Why are Services of General Interest essential for consumers ?

Consumers spend an important, and growing, part of their budgets on these services. They also rely on them as the key to economic and social participation.

For consumers, general interest services are those that are:

Essential to life and health. For example, lack of access to essential water, electricity or gas supplies can result not only in discomfort and inconvenience, but also in a threat to health or life itself.

Essential to social participation - providing a service that is vital for social inclusion. Examples here are telecommunications services (acting as a lifeline for those who are in vulnerable situations) and certain transport services (essential both for those in remote areas, and for all those who live, work and move around in a community).