European Economic and Social Committee /
Brazilian Council for Economic and Social Development

EESC-2014-04966-00-00-TCD-TRA (ES) 1/3

EIGHTH MEETING

OF THE EUROPEAN UNION – BRAZIL CIVIL SOCIETY ROUND TABLE

Brasilia, Brazil, 15-16 SEPTEMBER 2014

Itamaraty Palace, Sala San Tiago Dantas

SHORT DESCRIPTION

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC[1]) and the Brazilian Council for Economic and Social Development (CDES[2]) will hold their eighth meeting of the European Union – Brazil Civil Society Round Table in Brasilia, Brazil, on 15-16 September 2014.

The general objectives of the Round Table:

The EU-Brazil Civil Society Round Table implements the provisions in the EU-Brazil Strategic Partnership concerning civil society dialogue between the two parties. Such institutional dialogue has been encouraged by the EU-Brazil Head of State Summits that have been held to date and is included in the Joint Action Plan agreed by the parties.

The general objectives of the Round Table are, among others:

to reinforce civil society dialogue, communication and mutual understanding between Brazil and the EU

to provide a concrete civil society contribution to the implementation of the Brazil-EU Strategic Partnership by conducting frank discussions and extensive exchanges of views and research on topics of mutual concern on all issues covered by the Partnership, so as to promote economic growth and social progress in Brazil and in the EU

to complement political dialogue between the EU and Brazil

to highlight the role that civil society consultative bodies can play in relations between the EU and Brazil

to have its own input into the EU-Brazil Head of State Summits.

The Eighth EU-Brazil Round Table:

Participants

The Round Table permanent delegations will be made up of 26 members, of whom 12 will be members of the Brazilian CDES, and 12 will be EESC members. The delegations will be led respectively by Hans-Joachim Wilms, EESC vice-president (standing in for the president, Henri Malosse) and Aloizio Mercadante Oliva, Chief of Staff of the Presidency of the Republic of Brazil and Executive Secretary of the CDES. Additionally,

The press will be invited to attend.

Topics

Working sessions will be held on the following topics:

Mobility of knowledge (in-depth debate)

Sustainable Development Goals (preliminary debate)

The setting of development indicators beyond GDP in the framework of the SDGs (preliminary debate)

Urban mobility - a Sustainable Development Goal (preliminary debate)

On the basis of these debates and of the reports drawn up by the two parties, the CDES and the EESC will draft a joint Final Declaration for the attention of the next EU – Brazil Summit.

Format

The event will include an opening session and four working sessions held on 15 and 16 September 2014. The first of these, on 15 September, will be devoted to the theme mobility of knowledge and at which each institution will present reports that have been drawn up specifically for the event. On 16 September, three working sessions will take place on topics for preliminary debate. The first will discuss the Sustainable Development Goals in the broadest sense, while the two following sessions will take a more in-depth look at two of the key aspects of these goals - indicators beyond GDP and urban mobility.

For further information, please contact:

; tel. +32 2 5468371

; tel. +55 61 3411.2199

See also

The European Economic and Social Committee represents the various economic and social components of organised civil society. It is a consultative body of the European Union three main institutions. It was established by the 1957 Treaty of Rome. Its consultative role enables its members, and hence the organisations they represent, to participate in the Community decision-making process. The Committee has 344 members, who are appointed by the EU Council of Ministers. Its members are organised in three groups: the employers, the workers and the "various interests" group, gathering other economic and social actors (farmers, consumers, SME, social economy, cooperatives, independent professionals, etc.).

The Committee is chaired by a President, assisted by two vice-presidents and a Bureau. It organises its work through monthly plenary sessions, six permanent thematic Sections and temporary study groups.

The Brazilian Council for Economic and Social Development was created by President Lula da Silva in 2003 as an advisory body to the Brazilian President on economic, social and environmental issues; it provides consensus positions on Government policies aimed at coupling economic growth and social justice. It brings together 102 members, who are appointed by the Brazilian President, including government ministers, employers, trade unionists, social organisations, NGOs and representatives of the academic, religious and cultural spheres.

It is chaired by the President of Brazil and has an Executive Secretary who is also the Brazilian Minister for Strategic Affairs. Under the guidance of a Steering Committee (Comitê Gestor), it organises its work in thematic working groups and monthly plenary meetings.

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