21/05/2003 (Agence Europe) - Roger Briesch, President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), welcomed "the enthusiasm demonstrated by the Slovak population in favour of membership of the European Union…in the referendum on 16-17 May". Mr Briesch stressed "the progress achieved by the Slovak Republic in order to wholly satisfy the Copenhagen Criteria and its significant involvement in the future of Europe, most notably within the European convention". Organised civil society represented within the EESC met up 19-20 My in Bratislava to support the dynamism of the Slovak Republic "in its efforts to grapple with and implement the acquis communautaire.