TSS: SGI Europe highlights the priorities and contributions to the EU response to the fallouts of the war in Ukraine

On Wednesday 23 March 2022, Pascal Bolo, SGI Europe President, and Valeria Ronzitti, General Secretary, addressed the Tripartite Social Summit, in presence of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, Charles Michel, President of the European Council, and Jean Castex, French Prime Minister. On this occasion, SGI Europe highlighted the key priorities for SGI employers and providers to support the EU response to the social and economic impact of the Russian military aggression against Ukraine.

Addressing the opening panel, Pascal Bolo, SGI Europe President, said:

"The war in Ukraine represents a clear threat to peace and security in Europe, and it is crucial for the EU institutions and Member States to now show determination, unity and solidarity.

"The EU's strength depends on our ability to guarantee accessible and quality services of general interest to citizens and businesses. These services can become targets in the face of new emerging threats: hybrid and digital warfare, health emergencies and climate change will all require quality and accessible SGIs to guarantee the security of citizens."

"SGI Europe welcomes the proposals for long-term responses to the refugee challenge, based on access to services of general interest such as education, housing and healthcare. Our members are determined to respond to this crisis, but we count on the EU institutions and Member States to support our efforts."

In the moderated discussion, Valeria Ronzitti, SGI Europe General Secretary, commented:

“SGI Europe calls for a great level of ambition: the EU is now putting in motion measures for common purchase of gas, to set up an EU defence and propose an embryo for a common migration and asylum policy. Those were all unthinkable a month ago.”

“We however are still at the level of ad-hoc fiscal responses, which will be insufficient to address the magnitude of our common challenges, including climate change and external threats. Reflecting on a possible common fiscal capacity will be needed to avoid an incoherent and incomplete fiscal response that would undermine the broader unity we have been able to show in our response against Russia."