Without prejudice to Articles
I-5, III-55, III-56 and III-136, and given the place occupied by
services of general economic interest as services to which all in the Union attribute value
as well as their role in promoting social and territorial cohesion, the Union and the
Member States, each within their respective competences and within the scope of
application of the Constitution, shall take care that such services operate on the basis of
principles and conditions, in particular economic and financial, which enable them to fulfil
their missions. European laws shall define these principles and conditions without
prejudice to the competence of Member States, in compliance with the Constitution, to
provide, to commission and to fund such services.
