Introduction:

Between 4-7 June 2009, 492 million EU citizens voted to elect their representatives to the European Parliament. EPSU intends to do our best to work with MEPs who understand the value of public services in the European Union.

For our voice to be heard we need YOU, the public service workers of Europe and the public service users of Europe to Identify! Sign up! and help us help the MEPs who support our call for EU policy that delivers quality healthcare, education, social services, public transport, energy, local government, and administration.

The main engine of our campaign is the “Public Service Pledge”, but there are 5 steps in our campaign.

5 steps to a progressive European Parliament!

 Step One – Our suggestions for quality public services in the EU
 Step Two – Getting the Election candidates to pledge their support
 Step Three – Mobilizing our members and telling their stories
 Step Four – Returning to Quality - Turning the tide, service by service
 Step Five – Working for Quality Public Services in the European Parliament

Background:

Since 2004 what have been the positive gains for public services at the EU level? It is hard to see. The European Commission, under Jose Manuel Barroso, has repeatedly stalled and delayed on concrete proposals for public services. Instead they have spent the last four years promoting looser and looser regulations, despite the mounting evidence of how disastrous this policy has been.

The European Parliament has not been able to shift the focus of the policy agenda to the extent we want. From 2004-2009 too much of the Parliament’s work has been defensive in nature, as MEPs attempt to dilute the worst elements of the Commission’s deregulation agenda; on the services directive; working time; healthcare to name a few.

But the European Parliament is too valuable, and too representative, to be wasted in a “watchdog” role. The Parliament needs to be setting a progressive agenda that connects with the people of Europe. That is why, as Christophe Rouillon has said, we hope that the ‘ostrich policy’ as regards public services will end after the European election of 2009.

To see the official response to the	Manifesto call in English
and the language versions