As a follow up to the White Paper on services of general interests, the European Commission (EC) adopted a Communication called "Social services of general interests in the European Union". This Communication gives a broad description of social services. Two main categories can be distinguished:

First, there are social security schemes, which cover the subjects health, ageing, occupational accidents, unemployment, retirement and disability. The second category covers services provided directly to the person in need. Those services consist of customised assistance to facilitate social inclusion and safeguard fundamental rights. Those services also comprise activities to integrate people with long term health or disability problems. Finally, they also include social housing.

The European Parliament decided that health services would be excluded from the scope of the Commission's amended proposal for a Directive on Services in the Internal Market. Due to the changes within the social service sector, a growing number of services now fall under EU internal market and competition law. Many of these services were managed directly by public authorities and were therefore affected to a much lesser extend or by the application of Community rules. The Community framework requires member states to take certain rules into account when they determine arrangements for applying the objectives and principles they have established. Community rules contribute to the modernisation of social services via greater transparency and greater effectiveness in organisation and financing. To gain a clearer picture of each member state's approach to social service of general interests, the Commission has launched a study to look at their situation in each member state. On the basis of the results of this process, the Commission will produce a report describing the latest modernisation trends, case law and developments. A first report is expected by the end of 2007.