7 February 2025
On Wednesday 5 and Thursday 6 February, SGI Europe addressed the Simplification Roundtable organised by the European Commission. This event gathered various stakeholders ahead of the upcoming Omnibus Package expected for publication by the European Commission on 26 February 2025.
This meeting focused on the administrative burden of the Taxonomy, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, the EU Taxonomy, Small Mid-Caps and paperless reporting, and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
While the first day gathered practitioners, including representatives of SGI companies (amongst others, La Poste, BDEW and Wiener Stadtwerke), the second day focused more specifically on EU associations. On this occasion, SGI Europe called for ensuring that simplification does not lead to deregulation, and make sustainability requirements effective, usable, and proportionate. SGI Europe also highlighted that reporting obligations must be balanced to avoid unnecessary administrative burdens while still ensuring transparency. Finally, the CSDDD must be risk-based and workable, ensuring that SMEs and public enterprises are not disproportionately burdened.
On that point, SGI Europe also highlighted that many small SGI providers are excluded from the “SME status” based on their (partial) public ownership, excluding them from exemptions to reporting requirements. SGI Europe argues that the Commission should remove the references to the SME definition when indicating which companies are eligible for reduced reporting requirements in legislation and replace it with a reference to the new category of small midcaps.
Contact: Ruben Sansom
On the 3rd of February, the European Commission organised a hearing of the EU social partners on its forthcoming proposals for a Union of Skills. The Political Guidelines for the new European Commission (2024-2029) and the mission letter of Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu outlined a new plan for tackling skills and labour shortages and preparing European citizens for the jobs of the future represents a key priority within the plan. For this purpose, on 5 March, the Commission will present a Communication on a Union of Skills.
During the hearing, the Commission outlined the main priorities for the future Union of Skills to the Social Partners. Representatives from DG EMPL and DG EAC mentioned the future proposals for an Action Plan on Basic Skills will address underachievement and top performance in literacy, maths, science and digital skills and a STEM Education Strategic Plan to outline a vision to improve STEM skills and promote STEM careers. This will be backed up by reviewing the Digital Education Action Plan and adopting a Roadmap on the Future of Digital Education and Training. An EU Teachers Agenda will target improving teachers' and trainers' working conditions, training and career prospects.
SGI Europe, together with BusinessEurope and SMEunited, raised common priorities to the Commission. They welcomed the reinforced approach to basic and STEM skills and called for the Commission to focus on strengthening the quality and availability of VET. They insisted that the Commission respect the subsidiarity principle, which is crucially important in education policies as a national responsibility and called for the Commission to adopt a partnership approach involving the Social partners at the cross-sectoral and sectoral level in the union of skills implementation fully. Finally, SGI Europe urged the Commission to be mindful not to interfere with collective bargaining processes at the national level regarding a future "teachers agenda" focused on working conditions. SGI Europe, BusinessEurope and SMEunited will send a joint written contribution to the European Commission following the hearing.
Contact: Guillaume Afellat
On 3 February, SGI Europe adopted its Opinion “Designing a Resilient Climate Architecture beyond 2030: Aligning SGI priorities with the 2040 Climate Law”, calling for a decisive role for SGIs in Europe’s transition to climate neutrality by 2050. SGIs, which include essential services like energy, water, and transport, will be key to achieving a fair and sustainable green transition.
In the context of the upcoming EU climate architecture, SGI Europe members urge in this paper the European Commission to adopt several measures:
SGI Europe calls on the European Commission to integrate these recommendations into the forthcoming legislative and policy initiatives under the new EU climate Architecture for 2040. We stand ready to collaborate and provide further input to ensure a climate framework that fully harnesses the potential of SGIs for a sustainable future.
Contact: Henriette Gleau
The Rubes Triva Foundation, with the support of SGI Europe and in collaboration with MEP Brando Benifei (S&D, IT), co-rapporteur on the Artificial Intelligence Act, is pleased to invite you to a high-level discussion on the evolving world of work.
Titled “Health and Safety at Work: Enabling, Understanding, and Regulating the New Frontiers of the Working World”, this event will bring together policymakers, social partners, and industry leaders to discuss the impact of artificial intelligence in the workplace and its implications for health and safety.
Participants will explore key legislative developments, including the Platform Work Directive, AI Regulation, and the new Machinery Regulation, and discuss how companies already implement AI in their operations. This event also serves as a prelude to the International Festival on Health and Safety at Work, set to take place in Gorizia, European Capital of Culture 2025, from 25 to 27 June 2025.
To register, please write to stampa@fondazionerubestriva.it.
The A.C.C.E.S. project partners invite you to two interactive workshops dedicated to the energy and water sectors on 18 February 2025 in Brussels, with the possibility of online participation.
The workshops will be held in Silversquare Europe, bringing together key stakeholders, experts, and policymakers to discuss sector challenges, share best practices, and collaborate on solutions.
Energy Workshop (9:00 – 12:30)
Register here to secure your place.
Water Workshop (12:30 – 17:00)
Register here to secure your place.
A networking lunch will be offered, and accommodation and travel expenses will be reimbursed. This is an opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions, gain insights from leading experts, and contribute to shaping policy recommendations.
Contact: Cecilia Martin
SGI Europe has just published its Policy Kit, prepared in light of the programme of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU. It highlights SGI Europe’s ongoing priorities and how, together with its members, SGI Europe intends to contribute to the success of the Polish Presidency in the first semester of 2025. The Policy Kit is available here.
Contact: Maxime Staelens
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