Brussels, 18/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - Four different branches of European Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have created a Civil Society Contact Group. Representatives will come from the environment sector, social development, human rights and the European Trade Union Federation (ETUC). Their aim will be to establish a relationship with the Presidium of the Convention on the future of Europe. In a letter jointly addressed to the President of the Convention, Valery Giscard d'Estaing, these organisations requested holding regular meetings, at least once a month, with the Presidium in order to: to 1) convey civil society's concerns during the work of the Convention; 2) encourage a broad-based and regular dialogue through the work of the Forum; 3) represent civil society from the different countries through sectoral networks that bring together different national organisations.
The agreement signed between the NGOs and the ETUC to set up a contact group, stated that it would regularly meet up in order to attain its objects during the entire process of the Convention and that this could possibly continue right up the actual IGC of 2004.