The role of the Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions

-                    The Information Report is the EESC's input to the AICESIS report on the same subject which is to be presented at the AICESIS Biannual Conference in Rome in July 2011.

-                    The information report's structure centres on the four sub-themes which AICESIS has identified as being essential: Economy, globalisation, labour market (A); Development indicators (B); Environmental Governance (C); Governance – Political (D).

-                    The report discusses the varied nature of ESCs; the meaning of the term "new governance"; the unprecedented challenges which civil society faces and the role it should be playing in future governance; the independence, transparency and accountability criteria that ESCs should strive for; as well the EESC's past experience in this area.

-                    The information report concludes with key recommendations for future action by ESCs. There is no heading entitled "conclusions" as such since the information report constitutes ongoing work. Any conclusions to be reached will be adopted in AICESIS' final report.