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ISSN 1725-1923

EESC March 2006 /

INFO

THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE — A BRIDGE BETWEEN EUROPE AND ORGANISED CIVIL SOCIETY

WWW.ESC.EU.INT

Margot Wallström, Vice-President of the European Commission with responsibility for communication, and prime author of the recent White Paper, is interviewed by EESC Info

EDITORIAL Dear readers, On 1 February 2006, with the adoption of its White Paper on a European communication policy, the European Commission completed a trilogy of instruments — the White Paper now stands alongside the Commission’s July 2005 action plan and its October 2005 ‘Plan D’ communication. The White Paper has launched a six-month consultation period. Margot Wallström explains the logic underlying the White Paper and the envisaged follow-up to that in an interview in this newspaper.

Put communication at the service of democracy In a 16 February 2006 interview, Karel Govaert and Agata Berdys of the EESC’s Press Unit interviewed Margot Wallström about the basic philosophy underlining the recently adopted White Paper on a European communication policy. So what, asked EESC Info, Margot Wallström during the is the basic philosophy of the White Paper? ‘We have interview with EESC Info.

The European Economic and Social Committee naturally welcomes the broad thrust of the White Paper. The February plenary session of the Committee agreed to the creation of a sub-committee to prepare the EESC’s opinion on the White Paper, provisionally scheduled for adoption in July. I have no doubt that the Committee’s opinion will be supportive and constructive, as its opinions have been on the reflection period and on ‘Plan D’. But an element of urgency is creeping into the picture now; it is time to start delivering on everything that we collectively — and I mean not only the EU institutions but also Member State governments — have said that we would do. We must also think actively about how we are going to process the views that will be expressed during the various consultation and reflection processes under way (the reflection period itself, the ongoing ‘Plan D’ dialogue and the White Paper’s six-month consultation). I know that the Committee’s Communication Group is closely monitoring the implementation of the EESC’s own commitments in these contexts. An interinstitutional coordination group has recently been established with a view in particular to the implementation of ‘Plan D’. A key element in all of these processes is decentralisation — going local. Another is synergies — ‘doing the job together’, in the words of the White Paper. As Margot Wallström makes clear in the interview, the Commission sees us as a valuable partner. I hope that our two institutions can now meet the common communications challenge by going local together. Anne-Marie Sigmund, President of the European Economic and Social Committee

to change the focus from “Brussels” to Brno,’ said Ms Wallström. ‘In other words, we have to move from discussing what happens in Brussels to concentrating on what happens in the regions, on the ground, by going local. We have to change from institutions to citizens: what do our citizens think? We must listen better to what they have to say. We need to switch from an informational monologue to dialogue. We need to listen more carefully, to be more interactive. In short, we have to put communication at the service of democracy. Even if our policies are not always simple to explain, we have to make the effort to take the (Continued on page 2)

Strengthening economic governance

Strengthening economic governance in Europe by turning the Stability Pact into a pact for stability and growth.

The European Economic and Social Committee is greatly concerned at the current lack of momentum in European economic governance. In their opinion, rapporteurs Ms Florio and Mr Burani include guidelines on strengthening European economic governance. The changes proposed by members of the EESC are focused on that very need to strengthen European economic governance.

Since its inception, the Stability and Growth Pact has played a key role, but regrettably its reform has been accompanied by a lack of coordination of European economic governance. The reform process is unfinished since it has not provided a guarantee that the process of coordinating European economic policy will genuinely be stepped up — a process which would enable us to make the most of the opportunities provided by economic and monetary union for economic growth and jobs. The European Council has, in essence, annulled the Commission’s power of surveillance and given it to a Council composed of the potential subjects of that surveillance. If one poses the question ‘Who supervises the supervisors?’ the rather embarrassed answer would have to be ‘The supervised!’ The reform of the Stability and Growth Pact seems not to have eliminated the democratic deficit in the original pact.

IN THIS ISSUE

The opinion’s rapporteurs at the plenary session

One initial area where enhanced cooperation could be applied is economic and monetary union. What necessitates recourse to enhanced cooperation in the context of EMU is the fact that the countries which are currently involved in the single currency have an undoubted need to bring their own economic policies into line with each other, unlike other countries which are not currently involved. The coordination of EMU Member States’ economic policies must involve creating a set of economic policy priorities as well as instruments for achieving those objectives. The debate arising from the reform of the Stability and Growth Pact has brought to light contradictions at the heart of the EU’s institutional framework. How can we overcome the current stalled situation resulting from the need to take unanimous intergovernmental decisions in a European Union of 25 Member States? Implementation of the Stability and Growth Pact must involve efforts to clarify how we see the future institutional framework of the EU.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

• Europe must connect with its people — the ‘Sound of Europe’ conference in Salzburg

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• Broad economic policy guidelines (2005–08) — opinion by Mr Metzler

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• 5 to 7 April 2006: Fourth meeting of EU–Latin America/

• Interview with Mr Czajkowski on the European Charter for Mobility

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• Aiming for more involvement of civil society — EESC conference in Kiev

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27 and 28 March 2006: Civil Society Forum for the Western Balkans, at the EESC in Brussels Caribbean organised civil society. The Committee organises biannual meetings for the representatives of organised civil society in the EU, Latin America and the Caribbean. The fourth meeting will take place in Vienna.

EESC INFO / March 2006 /

Europe must connect with its people Anne-Marie Sigmund believes that it is absolutely essential to bring Europe closer to its citizens. This was the objective of the ‘Sound of Europe’ conference, which was jointly organised by the Austrian Presidency, the European Commission and the EESC and held on 27 and 28 January in Salzburg.

In four high-level panels, representatives of politics, culture, science and organised civil society discussed the emergence of a European identity. Under the heading ‘What next — a new sound?’, Ms Sigmund, together with Javier Solana, the Secretary-General of the Council, Ursula Plassnik, the Austrian Foreign Minister, and Margot Wallström, Vice-President of the Commission, discussed Europe’s future. Anne-Marie Sigmund described European organised civil society as the ‘essential sounding board’ for a harmonious European concert. That said, civil society was still developing the necessary structures to enable it to act at a European level. Ms Sigmund emphasised the special role here of the EESC as a ‘bridge between Europe and organised civil society’.

Anne-Marie Sigmund at the debate on the emergence of a European identity.

Europe must connect with its people in order to become closer to them. Ms Sigmund believed that

the key to achieving this was culture, which she defined as a ‘commitment to shared values’. ‘As well as preserving our shared heritage and art, culture includes education, sport and recreation, and also science and research,’ the President explained. Culture was therefore an especially cohesive force and had an important social dimension, making it possible to see European identity not as exclusive but rather as something positive, which emphasised what people had in common. President Sigmund called upon politicians to communicate the positive aspects of European policy more clearly to the public. She gave the example of the Lisbon strategy, which was barely known to the public, but which could serve as a blueprint for the European social model. Ms Sigmund warned, however, that without active public involvement, the strategy could not be implemented.

Macroeconomic policies for growth and employment must go hand in hand with microeconomic reforms

© European Commission

At its February plenary session, the EESC adopted an own-initiative opinion on the broad economic policy guidelines (2005–08) so as to provide those involved in formulating EU economic policy with proposals, in anticipation of the 2006 spring summit, for the way forward based on consensus among the various interests that make up civil society.

Growth and jobs — working together for Europe’s future.

In his opinion, Mr Metzler stresses that, faced with continuing weak economic growth in the euro area, indeed in the EU as a whole, and the challenges of globalisation and demographic change, the EESC believes that — as an integral part of the Lisbon Mr Metzler, rapporteur strategy — a macroeconomic for the opinion on the policy that actively promotes broad economic policy growth and employment is guidelines (2005–08). needed to overcome the current economic and employment problems in the EU. The crisis of confidence that prevails in the large euro-area economies can similarly only be overcome by adhering to the fundamental principles of sustainability in finance and social policy. The Committee also supports the Commission’s call for social security systems to be modernised so as to

political discussion beyond the European level and ensure that we genuinely involve the different stakeholders and the citizens.’

Ms Wallström described the envisaged follow-up to the White Paper consultation process. ‘Once the sixmonth consultation period is over, we will organise working groups on the five themes set out in the White Paper, and the intention is for them to come up with very concrete proposals. I don’t know yet what nature these will take, but I don’t anticipate that there will be a lot of purely legislative proposals,’ she continued. It was a matter of ‘putting flesh on the bones’. These proposals would then be put to the Parliament and the Council, and also to the stakeholders.

Appropriate measures to strengthen competition and cut red tape should complement further development of the EU internal market. Correct decisions in the areas of lifelong learning, equality of opportunity, support for families, education, research and innovation are key to the knowledge-based society. The framework and the incentives for creating an innovation-friendly environment must therefore be improved further. In general terms, the Committee also emphasises that promoting entrepreneurship deserves particular attention.

used, I mean in particular the ‘open space’ method and the stakeholders’ forum format.’

(Continued from page 1 — Interview with Ms Margot Wallström)

Acknowledging the EESC’s consistent calls for organised civil society to be much more fully involved in the EU’s legislative and policy-making processes, Ms Wallström expressed ‘absolute conviction’ that the White Paper would help in that regard. Consultation with civil society organisations was, for example, one of the starting points in the Commission’s insistence on minimum standards for consultation. It was not, she insisted, simply a matter of better consultation, but also demonstrating that the views expressed have been taken into account. This emphasis on connectivity, on improving the dialogue with civil society, was a major plank of the White Paper.

ensure their sustainability. In order to reduce unemployment, the flexibility of the labour markets must also be increased. What is important here is to ensure that social security, on which many people quite rightly rely, is maintained. At the same time, it is important to mobilise the potential of available workers. In this area, the social partners and Member State governments have a role to play in creating an innovationfriendly balance between flexibility and security.

The outcomes of the EESC’s Stakeholders’ Forum influenced the White Paper on a European communication policy.

The White Paper places heavy emphasis on cooperation and partnership between the EU’s institutions. The EESC’s recent opinions on the reflection period and on ‘Plan D’ delivered the same message. Here, Ms Wallström applauded the ‘excellent cooperation’ between the EESC and the Commission. ‘We’ve had very good exchanges of views on important proposals. In our new framework agreement, in our protocol for cooperation, we have said that it is important that we identify and maybe focus more on what is really important for the EESC and for the Commission and thus make sure that we concentrate on the most important issues. I also think that we can get a lot of help from some of the working methods the EESC has

The Commission has been at pains to insist that, in the communication domain, the role of the European Union’s institutions can only be complementary to that of the Member States. So what, asked EESC Info, should the institutions do if the Member States did not play their role? ‘We nevertheless have to mobilise civil society and the different stakeholders,’ replied Ms Wallström. ‘We must still play our part. We must engage across the board with those whose interests are affected by what we do — for example, on passenger rights, on environmental and trade issues. Organised civil society is naturally important in this context.’ A common theme in the EESC’s extraordinary plenary debates on ‘bridging the gap’ had been the need to take a longer-term view, in particular by introducing notions of governance and enhancing civic education in our schools, so that tomorrow’s European citizens would be better equipped to understand what the European Union was doing for them and why. However, the White Paper acknowledged that the Member States alone were responsible for the content of teaching. So what, asked EESC Info, could realistically be done? ‘Of course,’ replied Ms Wallström, ‘the Member States are absolutely free to do as they wish but can they seriously decide not to talk about (Continued on page 3)

EESC INFO / March 2006 /

Interview with Mr Czajkowski

Mr Czajkowski, rapporteur for the opinion on transnational mobility in the EU.

You are the rapporteur for the opinion on transnational mobility for education and training purposes, which was adopted at the February plenary session. Could you explain why the EESC tackled this opinion? The EESC’s opinion on transnational mobility for education and training purposes was drawn up following a referral from the European Parliament and the Council. It was drafted in a relatively short space of time, which complicated matters as, in my opinion, some basic research among the beneficiaries of international exchange programmes ought to have been carried out first. Given the increase in the programme’s budget, the Commission wanted to be certain that the funds would be used appropriately and bring mutual benefits to all recipients, from the acquisition of work and life experience to the effective

teaching of foreign languages within the Community. As the EESC noted in its opinion, these programmes are very important as they involve young people and, through such initiatives, enable individuals to develop socially and culturally and help prepare them for an active professional life, as well as help them to share experiences, learn about new cultures and situations, overcome barriers and increase tolerance. One of the most important comments taken up by the European Parliament and the Council, and backed by the EESC, was the voluntary nature of the adoption of the European Charter for Mobility, which will not result in any financial commitments for the Member States. Establishing a date for the introduction of the principles of the charter was one of the important areas focused on by the EESC. In our opinion, this should promote greater awareness of the issues raised in the charter so that they can be introduced as soon as possible. What recommendations in the area of transnational mobility are included in the EESC’s opinion? The first, and certainly the most important recommendation is the removal of barriers for young people; this does not mean legal barriers but linguistic and cultural barriers, which should be tackled at national level. Young people who have taken part in mobility programmes for educational purposes are generally very pleased with their results, although worrying situations do also occur, which is why we have tried to take all the various aspects into account

EESC Info available in all official EU languages Since November 2005, EESC Info has been available in 20 languages (in PDF format) on the EESC’s website (http://www.esc.eu.int/press/eescinfo/index_en.asp). It is published nine times a year.

© European Commission

The European Charter for Mobility

Access to apprenticeship systems for young people across the EU.

in our opinion. We suggested, for example, that participants fill in a questionnaire, to provide information at national level about the results achieved by those taking part. The European Charter for Mobility is currently applied by only some of the Member States. What is the Committee’s opinion regarding its adoption by all Member States? Naturally, the EESC supports this initiative and encourages all Member States to sign the charter. Obviously, this involves taking responsibility for its implementation; however, bearing in mind the need for the sustainable development and competitiveness of the European economy in the global context, the remaining countries should waste no more time thinking about whether to sign it.

(Continued from page 2 — Interview with Ms Margot Wallström)

something that actually affects all of their citizens? Is it realistic that nothing should be said about the United Nations or the European Union in the hope that they’ll go away? This is of course silly. I think citizens all over Europe have the right to know and in particular have the right, through their education, to knowledge about the European Union and its institutions.’ The White Paper argued that Europe should be given a human face. But, asked EESC Info, given the complexity and technocratic nature of the EU, was that possible? Might organised civil society have a particular role to play in that context? ‘We have to provide a human face,’ argued Ms Wallström. ‘We need it. But it requires leadership, at all levels. It requires, of course, that we who work with and for the European institutions — including the EESC — should be accessible, should be there, should be able to take the debate to the people, to both listen and explain.’ That, she concluded, was the fundamental challenge of communication facing us all.

Economic governance also means managing challenges economy has to progress with integration in order to cope with globalisation. It cannot stop halfway!

Mr Joaquín Almunia, Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, presented the main challenges of economic governance to the February plenary session of the Committee. Mr Almunia stressed that the prospects for economic growth in the EU were improving. Nevertheless, even in a recovery phase, the European economy was struggling to translate more positive prospects into growth. The difficulties could not be put down to interest rates or to the euro’s exchange rate, but rather to structural problems and lower productivity in EU economies. Two concrete reforms were beginning to bear fruit: the reform of the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) and the renewed Lisbon strategy. Both should help reduce economic uncertainty.

The Commissioner, Mr Joaquin Almunia, thanks the Committee for its proposals.

‘The EU is not paralysed: it continues to provide specific responses to current challenges, while safeguarding its original values of cohesion and solidarity,’ affirmed the Commissioner. European leaders must now face up to the necessary reforms. The European

The Commissioner thanked the Committee for its preparatory work, in particular for its own-initiative opinion on strengthening economic governance — the reform of the Stability and Growth Pact, drafted by Mrs Florio and Mr Burani, the own-initiative opinion on the broad economic policy guidelines (2005–08), drafted by Mr Metzler, and the exploratory opinion on the creation of a common consolidated corporate tax base in the EU, for which the rapporteur was Mr Nyberg (Group II, Sweden). In that opinion, the Committee supported a common consolidated corporate tax base. It also welcomed the Commission’s efforts, and saw them as a move towards the creation of a common tax base.

EESC INFO / March 2006 /

www.eesc.europa.eu

A new sub-domain: a single, clear point of entry to all EUrelated information.

New Internet domain Starting from 9 May 2006, all website and e-mail addresses of European institutions will share a new sub-domain ‘europa.eu’. As a result, the address of the EESC website will move from www.esc.eu.int to www.eesc.europa.eu, and e-mail addresses will take the format [email protected]. eu. The changeover will be supported by a joint information campaign across the EU institutions. However, the change of e-mail addresses should also be communicated by all users of institutional e-mails within their contact list. If you do not manage to inform your contacts before 9 May, there is no need to worry; both addresses (the old and the new one) will work in parallel during a 12-month transitional period.

‘Bertha von Suttner: a life for peace’ exhibition On 8 March 2006, the EESC marked International Women’s Day by renaming its Montoyer building after Bertha von Suttner, an Austrian and the first female Nobel Peace Prize laureate. A supporter of a united Europe as a way to maintain peace, Bertha von Suttner (1843–1914) certainly deserves credit for contributing to the development of the European Union. The Austrian Commissioner, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, gave a speech at the opening ceremony, which was also attended by Mr Franz Cede, the Austrian Ambassador to Belgium. The inaugural ceremony was followed by the opening of an exhibition entitled ‘Bertha von Suttner: a life for peace’, a lecture by the well-known historian Brigitte Hamann and a concert performed by Italian pianists Sandro and Fabio Gemmiti. This peace activist was, in this way, given her rightful place in the history of the early days of the European project.

Aiming for more involvement of civil society Deepening the involvement of civil society in implementing the EU–Ukraine action plan, promoting civil dialogue in Ukraine and further developing relations between the EESC and its Ukrainian partners were the key messages of the ‘Connecting EU–Ukraine civil society: facing challenges and finding opportunities in the framework of the EU–Ukraine action plan’ conference organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on 6 and 7 February 2006 in Kiev, Ukraine. More than 100 participants attended the conference, including the EESC President, 24 EESC members, and EU and Ukrainian officials, in addition to 60 representatives of civil society organisations (CSOs) from all over Ukraine. The delegates took part in three working sessions, discussing a wide range of subjects, including the structure of EU–Ukraine relations, the involvement of civil society and connecting European and Ukrainian civil society organisations — and thus participating in Ukraine’s transformation. ‘We, EESC members, hope to promote dialogue and cooperation between our respective economic and social interest groups, to familiarise you with the consultation process established within the EU and to familiarise both of us with your social structures and the economic and social impact of the reforms you are currently undertaking’, declared Ms Anne-Marie Sigmund, President of the EESC. According to the President, it is vitally important to strengthen the principle of participatory democracy and, therefore, to involve civil society organisations fully in this process. ‘Involving social forces in monitoring public policies leads to initiatives, creativity, dialogue and debate that forge the collective consciousness, create solidarity and develop citizenship’, Ms Sigmund explained.

Assistant editors • Mr Christian Weger • Ms Agata Berdys • Ms Agnieszka Nyka • Ms Sabine Pierrel • Ms Tessa Delville-Kordy Address • European Economic and Social Committee Rue Belliard 99, B-1040 Brussels Tel. (32-2) 546 93 96 or 546 95 86 Fax (32-2) 546 97 64 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: http://www.esc.eu.int A PDF version of this newsletter is available on the EESC’s website: http://www.esc.eu.int/press/eescinfo/index_en.asp

After the Orange Revolution: towards greater integration with the EU The conference’s key objective is to strengthen the participation of Ukrainian civil society organisations in EU value-based reforms as mandated by the partnership and cooperation agreement. The conference also seeks to support the successful implementation of the EU–Ukraine action plan as part of the European neighbourhood policy. The discussion focused on the progress made in democratising Ukrainian society. Mr Ian Boag, Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Ukraine, noted that after just one year there had already been significant progress in the implementation of the action plan, especially with regard to strengthening democracy and freedom of the media. Ukrainian representatives underlined the need for information and consultation and for funding to help build their capacity to act and develop. One of the main goals set out in the final statement is opening up EU programmes, in particular in the areas of education, training, youth and culture, to Ukrainian organisations; this is an example of a concrete step that could be taken. The increasing independence of the media should be encouraged and supported through enhanced cooperation and exchanges with the EU.

Deeper cooperation with Ukrainian CSOs

Promoting civil dialogue and cooperation between European and Ukrainian representatives — the aim of the Kiev conference.

EESC INFO / March 2006 / Editor • Mr Karel Govaert

Participants stress their need for information and consultation.

EESC Info can be obtained free of charge and in electronic format from the European Economic and Social Committee’s press service. It is available in 20 languages. Nine issues are published every year during EESC plenary sessions. EESC Info is not an official record of the EESC’s proceedings; for this, please refer to the Official Journal of the European Union or to the EESC’s other publications. Reproduction is permitted if EESC Info is mentioned as the source and a copy is sent to the editor. Print run: 42 000 copies. Next issue: April 2006.

The conference participants called for deeper cooperation between the EESC and the Ukrainian CSOs. Dialogue between EU and Ukrainian representatives of organised civil society is a key instrument for a more transparent public debate, which brings added value, as well as for the integration of European social norms. The participants also stressed the need to promote the involvement of organised civil society as a genuine partner in the implementation and monitoring of the action plan, in close cooperation with the Commission and the Ukrainian government. They called for binding institutional arrangements for cooperation by creating, for instance, an Economic and Social Monitoring Committee, cooperating with the Joint Parliamentary Committee and making recommendations to the Cooperation Council. The participants also called for briefing sessions for civil society representatives to be held by EU and Ukrainian officials before and after each annual summit or by high-level meetings in order to root the ENP strategy more deeply in society.

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IN BRIEF

EESC conference in Kiev