Gronden, Johan van de; Rusu, Catalin Stefan --- "Services of General (Economic) Interest Post-Lisbon" [2012] ELECD 532; in Trybus, Martin; Rubini, Luca (eds), "The Treaty of Lisbon and the Future of European Law and Policy" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2012)

Book Title: The Treaty of Lisbon and the Future of European Law and Policy

Editor(s): Trybus, Martin; Rubini, Luca

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9780857932556

Section: Chapter 22

Section Title: Services of General (Economic) Interest Post-Lisbon

Author(s): Gronden, Johan van de; Rusu, Catalin Stefan

Number of pages: 23

Extract:

22. Services of General (Economic)
Interest post-Lisbon
Johan van de Gronden and Catalin Stefan Rusu

1. INTRODUCTION

In a recent speech1 Joaquín Almunia, Vice-President of the European
Commission, stated that public services (which are generally identified in the
Treaties as Services of General Economic Interest ­ SGEIs)2 bring us
countless benefits and are an asset for our economy and society. They occupy
a vital role in the shared values of the EU. They promote social and
territorial cohesion, foster the well-being of people across the EU and make
an important contribution to Europe's economic development. The devel-
opments brought by the Lisbon Treaty, embodied in the new Protocol 263 to
the Treaties, Article 36 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU4
and Article 14 TFEU recognize the essential role of public services and their
diversity in the European model of society.5 Also, in its Communication ­



1
Almunia, Joaquín (2011), `Reform of EU State aid rules on the Services of
General Economic Interest', 90th Plenary Session of the Committee of the Regions,
Brussels, 12 May 2011, SPEECH/11/328.
2
According to the Commission's opinion, the terms SGIs and SGEIs are more
precise than, and preferred to, the public service concept. For a detailed reasoning
on this terminological choice, see paras 19 and 20 of the 2003 Green Paper on
Services of General Interest (COM(2003) 270 final).
3
Protocol on Services of General Interest to be annexed to the Treaty ...