Read inside:

The Vo i ce o f G roup I I I V a r i o u s I n t e r e s t s

European Economic and Social Committee

• HIGHLIGHTS OF THE JANUARY EESC PLENARY SESSION – GROUP IIIMEMBERS CO-ORDINATING THE WORK ON OPINIONS

• NEWS FROM GROUP III

• OUR GROUP’S STRENGTH

• GROUP III MEMBERS IN THE SPOTLIGHT PLAYING A KEY ROLE

• NEWS FROM CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS CLOSE TO GROUP III

• AN INSIGHT INTO GROUP III LEADERSHIP

• HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR MEMBERS’ WORK

• OTHER NEWS THAT MATTERS

Dear reader,

I have a question for you: should the EESC celebrate its 50thanniversary as "A young soul in an old body", or the opposite?Perhaps the answer depends on who you ask. My ownexperience is, with my in-house perspective, that we, at theEESC, have made a lot of progress towards modernising ourworking methods and have created opportunities to have amore meaningful dialogue with organisations both atEuropean and national level in the Member States. But thefuture for EESC, and Group III, is an ongoing journey andthere is always room for improvement.

A priority issue for the EESC, and especially for Group III, isto continue to develop ever closer links and more regularcontacts between our Group, its members and the diversity oforganisations they represent. One important means ofachieving this is through the Liaison-Group for Civil SocietyOrganisations and Networks. As Group III President, in thenear future, I would like to see the composition and influenceof the Liaison Group expanded, especially the contributionmade by Group III members. To achieve this aim, we all haveto work together and examine new possible ways to changeand restructure our way of working in order to make that leapfrom simple discussion to concrete action on issues of concernto civil society. Since this will have budgetary implications, thesooner we address this situation the better, to reach our goal.

The EESC has given its approval to the Group III proposal toset up a Subcommittee to produce an own-initiative opinionon: "The role of civil society in the context of the LisbonTreaty" with a particular accent on civil society, economicpolicy and social policy. Debate will begin very soon on thisopinion which will also involve full cooperation with the"Liaison Group" that will appoint an expert taking active partin the debates within the Sub-Committee. Any contributionyou may have to this discussion would be most welcome.

Another important area for Group III is the relations withSmall and Medium-sized Enterprises¸ otherwise known asSMEs. We will monitor closely the Commissions work withthe Small Business Act. This will have an effect and be equallyrelevant for cooperatives, foundations and SMEs in socialeconomy and even in the voluntary sector.

In conclusion, I trust that our GR III Newsletter continues tobe informative and of interest to you all? It is a window on thework of Group III and on its members' activities, both in theCommittee and in their home organisations. Please use this asa tool for your own organisation, send us you comments andgive us your feedback and ideas. Together, we will be stronger!

May our mutually fruitful collaboration continue and improvein 2008.

Staffan NilssonEESC, President Group III

Editorial

January 2008 No. 9

UEAPME or the ESF) is based on mutual respect of each other specificinterests and independence.

At the European Economic and Social Committee a great deal of criticismis levelled at the liberal professions and their restrictive regulations. Areyour organisations a self-preservation society aimed at protecting privileges?It is true that, some of the regulations of our professions might havebeen adopted in times when circumstances and mentalities weredifferent. CEPLIS has always been open to discuss the possibility torevisit and eventually abolish regulations that could create an obstacle tothe realisation of the Single Market. However, it is important to bear inmind that a great number of the regulations governing our professionsare designed in order to guarantee the quality of the services we areoffering to the citizens and the society as a whole. I am thinking here ofprofessional confidentiality, recently upheld by the BelgianConstitutional Court, life-long training etc. The undoing of suchregulation would in fact leave the European citizen less protected fromabuse and would open the door to problems relating with, for examplepublic health. It is for these reasons that the European Parliament hasadopted on the issue of our regulations at least two importantresolutions (the most recent being that of October 2006) in which ourspecificities and particular role for the evolution of European democraticsocieties are underlined. In these resolutions the Parliament takes astand quite different from that often adopted by DG Competition.

The markets for the liberal professions are no doubt also affected by theglobalisation of the services markets. Apart from the ideology of the liberal professions, what can you offer in response to globalisation?Not only the GATS and Lisbon strategies, but mainly the Internet,empowered any client to choose just what service is most suitable to hisneeds. This new choice ignores not only national borders, but alsotraditional groupings of commercial chains. Enterprises are restructuringthemselves in order to make more and more of their products accessibleone-to-one. The traditional provision of professional services is alsoinvolved in this change of perspective. Some of the old mistakescharacterizing the ancient advertisements (like, for instance, quasi-miracles promised in former paper-based yellow pages) now reappearmuch stronger, and cannot anymore be stopped by the old genericrestrictions to advertisements of professional services. In this newperspective, we must propose to this mature and empowered client thesame range of professional competences that we already share in ourprofessional organisations, in our scientific congresses, in our researchcommunications. We have still the possibility to contrast the misleading,single advertisements, only by promoting our collective ones. A genericprohibition of advertisement is one of the regulations that has finishedto work, and must be changed, within the context of our knowledge-based economy. A comprehensive CEPLIS e-infrastructure could makeany professional competence more accessible not only to our clients, butalso between professionals themselves, and professional organisations,too. For instance, the EU claims that the in-depth investigation ofaccidents, already advanced in well-organised fields (like railways,aviation, maritime transportation) is still lacking in road accidents, whereprofessionals competent in infrastructure do not dialogue enough withthose competent on behaviour. Compare, for instance, the much betterconnection of the suitable competences already implemented by the socalled e-Health system, a best model for the CEPLIS Health-professions WG. A comprehensive, fluent, reliable stock-exchange ofprofessional competences would enhance competitiveness and efficiency.We hope that EESC will help CEPLIS to afford these pendingchallenges in the best possible way: converging. Thank you.

Pierangelo Sardi

Mr Pierangelo SARDIPresident of CEPLIS

Interview of the month with

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There is a wide variety of liberal pro-fessions in Europe. How representativeis CEPLIS? How does it show this?Who is behind it?The European Council of the LiberalProfessions is the only inter-

professional organisation representing our socio-economic category atthe Community level. Our members are both European mono-professional federations, such as for example the European Council ofEngineers Chambers (ECEC), the Pharmaceutical Group of the EU(PGEU), the Federation of the Associations of European Notaries(FANE) or the European Conservators Restorers Organisation(ECCO), and national multi-professional bodies, such as for examplethe UKIPG in the UK, the UNAPL in France, CUP and Con-profesioni in Italy, UP in Spain, UNPLIB in Belgium, etc. Our memberorganisations are of course conserving their independence in all mattersrelating to the promotion and defence of their specific profession or theinternal issues of their Member State. CEPLIS' objective is to co-ordinate and defend the moral, cultural, scientific and material interestsof our professions, working closely with the European Parliament, theCouncil, the Commission and of course the EESC with which we havea particularly fruitful collaboration during the last ten years.At the same time, our Council is a forum of discussion and debate onthe future of our professional exercise and on the improvement of theservices we offer to the citizen, our client or patient. The adoption of aset of principles common to all the professions of our sector after aconsultation that gathered answers even from those bodies that are notyet part of our Council is the most recent example of our work. It hasbeen saluted by both the European Commission (DG MARKT) andmany within the EP as a good practice to follow in the setting of Codesof Conduct for our sector and has brought new strength in our group.

In Europe the liberal professions are very highly regulated, but in othercountries of the world this is not the case. In some countries they do notexist. What is your opinion of the Bersani decree that has been adoptedin your country and which abolishes all the regulations surrounding theliberal professions?All professions started working before being regulated, but we don’tknow cases of professions thriving, or simply surviving, without anycontrol, that is, regulation. Therefore, a news of total abolishment ofItalian regulations is highly exaggerated, as Mark Twain commented thenews of his death; on the contrary, Mr Prodi’s Government, whiletransposing Directive 2005/36/EC, has officially granted the right tobe recognised to a wide number of new professions and theirorganisations, which therefore will multiply many times the regulatorslisted in Annex I to the same Directive.

Members of the liberal professions are also employers just like commercialoperators or professional and managerial staff. Your organisation worksclosely with European organisations representing these interests in the economic and social scene. What are your common points and differences?Indeed many of our colleagues are also acting as employers or even headsmall/very small enterprises: let’s think for example of a lawyer firm andtheir non lawyer employees or of the small health-care offices where aphysician, a nurse, and a podiatrist are associated using the services of asecretary. This reality has led us to envisage collaboration with severalEuropean organisations representing more specifically the SMS or cadresector. Most recently, CEPLIS has signed a memorandum ofunderstanding with EUROCADRES, a body that shares many of ourconcerns.One of our objectives is to work together for the setting of Europeanprofessional cards in the spirit of the Directive relating to the recognitionof professional qualifications. It goes of course without saying that ourcollaboration with other organisations (such as for example the

Mr Staffan NILSSON (SV) is the Rapporteur for the opinionto be complied by a Subcommittee on: “The Lisbon Treaty: civildialogue - economic policy - social policy “ – SC/30. The otherGroup III members are: Mr Miklós BARABÁS (HU), MrJean-Michel BLOCH-LAINÉ (FR), Mrs Mall HELLAM(EE), Mr Luca JAHIER (IT), Mrs Maureen O’NEILL (UK)and Mrs Anne-Marie SIGMUND (AT).

Mr Angelo GRASSO (IT) is the Rapporteur for the opinionon: “Integration of EU Mortgage Credit Markets“ –INT/400.The other Group III members are: Mr István GARAI (HU),Mr Charalambos KOLOKOTRONIS (CY) and Mr JorgePEGADO LIZ (PT).

Mrs Lavinia ANDREI (RO), Mr KrzysztofKAMIENIECKI (PL), Mr Derek OSBORN (UK) and MrGerd WOLF (DE) are the Group III members on the studygroup for the opinion on: “Emission performance standards fornew passenger cars as part of the Community’s integratedapproach to reduce CO2 emissions from light-duty vehicles “– INT/401.

Mrs Elzbieta SZADZIŃSKA (PL) will chair the study groupfor the opinion on: “Type-approval of motor vehicle - emissionsfrom heavy duty vehicles (EURO VI) and access to vehiclerepair and maintenance information“ – INT/403. The otherGroup III members of this study group are: Mr István GARAI(HU) and Mrs Inger PERSSON (SV).

Mr Krzysztof PATER (PL) will chair the study group for theopinion on: “Removing obstacles to cross-border investmentsby venture capital funds” – INT/404. The other Group IIImembers of this study group are: Mr Panagiotis GKOFAS(EL), Mr Charalambos KOLOKOTRONIS (CY) and MrJuraj STERN (SK).

Mr István GARAI (HU), Mr CharalambosKOLOKOTRONIS (CY) and Mrs ElzbietaSZADZIŃSKA (PL) are the Group III members on the studygroup for the opinion on: “Promotion of clean and energyefficient road transport vehicles“ – INT/405.

Mr Panagiotis GKOFAS (EL) will chair the study group forthe combined opinions on: “European Defence Industry /transfer of defence-related products / procedures for the awardof public works, supply and service contracts” –INT/406/407/408. The other Group III members of this studygroup are: Mr Miguel-Ángel CABRA DE LUNA (ES), MrsRose D’SA (UK), Mr Zbigniew KOTOWSKI (PL) and MrArno METZLER (DE).

Mr Jorge PEGADO LIZ (PT) will chair the Single MarketObservatory for the opinion on: “A single market for 21stcentury Europe” – INT/SMO/409. Mr ClaudioCAPPELLINI (IT) will be the Co-Rapporteur for this dossierand the other Group III members are:Mr Miguel-Ángel CABRA DE LUNA (ES), Mr Claudio CAPPELLINI (IT), Mr Martin CHREN (SK), Mrs RoseD’SA (UK), Mrs Benedicte FEDERSPIEL (DK), Mr IstvánGARAI (HU), Mr Nikolaos LIOLIOS (EL), Mr KrzysztofPATER (PL), Mrs Inger PERSSON (SV) and Mrs DonkaSOKOLOVA (BG).

Mr Angelo GRASSO (IT), Mr Ludvík JÍROVEC (CZ),Mr Zbigniew KOTOWSKI (PL) and Mr StylianosSTAIKOS (EL) are the Group III members on the study groupfor the exploratory opinion on: “Developments in theconstruction sector in Europe“ – INT/411.

Mr Arno METZLER (DE) will chair the study group for theexploratory opinion on: “Developments in the business servicesector in Europe” – INT/412. The other Group III membersof this study group are: Mr Claudio CAPPELLINI (IT), MrsChristine FAES (BE) and Mrs Donka SOKOLOVA (BG).

Mr Jorge PEGADO LIZ (PT) is the Rapporteur for the SingleMarket Observatory own-initiative opinion on: “The proactivelaw approach: a step forward into Better Regulation at EUlevel“ – INT/SMO/415. The other group III members are: MrMiguel-Ángel CABRA DE LUNA (ES), Mr ClaudioCAPPELLINI (IT), Mr Martin CHREN (SK), Mrs RoseD’SA (UK), Mrs Benedicte FEDERSPIEL (DK), Mr IstvánGARAI (HU), Mr Nikolaos LIOLIOS (EL), Mr KrzysztofPATER (PL), Mrs Inger PERSSON (SV) and Mrs DonkaSOKOLOVA (BG).

Mr Jorge PEGADO LIZ (PT) will chair the Single Market Observatory for the own-initiative opinion on: “The social andenvironmental dimension of the internal market in the contextof its evaluation“ – INT/SMO/416. The other group IIImembers are: Mr Miguel-Ángel CABRA DE LUNA (ES), MrClaudio CAPPELLINI (IT), Mr Martin CHREN (SK), MrsRose D’SA (UK), Mrs Benedicte FEDERSPIEL (DK), MrIstván GARAI (HU), Mr Nikolaos LIOLIOS (EL), MrKrzysztof PATER (PL), Mrs Inger PERSSON (SV) and MrsDonka SOKOLOVA (BG).

Mr Panagiotis GKOFAS (EL), Mr Krzysztof PATER (PL)and Mr Jorge PEGADO LIZ (PT) are the Group III members

on the study group for the own-initiative opinion on: “Combatingfraud and counterfeiting of non-cash means of payment” –INT/417.

Mr Panagiotis GKOFAS (EL) is the Rapporteur for the own-initiative opinion on: “Copyright/intellectual property“ – INT/418.The other Group III members are: Mr Jorge PEGADO LIZ (PT)and Mrs Évelyne PICHENOT (FR).

Mr Bernardo HERNÁNDEZ BATALLER (ES) is theRapporteur for the own-initiative opinion on: “Policy guidelines forservices of general interest and globalisation“ – TEN/334. Theother Group III members are: Mrs Soscha GRÄVIN zuEULENBURG (DE), Mr Luca JAHIER (IT) and Mrs ÉvelynePICHENOT (FR).

Mr Hubert GHIGONIS (FR) will chair the study group for theown-initiative opinion on: “Emission of noise and pollutants fromroad transport - concrete measures to overcome the stagnation” –TEN/335. The other Group III members of this study group are:Mr Krzysztof KAMIENIECKI (PL), Mr Nikolaos LIOLIOS(EL) and Mr Juraj STERN (SK).

Mrs Gunta ANCA (LV), Mrs Elzbieta SZADZIŃSKA (PL) andMr Gerd WOLF (DE) are the Group III members on the studygroup for the own-initiative opinion on: “The social implications oftransport and energy developments” – TEN/336.

Mr Carlos Alberto PEREIRA MARTINS (PT) will chair thestudy group for the own-initiative opinion on: “Airport Securitymeasures” – TEN/337. The other Group III members of this studygroup are: Mrs Gunta ANCA (LV) and Mr Corrado ROSSITTO(IT).

Mr Staffan NILSSON (SV) will chair the study group for the own-initiative opinion on: “Meeting the challenges of the WEEEmanagement in the EU” – NAT/389. The other Group IIImembers of this study group are: Mr Bernardo HERNÁNDEZBATALLER (ES) and Mrs Elzbieta SZADZIŃSKA (PL).

Mr Krzysztof KAMIENIECKI (PL) is the Rapporteur for theown-initiative opinion on: “The need for a concerted action at EUlevel to strengthen civil society in rural areas, with particular regardto new member states“ – NAT/390. The other Group III membersare: Mr Ludvík JÍROVEC (CZ), Mr Lutz RIBBE (DE) and MrDick WESTENDOPR (NL).

Mr Derek OSBORN (UK) is the Rapporteur for the SustainableDevelopment Observatory‘s own-initiative opinion on: “Climatechange international negotiations“ – NAT/SDO/391. The otherGroup III members are: Mrs Lavinia ANDREI (RO), Mr LutzRIBBE (DE) and Mrs Ludmilla TODOROVA (BG).

Mr Lutz RIBBE (DE) is the Rapporteur for SustainableDevelopment Observatory’s own-initiative opinion on: “Beyond-GDP, measurements for sustainable development“ –NAT/SDO/392. The other Group III members are: Mr MartinCHREN (SK), Mr Kaul NURM (EE) and Mr Zenonas RokusRUDZIKAS.

Mr Nikolaos LIOLIOS (EL) will sit on the drafting group for theopinion on: “Industrial emissions (integrated pollution preventionand control) (Recast)” –NAT/393.

Mr Seppo KALLIO (FI) will chair the study group for the opinionon: “Health Check of the CAP reform” – NAT/394. The otherGroup III members of this study group are: Mrs María CarmenCOBANO SUÁREZ (ES), Mr Hervé COUPEAU (FR), MrArmands KRAUZE (LV), Mr Lutz RIBBE (DE) and Mrs JosianeWILLEMS (LU).

Mr Stylianos STAIKOS (EL) and Mr Juraj STERN (SK) are theGroup III members on the study group for the own-initiative opinionon: “Impact of the ongoing development of energy markets onindustrial value chains in Europe” – CCMI/052.

Mr Janós TÓTH (HU) is the Rapporteur for the own-initiativeopinion on: “Structural and conceptual change as a prerequisite fora globally competitive knowledge and research-based Europeanindustrial construct (Europe: Catching up or taking the lead?)“ –CCMI/053. The other Group III member is Mr Zenonas RokusRUDZIKAS (LT).

Mr Algirdas SIUPSINSKAS (LT) and Mrs ElzbietaSZADZIŃSKA (PL) are the Group III members on the studygroup for the own-initiative opinion on: “The restructuring andevolution of the household appliance industry (white goods inEurope) and its impact on employment, climate change andconsumers” – CCMI/054.

Mr Mario CAMPLI (IT) and Mr Zbigniew KOTOWSKI (PL)are the Group III members on the study group for the own-initiativeopinion on: “Industrial change, territorial development andcorporate responsibility” – CCMI/055.

Mr Janós TÓTH (HU) will chair the study group for the own-initiative opinion on: “Non-energy mining industry in Europe“ –CCMI/056. The other Group III member is Mr ZbigniewKOTOWSKI (PL).

For the own-initiative opinion on “The EU Economy: 2007 Review

– Moving Europe’s productivity frontier” – ECO/222, the GroupIII members of the study group are: Mr Jean-Michel BLOCH-LAINÉ (FR), Mr Miguel-Ángel CABRA DE LUNA (ES), MrMartin CHREN (SK), Mr Angelo GRASSO (IT), Mr LudvíkJÍROVEC (CZ), Mr Arno METZLER (DE) and Mrs MaureenO’NEILL (UK).

For the opinion on “The application of anti-abuse measures in thearea of direct taxation – within the EU and in relation to thirdcountries” – ECO/223, the Group III members of the study groupare: Mr Michael SMYTH (UK), Mr Juraj STERN (SK) and MrJanós TÓTH (HU).

Mr Panagiotis GKOFAS (EL) is the Rapporteur for the own-initiative opinion on: “Additional taxation affecting consumption“ –ECO/224. The other Group III members are: Mr KrzysztofPATER (PL) and Mr Janós TÓTH (HU).

For the own-initiative opinion on “The reasons for the differencebetween perceived inflation and actual inflation“ – ECO/225, theGroup III members of the study group are: Mr Martin CHREN(SK), Mr Angelo GRASSO (IT), Mr Carlos Alberto PEREIRAMARTINS (PT) and Mr Michael SMYTH (UK).

Mrs Teresa COSTA MACEDO (PT) will chair the study groupfor the own-initiative opinion on: “The situation of ageing workersfaced with industrial change – providing support and managingage diversity in sectors and companies“ – SOC/297. The otherGroup III members are: Mr Martin CHREN (SK), Mr TomaszCZAJKOWSKI (PL) and Mrs Renate HEINISCH (DE).

Mr Miguel-Ángel CABRA DE LUNA (ES) is the Co-Rapporteurfor the own-initiative opinion on: “Prevention of terrorism andviolent radicalisation“ – SOC/301. The other Group III membersare: Mr Luc JAHIER (IT) and Mr Frank STÖHR (DE).

Mr Krzysztof PATER (PL) is the Rapporteur for the own-initiativeopinion on: “European Year for Combating Poverty and SocialExclusion (2010) “ – SOC/302. The other Group III members are:Mr Jean-Michel BLOCH-LAINÉ (FR), Mrs Soscha GRÄVINzu EULENBURG (DE), Mrs Mária HERCZOG (HU), MrEugen LUCAN (RO) and Mr Poul LÜNEBORG (DK).

Mrs Maureen O’NEILL (UK) is the Group III member of thedrafting group on “Guidelines for growth and jobs (2008-2010)“ –SOC/303.

For the own-initiative opinion on: “Extending anti-discriminationmeasures for areas outside employment and the case for a singlecomprehensive anti-discrimination directive” SOC/304, the GroupIII members are: Mrs Gunta ANCA (LV), Mr Eugen LUCAN(RO), Mr Poul LÜNEBORG (DK) and Mrs MarzenaMENDZA-DROZD (PL).

Mrs Mall HELLAM (EE) is the Rapporteur for the own-initiativeopinion of the REX Section on: “UE-Ukraine Relation: a newdynamic role for the civil society “ REX/252. The other Group IIImembers are: Mr Hervé COUPEAU (FR), Mr TomaszCZAJKOWSKI (PL) and Mr Cristian PÎRVULESCU (RO)

Mr Jan OLSSON (SV) will chair the study group for the own-initiative opinion of the REX Section on: “EU-Brazil relations“REX/257. The other Group III members are: Mr Leif NIELSEN(DK), Mr Carlos Alberto PEREIRA MARTINS (PT) and MrJavier SÁNCHEZ ANSÓ (ES).

Mrs Mall HELLAM (EE) will chair the study group for the own-initiative opinion of the REX Section on: “Transatlantic Relations “REX/255. The other Group III members are: Mr MiklósBARABÁS (HU), Mrs Benedicte FEDERSPIEL (DK) and MrKostakis KONSTANTINIDIS (CY).

Mr Luca JAHIER (IT) will chair the study group for the own-initiative opinion of the REX Section on: “The external dimensionof European energy policy “ REX/253. The other Group IIImembers are: Mr Seppo KALLIO (FI), Mr Pedro NARROSÁNCHEZ (ES) and Mr Kaul NURM (EE).

Mr Staffan NILSSON (SV) will chair the study group for theinformation report of the REX Section on: “Climate change and theMediterranean: environmental and energy challenges“ REX/254.The other Group III members are: Mr Roberto CONFALONIERI(IT), Mr Kostakis KONSTANTINIDIS (CY), Mr PedroNARRO SÁNCHEZ (ES) and Mr Yves SOMVILLE (BE).

Mr Richard ADAMS (UK) will chair the study group for theinformation report of the REX Section on: “Development withequity and environmental responsibility“ REX/256. The otherGroup III members are: Mr Angelo GRASSO (IT), Mr KrzysztofKAMIENIECKI (PL), Mrs Inger PERSSON (SV) and MrsPirkko RAUNEMAA (FI).

If you have any enquiries or questions regarding the above please donot hesitate to contact the Group Secretariat on gr3@eesc.europa.eu

The “Social Economy Category” will meet on5 March. The Category will make an evalua-tion of the 2007 activities and define the workpriorities for 2008. During the meeting, theCategory will have an exchange of views withMrs Anne Ferreira, MEP, chairwoman of theSocial Economy Intergroup, on upcoming so-cial economy events.

More information on the work of the cate-gories can be found on our website, by con-tacting the spokespersons of the categoriesor the Secretariat of Group III on:gr3@eesc.europa.eu.

Group III members co-ordinating the work on opinionsHighlights of the January EESC Plenary Session

Progress report on aGroup III own-initiativeopinion on: “The Role ofthe EU in the NorthernIreland Peace Process”

Mrs Jane MORRICE(UK)

The EESC has set up a Subcommittee toprepare an ‘Own Initiative Opinion’ on ‘Therole of the EU in the Northern Ireland PeaceProcess’. Its aim, according to Rapporteur andGroup III member, Jane Morrice, is to chart therelatively ‘unsung’ story of EU support for peaceand reconciliation and to draw up a ‘tool kit’ ofthe lessons learned in the EU approach toconflict resolution, to be used by others ifappropriate. The first meeting of theSubcommittee was held in Brussels on January10. Chaired by Henri Malosse, it included apresentation on the PEACE Programme and theInternational Fund for Ireland by KyriacosCharalambous from DG Regio, a presentationby MEP Bairbre de Brun on her Report to theParliament on a similar theme and apresentation from Göke Frerichs who, in 1995,was the Rapporteur for the EESC Opinion onthe PEACE Programme. Held on the same daywas the visit by the First and Deputy FirstMinister of Northern Ireland to Brussels; themeeting took stock of the variety of EUinitiatives focusing on Northern Irelandcurrently underway. Alongside the EESCOpinion and the EP Report, EC PresidentBarroso has set up a task force to look intofuture EU/Northern Ireland relations. TheSubcommittee concluded that thisconcentration of effort was both constructiveand timely. It is hoped that the three pieces ofwork from the EESC, the EP and the EC willdovetail into a comprehensive review of past,present and future EU support for a regionemerging from its troubled past. The secondmeeting of the Subcommittee will be aConsultation Conference in Northern Irelandin spring this year. This will coincide with anumber of major events to commemorateNorthern Ireland’s recent achievements and willprovide the opportunity to pay tribute to theEU for its support for the peace process. It ishoped that a number of those who wereinstrumental in setting up the PEACEProgramme will attend. The aim of theconference is to gather evidence from as manystakeholders as possible, particularly thoserecipients of PEACE, INTERREG and IFIfunding. This will be used to examine themethods used by the EU in the conflictresolution process and analyse the models of bestpractice which emerge. These will form thebasis of the planned ‘tool kit’ setting out themain principles underpinning the EU strategyin the peace and reconciliation process.

Our Group’sStrength

Newsfrom Group III

An InsightInto Group

III Leadership

Living and Working Conditions and BrendanBurns from the EESC who is a businessman inScotland. The workshop was well attended byrepresentatives of the voluntary sector, Govern-ment, business and unions and we are grateful tothe European Parliament Office for hosting theevent which was introduced by Brenda King,President of the SOC Section. There was somelively debate and the event was covered by theBBC. The event highlighted the importance ofdisseminating both the work of the EESC and thevalue of membership of the European Union.This has resulted in requests for participation inlocal debates from the voluntary sector and moredialogue between the unions and business in re-lation to skills needed to continue to develop theeconomy. The SOC Section will be drawing upa report following the debates in other MemberStates.

Seminar on the “Lisbon Treaty” 19 January 2008in Malta

The EESC was invited toparticipate and make a pres-entation at a seminar on theReform Treaty under thetitle: “The Lisbon Treaty –Listening to the Voice ofCivil Society’. The seminarwas organised by The Forumof Civil Society Organisa-

tions, Malta made up of eight Maltese NGOsrepresenting consumers, the elderly, women, pen-sioners, the professions, youth, persons with dis-ability and a group of NGOs from the island ofGozo.

The first part of the Seminar was introduced bychair, Benjamin Rizzo, President of the Forum. Thekeynote address was given by Hon. Michael Frendo,Minister for Foreign Affairs of Malta and this wasfollowed by a presentation by Prof. Peter Xuereb,Lecturer in European and Comparative Law at theUniversity of Malta on the theme: “From a Euro-pean Convention to the Reform Treaty”.

I made a presentation focusing on“The consultativerole of civil society” and presented the position ofthe EESC. During question time, issues raised con-cerned the role of the EU Parliament and NationalParliaments. Comments on the need for the EU togive a voice to Civil Society and mobility of workersacross the EU were also raised .

This was followed by a panel discussion on the“Ongoing debate leading up to ratification: whatchallenges?”, chaired by Group III member, GraceAttard, in which two Maltese MEPs, Dr SimonBusuttil and Mr Louis Grech, tackled this topicwith Rev. Prof. Peter Serracino Inglott, who hadparticipated in the negotiations of the Convention.

In the general debate, the majority of commentsfrom the floor concerned features of the new treatyrather than issues directly related to civil society. Apoint was raised asking whether ratification shouldbe only by Parliament, or should the citizens be con-sulted through a referendum. Other issues raisedwere about the Charter of Human Rights and citi-zens’ rights

Around 50 people from the 8 umbrella organisa-tions, which belong to this NGO Forum. partici-pated in the Seminar. The event also receivedconsiderable newspaper and TV media coverage,with the evening TV news featuring a report of themeeting. Participants were given several documentswith information about the EESC and a number ofits opinions and the Robert Schuman Foundationdocument “The Lisbon Treaty. 10 easy-to-read factsheets” A number of participants had the opportu-

nity to share their views with me as the Presidentof Group III and with the Maltese MEPs.

Brussels 08.02.08Services of general interest (SSGIs): a sensitiveissue which is still on the table

On 28 January in Brussels,the Committee of the Re-gions and the European Eco-nomic and Social Committeepresented together a study onSocial Services of General In-terest in the internal market.In doing this, they joinedforces on a dossier which is

close to home and offers a response to basic socialneeds (childcare, people with disabilities, retirementhomes, social housing). Supported by the EuropeanParliament, the three institutions all reject the Com-mission’s proposal, which claims that the inclusionof the Protocol on services of general interest(SGIs) in the Treaty is sufficient response to SSGI’sneeds for legal certainty. Along with the SSIG Col-lective, which is the author of the study, they stressthe need for specific legislation on SSGIs.

The strong alliance between the three institutionswill continue as they relaunch the debate during thenext European Parliament term. They aim to putthe issue at the centre of the campaign for the Eu-ropean elections. A conference on SGIs to be heldunder the French presidency in October 2008 willalso contribute to this.

With its permanent study group on services of gen-eral interest, the Committee is in a position to actquickly on a sensitive issue. This level of oversightmust be maintained.

Evelyne PichenotPresident of the permanent

study group on SGIs

During the January Plenary Session, theAssembly decided to create a Sub-Committee in charge of drafting anown-initiative opinion on “The role ofcivil society in the context of the LisbonTreaty” (see also “Group III members co-ordinating the work on opinions”).Group III was at the origin of this own-initiative opinion which will be dividedinto three chapters, namely: civildialogue, economic policy and socialpolicy. Mr Staffan Nilsson, President ofGroup III, is the Rapporteur of the firstchapter on civil dialogue. The opinionshould be debated by the Assembly inJuly.

Group III Members in theSpotlight playing a key role

Report on the seminar “Taking Stock of thereality of European society today“ Edinburgh,Scotland December 2007

A seminar was jointly organ-ised in Edinburgh by theEESC, European ParliamentOffice and the EuropeanCommission in December2007. This seminar was oneof a series of debates acrossthe member states on the re-ality of European society and

the European social model. The first seminarwas held in Stockholm in September 2007. Thebasis of this series of events is the opinion drawnup for the EESC by Jan Olsson following a re-quest by Commissioner Wallstrom in 2006. TheEuropean Council had stressed the importance ofbringing the social dimension closer to citizensand the stock taking exercise would examine themajor factors driving social transformation andserve as a basis for future policy making by build-ing on a new consensus of the social challengesfacing Europe. The opinion raised a range of so-cial and economic issues affecting society acrossthe Member States. The issues covered by the de-bate in Edinburgh included health, the Europeansocial model and skills for employment whichare of particular concern in Scotland at the pres-ent time. We were very pleased to welcome asspeakers, in addition to Jan Olsson, Professor Su-san Deacon from Queen Margaret University,who was previously Minister of Health in thefirst Scottish Government following devolution;Elspeth Attwooll MEP, Mary McCaughey fromthe European Foundation for the Improvement of

The BEUC issued its “Memorandum for theSlovenian Presidency” calling Member States,amongst others, to make the “Energy Consumer’sCharter” part of the binding legislation, try toensure that the legislation on toy safety will includetougher provisions on chemicals in toys, to finalisethe Internal Market for Goods Package that shouldbring about a single coherent and effective systemof enforcement and market surveillance for thesafety of all consumer products. Within the launchof negotiations on the revision of the food andnutrition labelling rules the BEUC insists on themandatory simplified front-of pack nutritioninformation and it calls on the Presidency toencourage the Commission to come forward with alegislative proposal for a European group actionsystem as soon as possible.

You can find further details at the following address:

http://docshare.beuc.org/docs/8/OBGLGJHAIAKPFFPDGPEAHDCEPDBW9DBDED9DW3571KM/BEUC/docs/DLS/2008-00060-01-E.pdf

Within the framework of the “International GreenWeek 2008” held in Berlin from 18 to 27 January,COPA COGECA organised a European Farmers’Event on Cooperation between Agriculture andEnvironmental Protection. Commissioner MariannFischer Boel delivered the welcome speech. TheState Secretary of the German Federal Ministry ofFood, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, GerdLindemann and Konstantin Kreiser from BirdLife

International made a speech on the theme“Agriculture at the service of the environment”followed by the presentation of cooperation casestudies by farmers organisations of Germany,United kingdom and Spain.

COPA-COGECA also issued a paper presentingits reaction to the Commission’s communication onthe “Health Check” of the 2003 Reform of the CAPmaking specific proposals on the following points:Market intervention mechanisms, Supply ControlsPayments coupled to production, Single Payment -simplification and limits, Cross complianceModulation, The treatment of climate change, watermanagement and bioenergy under ruraldevelopment and Managing Risk.

The documents available on the following address:http://www.copa-cogeca.be/pdf/PR_08_126_1e.pdf. For furtherinformaiton please contact: COPA/COGECARue de Trèves, 61, B-1040 Bruxelles. Tel. 32-2-28727 11. Fax 32-2-287 27 00 E-mail : mail@copa-cogeca.be www.copa-cogeca.be

The EDF marked its 10th anniversary with a newpublication “European Disability Forum: 10 Yearsof History”. It is based on the testimonies andexperiences of the representatives of the disabilitymovement in Europe presenting the mostimportant accomplishments of the disabilitymovement in the past years.

The publication can be downloaded at thefollowoing address: http://www.edf-feph.org/Page_Generale.asp?DocID=13854&thebloc=15618.The printed version and alternativeformats (Word and Text) can be ordered at:secretariat@edf-feph.org

Policy Paper on Achieving Equality BetweenWomen and Men

During its November 2007 statutory meeting, theCouncil of Members of the European Youth Forum(YFJ) adopted a new Policy Paper on “AchievingEquality Between Women and Men“. This documentfollows the YFJ’s strong commitment to promoteequality between young women and men, whichbuilds on relevant existing YFJ policies on genderequality and discrimination on the ground of sexand/or gender. It highlights both the need for overallgender mainstreaming and for specific actions incertain areas targeting the elimination of disparities inthe treatment of women and men. Due to historical,cultural, traditional, political and societalcircumstances, girls and young women, who constitutemore than 50% of young people, are potentiallydisadvantaged, unequal, under�represented, sexuallyexploited, underpaid, exposed to domestic violence andother forms of violence, and disproportionatelyunemployed by virtue of nothing more than their sex.These circumstances have led to a reality whereachieving equality between women and men remainsone of the biggest challenges facing society. Youngpeople are strongly affected by this situation, as itprevents them from achieving their fullest potential inlife and prevents them from enjoying, to a full extent,their basic human rights. While the YFJ believes thatall policy areas must incorporate a gender dimension toaddress this problem, this policy paper highlights onlythose areas which the YFJ has identified as having aparticularly pronounced gender dimension and whichnecessitate special actions. Thus the paper looksspecifically at gender role division; the social andeconomic position of young women; gender andeducation; and gender and development — with an

additional focus on the participation of women inpolitical life, and the role of young men in the strugglefor equality between women and men. Within thesethemes, further specific areas are examined, with a clearlist of actions to which the YFJ will be committingitself, and of demands, to which it calls on institutionsto commit, subsequently detailed as an integralelement of the paper.

Should you have any questions or remarks regardingthis contribution, please contact Marco Perolini, PolicyOfficer Training, Human Rights and Equality atmarco.perolini@youthforum.org, +32 2 286 94 13.You may also get in touch with Ewoud Roes, EUrelations coordinator, at ewoud.roes@youthforum.org,+32 2 286 94 24.www.youthforum.org

News from civil society organisations close to Group III

Editors of this edition: Liam Ó Brádaigh, Fausta Palombelli, Enrica Nardello e-mail: gr3@eesc.europa.euMarc BeffortEditor in chief:

Secretariat of the Various Interests’ Group, European Economic and Social Committee, 99 Rue Belliard, 1040 BrusselsEUROPE III will reach you in electronic format via e-mail as well, so please fell free to forward it to your member organisations and / or partners.

Europe III is also available on our website at www.eesc.europa.eu/groups/3/index_en.aspTHE EESC IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT OF EXTERNAL WEBSITES

Mrs Reine-Claude MADER-SAUSSAYE (FR)– INT/361 “Green Paperon Retail Financial Servicesin the Single Market“(EESC opinion 62/08)

In this opinion the EESCstates that it supports theGreen Paper’s aim ofdeveloping the single market

for retail financial services, seeking to pinpointand remove all the artificial barriers whoseexploitation prevents European citizens fromtaking full and direct advantage of the benefits interms of cost and quality of supply. However, theCommittee believes that the Green Paper providesonly a partial review of the financial services andproducts market, overlooking the issue ofdistribution, which is a key factor in terms ofcompetition. The EESC also shares and appreciatesthe Commission’s objective of stimulating thesupply of high-quality, innovative products, bypromoting the free movement of banking andinsurance products that are currently penalised bynational legislative and tax-related restrictionslimiting such possibilities. The global market isbeing built on the basis of cross-borderconsolidation processes. Banking and insurancemultinationals are centring their acquisitionstrategies on increased mobility of supply.However, these cross-border consolidationprocesses are having or could have very negativerepercussions for employment. The EESC haspreviously highlighted this risk of social crisis andproposed appropriate countermeasures, such asvocational training and retraining schemes andsocial shock absorbers, which are written intomany collective agreements in the Europeanbanking sector. The EESC stresses the need for,inter alia: measures to increase consumer skills andawareness. Consumer protection requires that theconsumer be provided with all essentialinformation, while clearly always bearing in mindthat financial products and services are in acategory apart. When it comes to information,consumers need quality rather than quantity; clearregulations, so as to combat certain practicesinvolving potential conflicts of interest, salesincentives and staff bonus schemes, borrowedfrom commercial distribution and linked to salestargets for specific products; transparency ofbanking conditions. Regarding the issue ofconsumer’s cross-border mobility, the EESC:agrees with the idea that client mobility is animportant factor in the development of thefinancial services sector, in terms of both qualityand efficiency. However, the objectives with regardto consumer mobility in this sector should not beoverly optimistic; believes that it would be neither

realistic nor fair to require intermediaries to draftinformation leaflets and terms and conditions inall EU languages. In the medium term, therefore,the problem of the language barrier is destined toremain unresolved and be a major barrier toconsumers’ cross-border mobility; agrees that it istime to take a careful look at the legitimacy ofbarriers to consumer mobility. However,technical, regulatory, fiscal and legal constraintscan often make it difficult to create the rightconditions for the degree of consumer mobilitysuggested by the Commission. There is also adanger that simplifying financial service rules willresult in weaker consumer protection. Thedismantling of barriers must lead neither toincreased product prices nor to deterioration inthe present protection measures.

Mr Bernardo HERNÁNDEZ BATALLER(ES) - TEN/308 “Thefrequency bands to bereserved for thecoordinated introductionof public pan-Europeancellular digital land-basedmobile communications inthe Community“(EESC opinion 70/07)

The EESC supports the Commission proposal,since it will foster innovation and competitiveness,boost competition on the telecommunicationsmarket and extend consumer choice. Under theterms of Council Directive 87/372/EEC of 25June 1987, complemented by CouncilRecommendation 87/371/EEC of 25 June 1987and the Council Resolution of 14 December1990, the 890-915 and 935-960 MHz frequencybands (known as the 900 MHz band) werereserved and were to be occupied for the publicpan-European cellular digital mobilecommunications service provided in each of theMember States to a common specification.Market developments have led to general supportfor removing the reservation of the 900 MHzband for GSM, so that new and different digitaltechnologies providing innovative services can bedeployed in these frequency bands. Decision No676/2002/EC of the European Parliament and ofthe Council of 7 March 2002 on a regulatoryframework for radio spectrum policy in theEuropean Community establishes a legalframework to ensure the harmonised availabilityand efficient use of the radio spectrum, whererequired to implement Community policies inareas such as communications, transport,broadcasting and research and technologicalresearch (RTD). The EESC supported theproposal for this decision, considering that it

would guarantee the rational, equitable, effectiveand economic use of frequencies for allradiocommunications services. The purpose of thedecision is to: set up a regulatory committee, tobe called the Radio Spectrum Committee (RSC),responsive to technological and regulatorydevelopments in the radiocommunications fieldand allowing for proper consultation of allrelevant radio spectrum user communities. TheCommittee advises the Commission when issuingmandates to the CEPT (European Conference ofPostal and Telecommunications Administrations)and gives a regulatory opinion on technicalimplementation measures aimed at harmonisedconditions and implementation of Communitypolicy; establish a legal framework for spectrumharmonisation where necessary; ensurecoordinated and timely provision of informationon radio spectrum use and availability in the EC;ensure that appropriate Community andEuropean positions are developed with a view tointernational negotiations relating to spectrum,where the issues at stake are covered byCommunity policies. The decision allows theCommission to adopt technical implementingmeasures to ensure harmonised conditions for theavailability and efficient use of the radio spectrumband. Thus, where harmonisation is required inorder to safeguard legal certainty and Communitypolicies, the Commission grants mandates to theCEPT to develop technical criteria at Europeanlevel based on which spectrum harmonisationmeasures can be drafted and adopted by the RSC.

Mr Leif NIELSEN (DK) – NAT/376 “A newAnimal Health Strategy forthe European Union(2007-2013)“ (EESCopinion 66/07)

In this opinion, the EESCmaintains that seriouscontagious livestock diseasesrepresent an increasing risk

for animals and people, and the EU should increaseits efforts as regards prevention, supervision andcontrol. The EESC supports the Commission’sproposed strategy and appreciates the latter’sthorough preliminary work. However, effortsshould be stepped up vis-à-vis non-EU countriesand indicators should be developed as one of thefirst priorities, since this is of fundamentalimportance. The EU’s rules may be expected tohave a knock-on effect on the rest of the worldand the EU should aim at membership of theWorld Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).Veterinary border controls should be based on anoverall assessment of the actual risk and shouldinclude spot checks, in order to deter illegaltrading. Despite the need to have a smoothlyfunctioning internal market, it should be possibleto have zoning and compartmentalisation in theform of harmonised criteria and a requirement fortesting and/or quarantine arrangements inaccordance with the OIE/Codex. Management isa key factor in the prevention of infection and in

animal welfare, and this should be targeted byrequiring the provision of training and advice. Theveterinary fund and the economic responsibilityof the EU should be maintained, and to preventdistortions of competition a firm, harmonisedframework should be introduced for national co-funding. Vaccination should be used to combatdisease outbreaks if it can advantageously replaceor supplement the slaughtering of healthyanimals. However, as the Commission points out,this should be done in the light of a series ofclosely defined criteria and in the context of theactual situation.

Mr Pavel TRANTINA (CZ) – SOC/289“Promoting young people’sfull participation ineducation, employmentand society.“ (EESCopinion 76/07)

The EESC agrees with theneed to prepare a trulyEuropean transversal youthstrategy and is ready to

contribute to this process with its modest means(such as direct contact with grass rootorganisations and sensibilisation of EUinstitutions of problems and solutions on grassroot level). The EESC believes that the process ofbuilding a successful and sustainable transversalyouth strategy should be facilitated through apermanent structure within the Commission(coordinating the work of various DGs involved)or an interinstitutional group and should be basedon setting up of a monitoring mechanism withclear targets and deadlines. The EESC urgesMember States and European institutions to takethe necessary steps to reduce youth unemployment inEurope, mainly through quicker and more efficientimplementation of the European Youth Pact andMember States’ Lisbon Strategy national reformprogrammes. Moreover, it urges that the situationof young people in rural areas and poor urbanareas be given greater consideration. The EESCcalls on Member States to rise to the challenge oferadicating child poverty and asks for measures tobe added in order to improve participation ofyoung people with disabilities in society on equalterms. The EESC recommends that theCommission continues to work on therecognition of voluntary youth work throughengagement with employers’ organisations,workers’ organisations, representatives of theformal education system and appropriate NGOs.The EESC repeats its main points on the subjectof voluntary activities of young people, mainlythat: the Commission should announce a Year ofVolunteers, and publish a White Paper on voluntaryactivity and active citizenship in Europe; theCommission and Member States should raise theawareness on the contribution of youth work tothe development of young people and the skills,values and attitudes gained through activeinvolvement in youth organisations and youthwork activities. The EESC supports thedevelopment of structured dialogue betweendecision-makers and young people. Such dialogueshould contribute to the development of theEuropean transversal youth strategy, suggested bythe Commission in its Communication. TheEESC welcomes the proposal of the Commissionto draft an EU report on youth every three yearsand recommends that involvement of youth civilsociety, in particular the national youth councils,should be ensured in the development of such areport. The EESC supports the development of astrong partnership between the EU and youngpeople in the form of a declaration to be signedbetween the European Institutions and theirpartner on the part of young people – theEuropean Youth Forum.

NOTE: All EESC opinions are available in variouslanguage versions on the Committee’s website: http://eesc.europa.eu/documents/opinions/avis_en.asp?type=en

Highlights of our Members’ Work

Other news that mattersThe Bureau of Group III goes local:

To mark the Slovene Presidency of the EuropeanCouncil, the Bureau of Group III will hold anextraordinary meeting in Dolensje, Toplice on 11April. The meeting will be an occasion to establishan open dialogue with local civil societyorganisations on their role in the policy-makingprocess in Slovenia also in the context of theprevisions of the EU Treaty on participatorydemocracy and civil dialogue. Particular attentionwill be given to the composition of the SlovenianEconomic and Social Council and to the role oforganised civil society in the framework ofIntercultural Dialogue and Human Rights.

2008 - European Year Of Intercultural Dialogue

2008 has been designated the “European Year ofIntercultural Dialogue” a multiplicity ofconferences, projects, arts festivals and othermajor events are being organised throughout EU,both at national and European level. On 8January, the year was officially launched inLjubliana, Slovena. In many EU Member StatesEYID infodays are being organised to ensure thatcivil society and cultural operators in the field ofMulticulturalism are aware of the opportunitygiven by the EYID Programme for the year 2008.Following an open call for proposals, theCommission is co-financing a small number of

emblematic actions on a European scale in orderto raise awareness of the objectives of theEuropean Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008and underline the benefits of interculturaldialogue. The Commission received almost 300proposals competing for a small number offlagship project grants. Moreover, in eachMember State, one project proposed by thatcountry’s National Coordinating Body for theYear is receiving European co-funding. Projectsin a wide range of fields (education, youth, culture,citizenship ….) are also focused on interculturaldialogue. Many of these are co-funded throughEU Programmes, including Lifelong Learningand Citizens for Europe.

For more information please visit:http://www.interculturaldialoge2008.eu/

At its plenary session on 16-17 January 2008 the European Economic and Social Committee(EESC) adopted the following opinions for which Group III members were Rapporteursor Co-Rapporteurs.