Rondetafelconferentie EU-Brazilië: maatschappelijk middenveld wordt betrokken in relatie tussen beiden (en)

O n 7-8 July 2009 the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in conjunction with the Brazilian Council for Economic and Social Development (CDES), will hold the first ever European Union - Brazil Civil Society Round Table. A joint Final Declaration will be drawn up on 8 July and submitted to the EU-Brazil Heads of State Summit. Discussions will cover the social consequences of the financial crisis as well as energy resources and climate change. The event will provide an opportunity to strengthen civil society dialogue, enhance communication and mutual understanding between Brazil and the EU as well as to highlight the unique role that civil society consultative bodies play in relations between them.

Venue: EESC, Rue Van Merlant, 2 - Room VME3

Opening session: 7 July, 11.00 - 13.00. This session will be opened to the press.

Press Point: 8 July 11.00 - 11.30 with EESC President Mario Sepi and Mr Paulo Simão , Member of the CDES delegation.

Following the recommendations of the EU-Brazil summits concerning civil society dialogue within the EU-Brazil Strategic Partnership, the EU-Brazil Civil Society Round Table is a permanent body designed to reinforce dialogue, communication and mutual understanding between the civil societies of Brazil and the EU and add a civil society dimension to the political and parliamentary dialogues between the two partners.

The opening session will be chaired by EESC President Mario Sepi and co-chaired by Mr Antoninho Trevisan , Head of the CDES delegation and will be devoted to considering the different views on the opportunities offered by the EU-Brazil Strategic Partnership. It will be followed by two working sessions, namely "The social consequences of the crisis", and "Energy resources and climate change". On the basis of these debates, a joint Final Declaration will be drawn up and submitted to the EU-Brazil Heads of State Summit scheduled for October 2009.

The Round Table permanent delegations will be made up of EESC members and CDES members; each delegation will be led by the president of the institution concerned, who will also co-chair the Round Table meetings. Moreover, the event will also involve the presidency of the Council, the European Commission, the economic and social councils of the European Union and the socio-occupational partners at international, national and regional levels as well as European civil society organisations.