Brussels, 16/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 17 March in Brussels, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is organising a conference on “Everything to play for! Let's climb out of this crisis together and opt for progress”. This conference will focus on the real economy and draw up a balance sheet, together with the national economic and social councils, of implementation of the European economic recovery plan presented by the Commission last November. The EESC contribution will be important for assessing the economic and social impact of the crisis in the different member states. This conference follows the one organised last January by the EESC on “Rien ne va plus"? Ways to rebuild the European Social Market Economy”.
The conference will be opened by the EESC president, Mario Sepi. Speakers will include: José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, followed by the EESC rapporteur for the opinion, “A European Economic Recovery Plan”, Thomas Delapina (Workers Group, Austria). Civil society's contribution will be from Henri Malosse (Employers' Group, France), Georgios Dassis (Workers' Group, Greece) and Staffan Nilsson (General Activities Group, Sweden). Other important speakers include Joaquin Almunia, European Commissioner for economic and monetary affairs, Vladimir Spidla, European Commissioner for social affairs, employment and equal opportunities, and the EESC vice-president, Seppo Kallio (General Activities, Finland). Info: (http: //http://www.eesc.europa.eu ) (G.B./transl.rh)