Brussels, 31/03/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the Luxembourg minister for labour and employment, François Biltgen, hosted a meeting in Luxembourg with a delegation from the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) headed by Henri Malosse, the president of the Employment/Social Affairs and Citizenship section of the Committee (and also director for European and international affairs at the Assembly of the French Chambers of Commerce and Industry). The aim of the meeting was to report on the Spring Summit, which had called on the EESC to establish an interactive network to promote the Lisbon strategy and to bring the debate before the European civil society (see EUROPE of 25 March, p.12).
In a press release, Minister Biltgen expressed satisfaction that the summit had struck a balance between the three pillars of the Lisbon Strategy and had stressed the importance of better governance in a variety of forms of partnerships for change. Biltgen felt that only the very best governance and communication approach would make the strategy and its results positive, truly visible and acceptable for all European citizens.
The delegations also took stock of the state of progress in work by the Luxembourg EU Council Presidency on the proposal of directive concerning certain aspects relating to adjustment of working hours. The opinions of the European Parliament and of the EESC are eagerly awaited so that the direction to be taken by the work of the Employment and Social Affairs Council on 2 and 3 June this year may be determined.