Brussels, 20/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) are to meet in plenary session on 22 and 23 January in Brussels, under the chairmanship of Roger Briesch. Greek Development Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos is to present, on Wednesday afternoon, the priorities of the Greek Presidency's programme. On Thursday morning, the Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for transport policy, Loyola de Palacio, will speak on the protocol for cooperation between the Commission and the EESC, the Commission's work programme and the EESC opinions concerning energy and transport. Also present at this first session of the year will be Chen Jinhua, Chair of the Chinese Economic and Social Committee, who will take stock of relations between the two assemblies. Vice President of the Disabled Persons Forum Bas Treffers will also be there, in the context of the European Year for the Disabled 2003. President Briesch, for his part, will make a statement on the progress of work by the European Convention. The EESC is also expected to adopt opinions on:
1) The 31st report on competition policy (rapporteur: Barros Vale, Employers, Portugal): with a view to EU enlargement, the Committee calls on the Commission to ensure, in this field, application throughout the EU of identical rules with identical effectiveness. It also takes a stance in favour of strengthening the Commission's powers of inquiry. Furthermore, the Committee suggests the Commission should be more concerned with disseminating information on the laws governing competition policy so that the general public is more aware of the problem and can report infringements. According to the Committee, although the involvement of national authorities in merger control has advantages given their knowledge of the sectors and markets in question, the Commission's controlling role must hold sway.
2) Communication on the use of pesticides (rapporteur: Staffan Nilsson, Various Interests, Sweden). The Committee mainly considers that the new measures proposed in the context of a future strategy for the sustainable use of pesticides should integrate: -common EU criteria and guidelines; - training of and advice to farmers, farm workers, seasonal workers and other users in order to reduce environmental and health risks; - reduction of risks linked to pesticides which could above all "involve reducing the quantities of chemicals used, particularly when tailored to national, regional and local requirements".
3) Communication on information and communication strategy within the EU (rapporteur: Ernst Ehnmark, Workers, Sweden). The Committee considers that the "strategy does not pay enough attention to the role that organised civil society can play within such a strategy", although it agrees with the need for the information strategy to be more directed towards the education sector and the young. Furthermore, it proposes adding "an extra set of subjects under the global heading of the environment (sustainable development, food safety and consumer protection) to the list of key subject areas covered by information strategy".
The Committee will also take a stance on the following Commission legislative proposals and communications: 1) guarantee of civil responsibility resulting from the circulation of motor vehicles (Mr Levaux, Employers, France); 2) verification of good laboratory practices (Mr Bedossa, Various Interests, France); 3) application of the principles of good laboratory practice (Mr Bedossa); 4) tax regime for fuel (Mr Levaux); and 5) the promotion of language learning and linguistic diversity (Anne Heinisch, Various Interests, Germany).