Newsroom
20.01.2022
SOCIAL DIALOGUE

CoESS and UNI Europa: Security Services are integral to the protection of Critical Infrastructure

With a Joint Statement published today, the European Sectoral Social Partners in the Private Security Sector - CoESS and UNI Europa - call on European co-legislators to agree on important quality control and social provisions for security services as part of the future EU Directive on the Resilience of Critical Entities. 

Security companies and workers are an integral part in the security chain of Critical Infrastructure (CI). Companies protecting assets that are of essential nature for the functioning of our economies and societies must therefore adhere to high-quality criteria in terms of training, qualification, and working conditions of workers.

This can be ensured through quality control processes and social provisions in the procurement and contract management of security companies. Recognised industry Standards, such as EN17483-1 for security services protecting CI, can facilitate this process and help operators of CI identify adequate service providers, because certified companies must comply with relevant quality requirements. These requirements are a triple-win for Critical Infrastructure, security companies and workers.

CoESS and UNI Europa welcome that the Report of the European Parliament proposes important improvements to the original European Commission proposal in this regard. With regret, the Social Partners notice however that these improvements do not feature in the general approach found in European Council.

In the Joint Statement published today, the European social partners in the Private Security Sector, therefore, call on EU co-legislators to close this gap and take over respective amendments of the Parliament during inter-institutional negotiations.

The full Joint Statement can be found here.