Brussels, 08/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - European civil society is requesting that, in Rio, in June this year, the world's decision-makers commit to a concrete action plan leading to sustainable development and the eradication of poverty within the planet's limitations. During the conference organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels on 7 and 8 February, they spoke out loud and clear on the theme “Go sustainable, be responsible! European civil society on the road to Rio+20”. One week after the United Nations meeting in New York, when a draft proposal of the text was approved, it was stressed that European negotiators should place greater emphasis on the sustainable development dimension than provided for in the preliminary draft. Representatives of European organised civil society called for the creation of a new sustainable development council and the setting in place of a new UN agency for the environment, based on the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), both of which should provide for effective civil society participation.
The statement adopted on 8 February by those taking part at the EESC conference makes official the message from the civil society and its expectations that world leaders will deliver on their commitments. Addressing the press, EESC President Staffan Nilsson said that the involvement of civil society will be important in ensuring that the conference is a success. He thought the Rio+20 has the potential to achieve successful transition to a green and sustainable economy. For that, he went on, one must speak with a single voice and concrete action is needed at national and international levels. Civil society sends out a powerful signal and calls on world leaders to take the necessary decisions that are both wanted and expected. He went on to assert that “we want a road map for a green economy with precise objectives, and we want to ensure that international organisations have the necessary tools for accompanying that process”. Janez Potocnik, European Environment Commissioner, delighted in the fact that, in the draft proposal on the UN table, the importance of a multi-player approach is recognised, actively involving all players as partners and drivers of change, including the private sector and civil society. The real challenge now, he said, is to translate this into concrete action and ideas, underlining the fact that the EESC can play a key role, not only at local and national levels but also at European and international levels. The statement from those attending the EESC conference completes the civil society contribution organised for Rio+20, as formulated by the EESC in its opinion of 22 September 2011. (AN/transl.jl)