17/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - Between 24 September and 24 December 2007, 55 MEPs signed a declaration calling for the abolition of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). The text was apparently signed by Swedish and British MEPs, a Community source told EUROPE. “The Committee helps reinforce corporatism at the expense of democracy,” says the text, which was referred to by EESC President Dimitris Dilitriadis at the opening of the plenary session of the Committee on Wednesday 16 January. Article 116 of the EP standing orders says that, when a write declaration is signed by the majority of MEPs, the President should inform the EP and publish the names of the signatories in the minutes. If the majority has not been reach three months after the written declaration was presented, as is the case with the declaration on the EESC, it is deemed to have lapsed. (L.B.S.)