Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Contribution to the European Council of 15 - 16 June 2006 — Period of reflection
Date: 2006-05-17
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: EU policy, European Council, European Union, European citizenship, governance, public awareness campaign

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Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Contribution to the European
Council of 15-16 June 2006 — Period of reflection

(2006/C 195/17)

On 15 February 2006, the Economic and Social Committee, acting under Rule 29(2) of its Rules of Proce-
dure, decided to draw up the following opinion: Contribution to the European Council of 15-16 June 2006–
Period of reflection

and, acting under Rule 20 of the Rules of Procedure, appointed Mr Malosse as rapporteur general.

At its 427th plenary session, held on 17-18 May 2006 (meeting of 17 May), the European Economic and
Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 133 votes to one with eight abstentions.

1.
First of all, the EESC welcomes the Council Presidency's
intention not to restrict itself to a review of the initiatives taken
during the period of reflection, but also to agree the next steps
of the process.

2.
The EESC restates the position expressed on this matter
in its opinions of 24 September 2003 (1) and 28 October
2004 (2), which was that the constitutional treaty was a key
instrument to enable the Union to address the challenges it
faces. In particular, it reiterates the importance of the inclusion
of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, which ensures that the
Union's policies are based on citizens' rights, and of the provi-
sions on the Union's institutions and governance that give it
greater visibility and efficiency.

3.
Having regard also to the European Parliament resolution
of 19 January 2006 on The period of reflection (the structure,
subject and context for an assessment of the debate on the European
Union).

4.

The EESC takes the view that:

— the absence of a clear vision and of a consensus on the
aims and purposes of European integration have fuelled
doubts, despite the successes and achievements of 50 years
of European integration;

— public scepticism relates more to the EU's functioning and
current policies than to the Constitutional Treaty itself,
whose innovative nature has not been adequately explained
to the public;

— the current institutional system, set up by the Nice Treaty,
will not enable the European Union to progress on the path
of integration. The current treaties do not fulfil the require-
ments of modern European governance and, in particular,
give much too small a role to civil society organisations in
Community policy and decision-making at all levels.

— it is up to the European Commission and the European
Council, within their respective responsibilities, to make
appropriate proposals to lay the foundations for a forward-
looking vision of the future of Europe for its citizens, and
to flesh out the Union's policies so that they meet the

expectations of the peoples of Europe. In this context, the
EESC welcomes the fact that the inter-institutional agree-
ment between the European Parliament, the Council and
the Commission reached on 4 April 2006 commits to an
increase in the 2007-2013 financial perspective above that
initially agreed by the European Council. However, it notes
that this increase is limited, and therefore deeply regrets
that this financial perspective does not make it possible to
release budgetary resources that are equal to Europe's stated
ambitions. On this matter, it refers to the opinion it issued
on the subject on 15 September 2004 (3);

— for a communication strategy on Europe to be successful, it

is important first to:

— set out a clear vision of the future of Europe;

— formulate and implement policies that give real added

value to the public;

— raise the profile of European integration and its aims,

and make them easier to understand;

— make the workings of the Union more democratic, in
particular ensuring greater involvement of citizens and
a more structured dialogue with organised civil society.

The EESC issues the following recommendations to the

5.
European Council of 15 and 16 June 2006:

5.1 Responsibilities

5.1.1
The responsibility for finding a rapid way out of the
identity crisis the European Union is currently experiencing is
largely in the hands of the Member States, and thus of the
European Council. The June 2006 summit must therefore put
out a clear message on the future of Europe and open up
avenues that will provide a way out of the current political
impasse. With this in mind, the EESC believes that the solution
aimed at resolving the crisis must maintain the advances and
balance achieved by the constitutional treaty, and take into
consideration the fact that the treaty has so far been ratified by
15 Member States.

(1) Opinion for the Intergovernmental Conference 2003 (OJ C 101,

14.1.2004).

(2) Opinion on the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe (OJ C

120, 20.5.2005).

(3) Opinion on the Communication from the Commission Building our
common future: Policy challenges and budgetary means of the enlarged
Union 2007-2013 (COM(2004) 101 final) (OJ C 74, 23.3.2005).

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5.1.2
Under Article IV-443 (4) of the Constitutional Treaty,
the two setbacks in the ratification process, the reasons for
which clearly must be acknowledged, do not necessarily mean
that the text has to be abandoned.

strated (in particular energy, the environment and research).
With this in mind, the most pragmatic solutions should be
chosen, whether these be, for example and depending on the
policy area, EU/Member State co-financing or greater coopera-
tion.

5.2 Better governance

5.2.1
The European institutions, Commission, European
Parliament and Council, should press ahead with the most
innovative aspects of the constitutional treaty in the area of
governance. The EESC thus advocates expanding and strength-
ening, without delay, the process for consulting civil society
organisations before any significant legislative initiative. It also
asks the Commission to look into the conditions for imple-
menting the right of citizens' initiative.

In this context, the institutions should make better use
5.2.2
of the EESC's ability to help flesh out the EU's policy by means
of exploratory opinions and information reports, and through
impact analyses.

5.2.3
Similarly, and in cooperation inter alia with the
national Economic and Social Councils and similar institutions,
the Committee will continue its initiatives aimed at making a
decisive contribution to the promotion and greater structuring
of dialogue and discussion between the EU institutions and
organised civil society.

It would also be worthwhile to develop the principle
5.2.4
of functional subsidiarity by assigning more and more responsi-
bilities ‘on behalf of the EU’ to local and regional authorities
and to civil society organisations, so as to speed up the process
of citizens taking ownership of Europe. Subsidiarity monitoring
should also be extended, not only to local and regional authori-
ties, but also to civil society organisations.

5.3 Fleshing out Community policies and European citi-

zenship

5.3.1
It is up to the institutions of the Union to flesh out
European policies so as to demonstrate their effectiveness and
their positive impact on the daily life of citizens: employment,
mobility, environment, social progress, youth policy, entrepre-
neurial spirit, combating discrimination and exclusion, etc.
They should also carry on implementing the major European
projects that enable people to identify with the Union (trans-
European networks, space policy, etc.) and launch new ones
such as European voluntary service and the European system of
major risk prevention and management.

It is up to the European Commission, in accordance
5.3.2
with the role and powers vested in it by the treaties, to draw
up and propose real common policies in areas where the added
value of the European dimension no longer needs to be demon-

5.3.3
As regards foreign policy, and in accordance with the
commitment entered into at the European Council meeting in
Vienna in 1998, the cohesion and solidarity of the EU must
also be significantly boosted so as to replace the wide range of
initiatives and positions that cast doubt upon the real willing-
ness of Member States to play the EU card. A consistent and
convincing presentation of legitimate EU interests around the
world would also help to significantly strengthen the EU's cred-
ibility among the European public and to raise its profile.

5.3.4
By imbuing the EU's policies with substantive content,
the Commission and the Council will give credibility to the
revised Lisbon strategy and will pave the way for a post-2010
European project that is in line with public expectations, as
long as it is backed up by resources that are really equal to the
stated ambitions. It is the prospect of a comprehensive project
for society, which is currently missing, that will help the public
better to understand the constitutional treaty.

5.4 Make full use of the existing treaties

5.4.1 With immediate effect, and without waiting for a new
treaty, the Commission and the Council should fully implement
certain provisions of the Treaty of Nice such as those that
allow for qualified majority voting in certain areas of social
policy and justice and home affairs.

5.4.2
In addition, the EESC recommends that the Commis-
sion and the Member States take new initiatives in the area of
economic governance of the Union so as to strengthen the
process of coordinating the Member States' economic and
finance policies with a view to boosting investment aimed at
achieving the goals set out by the Lisbon strategy. With this in
mind, it would be helpful to strengthen the remit of the Euro-
group immediately.

5.4.3
Furthermore, it is up to the Council to take immediate
action to address the delays, shortcomings and indeed gaps that
remain in a number of areas such as the establishment of Euro-
pean statutes for associations, mutual societies and small busi-
nesses and the Community patent. It must also act quickly to
remove the remaining obstacles to the free movement of
services and goods. These delays and gaps have
people,
the EU institutions and have
damaged the credibility of
provided fertile ground for the expression of national self-
interest and a resurgence of competition between Member
States.

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5.4.4 When a draft EU legislative act put forward by the
European Commission, in its capacity as the institution with
the right of initiative and guardian of the general interest, is
not adopted, the Council must explain to the general public,
and even justify, its decision to block the legislation.

5.5 Credible and consistent information

The EESC calls on the Member States to develop
5.5.1
targeted and permanent information campaigns on the achieve-
ments of European integration and its added value, and to put
in place European civic education from primary school level
upwards. If this information is to be credible and not written
off as propaganda,
it must involve networks of civil society
organisations with the aim of having a substantive policy
debate. The European Commission also has a fundamental role
to play in ensuring the consistency of communication activities
across Europe. In this context, the Commission should be more
involved in defending the EU's policies and mechanisms and
not settle for a neutral stance.

6. Promoting the creation of a new pact between Europe

and its citizens

6.1
By signing and ratifying the European treaties, all the
Member States have voluntarily committed themselves to a
process of integration rooted in an ever closer union between
the peoples of Europe.

6.2
The reflection period must not only make it possible to
find a way out of the current institutional impasse, but it must
also, and above all, be used as an opportunity to promote the
emergence of a new consensus on the aims of integration and
on a realistic but ambitious political project allowing citizens to
dream of a Europe that would truly bring them not only peace,
but also prosperity and democracy. Renewing the credibility of
the European project and the legitimacy of the integration
process are prerequisites for overcoming the identity crisis that
is currently spreading across Europe.

Brussels, 17 May 2006.

The President

of the European Economic and Social Committee

Anne-Marie SIGMUND

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Proposal for a Council Decision
on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States

(COM(2006) 32 final — 2006/0010 (CNS))

(2006/C 195/18)

On 10 February 2006 the Council decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee,
under Article 262 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the abovementioned proposal.

The Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship, which was responsible for preparing the
Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 3 May 2006. The rapporteur was Mr Greif.

At its 427th plenary session, held on 17-18 May 2006 (meeting of 17 May), the European Economic and
Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 91 votes in favour with one abstention.

1. The Commission's proposal for a decision

1.1
At the beginning of 2006, the Commission sent the
Council a proposal for a decision on guidelines for the employ-
ment policies of the Member States for 2006.

suggests keeping the 2005-2008 guidelines
The proposal
the
adopted in 2005 unchanged and recommending that
Member States continue to pursue their labour market and
employment policies in accordance with the priorities set out
in those guidelines.

In proposing this decision, the Commission is following
1.2
the new cycle of governance resulting from the reform of the
Lisbon strategy, under which the Employment Guidelines,
which are adopted together with the Broad Economic Policy
Guidelines in an integrated package, should, in essence, be fully
reviewed only every three years.

This also means,

1.3
for 2006, Member
therefore,
States in Council did not take the option of making any neces-
sary adjustments in intermediate years.

that,