Brussels, 03/05/2010 (Agence Europe) - Following the speech by the vice president of the Commission (also in charge of inter-institutional relations and administration), Maroš Šefèoviè, in which he presented the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) with the Commission's work programme for 2010 (EUROPE 10110/10122), the president of the EESC, Mario Sepi, pointed out that the Commission must not allow itself to be sidestepped by recent intergovernmental initiatives that could be damaging to European integration. Sepi explained that what they needed was “a mission statement for Europe which makes the citizens feel that they are at the core of Europe. Concrete steps to exit the crisis must be proposed. Civil Society will be fully behind you”. He also explained to the commissioner that “the support of civil society is essential for the good implementation of all these proposals".
Speaking on behalf of the employers' group, its president, Henri Malosse (France) stressed that “the European budget is almost ridiculous when it comes to tackling the crisis. Real proposals such as investment in innovation or transport are necessary to make a real difference”. His counterpart at the workers' group, George Dassis from Greece, stated that “this European Commission to take a chance just like previous ones have dared to give clear signals to the European citizens." Jorge Pegado Liz (Various Interests Group, Portugal) pledged to be concrete and to table proposals aiming at solving current problems: "Citizens must feel that it is not only about the economy but about them!"
On visit to the plenary, the president of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development, Sonny Portelli, asked for more simplification of regulations and stated that they should be “particularly conscious of the need to redouble efforts to reinvigorate enterprise, which in turn will generate employment opportunities, and drive economic growth”. Information: barbara.geissler@eesc.europa.eu (G.B./transl.fl)