Resolution of the ECSC Consultative Committee on the future of the structured dialogue in the coal and steel industries (adopted unanimously at the 354th session on 25 January 2001)
Date: 2001-01-25
Institutions: Consultative Committee of the European Coal and Steel Community
Subjects: ECSC, European Economic and Social Committee, appointment of staff, coal industry, iron and steel industry

C 87/20

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

17.3.2001

RESOLUTION OF THE ECSC CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ON THE FUTURE OF THE STRUCTURED
DIALOGUE IN THE COAL AND STEEL INDUSTRIES

(adopted unanimously at the 354th session on 25 January 2001)

(2001/C 87/12)

1. THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE OF THE EUROPEAN COAL

AND STEEL COMMUNITY,

2.5. it regrets that the initial proposal to confer genuine
deputy status on the second person appointed to
each seat was not adopted by the Nice European
Council;

1.1. recalling its memorandum on matters connected with
the expiry of the ECSC Treaty, which was adopted at
the 320th session of 28 June 1995 (1), and in particular
paragraph 2.10 thereof,

1.2. recalling its declaration on the future of the structured
dialogue in the coal and steel industries, adopted at the
350th session of 11 May 2000,

1.3. referring

to

the

Communication

from the
Commission (2) of 27 September 2000 on the future
of structured dialogue after the expiry of the ECSC
Treaty,

3. WISHES TO STATE ITS FIRM CONVICTION THAT,

IF THE
PLANNED INCLUSION OF COAL AND STEEL IN THE ESC’S
REMIT IS TO BE A SUCCESS, THE FOLLOWING IS NECESSARY:

3.1. when the time comes, the number of senior members
with considerable expertise appointed to the Economic
and Social Committee to represent the coal and steel
to ensure that due
industries should be sufficient
the Member
taken of
account
States and the categories;

the interests of

is

1.4. referring to the letter of 3 November 2000 from the
President of the ECSC Consultative Committee to the
President of the Intergovernmental Conference,

3.2. the members of the Economic and Social Committee
representing the coal and steel industries should have a
right of initiative when matters of vital interest to their
industries are raised at European level;

2. WISHES TO SUMMARISE ITS OPINION ON THE ABOVEMEN-
TIONED COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION AS
FOLLOWS:

2.1.

it is pleased at the positive assessment regarding the
Consultative
and
consensus-based action;

Committee’s

pro-active

3.3. the members concerned should have a certain amount
independence in organising the representation of
of
industries within the Economic and Social
their
Committee in the most appropriate way to ensure
that their opinions are heard and that the decision-
making capacity is created and maintained on a basis
of consensus;

2.2. it has also noted with satisfaction the Commission’s
wish to take advantage of the Consultative Committee’s
practices when it redefines the working methods of the
Economic and Social Committee;

3.4. this organisation should have the backing of adequate
budget funds and an independent secretariat or part of
such a secretariat;

2.3. it shares the Commission’s view that

these positive
aspects should be retained and therefore considers
that
industries in the
Economic and Social Committee’s remit could be an
appropriate step;

including the coal and steel

2.4. it has noted the proposal that, since the Economic and
Social Committee’s remit is to be extended to include
the coal and steel sectors, the number of Committee
members should be adapted in a suitable way with a
view to representing the newly covered sectors;

(1) OJ C 206, 11.8.1995, p. 7.
(2) COM(2000) 588 final.

4. EMPHASISES THAT THE FOLLOWING IS ALSO INDISPENSABLE:

4.1. meetings

of

the

between

representatives

two
committees must be organised as soon as possible in
order to draw up detailed new operating arrangements
for the work of the Economic and Social Committee
which will enable it to deal with the problems on a
more
sectoral basis. These new ESC operating
arrangements must guarantee that the interests of the
the
ECSC sectors and other
economy are duly taken into account and that,
conversely, information on the intentions of European
decision-makers goes directly to companies/organi-
sations in these sectors and, via them, to the whole
of organised civil society;

sectors of

important

17.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 87/21

4.2. the Commission should ensure that the consultation
procedures are conducted effectively and in good
time before important decisions on the coal and steel
industries and other important sectors are taken at
European level;

4.3. during the next procedure for appointing members of
the Economic and Social Committee, scheduled for
summer 2002, which coincides with the expiry of
the ECSC Treaty, the Member States should be asked
to take due account, when appointing members, of the

fact that the two industrial sectors, coal and steel, are
newly
Social
Committee’s remit;

Economic

included

and

the

in

4.4. on the occasion of this appointment procedure, the
Council should make use of
its option to seek the
opinion of the ECSC Consultative Committee on the
list of proposed members intended to represent the
coal and steel sectors within the Economic and Social
Committee.