10th anniversary of the Consultative Commission on Industrial Change (CCMI): For a continuous sustainable industrial change

Welcome to the European Economic and Social Committee to celebrate today the 10th anniversary of creation of Consultative commission on industrial change (CCMI)!

Let's go back to the past…

In the beginning, there was the European Coal and Steel Community. It was 1951 and it was the first concrete manifestation of the vision of a peaceful and united Europe. Actually, it was not so long time ago…We should all remember that especially in these times of deep crisis. Peace is our main achievement; we should keep on fighting for it.

This high authority was to be assisted by a consultative Committee, made up of producers, workers and users. Like Viscount Davignon said: "it was absolutely necessary to talk to the people on the spot, who are confronting reality". In 2000, after the expiry of this European Coal and Steel Community, the three major European Institutions decided to continue the experience accumulated by its Consultative Committee over five decades. They extended its competencies to all industrial sectors. EESC was ready and happy to accept this challenge. A specifically designed body was then created for it: the CCMI.

I am happy that today, after 10 years of its existence, to celebrate the establishment of CCMI within the EESC and to make a first balance of its activity.

I am glad that Mr Davignon and Mr Frerichs, my predecessor, could have joined us on this occasion. They will certainly have an important input to the debates.

I invite you today not only to call back on the past, but, most importantly, to look forward in your analysis. For us in the EESC it is important to know how do you perceive future industrial change as a factor of growth and what kind of input do you expect from the CCMI in this context.

Let's use the opportunity of the today's celebration to answer some in-depth crucial questions:

  • What can be the added value of the EESC in shaping the European 2020 Strategy, via an ambitious and renewed industrial policy?
  • How would we like the industrial policy to look like so that it is able to respond to the future challenges?

The EESC fully acknowledges its role as a bridge towards the civil society and I am pleased that you are so many in this room today to celebrate and discuss. We at the EESC believe that we are the platform for you to share your ideas, concerns, and experience on European policies and that we can help you to pass your message further to the European Institutions.

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President`s opening speech at the 10th anniversary of the Consultative Commission on Industrial Change (CCMI)