Brussels, 17/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - On the occasion of the opening of the Economic and Social Development Council of Brazil, on 13 February in Brasilia (see EUROPE of 8 February, p.17), the President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Roger Briesch, assured his friend and newly elected president, Lula da Silva, of his full solidarity and his deep determination to cooperate to "make, together, the voice of civil society heard in our countries and regions". "By setting up this Council (…) you are giving a powerful signal to the civil society of your country and of the world as a whole, namely that the participation of civil society is essential for democracy", Roger Briesch stated. In his view, the creation of the Council for Economic and Social Development demonstrates President Lula's will to "renew society, as well as the existence of common objectives" such as cohesion, partnership between the social, economic and civic actors, encouragement to economic growth, with equitable distribution of income and the creation of jobs.
President Briesch also presented the possible roads for cooperation at different levels between the two assemblies (he had discussed the matter the day before with Minister Tarso Genro). He thus specified that the EESC: 1) is perfectly willingly to host, in Brussels, for a period still to be determined, a representative of the Brazilian Council in order to allow him to share the European experience and working methods. This, he said, could also be in close cooperation with the economic and social councils of the EU Member States; 2) will invite representatives of the Brazilian Council to take part in EU high level conferences in 2003; 3) is ready to collaborate, in a bilateral manner and in the context of the Mercosul's Foro Consultivo, on themes of common interest, such as issues relating to economic and social cohesion, sustainable development or social and civil dialogue. In order to implement this joint work programme, President Briesch announced a seminar would be held in Europe in June this year.