Brussels, 06/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - In his first statement as president of the European Parliament at the EESC November plenary on 4-5 November, an EESC press release explained that Jerzy Buzek had expressed his decision for a fresh and fruitful co-operation between the two Assemblies in the framework of the new Lisbon Treaty and stressed that it was the common task of both bodies to bring Europe closer to the citizens since, together, “they represented real democracy”.
EESC-President Mario Sepi said that Mr Buzek's wish to safeguard the European social model and decisively protect European leadership in the fight against climate change, “underlined the major concerns of the EESC”. Georgios Dassis (President Group II, Employees ) asked the European Parliament to ensure support for the poorest citizens hit by the current economic crisis. Henri Malosse, (President Group I, Employers), stressed “the necessity to keep focus and avoid too detailed regulation at the European level”.
Mr Staffan Nilsson reiterated that dialogue between both institutions was the basis for a good democratic society: “a European society, based on the rule of law, finding common European solutions, and avoiding a return to nationalist thinking in a situation of global economic crisis”. (G.B./transl.rh)