European Economic and Social Committee
Brazilian Council for Economic and Social Development
European Economic and Social Committee
Joint Seminar
"The EU and the Mercosur: which contribution of civil society institutions to national and regional development?
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
by Dimitris Dimitriadis
President of the European Economic and Social Committee
Brasília, 18 July 2007
Minister Mares Guia,
Members of the Brazilian Economic and Social Development Council,
Members of the Mercosur Consultative Forum,
Ladies and gentlemen, dear colleagues,
[Thanking]
Firs of all, allow me to say how pleased I myself, and the other members of the European Economic and Social Committee, are to take part in this Seminar on the possible contribution of civil society institutions to national and regional development and integration.
I would like to express particular gratitude to our host, the Brazilian CDES, for their warm welcome and excellent co-organisation of this joint event.
[Institutional relations]
Ladies and gentlemen,
Our presence here today reflects our desire to strengthen and consolidate economic and social relations with you. We are well aware that cooperation among us needs to be further encouraged. More specifically, the consultative bodies representing civil society in the economic and social sphere, such as the ones we represent, are a key element to participatory democracy and good governance. In this way, we are consolidating one of the main democratic instruments for civil society participation in policy-making processes.
More than that, our participation here reflects the formal engagements we have taken with the Brazilian CDES and with the Mercosur FCES. You will remember that, in the memorandums of understanding that we signed with both of you, we committed to organising debates on the role and experience of economic and social councils as the bridges between civil society and public authorities. I am happy to see that we are all willing to fulfil that committment.
[The EESC]
Please allow me to remind you briefly about the institution I represent, and its purpose.
The European Economic and Social Committee is the institutional body which represents European civil society, and it was set up under the Treaty of Rome establishing the EU back in 1957. As such, it is the main forum for civil dialogue and the involvement of civil society organisations in the legislative process, and thus in decision-making by the European institutions.
The EESC is a consultative body to the other EU institutions. In a number of cases, set out in the EU Treaty, the Committee must be consulted by the EU legislative and executive branches. In other cases, the EESC may also deliver opinions on its own initiative.
The EESC's 344 members come from three sectors and from all the 27 EU Member States: one-third from business confederations, another third from trade unions and the last third is made up of a range of third-sector organisations, representing consumers, the liberal professions, farmers, fishing organisations, cooperatives, family associations, social action foundations, environmental organisations, etc.
The EESC is therefore a highly representative body and is the only one which brings together the three main socio-economic sectors in European society. It also has a Liaison Committee for relations with the European NGO network.
As a body, the EESC is not only representative; it is also independent. The EESC is financed by the general EU budget. Members of the EESC cannot be at the same time members of a national government or an EU institution.
Our institution's main task is, then, to contribute to drawing up the laws and political positions produced by the Community institutions. But on top of its core consultative task, the EESC accounts for other less visible assets. What are those? Let me give you four examples:
First, the EESC reinforces European identity by providing a link between the social and economic fabric of each Member State and the European institutions. Vice versa, it conveys European policies to national civil society;
Second, it has an indirect but nonetheless significant influence on the development of European confederations representing business, the unions, farming, the social economy, etc.
Third, it contributes to building consensus not only in European civil dialogue, but also indirectly in social dialogue;
Lastly the EESC is a vehicle for bringing together organisations from European civil society and those from other parts of the world and for sharing the experience of the European social model to countries reached by the EU’s external policy. Our seminar today is a clear example of this.
[Our external policy – Mercosur & Brazil]
Ladies and gentlemen,
You just heard me mention the European Social Model. If I did so is because the organisations that make up the EESC are very aware that the future of our social model depends also on events that happen outside Europe. By this I mean the political, economic, social and cultural developments that are taking place in a globalised world. Therefore, as I explained at the CDES Plenary yesterday, we take a very close interest in relations between the EU and the Mercosur and in a strategic partnership between the two regions, which share the same fundamental values.
The EU policy aims at ensuring, on the one side, that all aspects of relations between the EU and Mercosur and between the EU and Brazil are consistent with one another. On the other side, that the two main targets of our relations, namely social cohesion and regional integration, are mainstreamed into all possible areas of cooperation, be it trade, investment, migratory flows, development cooperation, or environmental protection, to name but a few.
In our experience, in order to push forward with these policies, there must not only be a clear political will. There must also be a broad social consensus. The participation of our civil society consultative institutions in decision-making processes and in democratic governance is crucial to successfully fulfilling the commitments that we take at the political level.
[The Seminar]
The EESC sees this seminar as a further step in the process of strengthening our role within our respective development agendas. In addition, it should also be a step in the process of consolidating the participation of civil society consultative bodies in what we all hope will be a comprehensive agreement on EU-Mercosur relations that will govern the full range of our relations.
The EU is making a strong political commitment with you at the national and regional level. This involves regular political dialogue; further trade liberalisation; cooperation oriented to social development under coherent and sustainable targets. We at the EESC support that commitment.
The EU experience demonstrates the benefits of regional integration and we very much encourage a deeper economic integration within Mercosur. We understand that integration is not a linear process, but difficulties need to be overcome for the benefit of all. The work of our seminar today will show how common supranational institutions, territorial cohesion and solidarity with the least developed territories, efficient infrastructures, inclusive social policies and civil society participation, are all factors that were and will continue to be central to the integration of Europe and, if applied to the Mercosur, will boost its development too.
[The EU-Mercosur Agreement]
This wider and deeper integration in Mercosur will in turn benefit our mutual relations. For this reason, the EESC clearly supports the conclusion of the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement.
A comprehensive Agreement would create a more transparent and stable business environment for EU and Mercosur companies. We want European investment and businesses to become real strategic partners in sustainable development in this region. But this is not just about trade. This Agreement will encompass all possible domains of our relations, which means that it will not only enhance our economies, but also social cohesion, competitiveness, development, labour and environmental standards. In short, a governance-based approach to our relations.
Last but not least, the third panel of our work today will deal with the role of consultative bodies in the integration processes. Allow me, ladies and gentlemen, to speak frankly to you: today, the EESC believes that the aim of strengthening organised civil society and the social dimension of our relations does not feature strongly enough in the Mercosur integration process or in EU-Mercosur relations. The will of Brazil and the Mercosur to boost regional integration and relations with the European Union needs to find its expression not only at political level, but also in an engagement to listen to their own civil society organisations. I very much hope that the conclusions of this seminar will clearly state our concerns on this issue as well as our proposals to improve it.
[Closing + greetings]
Minister Mares Guia, ladies and gentlemen,
The result of our joint work cannot but reach much further that the mere duration of this day. The conclusions of the seminar will pave the way for a process of mutual understanding and exchange on our respective needs, expectations and ambitions. Let's not deceive them.
Thank you for your attention.
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