Public services

Public services employers sign joint declaration on the role of public services

Members of the Public Services Employers’ Forum (PSEF) signed a joint declaration on 17 February 2012 highlighting some of the most important challenges for public services at a time of tightening budgets, and setting out how public services employers can work together to tackle these common issues.

The joint declaration highlights the critical contribution of public services providers to the economy. Public services provide the core infrastructure for the functioning of the economy and society. They contribute more than 26% of the EU GDP and employ around 64 million people, corresponding to around 30% of the EU workforce.

As a consequence, PSEF partners call upon governments and the European Commission to recognise the adverse long-term effects of the reductions in investments and the lack of recognition of public services obligations. They also called for a greater involvement of social partners in the decision-making process and in the planning of upcoming reforms, so as to avoid detrimental effects of austerity measures on service quality.

The joint declaration was presented in view of the upcoming Tripartite Social Summit, to be held on 1 March 2012.

Signatories to this declaration include: CEEP – European Centre of Employers and Enterprises providing Public Services, EURELECTRIC – Union of the Electricity Industry, HOSPEEM – European Hospital and Healthcare Employers’ Association, EFEE – European Federation of Education Employers, CER – The Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies, CEMR – Council of European Municipalities and Regions.