Brussels, 10/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) will meet in plenary session in Brussels on Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 July, under the chairmanship of Dimitris Dimitriadis. Three major figures will address the session. On Thursday 12 at 9.20 am, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso will speak on “The future of Europe: Constitutional Treaty; Climate Change and Energy”. The presidents of the national economic and social councils (ESCs) will attend Mr Barroso's speech. At 2.30 pm on Wednesday, Portuguese Minister for Labour and Social Solidarity José da Silva will set out the Portuguese presidency's work programme, and, at 3.30pm on the same day, Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner will present the Commission's 4th report on economic and social cohesion.
The agenda of this summer session will be rather heavy with some 30 opinions to adopt. On Thursday, after Mr Barroso has spoken, and in the presence of the presidents of the national ESCs, the Committee will adopt four own initiative opinions on priorities for the period 2005-2008, set by the March 2006 European summit. These opinions will form part of the report on the activities in support of the partnership for growth and jobs, which, at the request of the European Council, the EESC, in cooperation with the national ESCs, will present in early 2008. The opinions deal with: (1) “Business potential, especially of SMEs” (rapporteur Ms Faes, Various Interests Group, Belgium) - in her draft opinion, Ms Faes calls for the 2008-2010 integrated guidelines for growth and jobs to be better targeted and more rational with regard to SMEs; (2) “Investment in Knowledge and Innovation” (rapporteur Mr Wolf, Various Interests Group, Germany): essentially the draft opinion recommends that the Community contribution to the total investment in research and development be increased to 3% when the Community budget is reviewed in 2008; the rapporteur also calls for greater involvement of experienced specialists and scientific and technical researchers in the decision-making process; (3) “The definition of an energy policy for Europe” (rapporteur Ms Sirkeinen, Employers' Group, Finland): in this draft opinion, the Committee along with national ESCs, recommends that public research and development should be increased to a level comparable with that of the EU's competitors and recommends the promotion of fair and open competition in energy markets to encourage companies to innovate; (4) “Employment of priority categories” (rapporteur Mr Greif, Employees' Group, Austria): in this draft opinion, the Committee calls on member states to give increased attention to combating discrimination which still exists in the labour market on the grounds of age, gender, handicap and ethnic origin; it also recommends specific measures, such as the creation of transit job markets and job initiatives in the non-profit making sector.
In addition, the Portuguese presidency has asked the Committee to vote on four opinions on social policy: (1) “The role of the social partners in reconciling working, family and private life” (rapporteur Mr Clever, Employers' Group, Germany): in this draft opinion, the rapporteur stresses the role of companies offering childcare facilities, business competitions promoting good practice, the concept of flexicurity, the development of opportunities for childcare and healthcare for the elderly; (2) “Flexicurity (internal flexibility dimension - collective bargaining and the role of social dialogue as instruments for regulating and reforming labour markets)” (rapporteur Mr Janson, Employees' Group, Sweden): here the rapporteur rejects the abuse of the flexicurity model as a tool to make it easier to fire employees without fair reason and to unilaterally and illegally reduce workers' rights and guarantees; Mr Janson believes rules set by collective bargaining, and in accordance with national practice, to be the best way to ensure balance between the flexibility of working time and the protection of workers; (3) “Employability and entrepreneurship - role of civil society and local and regional bodies from a gender perspective” (rapporteur Mr Pariza Castaños, Employees' Group, Spain): this draft opinion proposes strengthening the gender dimension of the Lisbon strategy; the mid-term review of the integrated guidelines for growth and jobs and national reform plans should ensure that member states implement the European pact on equality between men and women, and appoint a person with national responsibility, and should ensure that there are further specific objectives on equality in employment policies and adequate involvement of the social partners and civil society organisations, Mr Pariza Castaños says; (4) “Health and Migration” (rapporteur Mr Sharma, Various Interests group, UK; co-rapporteur Ms Cser, Employees' Group, Hungary): the rapporteurs stress the need to provide a high level of protection for migrants and their families. (gb)