The mission of the Services of General Interest Working Group is to follow the EU debate on services of general interest (SGI), to share information on the developments and contribute to the debate at EU institutional level.

In May 2004, the European Commission adopted a White Paper on services of general interest drawing conclusions from the debate on the Green Paper of May 2003.  In November 2007 the EU Commission published a Single Market Review Package including a Communication on Services of General Interest affecting the postal sector in certain parts. In October 2007: Lisbon Treaty Protocol on SGIs is established. In January 2008 European Commission launched an interactive information service on SGIs. In 2008 the Commission announced to review its annual horizontal evaluation praxis on network industries providing SGIs. 1 December 2009: Lisbon Treaty enters into force. 27 October 2010: Commission publishes 'Single Market Act', a set of proposals aimed at rekindling the EU’s internal market, including improving its functioning for services. In March 2011 Commission adopted a new Communication on SGIs with regard to rules on state aid for services of general economic interest, further proposals are expected by summer.