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NEWS
The latest developments and activities carried out in the context of the Coalition for the Freedom to Stay.
29 September 2026 ·
Implementation Dialogue on the Right to Stay strategy: access to affordable and high-quality services of general interest is key to implementing a genuine Freedom to Stay
On 29 September 2026, Valeria Ronzitti, General Secretary of SGI Europe, participated in the Implementation Dialogue convened by Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto on the forthcoming Right to Stay Strategy.
29 September 2026 ·
European railways support the development of Freedom to Stay - Hear directly from leaders of Europe's railways
“We will invest in our regions, so everyone has the Right to Stay” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at State of the Union speech. Rail transport is a key driver of connectivity, linking people to jobs, education...
24 September 2026 ·
EU Committee of the Regions bureau meeting – Freedom to stay, access to SGIs and quality of life across the EU
On Wednesday 23 September 2026, “The right to stay: Opportunity, services and quality of life across Europe’s territories” was at the centre of the European Committee of the Regions’ External Bureau meeting in Mullingar, Ireland...
16 September 2026 ·
SOTEU 2026 - A step forward in translating the Freedom to Stay into concrete European initiatives
President Ursula von der Leyen’s 2026 State of the Union address marked a further step in the political recognition of the Freedom to Stay as a broader European objective. Looking ahead to the European Pillar of Social Rights’ tenth ...
1 September 2026 ·
SGI Europe co-organised with the Committee of the Regions a local dialogue on Elba Island to make Freedom to Stay a reality for island communities
On 31 August 2026, SGI Europe joined the Committee of the Regions at the Fortezza Pisana in Marciana, Elba, for a high-level dialogue on the first-ever EU Strategy for Islands and the practical conditions needed to...
8 July 2026 ·
Freedom to Stay gains political momentum across the European Parliament
A new cross-party initiative in the European Parliament marks another important step in bringing Freedom to Stay into the heart of European policymaking. Eighteen Members of the European Parliament from six different political groups have jointly submitted a written question to the European Commission asking how the principle of Freedom to Stay...
23 June 2026 ·
SGI Day - Key takeaways and next steps for the Coalition for the Freedom to Stay
On Tuesday 23 June 2026, SGI Europe organised its annual SGI Day at the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels, bringing together representatives from the EU institutions, social partners and key stakeholders to discuss how Services of General Interest can support the operationalisation of the Freedom to Stay across Europe...
10 June 2026 ·
Railways call for EU budget to support local opportunity through enhanced regional connectivity
The Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) is urging EU decision makers to ensure that the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) becomes a delivery tool for Europe’s emerging Right to Stay Strategy, designed to help Europeans thrive in the places...
3 June 2026 ·
The Council of Ministers in Spain approves the contract-programme of Correos with the General State Administration for the provision of essential services
The management contract is part of the development of the amendment to the Postal Law approved in July 2025, which recognizes Correos as an ideal instrument of the General State Administration to provide Services of General Economic Interest to all citizens. The management contract establishes...
28 May 2026 ·
SGI Europe President Ingbert Liebing and General Secretary Valeria Ronzitti meet with Antonio Costa, President of the European Council
On Thursday 28 May 2026, SGI Europe President Ingbert Liebing and Secretary General Valeria Ronzitti met with António Costa, President of the European Council, to discuss the priorities at the top of the EU agenda, and how the Freedom to Stay can help reconnect...
22 May 2026 ·
Debate around the Coalition for the Freedom to Stay during SGI France General Assembly
The meeting provided an important opportunity to exchange with SGI Europe’s French members on the main policy files currently followed by the General Secretariat, as well as on the state of play of the French section. Discussions also ...
6 May 2026 ·
High-Level Launch Event of the Right to Stay Strategy
On 6 May 2026, Raffaele Fitto, European Commission Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms, launched the work for the future Right to Stay Strategy. In a dedicated high-level with Roberta Metsola...
18 March 2026 ·
SGIs Network Joint Declaration for the Tripartite Social Summit of 18 March 2026
On the day of the Tripartite Social Summit, the SGIs Network published a Joint Declaration calling for the Freedom to Stay to become a reality, highlighting the need for a renewed balance between competitiveness, cohesion and resilience across Europe. Discover the document here.
6 May 2026
Investing in rail mobility to empower citizens to move and to stay
CER and its railway members are strongly committed to providing the essential mobility services that make the freedom to stay possible. Rail provides daily transport for commuters, connects businesses, and drives sustainable tourism. It offers inclusive...
20 April 2026 ·
Railways’ key role in fighting transport poverty through access to essential services
Ahead of Europe’s first Anti-Poverty Strategy, expected in May, the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) is calling for strong and sustained investment in essential services like rail. As the Commission develops...
23 February 2026 ·
Launch event of the Coalition for the Freedom to Stay
On 23 February 2026, at the high-level Intergroup on Social Economy & Services of General Interest, the SGI Network, representing providers of Services of General Interest, led by SGI Europe, launched the Coalition for the Freedom to Stay...
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