Brussels, 27/05/2008 (Agence Europe) - On 28-30 May 2008, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) will meet under the presidency of Dimitris Dimitriadis. On 28 May, this “special session” will be marked by its 50th anniversary. Hans-Gert Pöttering, the president of the European Parliament, José Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission and Luc Van den Brande, president of the Committee of the Regions, will speak at the opening of this special session. The programme is as follows: 1) 14H-16.30H: plenary session on the theme of, Involving the future generation in the EU project: What's the contribution of the EESC?” Young Europeans will launch a discussion on the challenges facing the European Union and the EESC and present a declaration on this subject; 2) 17H-19H: Major debate on “The future of Europe and the Year of Intercultural Dialogue”, with representatives from civil society and senior figures, including the former president of the European Commission Jacques Delors, Italian writer Erri de Luca, and president of the European Movement, Pat Cox; 19H.30: launch of the EESC's history publication - exhibition and reception.
Thursday 29 and Friday 30 May, the Committee will begin the work of its special plenary session under the presidency of Dimitris Dimitriadis, with no fewer than 20 opinions on its agenda. The main opinions expected to be adopted are: 1) two own initiative reports, one on ecological modes of production (rapporteur: Ms Darmanin, workers' group, Malta, the other on the advantages and benefits of the EUR (rapporteur: Mr Burani, employers' group, Italy); three exploratory opinions (at the request of the future French presidency of the EU) on: international public procurement (rapporteur: Mr Malosse, employers' group, France); the practical modalities for better promotion of youth mobility in Europe (rapporteur: Mr Rodriguez Garcia-Caro, employers' group, Spain); EU/Serbia relations: the role of civil society (rapporteur: Mr Kallio, various activities group, Finland). Opinions will also be presented by: 1) Stéphane Buffetaut (employers' group, France) on how to tackle water shortage problems in the EU, 2) Hernandez Bataller (various activities group, Spain) and Barbadillo Lopez (employers' group, Spain) on a new urban mobility culture, 3) Ms Le Nouail- Marlière (workers' group, France) on the detachment of workers. For complete agenda please see: ( http: //www/eesc.europa.eu). (G.B.)