Brussels, 21/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is to hold its 478th plenary session on Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 February to address civil society's main concerns about the current economic crisis and its social consequences. On Wednesday, the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, will take the floor on the “2020 Strategy” theme, with a view to preparing the Spring European Council. His address will be followed by the signing of the renewed EC/EESC cooperation protocol. The next day, the EESC will greet Joaquin Almunia, Vice-President of the Commission responsible for competition matters, to discuss the state aid regime.
Among the various points tackled, the annual examination of 2012 growth will be top of the agenda. Despite budgetary austerity throughout Europe, the EESC will call for a balance to be struck between cleaning up public financing and policies for promoting growth. It will also call on the Commission for civil society to be taken more into account in the system for regulating the financial markets.
Unsurprisingly, employment is next on the agenda. The EESC will not only propose that aid to employment be increased at both national and European levels, but also that quantifiable targets be set in place for the more vulnerable groups on the employment market, such as women, young people and older workers.
Critical of EU economic governance, the EESC calls for a convention to be organised to bring together parliamentary representatives at national and European level, as well as social partners, in order to ensure social achievements are protected when the treaty next comes up for amendment.
Also on the table will be: the question of trans-European networks for telecommunications, transport and energy. Future guidelines to be finalised by the EESC will include those on encouraging bond issues for infrastructure projects. (SD/stag./transl.jl)