Brussels, 15/09/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 15 September, at the constitutive session of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), the EESC president, Mario Sepi (Workers Group, Italy), presented the balance sheet for its mandate and most recent committee activities. On Thursday 16 September, the EESC will examine around 40 recommendations for adoption. One burning issue that the EESC will particularly have to tackle involves the adoption of a resolution on the “situation of the Roma in the EU” in which it makes an energetic appeal for the economic and social integration of the Roma people (as it does for other minorities and immigrants) and proposes that the EU institutions implement a comprehensive and convincing strategy to help member states develop genuine integration based on common rights and responsibilities for all EU citizens. Such a strategy must be developed in a participatory way, involving the Roma communities and must be backed up by funding that is both adequate and adapted to the major challenges involved in this issue. (G.B./transl.fl)