Les priorités du Comité économique et social européen durant la présidence hongroise

"I welcome and support the first time ever Hungarian EU presidency! With the Lisbon Treaty having gone into effect not long ago, and in the middle of national budgets' crisis and global challenges, Hungary will play a leading role among EU member states between January and July 2011. Change has become a constant nowadays. Particularly in times of change, we need to take Europeans with us, in all political commitments. Engaging people for a sustainable Europe is my political commitment to ensure maximum civic engagement in Europe’s efforts to foster environmental, economic and social sustainability. I hope the Hungarian EU presidency will encourage and promote an ongoing dialogue with civil society organisations involved in economic, social, civic and cultural life. (...) The European Economic and Social Committee is there to advise and support the Hungarian EU presidency, based on the grassroots experience of its members and on its long-standing tradition of cooperation with EU presidencies." (Introduction by Staffan Nilsson, President of the European Economic and Social Committee)