Why is the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) launching a petition on public services?

For a number of years, the European Commission has pursued a policy of market-opening to create competition and a free market. Often, liberalisation has had the effect of replacing single, public monopolies with a large group of private quasi-monopolies. Furthermore, such liberalisation has reduced the accessibility and sometimes the quality of public services, and has not benefited consumers.

For example, the Commission has adopted a series of measures to bring about the progressive liberalisation of postal services. It has just taken a further step towards total liberalisation, opening these services up to free competition from 1 January 2009, without bothering to safeguard a universal service, accessible to all.

What is the Commission doing to maintain and modernise public services? It is getting lost in a maze of hesitation involving Green Papers, White Papers and Communications, but failing to put forward a proposal for legislation.

The ETUC has proposed a moratorium on liberalisation. It has also put forward a framework directive on services of general economic interest. But the Commission refuses to take action.

This situation cannot continue! The Commission must act to protect the public good.

That is why the ETUC - in cooperation with its affiliates and other partners - has decided to collect signatures from citizens and workers urging the Commission to enact framework legislation designed to safeguard public services.

 Sign the petition for high-quality public services, accesible to all