availability and accessibility of first-aid support (internally and externally), fire wardens and services, medical facilities and professionals (e.g. hospitals, nurses, access to medication);

Summary code: Competition / Rules applicable to state aid / Services of general economic interest Consumers / Consumers – general rules / Services of general interest Employment and social policy / Social protection / Modernising social protection / Services of general interest Internal market / Single market for services / Financial services: banking / Services of general interest Regional policy / Management of regional policy / Thematic approach / Services of general interest

It deals with globalisation and liberalisation, raising the question of whether a general legislative framework should be established at Community level for services of general interest, and seeks to deal with these issues by asking questions about: the impact of any additional Community initiatives to implement the treaty, in full respect of the principle of subsidiarity; the principles likely to be incorporated in any framework legislation on services of general interest and the actual added value of legislation of that kind; the definition of good governance in the organisation, regulation, funding and evaluation of services of gene ...[+++]ral interest; an examination of any new measure likely to be taken to increase legal certainty and facilitate consistent, harmonious coordination between the objective of safeguarding high-quality services of general interest and the rigorous application of the competition and internal market rules.

It deals with globalisation and liberalisation, raising the question of whether a general legislative framework should be established at Community level for services of general interest, and seeks to deal with these issues by asking questions about: the impact of any additional Community initiatives to implement the treaty, in full respect of the principle of subsidiarity; the principles likely to be incorporated in any framework legislation on services of general interest and the actual added value of legislation of that kind; the definition of good governance in the organisation, regulation, funding and evaluation of services of gene ...[+++]ral interest; an examination of any new measure likely to be taken to increase legal certainty and facilitate consistent, harmonious coordination between the objective of safeguarding high-quality services of general interest and the rigorous application of the competition and internal market rules.

[16] New technology can increase access but also raise productivity of service delivery, as illustrated by the Dutch CareMore approach, where district nurses use PDAs for home visits to patients (www.sensire.nl).

- services of freelance nurses and midwives,