Den EU-baserade organisationen The Social Platform, som samlar socialt inriktade ideella organisationer har kommenterat EU-parlamentets beslut om tjänstedirektivet.
Press Release – For Immediate Release
16th February 2006
Services Directive Commission must respect MEPs demand
to exclude social services
Social NGOs welcome todays vote by MEPs to exclude social services from the controversial services directive, and call on the European Commission to respect the Parliaments wish as it prepares a revised proposal.
The Commission has a responsibility to respect the wish of the European Parliament, the EUs only directly-elected institution said Anne-Sophie Parent, President of the Social Platform. Social NGOs around Europe now expect the Commissions revised proposal to exclude social services, in line with the MEPs vote.
The Social Platform, representing both users of social services and non-profit social service providers, underlines that the original Commission proposal completely failed to take into account the specific nature of social services and their users. Social services such as social housing, and homes for disabled or elderly people cannot be treated in the same way as purely commercial services, said Claire Roumet, Chair of the Social Platforms Social Services Working Group. MEPs have understood that the services directive would undermine the ability of social services to provide high quality services to their users.
The Commission should also publish as soon as possible its announced Communication on social and health services of general interest there is no excuse for any more delays continued Ms Roumet. This Communication will advance the EUs understanding of the social services sector in Europe and help clarify how social services should be dealt with in EU internal market and competition rules.
Social services are an essential part of every countrys efforts to protect the fundamental rights of its citizens and ensure that all may live in dignity finished Ms Roumet.