Brussels, 10/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) meets for its plenary session on Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 March in Brussels, under the presidency of Dimitris Dimitriadis. In addition to the speech by Michel Barnier (see other article), the Committee will look at:
A) five own-initiative opinions on: (1) the future of the single market: destination the world (rapporteur Mr Cassidy, employers' group, United Kingdom); (2) geographical indications and designations (Mr Campli, various activities group, Italy); (3) sanctions against employers of illegal third-country immigrants (Ms Roksandic, workers' group, Slovenia, and Mr Almeida Freire, employers' group, Portugal); (4) EU budgetary reform and future financing (Ms Florio, workers' group, Italy); (5) relations between the EU and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: the role of civil society (Mr Barabas, various activities group, Hungary).
B) two exploratory opinions by request of the Slovenian Presidency of the EU on: (1) the role of the social partners in improving the situation of young people on the labour market (Mr Soares, workers' group, Portugal and Ms Päärendson, employers' group, Estonia) ; (2) how to guarantee universal access to long-term care and the financial sustainability of long-term care systems for the elderly (Ms Klasnic, employers' group, Austria).
C) an exploratory opinion by request of the Portuguese Presidency of the EU on the reduction of CO2 emissions by airports, through new airport management (Mr McDonogh, employers' group, Ireland). For the full agenda, see http://www.eesc.europa.eu (G. B.)