In light of social responsibility we need to define and protect essential services. In a rush to make the EC "the world's most dynamic and competitive economy" we tend to overlook this subject.

When we start designating services as essential and we start protecting them, we have to check against European Law. This implies that with changes in European treaties we always have to guard against proposals which require any form of liberalization of essential services.

Water

Water is an example where it might have gone wrong.
In 2003 the EC proposed considering a law on liberalization in the water sector. Luckily wisdom prevailed. The proposal was specifically rejected by a resolution of the European parliament in March 2004.

The Bolkenstein Directive

The Directive on services in the internal market is one of my major arguments to place the determination and designation of essential services high on the political agenda. Although I agree with most of the directive, I do believe essential services should be excluded from liberalisation.

To be continued..