Brussels, 26/09/2005 (Agence Europe) - The first plenary session of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) after the summer break, on 28 and 29 September, under the chairmanship of Anne-Marie Sigmund, will be marked by a special debate on Europe and by the participation of Louis Michel, Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, who will speak in connection to the adopted opinion on the future of EU development policy and the points of view of the civil society. The Committee will take a stance on several own-initiative opinions (tourism in declining areas, the European Institute on Gender Equality, the northern dimension) and also on an exploratory opinion requested by the British EU Presidency on “better regulation”. The EU's Neighbourhood Policy, poverty among women and industrial change will also be on the plenary agenda.
Entitled “Bridging the Gap: how to bring Europe and its citizens closer”, the debate foreseen on 28 September follows that of the July plenary on the theme “communicating Europe”. Wishing to carry out its function as a ”bridge between Europe and civil society” effectively, the EESC urges for more dialogue with the civil society in the various political processes, including the Lisbon strategy, and hopes this debate will help to prepare its new “Stakeholders Forum” on 7 and 8 November, organised with the European Commission. The vice-president of the Commission, Margot Wallström, will take part in the Forum from which she expects recommendations to be made in the context of preparing the Commission White Paper on EU communication strategy.