Brussels, 04/06/2004 (Agence Europe) - Taking the floor on 2 June before the plenary of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), European Commissioner Dalia Grybauskaité (who works with Viviane Reding) stressed the extremely positive nature of co-operation between the European Commission and the EESC, which she described as "solid and effective". Ms Grybauskaité told her audience about the added value of know-how and explanatory opinions for the Committee, which are "a powerful tool for making voices heard".
The new Commissioner believes that the debate on the financial perspectives 2007-2013, which are far from being a simple accounting exercise, "will help to define the political priorities" and focus on essential issues, such as: "What do we want to do? How are we going to achieve our objectives? How can we make our future priorities reality?". In this context, said Ms Grybauskaité, "what civil society can offer, via the EESC, is extremely valuable" (see EUROPE of 29 May, p.16).
Lastly, the Commissioner called for greater commitment on the part of the Member States on the Lisbon strategy, "if we are to plug the deficit in its implementation". "Too many strategic proposals are blocked at Council level, and the slowness of their implementation at national level is a cause for concern", she concluded.