Brussels, 07/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - During the meeting on the 2 March between the Bureau of the Convention that is drafting the planned European Charter of Fundamental Rights, several NGOs and the European Trade Union Confederation (See EUROPE of 2 March, p.4), Mr. Dastoli, who represented with Mr. Van Hermen the Permanent Civil Society Forum, reminded that he saw the IGC charter as two trains that will arrive in Nice for the Summit next 8 and 9 December. He reminded that a significant mobilisation of civil society is foreseen in Nice during the Summit, to welcome these two trains. Mr. Mendez de Vigo who chaired the EP delegation to the Convention, hoped that civil society "climb on board the train" of the Charter before the meeting in Nice.
Furthermore, during the meeting between the Bureau of the Convention and the ECU, the Permanent Civil society Forum, the European NGO platform of the social sector and the co-ordination of the NGOs for Fundamental rights, a consensus was reached on the possibility that the representatives of these non-governmental organisations, during their hearing by the Convention at the end of April, present their contributions in the form of possible amendments to the Articles of the future Charter.