ISSN 1725-1923
EESC
March 2006 / THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE — A BRIDGE BETWEEN EUROPE AND ORGANISED CIVIL SOCIETY
EDITORIAL
Dear readers,
On 1 February 2006, with
the adoption of its White
Paper on a European com-
munication policy, the
European Commission
completed a trilogy of
instruments — the White
Paper now stands along-
side the Commission’s
July 2005 action plan and
its October 2005 ‘Plan D’ communication. The
White Paper has launched a six-month con-
sultation period. Margot Wallström explains
the logic underlying the White Paper and the
envisaged follow-up to that in an interview in
this newspaper.
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 consulta-
tion 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 implementa-
tion 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 process-
es 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
IN THIS ISSUE
• Europe must connect with its people — the ‘Sound of Europe’ conference in Salzburg
• Broad economic policy guidelines (2005–08) — opinion by Mr Metzler
• Interview with Mr Czajkowski on the European Charter for Mobility
• Aiming for more involvement of civil society — EESC conference in Kiev
INFO
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
Put communication at the service of democracy
In a 16 February 2006
interview, Karel Govaert
and Agata Berdys of the
EESC’s Press Unit inter-
viewed Margot Wallström
about the basic philo-
sophy underlining the
recently adopted White
Paper on a European com-
munication policy.
So what, asked EESC Info,
Margot Wallström during the is the basic philosophy of
interview with EESC Info. the White Paper? ‘We have
Strengthening economic governance
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 govern-
Strengthening econo- ance. The changes proposed
mic governance in by members of the EESC are
Europe by turning the focused on that very need to
Stability Pact into a
pact for stability and strengthen European econom-
growth. ic 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 pro-
vided 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 super-
vises the supervisors?’ the rather embarrassed answer
would have to be ‘The supervised!’ The reform of the
Stability and Growth Pact seems not to have elimi-
nated the democratic deficit in the original pact.
page 2
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WWW.ESC.EU.INT
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 sim-
ple to explain, we have to make the effort to take the
(Continued on page 2)
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 deci-
sions 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 institu-
tional framework of the EU.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
• 27 and 28 March 2006: Civil Society Forum for the
Western Balkans, at the EESC in Brussels
• 5 to 7 April 2006: Fourth meeting of EU–Latin America/
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.

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’ confer-
ence, which was jointly organised by the Austrian
Presidency, the European Commission and the EESC
and held on 27 and 28 January in Salzburg.
Anne-Marie Sigmund at the debate on the emergence of a
European identity.
Macroeconomic policies for growth and employment
must go hand in hand with microeconomic reforms
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 inter-
ests that make up civil society.
© European Commission
Growth and jobs — working together for Europe’s future.
(Continued from page 1 — Interview with Ms Margot Wallström)
political discussion beyond the European level and
ensure that we genuinely involve the different stake-
holders and the citizens.’
Acknowledging the EESC’s consistent calls for orga-
nised 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 connecti-
vity, on improving the dialogue with civil society, was
a major plank of the White Paper.
Ms Wallström described the envisaged follow-up to
the White Paper consultation process. ‘Once the six-
month consultation period is over, we will orga-
nise 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 conti-
nued. 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.
EESC INFO / March 2006 /
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 har-
monious 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’.
Europe must connect with its people in order to
become closer to them. Ms Sigmund believed that
In his opinion, Mr Metzler
stresses that, faced with con-
tinuing weak economic growth
in the euro area, indeed in the
EU as a whole, and the chal-
lenges 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 cur-
rent 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 sustain-
ability in finance and social policy.
The Committee also supports the Commission’s call
for social security systems to be modernised so as to
The outcomes of the EESC’s Stakeholders’ Forum influenced the
White Paper on a European communication policy.
The White Paper places heavy emphasis on coopera-
tion 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 propo-
sals. 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 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 com-
municate 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.
ensure their sustainability. In order to reduce unem-
ployment, 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 right-
ly 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 govern-
ments have a role to play in creating an innovation-
friendly balance between flexibility and security.
Appropriate measures to strengthen competition and
cut red tape should complement further develop-
ment of the EU internal market.
Correct decisions in the areas of lifelong learning,
equality of opportunity, support for families, educa-
tion, research and innovation are key to the knowl-
edge-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 entrepre-
neurship deserves particular attention.
used, I mean in particular the ‘open space’ method and
the stakeholders’ forum format.’
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 en-
gage 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 educa-
tion 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)

The European Charter for Mobility
Mr Czajkowski, rapporteur for the opinion on transnational mobi-
lity in the EU.
You are the rapporteur for the opinion on transnation-
al 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 edu-
cation and training purposes was drawn up follow-
ing 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 opin-
ion, some basic research among the beneficiaries of
international exchange programmes ought to have
been carried out first. Given the increase in the pro-
gramme’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
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.
Economic governance also means managing challenges
Mr Joaquín Almunia, Commissioner for Economic and
Monetary Affairs, presented the main challenges of
economic governance to the February plenary ses-
sion 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.
EESC INFO / March 2006 /
Interview with Mr Czajkowski
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 prin-
ciples 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 recom-
mendation is the removal of barriers for young peo-
ple; 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
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 safe-
guarding its original values of cohesion and solidarity,’
affirmed the Commissioner. European leaders must
now face up to the necessary reforms. The European
© European Commission
Access to apprenticeship systems for young people across the EU.
in our opinion. We suggested, for example, that par-
ticipants 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 encour-
ages all Member States to sign the charter. Obviously,
this involves taking responsibility for its implemen-
tation; however, bearing in mind the need for the
sustainable development and competitiveness of the
European economy in the global context, the remain-
ing 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 com-
plexity and technocratic nature of the EU, was that
possible? Might organised civil society have a particu-
lar 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.
economy has to progress with integration in order to
cope with globalisation. It cannot stop halfway!
The Commissioner thanked the Committee for its pre-
paratory work, in particular for its own-initiative opin-
ion 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 corpo-
rate tax base in the EU, for which the rapporteur was
Mr Nyberg (Group II, Sweden). In that opinion, the
Committee supported a common consolidated cor-
porate tax base. It also welcomed the Commission’s
efforts, and saw them as a move towards the creation
of a common tax base.

IN BRIEF
www.eesc.europa.eu
A new sub-domain: a single, clear point of entry to all EU-
related 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 forename.surname@eesc.europa.
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 renam-
ing 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 contribut-
ing 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 open-
ing 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 right-
ful place in the history of the early days of the
European project.
EESC INFO / March 2006 / The participants also stressed the need to promote
Editor • Mr Karel Govaert
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: press@esc.eu.int
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
EESC INFO / March 2006 /
EESC conference in Kiev
Aiming for more involvement of civil society
Deepening the involvement
of civil society in implement-
ing the EU–Ukraine action
plan, promoting civil dia-
logue in Ukraine and fur-
ther developing relations
between the EESC and its
Ukrainian partners were
the key messages of the
‘Connecting EU–Ukraine civil
society: facing challenges and finding opportuni-
ties 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 con-
ference, including the EESC President, 24 EESC
members, and EU and Ukrainian officials, in addi-
tion to 60 representatives of civil society organisa-
tions (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 soci-
ety 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 democ-
racy and, therefore, to involve civil society organi-
sations fully in this process. ‘Involving social forces
in monitoring public policies leads to initiatives,
creativity, dialogue and debate that forge the col-
lective consciousness, create solidarity and develop
citizenship’, Ms Sigmund explained.
Promoting civil dialogue and cooperation between European and
Ukrainian representatives — the aim of the Kiev conference.
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.
Participants stress their need for information and consultation.
After the Orange Revolution:
towards greater integration with the EU
The conference’s key objective is to strengthen the
participation of Ukrainian civil society organisa-
tions 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 implemen-
tation 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
The conference participants called for deeper coop-
eration between the EESC and the Ukrainian CSOs.
Dialogue between EU and Ukrainian representa-
tives of organised civil society is a key instru-
ment for a more transparent public debate, which
brings added value, as well as for the integration of
European social norms.
the involvement of organised civil society as a gen-
uine 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 mak-
QE-AA-06-003-EN-C
ing 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.