Brussels, 10/10/2005 (Agence Europe) - In Brussels on 7/8 November, the European Economic and Social Committee are organising a stakeholders' forum on 'Filling the gap - how to bring Europe closer to its citizens', to explore the relationship between the EU and its citizens and look at ways of bringing Europeans closer to the institutions. The conference will look at 1) Is there a kind of European public space in the EU? 2) How can the gap between the EU and citizens be filled? 3) and what concrete initiatives could be taken to ensure measures taken to close the communications gap between Europeans and the European project are genuinely effective? The Forum's conclusions will feed into the European Commission's White Paper on the EU's communications strategy, expected to be published ahead of the European Council of 15/16 December (see EUROPE 9043). EESC President Anne-Marie Sigmund and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso will open the Forum, to be attended by European Commission Vice-President Margot Wallstrom. (Info: martin.westlake@esc.eu.int)