CES/06/21
Brussels, 10 March 2006
“Continuity through change” - Make the Lisbon strategy a true vision for Europe! On 9 and 10 March 2006, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the Hungarian Economic and Social Council held a joint conference in Budapest entitled Improving national ownership of the Lisbon Strategy: Is organised civil society sufficiently involved? In a joint appeal the presidents of both institutions, Anne-Marie Sigmund and Sándor Demján, called upon the EU heads of state and government to develop the Lisbon Strategy into a “true vision for Europe”.
The joint declaration of the two Presidents considers the Lisbon Strategy not only as an economic reform programme but also as a true vision for Europe. As a complex project of modernisation, the Strategy has to balance its three economic, social and environmental pillars.
“Achieving continuity through change” is a way to safeguard European values and objectives. Being ambitious and anticipatory in a global context, the Lisbon strategy has to be supported by civil society to be successful. It has to be beneficial to the public as a whole and bring citizens prosperity, security and confidence in their future. However, this is a long-term project that will require coordination at the European level, the declaration states.
“The Lisbon strategy is a project that aims to assure a peaceful future for us and future generations in a globalised world” explained Mr Demján. Anne-Marie Sigmund considers the full involvement of civil society organisations fundamental to the success of the Strategy, which is a condition to preserve the European Social Model in a globalised economy. Maria Joao Rodrigues, Special advisor to the European Commission, considers the implication of civil society the “central drive”, especially in explaining the goals of the Strategy to the wider public and gain its full support.
The event provided an opportunity to discuss progress and obstacles in implementing the Strategy, identifying future challenges and comparing the best practices in the Member States. Laszlo Kovacs, European Commissioner as well as Mr Csizmár, Mr Kiss and Mr Baráth, Hungarian ministers, and various members of the EESC and the Economic and Social Councils of the Member States participated in this debate. The EESC has tabled a comprehensive report to the European Spring summit.
The joint communication and the EESC’s Spring Summit report are available online:
http://eesc.europa.eu/lisbon_strategy/index_en.asp
For more details, please contact: Karel Govaert or Christian Weger at the EESC Press Office, 99 rue Belliard, B-1040; Brussels Tel.: 02 546 9396/9586; Mobile: 0475 753 202 Email: press@eesc.europa.eu
Website: http://eesc.europa.eu/press/index_en.asp
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 317 members, who are appointed by the Council of Ministers. 
