Kovacs: Burgers en EU moeten meer samenwerken (en)

Met dank overgenomen van Europees Economisch en Sociaal Comité (EESC) i, gepubliceerd op zaterdag 10 juni 2006.

CES/06/59

Brussels, 10 June 2006

EESC's Regional Stakeholders' Forum in Budapest (Hungary)

Civil society and the European Union need to establish an effective cooperation

On 9 and 10 June 2006, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the Hungarian Economic and Social Council jointly held a Regional Stakeholders' Forum on "Bridging the Gap: how to bring Europe and its citizens closer together?" in Budapest. Commissioner Laszlo KOVACS identified a clear need for people to be associated with Europe and highlighted the crucial role of civil society.

In line with the EESC's "Plan D" commitment to encourage decentralised Stakeholders' Forums using an "open space" approach, the two-day conference organised itself into 20 workshops, based on the proposals of the participants themselves. The three main topics, as subsequently voted by the participants, were as follows:

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    How to establish effective cooperation between civil society organizations and the EU;
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    EU financial support for civil society projects;
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    What it could and should mean to be a European citizen.

Dr Pal VASTAGH, Chairman of the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee in the Hungarian Parliament stated that the EU is now the main regulator of citizens' everyday life, with up to 80% of legislation coming from the EU level. It is absolutely vital for citizens to realise this fact.

The Forum was opened by Hungarian Commissioner Laszlo KOVACS, who called for a continuous dialogue between citizens, organised civil society and politics. ,People have to associate themselves with Europe" he declared. The EESC, the Hungarian Economic and Social Council and organised civil society are playing a crucial role in this process.

EESC President Anne-Marie SIGMUND appealed to Europeans to break free from their current apathy and depression. New instruments like the Stakeholder Forum are needed in order to bring about a real civil dialogue, which is an important means to bridge the gap between Europe and its citizens.

Closing the conference, Janos TOTH, secretary general of the Hungarian ESC highlighted the importance to foster the self-confidence and active participation of the European citizen. This Stakeholders' Forum has given a good example of how participatory democracy can be made a dynamic reality.

Further information on the results of the Forum are available on our website: http://eesc.europa.eu/stakeholders_forum/09_06_2006/index_en.asp

The recommendations from the working groups will contribute to the consultation processes envisaged in the European Commission's October 2005 Communication on Plan D for Democracy, Dialogue and Debate and its February 2006 White Paper on a Communication Policy.

For more information, please contact

For further information please contact:

Karel Govaert or Christian Weger , EESC Press Office

99 rue Belliard , B-1040 Brussels

Tel.: 02 546 9396/9586; Mobile: 0475 753 202

E-mail: press@eesc.europa.eu

Website: http://eesc.europa.eu/activities/press/index_en.asp

 

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 317 members. Its members are appointed by the Council.

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