European Debate on Services of General Interest
The debate on services of general interest was launched in May 2003, with the publication of a European Commission consultation on this issue. The aim of this consultation was to determine how the European market rules affect these certain public services and whether there was a need to create a new legal framework which would specifically address these services.
Since this consultation, the Commission decided to adopt a sector-by-sector approach.
To date, it has published two separate consultations, on health and social services of general interest respectively.
The term 'services of general interest' remains largely undefined. Although the specific features of such services remain unclear, the term includes health, social, education, cultural and audiovisual services, which are often in the regions' competence.
The AER monitors developments in these policy areas closely. The overall AER political position regarding services of general interest is that regions should be free to chose how best to organise, finance and provide them, so as to best respond to their citizens' needs.
AER Response to the European Commission consultation regarding Community action on health services
The AER response to the consultation was formulated following an internal consultation among the member regions of the Social Policy & Public Health Committee.
The AER response acknowledges that patient mobility is a European reality that the regions encounter on a daily basis, when organising, delivering and managing their health services. The AER member regions have emphasised however that any Community action regarding patient mobility should not have an adverse effect on the regions' competence to organise and deliver services according to their needs.
The full text of the AER response as adopted by the General Assembly in Udine (FVG-I) is available here. For further information, please contact the Committee Secretariat.
AER Response - Health Services
Background to the debate
The European Commission published a consultation regarding EU action on health services.
The deadline for responding to this consultation was 31 January 2007.
Further information is available on the European Commission website- please click here.
It was originally expected that health and social services would be treated jointly by the European Commission. However, following the exemption of health services from the scope of the Services Directive, it was decided that a separate communication would be published on this sector.
Even though health services have been removed from the Directive's scope, the fact remains that numerous aspects of health services are currently subject to the European rules of the internal market. It is therefore very important to establish the particular features of health services and to determine to what extent they can be viewed as a regular economic activity.
Health SGI Communication - European Commission
In April 2006, the European Commission published a communication on social services of general interest. The aim of this consultation is to clarify the cases where these services are subject to the European internal market rules. It is the beginning of a regular evaluation process, in order to ensure legal clarity for governments and service providers.
AER response to Social SGI consultation
Social Services - Commission communication
Adopted by the AER General Assembly on 26 November 2004.
AER Response to the White Paper Services of General Interest
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