Welcome to this Medina Session on 'Integrating Civil Society in policy-making'. This session has been organised by the European Economic and Social Committee, but as you can see it also involves many notable guest speakers from a variety of civil society organisations who will share their experiences with us.….I shall not name you all because I think it is important we move to the discussion but you shall all have the opportunity to take the floor.
EUROMED
Odnosi između EU-a i njegovih južnih susjeda jedan su od naših prioriteta. Naš rad obuhvaća širok raspon područja, kao što je sudjelovanje civilnog društva u političkom i građanskom dijalogu, demokratska tranzicija, zapošljavanje mladih, održivi razvoj, mobilnost i migracija, trgovina, energija iz obnovljivih izvora i razvoj poslovanja.
EGSO radi na tim temama od 1995. godine. Nakon promjena u regiji 2010. godine prilagodili smo svoje ciljeve na odgovarajući način kako bismo:
- pružali potporu organizacijama civilnog društva u zemljama u tranziciji. Takva je potpora osobito usmjerena na sindikate i organizacije poslodavaca te udruge žena, mladih i poljoprivrednika;
- održavali bilateralne odnose s nacionalnim gospodarskim i socijalnim vijećima u regiji te radili na stvaranju uvjeta za uključivanje civilnog društva u politički dijalog u južnim partnerskim zemljama;
- izrađivali mišljenja i/ili zajednička izvješća o ključnim političkim izazovima s kojima se regija suočava;
- održavali redovite sastanke s europskim institucijama i međunarodnim organizacijama na kojima se raspravlja o politikama u vezi s civilnim društvom diljem regije;
- organizirali godišnji sastanak na vrhu gospodarskih i socijalnih vijeća te sličnih institucija na kojemu se tvorcima politika iz nacionalnih vlada i EU-a predstavljaju ključne političke preporuke o glavnim izazovima u regiji.
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Civil society has everything to win from free and vibrant media.Not only does the latter support and foster civil society but it can also help to hold the authorities to account, to put civil society’s ideas and principles into action and influence the social change.
The Jordanian ESC is playing a crucial role in what is a crucial country in the region. Jordan is a country facing many challenges. But we know from the past that it has the resourcefulness to positively embrace such challenges. Proof of this is the fact that is has now taken over the Co-Presidency of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM).
Staffan Nilsson`s opening speech at the Amman summit
Gaddafi's regime is now falling apart and the EU under UN leadership is mobilising to help the Libyan people build a free, open, secure and democratic state. The fight is not over yet, however I do hope for a positive outcome. I salute the determined action taken by the UN and some EU Member States to protect civilians from their dictator's mad fight against his own people.
Following the natural disaster of unprecedented proportions that has hit Japan, it would be all too easy for us to shift our focus away from current events in Libya.
The fact that this country's leader, who claims to be loved by his people, is bombing his own citizens and is ordering the armed forces to open fire on their compatriots underscores this dictator’s true nature.
"At this important moment in history the EESC calls for the involvement of all democratic forces in the transition process, including civil society representatives, and underlines the important role of participatory democracy. Economic and social partners and civil society organisations play a pivotal role in efforts to develop a constructive and fruitful dialogue about the future of these countries."...