European Economic and Social Committee
CES/09/47
17 April 2009
Beyond politicking: EESC members and prominent MEPs
call for a new pact for Europe
At a meeting yesterday at the European Economic and Social Committee, MEPs and EESC
members broached challenging issues related to the future of Europe and European
governance, in advance of the June European elections
At the meeting, chaired by EESC Vice President Irini PARI, a number of prominent MEPs discussed
the proposals set out in the EESC's recent "Programme For Europe: proposals of civil society" and
presented their own Groups' strategic proposals for Europe. The MEPs included Othmar Karas
(EPP Vice-Chairman), Monica Frassoni (Co-President of the Green Party), Adrian Severin (PES,
former Romanian Foreign Minister) and Jorgo Chatzimarkakis (ALDE).
"Like our 'Programme for Europe', this meeting is about identifying ways to bridge the gap between
institutional and participatory democracy" said EESC President Mario Sepi in his opening
address. "This is necessary because we face problems that can only be dealt with at the European
level and not at the national level. This is clearly outlined in our 'Programme for Europe' through its
179 concrete proposals.""
In the same vein, Othmar Karas stressed that "for such global problems as security and
sustainable development, the solutions that we provide on the European level can have global
effects". Turning to the European elections, he said that "citizens will only vote if they know their
vote will have an impact. We must work together to show that to citizens".
Jorgo Chatzimarkakis applauded the policies and spirit of the 'Programme for Europe': "if this was
a party manifesto, I would join that party right away!" He stressed the importance of initiatives like
the 'Programme for Europe', if, in his words "the vicious cycle of lack of public awareness and
insufficient media coverage" is to be broken.
Monica Frassoni underscored the importance of the "political offer" in attracting European voters'
attention. "In order to get people interested and involved, European political parties need to show
them that they have a range of options to choose from", said Ms Frassoni.
MEPs also deplored the current lack of public awareness about EU policies: "We still have to explain
Europe to its citizens", said Adrian Severin. "Our failure to do so before now, was partly for fear
of communicating the EU at the expense of national governments".
European Economic and Social Committee
In their statements, EESC Group Presidents called for action to inform and involve European
citizens: "European citizens will not turn out to vote simply because we ask them to. We need to
inform them" said Employees' Group President George Dassis. Employers' Group President Henri
Malosse insisted on the need to "recreate a Europe of citizens and not a Europe of bureaucracies".
"In the last years we have achieved much more than we did in previous centuries". Staffan
Nilsson, President of the EESC's Various Interests' Group echoed this viewpoint and said "We need
to keep going down that road and our 'Programme for Europe' points the way for us"
For more details, please contact:
Barbara Gessler at the EESC Press Office,
99 rue Belliard, B-1040 Brussels
Tel.: +32 2 546 9396; Mobile: +32 475 75 32 02
Email: press@eesc.europa.eu
Website: http://www.eesc.europa.eu/
Press Releases:
http://www.eesc.europa.eu/activities/press/cp/index_en.asp (English)
http://www.eesc.europa.eu/activities/press/cp/index_fr.asp (French)
The European Economic and Social Committee represents the various economic and social
components of organised civil society. It is an institutional consultative body established by the
1957 Treaty of Rome. Its consultative role enables its members, and hence the organisations they
represent, to participate in the Community decision-making process. The Committee has 344
members, who are appointed by the Council of Ministers.