12-05-2004: Commission defines approach for promoting high-quality services of general interest

The European Commission has adopted a White Paper setting out the European Union’s approach to fostering the development of high-quality services of general interest. The White Paper presents the Commission’s conclusions from a broad public consultation launched on the basis of last year’s Green Paper.
 It highlights the fact that in the area of services of general interest, the responsibilities are shared between the Union and the Member States. It stresses the role of national, regional and local authorities in defining, organising, financing and monitoring services of general interest. 
The White Paper develops the main elements of an EU strategy aimed both at ensuring that all citizens and businesses have effective access to a broad range of services of general interest and at improving legal certainty. 
The full text of the White Paper is available at :

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/services_general_interest/index_en.htm