Voorzitter EESC verheugd over resultaten Europese Raad (en)

CES/07/63

Brussels, 25 June 2007

EESC President Dimitriadis praises the result of the European Council: the substance of the Constitutional Treaty

has been preserved

President Dimitriadis recalls that the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted by a wide majority at its plenary session of 30 May a resolution addressed to the European Council (see press release No 048/2007). He says that this agreement reached at the European Council, will bring an end to the political and institutional crisis and that there are now clear chances that the European Union be given a new and necessary impetus.

The EESC considers that the substance of the treaty is more important than its name.

The EESC is particularly pleased to see that the provisions on the democratic life of the European Union, including those relating to participatory democracy and the role of the social partners, remain.

The EESC joins with the Heads of State and Government in reiterating the vital strategic importance of addressing climate change and energy in a concerted fashion and, in that context, recalls that the EESC Bureau will be adopting an Action Plan at its 10 July 2007 meeting.

The EESC confirms its intention to follow the negotiation process for the new treaty in the framework of the intergovernmental conference by helping to ensure that the voice of civil society is heard, in line with its institutional role.

In particular, it will hold, in cooperation with the Portuguese presidency of the Council, information and dialogue meetings with civil society organisations, as it did during the work of the European Convention. The first such meeting will be held in September 2007.