European Economic and Social Committee

PRESS RELEASE No 1/2007 / 12 January 2007

European Economic and Social Committee

432nd plenary session of the EESC

17 and 18 January 2007

at the European Parliament, Paul-Henri Spaak Building,

at 2.30 p.m.

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Commissioner Olli Rehn

welcomes the new EESC members from Bulgaria and Romania

on 17 January 2007 at 3 p.m.

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Main opinions to be adopted:

-  Equal opportunities for people with disabilities (Exploratory opinion)

-  Taking stock of the reality of European society (Exploratory opinion)

-  Impact and consequences of structural policies on EU cohesion (requested by the European Parliament)

-  Promoting decent work for all

-  Review of the Single Market (Exploratory opinion)


Commissioner Olli Rehn welcomes new EESC members from Bulgaria and Romania

In the presence of Commissioner Olli Rehn, responsible for enlargement, the EESC will welcome its new members from Bulgaria and Romania and speak to the enlarged Committee on 17 January at 3 p.m.

Both countries send respectively 12 and 15 representatives from their civil society organisations to the Committee, bringing the number of EESC members to 344. Some of these new members have already worked with the EESC in both the joint consultative committees that have accompanied the enlargement negotiations with those countries in the past years.

Equal opportunities for people with disabilities (Exploratory opinion)

Rapporteur: Mr. JOOST (Group III, Various Interests, Estonia)

Following the Austrian Presidency's request, the EESC drew an explanatory opinion on equal opportunities for people with disabilities. The Committee believes that promoting equal opportunities for people with disabilities must be seen as an ongoing process featured high on the work programme of every EU Council presidency. The 2007 European Year of Equal Opportunities for All should be put to the fullest possible use in securing equal opportunities for people with disabilities.

The Committee urges the Commission to submit a proposal for comprehensive legislation on disability issues that extends anti-discrimination protection for people with disabilities into areas other than employment and which consolidates the principle of mainstreaming disability policy. The Committee invites Member States (national and local authorities) and the Commission to ensure full inclusion and participation in society of people with disabilities, especially disabled children.

Taking stock of the reality of European society (Exploratory opinion)

Rapporteur: Mr. OLSSON (Group III, Various Interest, Sweden)

The EESC notes that stocktaking the reality of European society is a broader approach than just reviewing social issues in the traditional sense. The stocktaking can be an important tool to bring the EU closer to citizens and to answer their expectations of what European policies should deliver. The EESC believes that the EU Commission should financially support the organisation of stocktaking at national and regional level and give logistic help in order to have the stocktaking process take off. The Committee itself can play an active role in this direction through the members and the organisations it represents, while it is pointed out that Economic and Social Councils, where they exist, should also be mobilised.

Summarising the stocktaking process, the EESC suggests that the European Commission should organise a "citizen's summit" on social realities with representation from all stakeholders. As a follow up the EESC suggests that a second special European Council dedicated to the European social model be organised. In order to build the basis of a new consensus on social challenges facing Europe, a new "social action programme" may be outlined, taking into account both economic realities and social expectations.

Impact and consequences of structural policies on EU cohesion (requested by the European Parliament)

Rapporteur: Mr. DERRUINE (Group II, Employees, Belgium)

In this explanatory opinion, the EESC indicates that all policies are required to contribute to the objective of cohesion, which must not be solely dependant on structural policies. Furthermore, cohesion should not be understood solely in terms of GDP. The Committee therefore calls for a more representative indication of cohesion which should include in addition to GDP, parameters such as employment and unemployment levels, the extent of social protection, the level of access to general interest services etc.

The Committee's opinion also highlights that measures taken to strengthen cohesion, including its territorial dimension, should be given more prominence in the Lisbon Agenda national reform programmes and the Community Lisbon Programme, as well as in the Commission's impact analyses and proposed integrated guidelines

Promoting decent work for all

Rapporteur : Mr. ETTY (Group II, Employees, Netherlands)

In this draft opinion, the EESC welcomes the Commission's communication. It is confident that the Commission, in close cooperation with the Member States, will make a major contribution to the realisation of Decent Work, both within the EU and in third countries. The Committee feels that Decent Work policies, both within and outside the EU, can only succeed with full involvement of social partners and the broader civil society. In pursuing the Decent Work objective, policy coherence and coordination at all levels, including national, is of crucial importance.

A key factor in the promotion of Decent Work is strengthening the ILO supervisory system. The ratification and implementation in law and practice of the relevant ILO Conventions within the EU and in relation to third countries is essential. The Committee encourages the Commission to present an Action Plan on its Decent Work policies, both within and outside the EU, including budgetary data. In this sense, the EESC urges the Commission to involve the EESC in the preparation of the follow-up report to the Communication to be presented by the summer of 2008.

Review of the Single Market (Exploratory opinion)

Rapporteur-general: Mr. CASSIDY (Group I, Employers, United Kingdom)

The EESC acknowledges that the original logic of the Single Market was to replace different sets of national regulations with one set of EU-wide regulations, and hence to create a level playing field which would enable the European economy to realise its full potential. However, the EESC is aware that in reality, EC regulations are too often perceived of as being additions to, rather than replacements for, national regulations. The Committee identifies globalisation as a challenge and an opportunity that was not present when the Single Market was created and it suggests that this challenge can only be met if the full potential of the Single Market is realised.

In this direction, it considers that the better regulation approach can simplify conditions for business as well as greater transparency for citizens and consumers. The EESC calls for faster progress towards improving the single market in services and declares that double taxation has no place in a Single Market. The EESC also asks the Commission to examine restrictions on the Single Market maintained by professional groups.

For more details, please contact:
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The European Economic and Social Committee represents the various economic and social components of organised civil society. It is an institutional consultative body 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 Council of Ministers.