Europees Economisch en Sociaal Comité blij met grotere maatschappelijke betrokkenheid EU 2020-strategie (en)
But roadmap out of the crisis needs to be more ambitious
The European Economic and Social Committee welcomes the European Commission's Communication Europe 2020 - A European Strategy for smart, green and inclusive growth and the plan to involve the EESC more closely in the new strategy. "Civil society has the capacity to be a vehicle for successful implementation of the future strategy. To get any new agenda to fast track implementation, all stakeholders need to join and pool their forces in order to achieve a sustainable social market economy," said EESC president Mario SEPI .
However, continued Mr SEPI , the Commission paper lacks ambitious proposals for the transition from the current crisis to the new economy. "We are facing growing disparities in the Eurozone and the European Union that may lead to a political crisis. I therefore regret that bold proposals for better economic and fiscal policy coordination are missing." He also stressed that because of persistent fundamental structural and social problems in the Member States there was a need to include the concept of secure employment in the flagship initiatives. The EESC will be holding a major conference on 18 and 19 March entitled "An EU Road Map for a Sustainable Economic and Social Recovery" where it is hoped that progress can be made on these issues.
To make the transition from the crisis to the new economy the forthcoming EU Council should maintain the highest level of ambition regarding future objectives, targets and measures aimed at setting Europe on the road towards a prosperous, social and green future. Following the adoption of its Integrated Report on the post-2010 Strategy (http://www.eesc.europa.eu/resources/docs/20060314_ae_34.pdf), the EESC stands ready to contribute to the EU 2020 Strategy with a wide-ranging EU 2020 Civil Society Action Plan. It urges the European Council to give a clear mandate to the EESC in the presidency conclusions to contribute towards the success of the new strategy with its network of national economic and social councils and other partner organisations.
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Gilbert Marchlewitz