Brazilië en de EU - een nieuwe maatschappelijke dimensie (en)
EN CES/ 08/92 23 October 2008 Brazil And The Eu – A New Civil Society Dimension The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), in partnership with the Brazilian Council for Economic and Social Development (CDES), proposes to strengthen the relations of civil society organisations in the EU and Brazil by establishing an EU-Brazil Round Table, following the new EU-Brazil Strategic Partnership established in 2007. The objective is to deepen relations with a country that has acquired an undoubted relevance on the international scene in recent years, be it within the multilateral trade negotiations or as a strong political actor in the Latin American region, as well as in a global context. On 23 October 2008 the EESC adopted an opinion on EU - Brazil relations. This opinion examines the current position of Brazil in the global context and makes recommendations in order to contribute to the different areas of political dialogue between the EU and Brazil within the new Strategic Partnership. The opinion's main recommendation in agreement with the Brazilian Council for Economic and Social Development (CESD), is to propose the establishment of an EU-Brazil Civil Society Round Table,. This joint body would establish a permanent structure for civil society dialogue between the EU and Brazil. This civil society dimension would add value to the Strategic Partnership. The EESC proposes itself as the European counterpart in this Round Table. As stated by former EESC President Dimitris Dimitriadis in a July 2007 meeting with President Lula da Silva and the CESD,: "The participation of our civil society consultative institutions in decision-making processes and in democratic governance is crucial to successfully fulfilling the commitments that we take at the political level". Other recommendations of the opinion focus on issues such as civil society participation; social cohesion; economic exchanges and EU-Brazil trade, including agricultural questions; education; research & development; the role of multinational and European companies in Brazil; the environment, climate change and biofuels; poverty and social inclusion; and migration.
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