Verslag plenaire zitting EESC (en)
CES/08/89 21 October 2008 448th plenary session of the EESC 22 and 23 October 2008 At the European Parliament, Paul-Henri Spaak Building, at 9.00 a.m. ****** Election of a new EESC President 22 October 2008 at 9.30 a.m. ****** Presentation of President's programme and debate 22 October 2008 at 14.30 'Rights and solidarity to guide globalisation' with Mario Sepi, EESC President-elect Vladimir Spidla, Commissioner for employment, social affairs and equal opportunities Emilio Gabaglio, president of the European Employment Committee Maria Joao Rodrigues, University Institute, Lisbon PRESS CONFERENCE at 16.30 ****** Main opinions to be adopted:
Debate 'Rights and solidarity to guide globalisation For more information on the debate please consult: press release n° 87/2008: http://eesc.europa.eu/activities/press/cp/index_en.asp The ethical and social dimension of European financial institutions (own-initiative opinion) Rapporteur: Mr Iozia (Group II, Employees, Italy) The continuing turbulence that has swept the financial markets since February 2007, affecting leading financial and banking institutions, is rising to the top of the agenda for international political debate. The EESC supports the protection of the diversity of suppliers of financial services given the enormous social value that it represents. The role of the savings banks and various cooperative movements in promoting ethical/social initiatives and fostering the development of local systems merits particular attention. Efforts should be made to secure more systematic and widespread recognition of this type of social governance. The EESC recommends that, each time that an organisation has given up, at least in part but on a structural and permanent basis, the principle of maximising profit in order to promote initiatives of an ethical or social nature, it should be entitled to come under more favourable tax and regulatory rules, except in the case of prudential rules. By ensuring that Member States do not adopt measures that would distort competition, the European Commission can help protect diversity in the supply of financial, banking and insurance services. The rules on State aid should take account of this aspect. The Role of the EU in the Northern Ireland Peace Process Rapporteur: Jane Morrice (Group III, Various interests, United Kingdom) The EU has a duty to pass on the valuable lessons learned from its peace-building work in Northern Ireland to other conflict regions in the world. This is one of the main conclusions to emerge from this Own Initiative Opinion which will go before the EESC Plenary on October 23. The Opinion draws up a unique ’tool-kit’ of the methods used by the EU, through its PEACE Programmes and other policies, to support conflict resolution by forging greater cross-community and cross border cooperation and by providing a neutral space for dialogue. Based on evidence gathered from a major Consultation Conference and fact-finding mission to Belfast, the Opinion also underlines the challenges still facing Northern Ireland, particularly in the area of community reconciliation, and recommends that EU support for this purpose continues for the long term. Policy guidelines for services of general interest and globalisation (own-initiative opinion) Rapporteur: Mr Hernández Bataller (Group III, Various Interest, Spain) Services of general interest have a deep impact in the daily lives of Europe's citizens and they are part of the European Social model. This EESC's opinion wants to focus the attention on the changes, during the last years, of the decisions of International bodies due to economic globalisation. The aim of the EESC is to defend the European social model and, for that reason, it asks to other EU Institutions to establish policy guidelines for services of general interest and globalisation. The Commission should dedicate a chapter in its report on services of general interest (SGI) to globalisation and its effects, since establishing strong global governance is the most important objective for the Member states. CAP health check Rapporteur: Mr van Oorschot (Group I, Employers, Netherlands) Co-rapporteur: Mr Wilms (Group II, Employees, Germany) Co-rapporteur: Mr Kallio (Group III, Various interests, Finland) The EESC agrees upon further decoupling of payments in order to give farmers "freedom to farm". However, member States should examine thoroughly the consequences of redistribution of payments to farmers. The EESC considers that the views on modulation differ widely. As a compromise, the EESC proposes that the extra modulation rate to fund new challenges should be limited to 3% in total and proposes to lift the threshold to EUR 7500. The EESC is not in favour of further progressive modulation. The extra funding should be aimed specifically at helping farmers. The opinion also raises concerns about adaptations to the present intervention scheme, the creation of a 'sustainable safety net', the set-aside mechanism and dairy quota adjustments, especially for vulnerable areas. Combating fraud and counterfeiting of non-cash means of payment (own-initiative opinion) Rapporteur: Mr Iozia (Group II, Employees, Italy) One feature of the current global economy is the notable increase in non-cash means of payment, such as credit and debit cards and online payments. The European Economic and Social Committee regrets that the initiatives taken to date to prevent and combat fraud and the counterfeiting of non-cash means of payment have proven to be insufficient to halt the spread of this phenomenon. The EESC calls upon the Commission to simplify the exchange of data within the EU on both fraudsters and those deemed at risk by enhancing the channels of cooperation between the relevant national authorities. Ending the inconsistency of legislation across the Member States with regard to powers of inquiry, as well as the varying degrees of deterrence and therefore harmonising national legislation seems the best way to effectively curb this typically trans-national form of crime. Social experimentation to develop public active inclusion policies (exploratory opinion) Rapporteur: Mr Bloch-Lainé (Group III, Various interests, France) Co-rapporteur: Mr Ehnmark (Group II, Employees, Sweden) The EESC states that 'social experimentation' has not always been written into the principles guiding EU policy. Nevertheless, there have been major advances in this area of EU social policy in recent years, particularly the impressive results of the EQUAL programme, the PROGRESS programme and the peer review system. The EESC therefore believes that it is important to continue assessing the results of these programmes and their contribution in terms of social inclusion. The Committee recommends the creation of a European network observatory to develop and share knowledge on the results of social experimentation in the EU's Member States. This structure should bring together a diverse range of stakeholders: research organisations, joint project partners (political, economic and social partners, etc). The Commission should be the driving force behind the implementation, coordination and sustained development of such a network. The EESC offers to participate in this project, given its role as a "bridge" to "organised civil society".
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