][

]

05/03/2010

Strengthening the network of national Economic and Social Councils is vital for the response to social and economic emergencies

During his visit to the EESC on March 3, when he met the President Mario SEPI, the President of Italy, Giorgio NAPOLITANO, highlighted the importance of EU's consultative institutions: "A proper cooperation between the institutions, with the participation of civil society organisations, is vital for the broad institutional network that is Europe".

Reporting upon the meeting, president SEPI enhanced in his blog that a quick response to social and economic emergencies can be achieved by strengthening the network of national economic and social councils.

04/03/2010 - Brussels

Mario Sepi: "We need to address social exclusion through education"

Open letter from EESC President Mario SEPI to Commissioner László ANDOR (article in "European Voice"):
"Dear Commissioner ANDOR,
As President of the European Economic and Social Committee, may I single out some of the key issues that, against the background of the current crisis, we consider as crucial challenges for the new European Commission in the field of employment and social affairs. (…) Education is one of them, as a crucial means of combating social exclusion - education in all its meanings and forms, addressing all categories of the excluded population, minorities, immigrants, workers, poor workers and young people..."

Read the full letter / Mario Sepi's blog

04/03/2010 - Helsinki

New acting Secretary-general for the Finnish Economic Council

The Secretary General of the Finnish Economic Council, Vesa VIHRIÄLÄ, will be on leave of absence from his position for about two years. He has taken up a position as Senior Expert in the Cabinet of the EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, Olli REHN, on 16 February 2010. Following Mr Vihriälä’s departure, his deputy, Dr. Pekka SINKO will be in charge of the Secretariat. A more permanent arrangement will be decided upon in the coming months.

Check the website of the Finnish Economic Council

04/03/2010 - Paris

Events organised by the French Economic, Social and Environmental Council

On Tuesday, 23 March 2010, the French Council will receive a delegation of the Jordanian Economic and Social Council.

On Friday, 9 April 2010, in the Iéna Palace (09:00h), the ESEC organises the IVth Franco-German Conference "The Reality of the Franco-German economic cooperation between enterprises: a dynamic for the single european market".
The conference will open with an overview upon the reality of the economic cooperations (capitals, employment, investments). Using testimonials, the types of existent partnerships will be presented, to identify the success fields, the difficulties and the promising sectors. The debate will continue with the political and economic analysis of the Franco-German cooperation, while the round table that will close the event will emphasize the potential for the future.
The conference' programme (FR, GE)

04/03/2010 - Brussels

Events organised by the European Economic and Social Committee

Between 18-19 March, the EESC organises the conference "An EU Road Map for a Sustainable Economic and Social Recovery".

On 25 March, the Section for "Agriculture, Rural development and the Environment" (NAT) has a meeting followed by a hearing on "Good agricultural practice – Integrated Production" in the framework of the Week without Pesticides.

On 26 March, the Section "Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society" (TEN) organises a hearing on "The feasability of a European network of national clean-energy education and training forums" - Pinocchio initiative.

15/03/2010 - Madrid

European Consumer Day 2010

The section for the Single Market, Production and Consumption of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) organises, as it does every year since 1999, the European Consumer Day, in close cooperation with the European Commission and the Member States holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

This year the event will take place in Madrid, in the premises of the Spanish Ministry for Health and Social Politics.

The European Consumer Day 2010

03/03/2010 - Brussels

Study upon social consultation in Belgium

Luc DENAYER, Secretary of the Central Council for the Economy of Belgium and associate professor with the Catholic University of Louvain, presented the study:

Concertation sociale et transformations socio-économiques en Belgique, de 1944 à nos jours (FR)
by Isabelle Cassiers and Luc Denayer - Discussion paper for the Institute for Economic and Social Research of the Catholic University of Louvain.

To be published (2010) in E. Arcq et al. (eds.),"Les relations collectives du travail en Belgique", Bruxelles, CRISP.

23/02/2010 - Brussels

Evelyne PICHENOT, Chair of the Delegation of the French Economic, Social and Environmental Council to the EU and member of the Economic and Social Committee (EESC) organises a lunch-debate in collabaration with the Representation of the European Commission in Belgium: The Ifri's Tuesdays in Brussels: "How the Commission is organizing the Green Papers" - Tuesday 23 February 2010, between 13:00-14:30 pm

Consult Ms. Pichenot's communication "For the active participation of civil society in European public consultation":

Consult the note on the communication:

19/02/2010 - Brussels

The EESC launches a strategic role for the civil society in the Euromed region to strengthen democracy

During the plenary session held on 17-18 February 2010 the EESC held a debate on "The role of Economic and Social Councils and similar institutions in the Union for Mediterranean", in the presence of ESC Presidents and representatives of the EU's partner countries within the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM).

Press release

26/01/2010

The Lisbon Treaty just entered into force

How will the role of the EESC change following the implementation of the Treaty? How do the Treaty's provisions affect social and civil dialogue, consultations between European social partners and more participation by organised civil society in general in EU affairs?

Questions and answers on the consequences of the Treaty of Lisbon

20/2/2010 - Agrinio, Greece

The 11th Annual Meeting of the Economic and Social Council of Greece and the Regional Economic and Social Councils.

14/01/2010

EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI: European civil society and all the institutions must provide help and support to Haiti's population

As President of the European Economic and Social Committee, I would like, on behalf of all the Committee's members, to express my sympathy to the victims of the earthquake in Haiti.
We are well aware that a mere statement will not give Haitian civil society the support it needs at this time. However, as President of the Committee that is responsible for expressing the feelings of European civil society, I am calling on all institutions and all European civil society organisations to demonstrate active solidarity.

The declaration of the President Mario Sepi / Fundraising for Haïti

9-10/02/2010 - Athens, Greece

Joint conference organised by the Economic and Social Council of Greece and the EESC on "The European Migration Policy: contemporary challenges and effects on Mediterranean Member-States of the EU"

EESC President Mario Sepi and 12 EESC Members will participate in the event. The President of AICESIS, Antonio Marzano, and the Secretary-General Patrick Venturini will also attend the international conference.

The EESC opinion on "Integration of immigrant workers" (SOC/364)

28/1/2010 - Athens, Greece

The Economic and Social Council of Greece organised the conference “Communication, Information, Technology”.

25-26/1/2010 - Athens, Greece

The ESC of Greece organised the conference “Social dialogue for agriculture, rural development and alimentation”.

More about the events organised by the ESC of Greece

20/01/2010 - Iéna Palace – Paris

National conference organised by the French Economic, Social and Evironmental Council (ESEC) on the indicators of sustainable development, presided by Jacques Dermagne, ESEC President, Michèle Pappalardo, General Commissioner for sustainable development and Jean-Pierre Duport, President of the French National Council for Statistical Information.

This conference responds to a strong demand expressed by the actors of the environment. It will offer information and consultation on the indicators linked to the challenges of the national strategy for sustainable development.

More details on the programme and registration

FOR THE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS - Communication adopted by the Board of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council of the French Republic on 26 May 2009.

To increase participation of the civil society in the public consultations, the French Economic, Social and Environmental Council proposes improving public consultations at European level, facilitating the participation of civil society organisations in consultations at national level and reinforcing the culture of dialogue with interested parties.

Rapporteure: Evelyne Pichenot, EESC Member, Member of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (External Relations Section) and Chair of the French Delegation to the European Union.

Reports published in 2009 by the Irish National Economic and Social Council (NESC) concerning Ireland needs to formulate an integrated national response to the current crisis