Brussels, 22/09/2003 (Agence Europe) - The Intergovernmental Conference 2003, industrial changes in Europe, European works councils and European defence will be among the priority areas discussed at the plenary session of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), on Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 September in Brussels. EESC President Roger Briesch will present the EESC's stance before opening the IGC on 4 October. The Committee's requests relating to the Convention text are given in detail in the own initiative opinion by Henri Malosse (Employers Group, France).
In addition to Mr Malosse's opinion, the Commission will give its stance on the own initiative opinions on industrial change in Europe (Rapporteur Mr Van Iersel, Netherlands, Employers Group), and on pan-European regime/inland waterway navigation (Mr Simons, Netherlands, Employers Group). Four exploratory opinions will also be submitted to the vote of Economic and Social Council members: 1) European works councils (Josly Piette, Belgium, Workers Group); 2) TEN/2004 projects (Mr Levaux, France, Employers Group); 3) contribution of Community policies to economic and social cohesion (Mr Dassis, Greece, Workers Group); 4) partnership for implementation of Structural Funds (Mr Barros Vale, Employers Group, Portugal); 5) economic and social cohesion: competitiveness of regions, governance and cooperation (Mr Malosse).
Furthermore, the EESC will give its views on a series of other opinions, including those relating to: 1) entrepreneurial spirit in Europe (Green Paper) (Mr Butters, UK, Employers Group); 2) innovation policy (Mr Soares, Portugal, Workers Group); 3) horizontal concentration (Mr Hernandez Bataller, Spain, Various Interests); and 4) European defence (Mr Wilkinson, UK, Employers).