Brussels, 23/10/2003 (Agence Europe) - During a symposium organised on 15 October in Brussels by the Europe Academy of the European Confederation of Independent Unions (CESI) on "the right of unions to participate within the framework of a European constitution" (EUROPE 30 August p 9), the CESI welcomed (in a press statement) the fact that, "the European social model and recognition of social interlocutors were inscribed in the draft constitution" while pointing out that in fact it did not really benefit yet from a genuine recognition as a social partner.
During the debate on the future constitution and workers' rights, the CESI noted that "participants called for more democracy, more transparency, more ambition for the social, more solidarity and a place for CESI as a full member in a European social dialogue that is more open". This was reiterated in the opening speech of Peter Heesen, President of the Europe Academy, "If European want to be able to boast of being a Europe of citizens, it is necessary for it to be a Europe of all its citizens and all its representatives".