Equal access to affordable and high-quality public services, including health is a key demand of the European trade union movement. EU actions should ensure that all in the EU, regardless of their economic situation and place of residence, have access to high-quality public services, including quality health and social care, education, public transport, energy, water and sanitation, internet, good administration... All should enjoy the right to good health and have equal access to affordable and high-quality health and social care services, delivered by resilient, well-staffed and well-equipped public systems with universal coverage. Unfortunately Europe has neglected its public services. This must change if we are to build back better - and more fairly.

At the EPSU event on 23 June we will debate the role of pubic services in Europe's future with key speakers. In the first panel Olivier de Schutter, UN special rapporteur on human rights and extreme poverty will share how he sees the role of public services in delivering human rights, addressing poverty in a post COVID-19 world. Human rights can help articulate the public goods and services we want – participatory, transparent, sustainable, accountable, non-discriminatory and serving the common good. Olivier de Schutter will be joined by Richard Kozul-Wright, director of UNCTAD’s division on globalisation and development strategies division. He has worked on issues like growth, financing the green and social deals, full employment and tackling debt problems. For full programme please see https://www.epsu.org/article/valuing-public-services-valuing-public-service-workers