The European Commission released on 21st May a ” Green Paper on services of general interest”, which opens a debate on the role of the European Union for defining the objectives of services of general interest and the way they shall be organised, financed and evaluated.
The Green Paper, which acknowledges that services of general interest form an essential element of the European model of society, reaffirms at the same time the significant contribution of the internal market and of the competition rules to modernise and improve the quality and efficiency of many public services for the benefit of citizens and businesses in Europe.
Lastly, the document raises the question whether there is a need for creating a legal framework for services of general interest at Community level. The Green Paper opens a public consultation that will last until 15th September 2003.
http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/services_general_interest/index_en.htm