21/02/2005 (Agence Europe) - Support for Rural Development: Civil society's Pivotal Role: was the theme of the public hearing on 17 February in Brussels, organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). President Anne-Marie Sigmund introduced the work, which focused around three round table on: 1) the future of rural development policy (proposals form the European Commission for future rural development policy, orientations from the EP, financial perspectives and the place of rural development, orientations of the Luxembourg Presidency) ; 2) exchange of views with civil society (competitiveness of agriculture and European forestry, environment and land management; improving the quality of life and diversification, new Leader programme approach) 3) recommendations from the Committee of the Regions (COR) and the EESC on the issue, with rapporteurs Jan Pieter Lokker/ COR, and Gilbert Bros/ EESC. (Info: Christian Weger, CESE, in Brussels, .Tel: 02 546 9396. E-mail: press.esc.eu.int).