European Economic and Social Committee

On the basis of the Cotonou agreement (Protocol 1), the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is mandated to organise consultation sessions and meetings of ACP-EU economic and social interest groups in order to include these actors views on the ACP-EU partnership and foster cooperation between civil society organisations.

Within this framework, in addition to the general meetings for ACP-EU economic and social interest groups organised by the EESC in Brussels every three years, at regular intervals the EESC also organises regional seminars in ACP countries.

This year, the EESC is organising a regional seminar in the Caribbean (Dominican Republic) on 5‑6 July 2012.

The aims of this seminar are:

• to monitor the implementation on the CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and specifically the involvement of civil society in this process;

• to discuss the topic "Sustainable and inclusive growth" from a European, African, Pacific and Caribbean perspective;

• to discuss the involvement of civil society organisations in the EU's development policies and in development cooperation.

At the end of the seminar a final declaration will be issued that will be forwarded to the partners of the Cotonou agreement.

PARTICIPANTS

Economic and social interest groups:

The seminar will involve civil society representatives (including trade unions, employer organisations, farmer organisations, consumer organisations, NGOs) from the following 15 countries of the Caribbean:

Institutional participants:

• Members of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
• Members of the EESC's ACP-EU Follow-up Committee representing ACP countries
• Representatives of the Dominican Republic government
• Representatives of the European Commission
• Representatives of the European External Action Service
• Representatives of the CARIFORUM-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee
• Representatives of the CARIFORUM Trade and development Committee
• Representatives of CARIFORUM/CARICOM office
• Representatives of Economic and Social Councils from the region
• Representatives of  the General Secretariat of the Group of ACP States
• Representatives of diplomatic corps

Other participants:

• Representatives of wider non-state actors from the Caribbean
• Representatives of international organisations
• Representatives of regional organisations

Venue:    Santo Domingo                                                                                      

Dates:    5-6 July 2012

For more information you can contact Ms Laila WOLD, EESC External Relations Secretariat (tel: +32 2 546 91 58, e-mail: Laila.wold@eesc.europa.eu )

Previous ACP regional seminars organised by the EESC: http://www.eesc.europa.eu/?i=portal.en.africa-caribbean-pacific-regional-seminars

Website of the EESC: http://www.eesc.europa.eu/?i=portal.en.home