Brussels, 16/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - At a plenary session in Brussels on 14 and 15 November, the main message of the European Social and Economic Committee (EESC) was that a dynamic, common economic model is needed for the European Union that is founded on decision-making mechanisms that grant strong legitimacy through direct participation of civil society.
The EESC adopted a resolution entitled “More Europe” on Thursday 15 November, which calls for the EU to move in the direction of greater integration, through its own, stronger, budget mechanisms, on which the EESC hopes to see progress at the special European Summit on 22 and 23 November. The EESC demands cover a wide range of areas, wanting the EU's leaders to design and implement a “Social Investment Pact,” a new “European stimulus package focused on real job creation,” investment in climate-smart energy and industrial production, “fiscal, banking and financial unions,” a genuine single market for labour, a robust European budget that can help young people and finance research and innovation.
In addition, the EESC points out that all these measures should be decided with the involvement of European citizens, for which innovative instruments will be required, such as social media and internet, explained the EESC president, Staffan Nilsson, during the debate on Wednesday 14 November, explains an EESC press release. Greater changes are required in Article 11 of the Lisbon Treaty, although the European Commission has made a first step in this direction with its “European Citizens' Initiative.” Above all, it is important not to be scared of European citizens' opinions and participatory democracy, said European Parliament vice-president Isabelle Durant (Greens Group/European Free Alliance, Belgium). (JK/transl.fl)