Local and regional governments as service providers

The European Commission has published on 12 May 2004 its White Paper on services of general interest (SGI).

 

The White Paper sets out the role of the Commission in fostering the development of high-quality services of general interest. It also presents the main elements of a strategy aimed at ensuring that all citizens and enterprises in the Union have access to high-quality and affordable services.

 

CEMR has adopted in September 2003 a position paper on the Commission's Green Paper on SGI.

 

CEMR's working group on SGI will meet on 17 May 2004 in Brussels to discuss its response to the White Paper.

 

The term "services of general interest" cannot be found in the Treaty itself. It covers both market and nonmarket services which the public authorities class as being of general interest and subject to specific public service obligations.

 

CEMR's position paper : "SGI : Public interest, democratic choice".

Commission's White Paper.