Since more than three months of health crisis, European citizens and businesses live in a new normal. The European Union, and with it the German Presidency of the EU Council, running from 01 July to 31 December 2020, will face the historical challenge to create a more resilient Union out of the coming crisis. At first, a swift agreement on the MFF and the European Recovery Fund will have to be found in response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. This adds to the negotiations with the United Kingdom on its future relationship with the EU and a very ambitious European Commission Work Programme.

The European private security industry, represented by CoESS at EU-level and BDSW in Germany, stands ready to support the German Presidency in the upcoming months. In a joint statement published today, both associations touch base on the most important opportunities and challenges to address.

In the statement, CoESS and BDSW call for a close dialogue with impacted sectors and Social Partners in response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic as well as continued financial support to viable companies, which are suffering from the consequences of the crisis – highlighting that private security provides essential services, also for the reopening of our economies and societies.

In addition, negotiations around the implementation of the ambitious Work Programme of the European Commission will be key throughout the upcoming months. Here, CoESS and BDSW remind that lessons learnt from the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic need to be taken into account: the resilience of European citizens, economies and critical infrastructures must be enhanced against current and future security threats; the role of Social Partners must be strengthened, not weakened; and workers and businesses must be empowered in leveraging the digital transformation.

Many of these matters will be intensely discussed throughout the Trio-Presidency, consisting of Germany, Portugal and Slovenia and running until 31 December 2021. The German Presidency will be key in steering these discussions in Council and among EU Institutions in the right direction.

CoESS and BDSW count on the German EU Council Presidency to ensure that EU action in the “new normal” will make European society, workers, businesses and Social Partners fit for a new future. Both associations stand ready to offer their expertise in order to foster a resilient Union, which is prepared for the numerous opportunities and challenges ahead.

See the Joint Statement here in English, and here in German.

The Work Programme of the German EU Council Presidency can be found here.

The Trio-Presidency Work Programme of Germany, Portugal and Slovenia can be found here.