Maatschappelijke organisaties identificeren toekomstige elementen maatschappelijke dialoog (en)

CES/10/40

24 March 2010

Civil society identifies key elements of a future structured European civil dialogue

Paving the way for a true European civil dialogue, the EESC's Various Interest group and numerous civil society organisations and networks identified key elements for a structured civil dialogue at a conference held at the EESC on 22 March 2010. Going beyond pro-forma consultation procedures, proposals were put forward for structured ways and open channels for civil society organisations to make their voice heard.

Staffan Nilsson, President of the EESC's Various Interest Group, welcomed the proposals tabled by European civil society organisations and networks and promised to continue this work in the coming year.

Mario Sepi President on the European Economic and Social Committee, closed the proceedings by reminding the meeting about the challenges facing us all about growing unemployment and social exclusion. He called for the Commission "to ensure transparent and better structured consultations to engage organised Civil Society."and he strengthened "the importance of a real implementation of participatory democracy as a key element for the economic and social recovery".

Before that, Commission Vice-President Viviane Reding i offered an insight in her understanding of citizenship, the way she intends to promote it, and create a meaningful dialogue with Europe's citizens and civil society organisations in the future. Civil dialogue should be the overarching principle of all policies. The long-standing request for a Statute for European Associations, which was strongly backed by participants, could be re-examined, according to Ms Reding.

The conference discussed the document 'Towards a structured framework for European civil Dialogue' drawn up by some of the main European civil society organisations and networks, with Carlotta Besozzi, Director of the European Disability Forum (EDF) as rapporteur, that looks into ways to effectively implement the new treaty provisions on participatory democracy. The paper received wide supported from both participants and key speakers.

Its main recommendations include the establishment of reference points for civil dialogue across all institutions, the creation of structured civil dialogue groups in all institutions, the creation of a permanent inter-institutional body for consultation of organised civil society on major topics relating to the future of the EU as well as the organisation of annual civil society conferences. The paper also calls upon the Commission to launch a Green Paper on a structured framework for European civil dialogue.

The morning Roundtable session, moderated by Luk Zelderloo, Secretary General of the European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) looked into best practices in various EU member states such as Sweden and France as well as the code of good practice for civil participation in the decision-making processes drawn up by the Council of Europe that was presented by Jean-Marie Heydt, President of the INGO Conference of the Council of Europe.

The afternoon session, moderated by Jean-Marc Roirant, President of the European Civic Forum (FCE), and Conny Reuter, president of the Platform of European Social NGOs, was devoted to a debate with representatives from most political groups in the European Parliament, with EP Vice -President Isabelle Durant (The Green/EFA) expressing her strong support for a structured European civil dialogue. The debate focussed on the consultation practices that left little to no time for civil society organisations to react in an effective way, creating "the illusion of inclusion" as Marian Harkin (ALDE) put it.

Secondly, participants demanded that EU institutions give feedback on the contributions they received of civil society, and indicate where they had been taken into account, or why not. The role of communication in general, which cannot, however, be a substitute for real dialogue, was also debated, alongside the sensible language question. The debate was attended also by MEPs Ramon Jauregui Atondo (S&D) and Marie-Christine Vergiat (GUE/NGL), both expressing their support for the paper in discussion.

Carlos Carnero Gonzáles, speaking on behalf of the Spanish Presidency of the Council during the closing session, stressed the Presidency's wish to take the questions of citizenship and participation forward. He also reiterated the Presidency's strong support for a rapid adoption of the regulation concerning the European Citizen's initiative.

For more information, please consult:

http://eesc.europa.eu/groups/3/index_en.asp?id=011GR03EN