services and activities reputed to be of general economic interest, whether commercial (e.g. transport), non-commercial (e.g. education) or relevant to the safeguard of public order (e.g. justice). In some countries, public services may be entrusted to firms with a special status, and to their employees. Now, as progress is made with the large internal market and the accompanying liberalization measures, the concept has acquired a European dimension. It is the subject of a debate in which efforts are made to strike a balance between competition policy and respect for other general aims, such as consumer protection, solidarity and fairness, in accordance with the values of the European model of society which the Treaty seeks to promote., avalik teenus - avaliku halduse asutuse poolt osutatav teenus, kaup, info, hüve, avaliku teenuse osutamise kohustuse võib ametiasutus panna teenust pakkuvale üksusele (lennundus-, raudtee- ja maanteveo ettevõtjad, energiatootjad jne) üleriigiliselt või piirkondlikult. Paraku on avaliku teenuse mõistet sageli ekslikult segi aetud avaliku sektori mõistega (mis hõlmab ka avalikku teenistust). Need erinevad teineteisest nii funktsiooni, staatuse, omaniku kui ka klientuuri poolest.