Note:Your browser doesn't correctly display this page because of a bad stylesheets interpretation. This is probably due to an old browser version.

 
[Luxembourg 2005 Presidency of the Council of the European Union]
 Version française        
 

You are here : Home > News > Press Releases > June 2005 > François Biltgen: “Services of general economic interest have an important role to play in an efficient and dynamic economy”
Print this page Send this page

Press Release
François Biltgen: “Services of general economic interest have an important role to play in an efficient and dynamic economy”

Date of release : 16-06-2005

Policy area : Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs


At the joint meeting of the Luxembourg Economic and Social Committee (ESC) and the specialised section "Transport, energy, infrastructures, information society" of the European Economic and Social Committe (EESC), which was held on 14 and 15 June 2005 at the European Investment Bank in Luxembourg, François Biltgen, Luxembourg Minister of Labour and Employment and current President of the EU Employment and Social Affairs Council presented his views on the subject of services of general interest and the repercussions of the competition and liberalisation policy.

First the Minister referred to the conclusions of the Luxembourg Presidency at the Spring Summit on 22 and 23 March 2005, which noted that "efficient services of general economic interest have an important role to play in an efficient and dynamic economy." 

On the basis of the example of the liberalisation of the telecommunications and postal sectors and the positive and negative consequences for Luxembourg, François Biltgen emphasised that the objectives of such liberalisation must be to offer better quality services at affordable prices for all. In this context, he insisted on the importance of the notion of universal service.

Finally, he stated that any liberalisation must take the social aspect into consideration. To this end, he welcomed the fact that the Council of Ministers "Employment and Social Affairs" meeting was able to agree recently on the directive governing the reform of working hours in the rail sector ("on the working conditions of mobile workers assigned to cross-border interoperable services")*.  This directive transposes an agreement amongst the European social partners. "A good proof that social dialogue and a social Europe work", concluded the Minister.

* on the basis of the agreement concluded on 27 January 2004, between the European Rail Community (ERC) and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) on certain on the working conditions of mobile workers assigned to cross-border interoperable services.



This page was last modified on : 16-06-2005

Top Top