pillar of Social Rights" project co-financed by the European Commission. This initiative aims to create a next-generation social label to help SGIs measure their social impact and access sustainable finance instruments such as social bonds and impact loans.
As the development of the methodology is still in its early stages, Ronzitti invited Italian partners to join the pilot phase and help shape a robust, EU-aligned standard methodology tailored to providers of services of general interest. The involvement of key players is instrumental in advancing social responsibility in essential services.
The Festival reaffirmed the relevance of people-centred public services and the need for shared tools to enhance their visibility, quality and resilience.
Contact: Delfina Bucci, Press Officer, Fondazione Rubes Triva
On Wednesday 2 July 2025, the Caisse des Dépôts Group (member of SGI Europe's French national section) and Confrontations Europe, a French think tank specialising in European affairs, organised the seventh edition of the European Long-Term Investment Conference at the European Parliament.
Held annually for over 10 years, the conference, under the patronage of MEP Thomas Pellerin-Carlin (FR, S&D), aimed to assess the state of play regarding the major European financing challenges and to explore the key issues faced by public and private long-term investors in ensuring adequate funding for strategic sectors in Europe.
A first panel discussion on the next MFF for a competitive Europe was addressed by MEP Dirk Gotink (EPP), vice-chair of the HOUS special committee of the European Parliament; Anne Mieke van der Werf, Director of Business Development Invest-NL; and Giorgio Chiarion Casono, DG ECFIN Director for InvestEU and Financial Institutions.
Valeria Ronzitti, SGI Europe General Secretary, moderated the second panel on the European housing crisis. This was the occasion to see Sorcha Edward, Housing Europe General Secretary, Philippe Blanchot, Caisse des Dépôts Group Director for Institutional and European Affairs; MEP Isabelle le Callenec, member of the HOUS committee; and Matthew Baldwin, Head of the European Commission Housing Task Force, sharing their views on the current housing crisis across the EU and the solutions they would like to see implemented.
This was a good occasion for Caisse des Dépôts Group to call on EU decision makers to involve more NPBIs (National Promotional Banks and Institutions) in the process, as they remain the main actors to implement the European housing policy and make the best use of the European funds.
Contact: Benoît Cassorla
SGI Europe took part, on 30 June, in the European Alliance for Apprenticeships (EAfA) High-Level Event organised by the European Commission to explore how apprenticeships can help drive the green and digital transitions and address skills shortages across Europe.
The event gathered EU institutions, social partners, employers, and education providers to discuss the connection to establish between the Union of Skills and the Clean Industrial Deal under the prism of apprenticeships.
During the panel discussion of the Cross-sectoral social partners, SGI Europe advocated for clearer measures to ensure that apprenticeships become an effective tool for supporting Services of General Interest employers. SGI Europe also highlighted the need to update training content to better reflect emerging technologies such as renewable energy systems, digital monitoring tools, and circular economy practices.
SGI Europe further called for adapting apprenticeships to mid-career workers through more flexible learning pathways, and for reducing disproportionate administrative and accreditation burdens that often discourage smaller employers from engaging in apprenticeship schemes.
Finally, the intervention proposed that the next Multiannual Financial Framework should include dedicated funding to build territorial skills ecosystems, linking apprenticeships and lifelong learning to the principle of the freedom to stay and supporting inclusive development across all regions.
Contact: Guillaume Afellat
On 2 July, the European Commission published its proposal to amend the EU Climate Law, establishing a new binding target of a 90% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, compared to 1990 levels. This ambitious goal builds upon the existing 2030 objective and aims to steer the EU towards climate neutrality by 2050.
The proposal is linked with the broader aims of the Clean Industrial Deal, the Affordable Energy Action Plan, and the EU Competitiveness Compass. It also takes into account the current geopolitical, economic, and energy security realities. Key features include enhanced flexibility across sectors to reduce compliance costs, particularly in hard-to-abate industries.
Significantly, the Commission proposes allowing the limited use of high-quality international credits from global carbon markets starting in 2036. Furthermore, it introduces new approaches to carbon removals within the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), such as the integration of 'permanent carbon removals' like Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS), Direct Air Carbon Capture, and enhanced mineralisation. These new mechanisms for carbon removal are planned to enter into force after 2030, with a Carbon Removal Certification Framework also planned to ensure quality.
SGI Europe has welcomed the proposal and emphasises the crucial need for climate targets to be coupled with robust social protection and the recognition of Services of General Interest as vital enablers of the green transition. Their recommendations include strengthening resilience and adaptation measures for critical infrastructure, supporting local and regional authorities in climate action, adopting a technology-neutral approach, and ensuring a socially fair transition for all.
Further details and the full scope of the new approach will be presented at SGI Europe's next Sustainability Board meeting on 24 September.
Contact: Henriette Gleau
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