What are Services of General Interest

• These services have been identified as central to the European model of society upon which the Union is built. SGIs cover a broad range of activities linked to the big network industries like energy, telecommunications, transport and postal services, but also include vital services which form the heart of EU social protection systems: like education, health, housing, social and services, water and waste management.

• In Ireland Services of General Interest are better known as Public Services. They are also known as Services of General Economic Interest

• All SGIs are required to provide: accessibility for all, affordability, continuity, information and transparency, participation of users in the definition and evaluation of services and respect for labour standards.

Social Services of General Interest

• Social Services of General Interest are generally understood to be essential basic services which are provided in the public interest, but which are essentially “social” in character, and are often linked to national social welfare and social protection rights and arrangements.

• There are two broad types of social services: firstly, statutory social security schemes linked to main life risks (e.g. ageing, health, unemployment, retirement and disability.) Second are personal services such as social assistance, employment and training services, social housing, long-term care, which depend on an individual relationship between the provider and user, and are often targeted at vulnerable groups.

• Social services of general interest are a specific part of services of general interest, which also encompass large network industries (energy, telecommunications, audiovisual broadcasting and postal services), water supply, waste management, education or health.

Difference between Services of General Interest and Social Services of General Interest

• The difference between Services of General Interest and Social Services of General Interest is difficult to explain and open to interpretation.

• However, generally, Social Services of General Interest are those services which are provided directly by public authorities whereas Services of General Interest involve an economic relationship of some sort between supplier and consumer.

• In Ireland, an example of a Social Services of General Interest would be universal education or receiving unemployment benefit. An example of a Services of General Interest would be ESB who supplies people with electricity and people pay for how much they use. Bord Gais, An Post are other examples.