Brussels, 25/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Spanish Presidency of the EU is organising a conference in Madrid on 13 March along with the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Commission on "Consumer Representation" with the aim of holding an open debate on the new challenges facing consumer associations (as suggested by the ESC in 1999), challenges like the information society, service liberalisation, cross-borer trade, dialogue with economic stakeholders and the need for strong consumer associations and the importance of European governance for associations and consumer protection. Alongside representatives of the European institutions and consumers associations from EU Member States, European Commissioner David Byrne and Director General Robert Coleman will be participating in the conference, as well as the Spanish health and consumer protection minister Celia Villalobos, Maria del Pilar Ayuso Gonzalez MEP and the President of the ESC, Göke Frerichs. The conference will also be celebrating European Consumer Day, 15 March. (Info: Birgit Fular, ESC, Brussels, Tel: 02 546 9044, e-mail: birgit.fular@esc.eu.int).