“One thing is for sure: We need a strong European Union”, said Hans-Joachim Reck, President of the European Centre of Employers and Enterprises providing Public services (CEEP), during his welcoming speech in Brussels. With Europe's challenges ahead the ambitions must be even stronger, not weaker. However, the official motto of the European Union does also say: ‘United in diversity’. This means that many different cultures, traditions and languages in Europe are a positive asset. Reck emphasised: “This is especially true and important for CEEP members being responsible for the provision of Public Services. All in all, more than 500,000 providers deliver essential services for the 500 million Europeans and contribute to more than 26 percent of the EU-27 GDP. So we are a key element of the European economy”.

Addressing Commissioner Andor, who joined the event also on behalf of President Barroso, Hans-Joachim Reck then announced: “The CEEP priorities for the next three years will be to escort and influence the political debates on a European level having an impact on CEEP members. I do believe that we can make a contribution to overcome the economic and financial crisis which is connected to the way we perceive not only the European Single Market, but also the European Social, Environmental and Climate Policy.”

Finally, Mr. Reck underlined that Social Partnership plays an important role for a strong Social Europe. Then, he reinforced CEEP´s commitment to successfully finalise negotiations on a new Social Partners Work Programme and on Working Time. Reck also thanked the outgoing president of CEEP, Carl Cederschiöld, for his devoted, pragmatic and always prudent way of leading the CEEP during the last three years.

For further information, please contact:

Valeria RONZITTI, CEEP Director - tel. +32 (0) 2 219 27 98

CEEP gathers enterprises and organisations from across Europe, both public and private, at national, regional and local level, which are public employers or providers of services of general interest. CEEP members employ a quarter of the EU workforce; CEEP is one of the three European Social Partners.