EESC info. December 2013/9 special edition.
Date: 2014-01-09
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: European Economic and Social Committee, information, monetary crisis, serial publication

www.eesc.europa.eu1Calling a halt to in-built obsolescencePlanned obsolescence is a recog-nised business strategy that hinges on deliberately designing and build-ing products to wear out quickly or lose their appeal. The idea is to force consumers to buy new products and services marketed to replace the pre-vious versions. The rationale behind the strategy is to generate long-term sales volume by shortening the interval between repeat purchases (i.e. shortening the replacement cycle).On 17 October, the EESC adopted an opinion on Product lifetimes and consumer information, to fight planned obsolescence and the envi-ronmental, social, health-related and economic damage it causes.The practice is not new. It dates back to the 1930s, when obsolescence was suggested as a way to stimulate demand and end the Great Depres-sion. But in those days, people regarded natural resources as infi-nite and gave little thought to the environment.Over the last 10 years, this has become a growing trend in all sectors. Some products are designed to fail within two to three years of purchase, i.e. just after the guarantee expires. Replacing them uses up additional energy and resources, and generates more waste and harmful pollution. This has already spurred consumer protests in some countries.Jobs at stakeNowadays, obsolescence brings little if any advantage in terms of jobs. Most of these products are made by underpaid workers outside Europe. If we threw away less, we would have to repair more, creating thousands of jobs nearer to home.The EESC plans to take concrete action by holding a major European Round Table in 2014 for all the rel-evant stakeholders across all sectors, including industry, distribution, finance, consumer associations and trade unions. This will be combined with an open forum where EU citizens will be able to express their views.Learn to mendThe EESC wants companies to make their products easier to repair, e.g. by supplying replacement parts. Consumers should also have better information about an item’s esti-mated life expectancy so that they can make more informed purchas-ing decisions.DIARY DATES16-17 January 2014/Strasbourg, France: Social entrepreneurs: Have Your Say!21-22 January 2014 / EESC, Brussels: EESC plenary sessionIN THIS ISSUE2 Europe’s national economic and social councils meet in Athens3 Recovery is underway, says Commissioner Rehn4 Economic and Monetary Union could fail without a strong social dimension5 Austerity in Europe6 EU industrial policy: a much-needed growth initiative7 The new Common Agricultural Policy – far more pros than cons. Leťs make it work8 Yves Somville: for me, the EESC means opennessEDITORIAL Dear readers,As 2013 draws to a close, we are already looking towards the com-ing year and what will be landmark moments for the European Union. A new Parliament, and later a new college of Commissioners, will emerge from the elections next May. These elections will also tell us whether or not Europe has managed to convince the public that it can be part of the solution to the difficulties they are facing. The echoes coming back to us suggest that the prognosis is very gloomy indeed - and we need only to look at the state civil society has been left in by the handling of the crisis to see why this is so. However, the European Economic and Social Com-mittee believes that nothing is yet decided, that the European Union can still get back to where it should be - working on behalf of its citizens - and that it can still demonstrate that it is capable of providing real answers, on the ground, to people’s needs. The EESC will therefore be pulling out all the stops in the time leading up to the elections in May to ensure that the voice of the European public is heard. And, when the time comes for the institutions to resume work in their new constellations, it will be there to provide the necessary continuity to ensure that the commitments made to the European public are met.However in the short time that remains before the end of 2013, I would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas and New Year with your friends and families before we meet again in 2014!Henri Malosse EESC President“The EESC will be pull-ing out all the stops in the time leading up to the elec-tions in May to ensure that the voice of the European public is heard; when the time comes for the insti-tutions to resume work in their new constellations, it will be there to provide the necessary continuity.”“The EESC would like to see a total ban on products with built-in defects designed to end the prod-uct’s life.”Thierry Libaert, EESC member and co-rapporteur of the opinion>>> page 2“Manufacturers who design prod-ucts to wear out or break before they need to – forcing consumers to buy replacements – behave in a way that might be called indus-trial diktat.”Jean-Pierre Haber, member of the EU’s Consultative Commission on Industrial Change (CCMI) and co-rapporteur of the opinionDecember 2013/9 special editionENISSN 1725-1923EESC infoEuropean Economicand Social Committeea bridge between Europe and organised civil society2EESC info — December 2013/9 special editionEurope’s national economic and social councils meet in AthensIn the glorious Museum of the Acropolis in Athens, the President of the Greek Parlia-ment, Evangelos Meimarakis, opened the meeting by voicing his institution’s support for the Greek ESC, which was established by the Greek Constitution, and stressing the importance of social and civic dialogue. He thanked the European Economic and Social Committee for organising the hear-ing on Youth Unemployment and the tar-gets of the upcoming Greek presidency of the EU, which took place the day before at the Greek Parliament and was attended by over 80 MPs. Mr Meimarakis spoke about his concerns regarding Europeans’ growing lack of confidence in the European venture.The opening speech delivered by EESC president, Henri Malosse was in the same vein, focusing on the growing gap between the EU and its citizens and the worrying prospects for the next EP elections.European voters today are given three options by political parties, none of which really seems to address this challenge. The first, presented by anti-European parties, would involve dismantling the European institutions or drastically reducing their power, replacing the current structure with intergovernmental cooperation.The second option entails a very pro-fed-eralist approach, whereby the EU would become the “United States of Europe”, with a strong central EU government. European citizens are not prepared for major trans-fers of sovereignty to Brussels. What is more, the EU should not aim to build a centralised empire: it should be more decentralised and based on the diversity of European nations.The third choice is in fact no choice at all: it involves maintaining the status quo of confusion, inefficiency and complexity. This would increase popular dissatisfaction and could lead to the collapse of the European venture.Mr Malosse proposed a fourth option, based on the community prin-ciple developed by Jean Monnet, one of the EU’s founding fathers. This would involve going back to the beginning and, step by step, building common policies to reindustrialise Europe and create jobs. It would start with fiscal and social convergence schemes and projects in the areas of industry, innovation, R&D and education. The EESC is now preparing an action plan to be presented during the election cam-paign. Mr Malosse asked the national ESCs to con-tribute, so that the plan belongs to the whole of EU civil society.Georges Dassis, President of the EESC’s Workers Group, spoke about the work he had carried out with the EESC president on the “cost of Non-Europe” and the need to create more mechanisms to promote soli-darity in the EU. He referred to the EESC proposals on a European tax on financial transactions and the concept of an EU mini-mum income. (ak) (cid:79)In search of innovative solutionsThe EESC president, Henri Malosse, vis-ited Budapest with Hungarian Commit-tee members to meet with public and private stakeholders from the Hungarian economy. Although the country’s econ-omy was at the same level as the Greek economy at the beginning of the crisis, Hungary has managed to reduce its debt, which amounted to 82.1% of GDP in 2011, to 77% in 2012, and has done so without its economy plummeting, but also whilst keeping its unemployment rate down at around 10%. To achieve that, the govern-ment opted for some rather unconven-tional solutions whose long-term effects are still to be revealed.Aware of the dreadful impact of the crisis on the people of Europe, the Committee has long been advocating for Europe to provide practical and innovative solutions to address its citizens’ needs. It was with this in mind that the EESC president wanted to go to Hungary to see at first-hand the effects of these “out of the box” economic decisions implemented by the Hungarian government but often criticised in Europe.The EESC president thus had talks on reindustrialisation with Viktor Orbán, the Hungarian prime minister, and some of his ministers, including Enikő Győri, in charge of European affairs, who emphasised the importance of talking with real stakeholders on the ground. Mr Malosse also met repre-sentatives of the opposition, such as Attila Mesterházy, president of the Hungarian Socialist Party, and Gordon Bajnai, the for-mer prime minister. But above all, the EESC president wanted to spend some time with representatives from business, trade unions, company directors and students. The main topics they addressed included the energy question, which is crucial for a country where energy accounts for a growing proportion of household spending. The EESC delegation also launched a partnership with the Hungar-ian ESC to encourage better awareness of the initiatives being carried out in the country. “The old methods have shown their limits. It is now time to look at those who dare to act differently and learn the lessons that could be beneficial for us all”, said Mr Malosse by way of conclusion. He will share the lessons learned from this visit with EESC members. Moreover, Slovenia and Poland have begun to show an interest in their Hungarian neigh-bour’s approach. (ll) (cid:79)GOING LOCALStudents’ theses on the EU in the spotlight in PragueVladimíra Drbalová, a Czech member of the EESC Employers’ Group, recently attended an event at the European Commission Representation in Prague at which student theses on European affairs were presented. The event, organised jointly by Prague’s University of Eco-nomics and the European Commission Representation in the Czech Republic, was held in conjunction with the European Union Laboratory project launched by the University. Awards were given to the 10 best theses on European integration.The theses covered a broad range of topics, ranging from treaty changes, immigration policy, EU enlargement, the Common Agricultural Policy and milk market regula-tion to the European Central Bank’s monetary policy in times of crisis.Ms. Drbalová said that the EESC supported the Euro-pean Union Laboratory project and would be inter-ested in becoming more closely involved, as it was in line with its own current “wind of change”, going-local strategy. (mb). (cid:79)Vladimíra Drbalová, EESC memberFront row: EESC president Henri Malosse, Workers Group president Georges Dassis, and Employers Group vice-president Anna Bredima. Second row: Various Interests Group president Luca Jahier, acting secretary-general Nicolas Alexopoulos, and Vladimíra Drbalová, member of the Employers GroupHenri Malosse with a delegation from the Hungarian National Economic and Social Council“The old methods have shown their limits. It is now time to look at those who dare to act differently and learn the lessons that could be benefi-cial for us all”Continued from page 1 —Calling a halt to in-built obsolescenceThe Committee believes that the ideal solution would be a labelling system that guaranteed a minimum product lifetime – at present this is not a legal requirement.Furthermore, if products last less than five years, their manufacturers should cover the recycling costs.Reasons for actionFrom an environmental perspective, Europe’s con-sumption of natural resources has increased by some 50% in the last 30 years: we consume 43kg of resources per person per day, compared with 10kg per person in Africa. Socially, the rapid disposability of consumer goods has encouraged people to buy on credit, leading to an unprecedented level of personal debt.Europe’s economy is being undermined by the import of short-life goods. By tackling this issue, the EU would be offering its companies a way to stand out from the rest by effectively putting sustainability into practice.The EESC wants to help improve confidence in Euro-pean businesses and to encourage the EU’s economic transition from a wasteful to a sustainable society, where growth is geared to consumer needs, with a people-ori-ented approach, and is never an end in itself. (ail) (cid:79)“Obsolescence brings little if any advantage in terms of jobs. Most of these products are made by underpaid workers outside Europe. If we threw away less, we would have to repair more, creating thousands of jobs nearer to home.”3EESC info — December 2013/9 special editionEESC infoSpecial edition on the CrisisEuropean Economicand Social Committeea bridge between Europe and organised civil societyEDITORIAL, Dear readers,2013 will have been marked by two turning points in the management of the crisis.The first is a dawning recognition that we cannot afford to ignore the social dimension in our responses to the crisis. This is a real step forward that the European Economic and Social Committee has been calling for ever since the decision to follow the “austerity-only” approach. In the space of a few years, we have seen too many Europeans slip into poverty, entire generations deprived of access to the labour market, a marked reduc-tion in the healthcare coverage that Europe has hitherto considered one of its proudest achievements and acts of desperation in all Member States. What is the point of Europe if the solidarities it is based on do not serve its citizens?The end of 2013 will also be marked by the completion of the banking union, something the EESC has long advocated. It is because Europe had no supervisory mechanism that it allowed the crisis to happen and because it had no collective means of intervention that it failed to respond immediately and found itself incapable, for exam-ple, of saving a number of Portuguese banks from insolvency. Could it be that Europe has finally managed to get across the importance of solidarity between the Member States?If that is indeed the case, may our New Year wish be to live, at last, in a Europe that is both strong and united.Henri Malosse EESC PresidentRecovery is underway, says Commissioner RehnOlli Rehn, Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Euro, believes Europe is turning the corner where the economic cri-ses are concerned, but stresses there is still much to be done.EESC info: Can we look forward to sustained growth and jobs again?Olli Rehn: Since the spring, we have seen increasing signs that a gradual recovery is underway. We expect this recovery to grow firmer in the coming months and gather speed next year and into 2015. But with more than 26 million Euro-peans unemployed and businesses still struggling to obtain the credit they need to invest and grow, it is clear that we still have a great deal of work to do. That’s why I continue to stress that any claims that “the crisis is over” are premature.What opportunities and challenges stand before the EU and the euro area?First, we need to maintain the momentum for reform in Europe. Member States must continue working to enhance their competi-tiveness. This means improving the business climate to boost investment and job creation, pursuing reforms to product and labour markets, modernising public administration, encouraging entrepreneurship and supporting research and innovation, as well as education and training.For a sustain-able recovery we also need improved credit conditions for households and SMEs, particularly in southern Europe. There is no example in economic history of sustained growth without credit growth. That’s why it is essential to pro-ceed with the repair of the banking sec-tor in Europe, to help “normalise” lending conditions. The Commission, together with the European Invest-ment Bank, has also put forward an ini-tiative, endorsed by the European Coun-cil in October, to support bank lend-ing to SMEs.Could Ireland’s economic adjustment programme and Spain’s ﬁnancial sector programme act as models for future action to aid Member States in trouble?The success of these programmes is in the interest not only of the coun-tries con-cerned but of the entire euro area. The Irish programme will conclude next month and the Span-ish [one] in January. Both programmes are on track for a successful conclusion.Ireland has seen growth above the euro area average every year since the begin-ning of the programme, which shows that the capacity for real economic adjustment is key to returning to sustain-able growth and job creation. The Spanish financial sector programme saw around €41 billion of loans provided from the European Stability Mecha-nism to the banking sector, via the Spanish state, in exchange for deep restructuring com-mitments and following a full contribution from the banks’ shareholders and junior bond-holders. This so-called “bail-in” hierarchy is now enshrined in the EU’s state aid guidelines for financial sector institutions. Nonetheless, it will always be necessary to evaluate each individual situation on its own merits.How do you respond to criticism that advocating austerity hurts recovery and growth? The Commission has consistently advocated fis-cal consolidation that is as growth-friendly as possible, minimising cuts in sectors like research and education, and that takes place at a pace appropriate for each country. For euro area countries that had lost or were at risk of los-ing market access, which was the case of various Member States between 2010 and 2012, there was really no viable alterna-tive to significant, upfront fiscal consolidation. Thanks to the efforts made in recent years, it has been possible to ease the pace of fiscal consolidation by about half between 2012 and 2013, and this is set to fall fur-ther next year. These efforts have been welcomed by the markets, reducing coun-tries’ sov-ereign fund-ing costs. For exam-ple, a 100 basis points fall in Italian sovereign yields leads to savings in the region of €3 billion in the first year alone.We now need to focus on boosting the capacities of our economies to grow sustainably and create jobs. This is why we continue to press strongly for structural reforms to improve competitiveness and create the conditions for sustainable growth and job creation, based on sound public finances.What do you think of the recent warning in The Economist on the dangers of private debt to the euro zone? The Commission continu-ously monitors the risks related to private-sector balance sheet developments, including pri-vate debt. Several euro area countries have made notable progress in bringing down debt. Subdued credit flows and adjusting housing markets are contributing to this. However, high private debt will continue to weigh on domestic demand in the near future, given the limited room for manoeuvre in fiscal policy.Paying down private-sector debt inevitably weighs on eco-nomic activity, but the extent of its impact depends on both the state of credit markets and structural features of each country’s economy. Ongoing changes in bank supervision and resolution mechanisms should have a stabilising effect on credit markets and help to prevent the emergence of imbalances in the future. (cid:79)“What is the point of Europe if the solidari-ties it is based on do not serve its citizens?”© Filipe Matos FrazaoOlli Rehn, vice-president of the European Commission and member of the Commission responsible for Economic and Monetary Aﬀairs and the Euro“The Commis-sion has consist-ently advocated fiscal consoli-dation that is as growth-friendly as possible, mini-mising cuts in sec-tors like research and education, and that takes place at a pace appropri-ate for each  country.”Banking on future stability

The draft Single Resolution Mech-
anism (SRM) will protect depositors 
and taxpayers while ensuring the effi-
cient circulation of credit for recov-
ery and growth, says EESC member 
Daniel Mareels.

EESC info: Why is the SRM 
important and how does it ﬁt 
into the proposed Banking 
Union?

Daniel Mareels: The proposal for 
the SRM has to be seen in the con-
text of creating an integrated finan-
cial framework, or ‘Banking Union’. 
It  will  protect  depositors,  restore 
confidence in the financial system, 
and put credit for business back into 

Daniel Mareels, EESC member

circulation  in  every  country.  It  is 
complemented by the Single Super-
visory Mechanism (SSM), the Euro-
pean  Stability  Mechanism  (ESM), 
and the Recovery and Resolution of 
Banks Directive (BRRD).

How would the SRM save 
tax payers money and 
minimise damage to the real 
economy?

The proposals on bank recovery 
and  resolution  establish  a  reliable 
policy framework for managing bank 
failures effectively. The SRM proposal 
also provides for the establishment 
of a Single Resolution Fund to make 
sure funding is available, to guarantee 

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Irregular immigration: European problems need European answers
and for all – at European level, tak-
risk; he said that we need FRONTEX 
“Irregular immigration into the EU 
ing a community approach, as the 
to become an institution that coor-
is a European problem that can only 
EESC has been asking for years. All 
dinates EU coastguards, dealing not 
be solved by European means”, stated 
European tools should be brought 
only with irregular immigrants but 
the EESC in its own-initiative opin-
to  bear,  with  the  Frontex  agency 
also with human traffickers. Fund-
ion reaffirming an earlier opinion on 
granted more resources, but a sur-
ing must become much more pro-
this topic.
veillance  and  data-sharing  system 
portionate to the size of the problem 
should also be established as quickly 
for the EU.
as possible, using satellites in order 
to avoid fresh tragedies. We also call 
for the establishment of a European 
coastguard service. Europe must be 
faithful to its values; xenophobia and 
lack of humanity should be banished 
from  our  societies.  Europe  must 
show  humanity  towards  migrants 

Co-rapporteur  Stefano  Mallia 
(Employers Group, Malta), stressed: 
“No  other  issue  has  so  clearly 
revealed the lack of solidarity among 
EU Member States. Lack of solidarity 
towards the Member States that are 
on the frontline and lack of solidarity 
towards people fleeing war in their 
own countries. And if we don’t act 
now things will get worse.”

banking  supervision, 
b a n k s   w i l l   n o w   b e 
resolved  at  the  same 
level of authority, so we 
will have a consistent and 
uniform approach.

“Following  on  from 
”

financial stability and to make the 
banking system more resilient.

You worked on an EESC 
opinion on the SRM. Are you 
happy with the Commission’s 
proposal?

The  EESC  welcomed  the  Com-
mission  proposal.  Following  on 

from banking supervision, banks will 
now be resolved at the same level of 
authority, so we will have a consistent 
and uniform approach.

What is the most important 
change that needs to be made 
to the proposal?

The proposal is an extension of 
the BRRD, so it is important to avoid 
inconsistencies between these two 
pieces of legislation. The members 
of the Resolution Board should also 
be independent.

When it comes to the Resolution 
Fund and setting its target level, it is 
important to address the risk of banks 
incurring double costs because of the 
dual structure of national resolution 
authorities and a European resolu-
(cid:79)
tion authority. 

Economic and Monetary Union 
could fail without a strong social 
dimension

Ahead  of  the  European  Council 
meeting  on  24  October,  the  EESC 
adopted  an  opinion  on  the  social 
dimension  of  the  Economic  and 
Monetary Union (EMU). The Eco-
nomic and Monetary Union could 
unravel if its social dimension is not 
strengthened, said the EESC.

The Committee called for proac-
tive measures and improved social 
dialogue on economic and employ-
ment policies. More solutions from 
the  social  partners  would  help  to 
build trust and reinforce the Union’s 
social fabric.

In its opinion on the social dimen-
sion of the EMU adopted at its Octo-
ber plenary session, the EESC warns 
that if there is a lack of political will to 
revitalise the EU’s social dimension, 
the option of enhanced cooperation 
should be proposed within the EMU 
itself.

This should be done with its own 
financial resources, a supplementary 
Social Fund, a Social Progress Pact 
and social standards, objectives and 
stabilizer mechanisms to match the 
fiscal, budgetary and monetary sta-
bilizer mechanisms.

Georges Dassis, president of the Workers 
Group

The EESC argues that the Euro-
pean  Semester,  the  EU’s  annual 
cycle  of  economic  policy-making, 
must include employment and social 
inclusion indicators which are pre-
ventive and proactive, where neces-
sary triggering a timely and effective 
adjustment mechanism and policy 
response, before unemployment and 
social imbalances become a danger to 
democracy.

The  EESC  also  calls  for  better 
cross-border labour mobility, both 

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Panagiotis Gkofas, EESC member

The Committee stressed the fact 
that the border lines of the southern 
Member States are in fact the border 
lines of the whole of the EU and, as 
such, require a pan-European border 
control effort. Therefore, policy must 
be based on solidarity so that it is not 
just the south of Europe which shoul-
ders the responsibility of dealing with 
the influx of migrants and the crimi-
nal aspect of the issue - the traffickers 
who are exploiting human misery.

Panagiotis Gkofas (Various Inter-
ests Group, Greece), EESC rappor-
teur for the opinion, pointed out the 
urgent need to pursue the traffickers 
who  are  putting  migrants’  lives  at 

4

The  EESC  President,  Henri 
Malosse, stated: “We cannot abandon 
countries which are at the frontline 
of migration flows; the ‘everyone for 
themselves’ approach only leads to 
dead ends”. Asylum and immigra-
tion policy should be handled – once 

countries which are at 
the frontline of migra-
tion  flows;  the  ‘eve-
ryone  for  themselves’ 
approach only leads to 
dead ends.

“We cannot abandon 
”

Stefano Mallia, EESC member

and  stand  firm  against  traffickers 
of human beings. “The Committee 
is a strong supporter of immediate 

>>> p a g e  5

Georges Dassis, the Greek Presi-
dent of the EESC Workers Group, rap-
porteur for the opinion, warned that 
“without building up a strong social 
dimension, the EMU could fail”.

For the EMU to succeed, a simul-
taneous approach must be adopted 
matching  employment  and  social 
targets with debt and deficit targets 
in order to trigger adjustments and 
prevent greater inequalities between 
Member States.

for  maintaining  employment  and 
competitiveness  and  creating  new 
jobs. To achieve this, the EU should 
continue reducing existing barriers 
to free movement while respecting 
collective agreements and labour law 
systems at national level. It stresses 
that EURES, the European Job Mobil-
ity Portal, should work more closely 
with the social partners to ensure the 
provision of comprehensive advice 
and information on social and legal 
(cid:79)
employment matters (ail). 

EESC info — December 2013/9 special edition

 
 
 
Solution to the crisis: EU solidarity

The end of the crisis? – it’s too 
early to celebrate …

The economic crisis that has thrown 
millions out of work calls for con-
certed EU-led solutions with a strong 
social dimension, says EESC mem-
ber and Workers Group president 
Georges Dassis.

“The solution to the economic cri-
sis is to be found at EU level,” he told 
EESC info.

Mr Dassis, who drafted the EESC 
opinion on strengthening the social 
dimension of economic and mon-
etary union, argues that the EU and 
the  Member  States  have  been  too 
focused on economic and financial 
policies.

“They are saving banks but have 
ignored the consequences of the aus-
terity imposed upon Member States, 
one right after the other,” he stated.

Austerity-driven  policies  were 
initially imposed on Ireland, Greece 
and Portugal. Spain, France, Italy and 
Belgium were not spared the impact 
of the crisis either, he adds.

“The  politics  of  austerity  have 
simply  aggravated  the  problem  of 
unemployment and the spectacular 
rise of poverty”.

The EU, notes Mr Dassis’ opin-
ion, published in October, needs to 
send a much stronger message with 
measures that will deliver on social 
cohesion and integration.

The  EU’s  Youth  Employment 
Initiative, launched in early Febru-
ary, is a step in the right direction. 
But its EUR 6 billion budget for the 

Austerity in Europe
In a few weeks the European Union 
will  enter  its  sixth  year  of  auster-
ity  and  will  continue  to  carry  the 
burden  of  26  million  unemployed 
people, many of whom are young. 
Unfortunately,  the  financial  and 
economic crisis rapidly deteriorated 
and we are now dealing with deep-
ening  social  and  income  inequali-
ties,  even  poverty  in  austerity-hit 
countries. The crisis has worsened 
environmental degradation, energy 
poverty and demographic challenges. 
During the last three years in some 
European countries there has been 
a severe strain on the economic and 
social fabric. Indeed, there are now 
some 84 million people in EU coun-
tries who are living below the poverty 
line (defined as earning less than 60% 
of the national average income). As 
a result, in some austerity-hit coun-
tries we have witnessed increasing 
political extremism, demagogy and 
prejudice. There is now also a per-
ceived division between the ‘North-
ern’ European creditor countries and 
the ‘Southern’ debtor countries. Most 
worryingly, among citizens who will 
vote in the European elections next 
May, we are witnessing anger, or at 
best apathy and ignorance regarding 
the EU. According to a recent Euro-
barometer study, only 31% of Euro-
pean citizens ‘trust’ the EU, whilst 
60% simply do not.

So clearly, because of austerity, the 
EU finds itself at a historical turning 
point which requires fundamental 
structural changes. If Europe is to 
fulfil its ambitions and potential then 
it is necessary to invest in a united 

The Multiannual Financial Per-
spective is one of the best tools the 
EU has at its disposal for supporting 
growth. Fast and effective implemen-
tation of the MFF could give a boost 
to hundreds of European enterprises. 
Unfortunately, the complicated pro-

“If Europe stops half-

way, the problems will 
return sooner than we 
expect.  Austerity  was 
the necessary first step 
towards recovery – the 
time has now come to 
focus on growth.

”

cedures that entrepreneurs have to 
deal with are still an issue.

No matter when the crisis ends, 
we should learn the lessons for the 
future. As the Employers’ Group was 

The EU economy is gradually recov-
ering –  as  the  recently  published 
autumn  economic  forecast  has 
shown. However, over the coming 
year, growth is expected to remain 
subdued  and –  still  more  worry-
ingly – the countries that were worst 
affected are still far from recovery. 
Clearly, the EU as a whole will not 
recover  until  ALL  Member  States 
have  got  their  economies  back  in 
order.

The current economic crisis did 
not  appear  out  of  the  blue:  it  was 
the result of years of bad economic 
management and silent EU approval 
of expanding national debts. Severe 
austerity  measures  were  therefore 
necessary and, notwithstanding the 
high social costs of the fiscal reforms 
and the evidence that the first signs 
of  recovery  are  now  beginning  to 
appear, we must maintain our course. 
If Europe stops halfway, the problems 
will return sooner than we expect. 
Austerity was the necessary first step 
towards recovery – the time has now 
come to focus on growth.

forward almost before the European 
Commission made its FTT proposal.

Eleven  Member  States  are  set 
to impose the tax, which could net 
between EUR 30 and EUR 35 billion 
annually.  “I  just  don’t  understand 
why  some  are  against  it,”  said  Mr 
Dassis.

He  believes  that  the  knock-on 
effect  of  financial  and  eco-
nomic-driven solutions to the crisis 
may also alienate Europeans, to the 
benefit of the far right.

“We  must  send  messages  that 
convince people that the EU is the 
future,” he said, “but whether we can 
achieve this is in the balance because 
misery  does  nothing  but  increase 
(cid:79)
hatred and fear”. 

Georges Dassis, president of the Workers Group

ity have simply aggra-
vated  the  problem  of 
u n e m p l o y m e n t   a n d 
the spectacular rise of 
poverty

“The politics of auster-
”

2014-20 period is not enough, asserts 
Mr Dassis.

The money spent to bail out the 
banks was taken from European tax-
payers. Now a financial transaction 
tax (FTT) is in order to help boost 
financing for targeted investments 
with a social dimension. Mr Dassis 
notes  that  the  EESC  put  this  idea 

months  leading 
up to the elections 
to  the  European 
Parliament.  To 
combat  austerity, 
the  first  results 
that  need  to  be 
delivered  include 
reinvigorating the 
Europe 2020 Strat-
egy  to  adapt  it  to 
the Europe of 2050 
and  beyond.  We 
need  to  complete 
the Internal Mar-
ket and the Com-
pact  for  Growth 
and  Jobs,  invest 
much  more  in 
reindustrialising Europe, in innova-
tion, research and development. But 
it is also through delivering results 
that we will rebuild trust in Europe 
and among its actors, including civil 
society. So we must strive to boost 
real  growth,  facilitate  credit  and 
invest much more in SMEs, social 
economy  enterprises,  the  liberal 
professions and the green economy. 
Crucially,  we  must  seek  equitable 
solutions to Europe’s recovery, by 
addressing the social consequences 
of the EMU, for example introduc-
ing more socially responsible invest-
ment,  European  Social  Bonds  and 
a European Education Network for 
Unemployed Workers. Finally, we 
must  use  austerity  as  a  means  to 
re-launch and consolidate civil and 
social participation, which are at the 
heart of our European heritage and 
Western traditions.

Luca Jahier 
President of the Various Interests Group

Jacek Krawczyk, president of the Employers Group

As to the speed at which the crisis 
can be overcome, this will depend 
on  the  efficacy  and  scale  of  the 
reforms. It is businesses that create 
jobs and growth and the more the 
environment for doing business is 
improved, the better the future eco-
nomic figures will be. The difficulty 
of getting access to financing and 
the fragmented Single Market are 
still the key challenges facing entre-
preneurs.  Predictable  energy  and 
climate policy are more necessary 
than ever.

recently discussing during the confer-
ence in Malta, crisis forces all of us to 
react flexibly to market demands and 
to maximise competitiveness. If you 
see it as an opportunity, transforma-
tion can be achieved through innova-
tion and investment in research and 
development. If business and politi-
cians use this chance properly, the 
European economy can get back on 
the path of growth for good.

Jacek Krawczyk 
President of the Employers Group

Conti nue d f r o m p age 4 —
Ir r e g u l a r i m m i g r at i o n: Eu r o p e a n  p r o b l e m s  n e e d 
Eu r o p e a n  a n s we r s

action on this issue as the time for 
reflection is long past: we are wit-
nessing shocking human tragedies 
inside  our  borders  with  alarming 
frequency”, said Mr Malosse.

A topic of much debate in both 
Brussels  and  the  Member  States, 
irregular  immigration  is  rapidly 
becoming one of the greatest thorns 
in  the  European  Union’s  side,  as 
there  is  also  a  direct  link  between 
migration and higher social tension 
and xenophobia. An approach based 
on solidarity might have a magni-
fied positive effect on this situation, 
and would allow the EU to expand 
its procedures through policies that 
would help prevent further loss of life 
in the Mediterranean Sea.

lishment of a European 
coastguard service.

“We call for the estab-
”

The tragic shipwreck off the coast 
of  Lampedusa,  with  hundreds  of 
victims, has finally made the whole 
of European society sit up and take 
notice. The ongoing flow of irregular 
immigrants into Europe’s southern 
countries is a heavy burden on these 
crisis-ridden  nations.  EU  govern-
ments and EU institutions have so 
far  failed  to  respond  adequately, 
precisely because the responsibility is 
not shared between the EU Member 
(cid:79)
States. (ak) 

Luca Jahier, president of the Various Interests Group

and politically stable continent, one 
which  is  ambitious,  determined, 
mutually reinforcing and stronger 

“There are now some 

84 million people in EU 
countries who are liv-
ing  below  the  poverty 
line. As a result, in some 
austerity-hit countries we 
have witnessed increas-
ing  political  extrem-
i s m ,   d e m a g o g y   a n d 
prejudice.

”

than the sum of its individual parts. It 
also has to be a Europe which is able 
to deliver results, to create and instil 
trust and to better communicate with 
its citizens, notably in the next few 

EESC info — December 2013/9 special edition

5

EU industrial policy: a much-needed 
growth initiative

properly  to  articulate  EU  indus-
trial policy within its own Member 
States, in part due to the organisa-
tional patchwork of national minis-
tries. The Competitiveness Council 
is composed of ministers of industry, 
among others, who meet about five or 
six times a year.

EU industrial policy is key to pulling 
Europe out of its economic slump, 
but poor national governance and 
ineffective  communication  by 
Brussels-based decision-makers are 
holding back its full potential, says 
a top-ranking EESC member.

“Industrial policy can be seen as 
a growth initiative about which there 
is much talk but no walk,” Dutchman 
Joost Van Iersel, EESC president of 
the Section for Economic and Mone-
tary Union and Economic and Social 
Cohesion (ECO), told EESC info.

this  difficult  time  to 
change [things] for the 
future.

“W e   n e e d   t o   u s e 
”

The EU wants to increase manu-
facturing output 20% by 2020. With 
more than four million jobs lost in 
manufacturing in the Union since 
the start of the crisis in 2008, Mr Van 
Iersel describes that target as “very 
ambitious”.

Joost Van Iersel, president of the ECO 
section

“A single minister cannot do much 
if there is an administrative core that 
refuses to carry out what has to be 
done,” he said.

One  hurdle,  he  says,  is  that  the 
Competitiveness Council is unable 

Mr Van Iersel, who drafted the 
EESC opinion on industrial policy in 

July, said there was an urgent need 
to bring R&D and innovation poli-
cies, sustainable development, access 
to finance (notably for SMEs), and 
a common energy policy under one 
framework in order to boost con-
fidence  in  industry  and  promote 
competitiveness. He added that the 
administrative burden needed to be 
reduced.

Proper  education  systems 
and  skills  development  were  also 
needed, he stressed: “That means 
that  in  certain  Member  States 
the  [education]  system  has  to  be 
reviewed radically.”

The  opinion  points  out  a  skills 
mismatch  that  pits  highly  quali-
fied job openings against an educa-
tion  system  that  is  not  producing 
enough  scientists,  engineers  and 
mathematicians.

He said the European Commis-
sion  should  issue  country-specific 
recommendations,  and  Member 
States should be encouraged to pick 
up  positive  aspects  from  the  bet-
ter-performing countries.

“We need to use this difficult time 
to change [things] for the future,” he 
(cid:79)
said. 

Key facts about the economic crisis

The EESC: responding to the economic crisis

(cid:116)  Some 24.2% of EU citizens, or around 119.6 million 
people, were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 
2011. This percentage has increased since 2008 in 18 
of the 26 Member States for which data are available.
(cid:116)  The unadjusted gender pay gap in the EU declined on 
average between 2008 and 2010, from 17.3% to 16.2%. 
This decrease appears to be a side-effect of the crisis on 
the composition of the workforce.

© darval

(cid:116)  In the euro area, the public deficit is forecast to fall to 
below 3% of GDP in 2013 for the first time since 2008, 
and to further decrease to 2.8% of GDP in 2014.

(cid:116)  In the EU, GDP shrank by about 0.5% in the course of 

2012.

(cid:116)  Europe’s youth unemployment rate remains a major 
concern. It was more than twice as high as the rate 
for adults – 23.3% compared to 9.3% – in the fourth 
quarter of 2012. Some 5.5 million young people were 
out of work in the EU28 in August 2013. Under-25s 
have been the hardest hit, with unemployment rising 
from 15.7% before the crisis to a new historic high of 
23.5% in February 2013.

(cid:116)  In  Spain  alone,  3.3  million  jobs  were  lost  between 

2008 and 2012.

(cid:116)  GDP per inhabitant dipped between 2008 and 2010, 
from 25 000 PPS (purchasing power standard) in 2008 
to 23 500 PPS in 2009, before partially recovering to 
24 500 PPS in 2010.

(cid:116)  In 2012, the EU headline deficit came in at 4.0% of 
GDP, down from 4.4% in 2011 and 6.5% in 2010 (in the 
euro area, it was 3.7% in 2012, 4.2% in 2011 and 6.2% 
in 2010). Compared to the current growth outlook, the 
aggregate EU deficit is forecast to decline to 3.4% of 
GDP in 2013 and to continue decreasing to 3.2% of 
(cid:79) 
GDP in 2014. 

6

The EESC has issued numerous opinions on the crisis, 
many of which have related to proposed legislation to 
help lift Europe out of recession. For example, it issued 
an opinion in March 2009 on the European Economic 
Recovery Plan and another in May on the Commission’s 
Communication setting out a response to the crisis in the 
automotive industry.

An own-initiative opinion on the impact of the global 
financial crisis on the European manufacturing and ser-
vice sectors was put forward in October 2009, calling for 
“closer coordination of EU policies and instruments”. This 
was followed in December by an opinion on the financial 
crisis and its impact on the real economy and a response to 
the Commission Communication on helping developing 
countries cope with the crisis.

In September 2010, two own-initiative opinions were 
issued: one on the state of play and practical initiatives for 
economic recovery; and the other on the situation after 
the crisis – a new financial system for the internal market. 
These were followed in October by a further own-initiative 
opinion on the implications of the sovereign debt crisis 
for EU governance.

The EESC’s opinion on the effect of the economic and 
financial crisis on labour force distribution among pro-
duction sectors, with special regard to SMEs, was issued in 
May 2011, followed by an opinion in July on the economic 
crisis, education and the labour market.

© Stephen VanHorn

In February 2012, innovative proposals addressing 
growth and sovereign debt in the EU were put forward, 
followed by an opinion in July on the Commission’s Youth 
Opportunities Initiative. In February 2013, the EESC set 
out its views on a Commission Recommendation covering 
economic policy guidelines for euro-zone Member States.

To find out more, go to www.eesc.europa.eu 

(cid:79)

IN SHORT

Summit of economic and social councils at the Union for the 
Mediterranean (UfM): a closer union also for civil society

Over 120 representatives of economic and social councils and other civil society organisations 
from 14 Euro-Mediterranean countries met in Barcelona

On 11 and 12 November, over 120 
representatives  of  economic  and 
social councils and other civil society 
organisations from 14 Euro-Mediter-
ranean countries gathered in Barce-
lona for discussions on the future role 
of civil society in the UfM.

“There can be no successful union 
between the north and south of the 
Mediterranean without the involve-
ment of civil society and in particular 
of economic and social stakeholders 
such  as  employers’  organisations, 
trade  unions,  other  professional 
organisations and relevant NGOs.” 
This was the key message delivered 
by  the  representatives,  who  called 
on the UfM to seek out structured 
partnerships with stakeholders and 

to involve them in the UfM´s projects 
on a regular basis in order to give 
legitimacy to the decisions made by 
UfM governments.

Besides questions relating to civil 
society´s involvement in the UfM´s 
work, the participants, in the pres-
ence of Pedro Narro, the President 
of the EESC’s Euromed Follow-Up 
Committee, and the relevant UfM 
deputy  secretaries-general,  dis-
cussed  several  subjects  of  acute 
importance for the region, in par-
ticular youth unemployment and 
economic  issues,  the  situation  of 
women,  the  challenge  of  mobil-
ity and migration, and the need to 
improve the management of limited 
(cid:79)
water resources (ail). 

Europe needs a social response to the crisis - will the EU meet 
the challenge?

84  million  Europeans  live  below 
the poverty line and 26 million are 
unemployed.  The  economic  and 
financial  crisis  has  turned  into 
a  social  and  democratic  one  and 
only  31%  of  Europeans  trust  the 
EU. Is the EU ready to respond to its 
citizens’ expectations and concerns?

On  22  October,  the  EESC  held 
a  high-level  conference  in  Vilnius 
to  discuss  the  opportunities  and 

(cid:116)  European Social Bonds to support 
investment in economically viable 
social projects

(cid:116)  A stronger European Youth Guar-
antee Scheme with additional EU 
funds, extended to young people 
aged  30  and  to  regions  where 
youth unemployment is less than 
the current threshold of 25%

(cid:116)  Rapid measures to stimulate the 
real economy, SMEs and employ-
(cid:79)
ment. (ail) 

Welcome address by Mr Vydas Gedvilas, deputy speaker of the Lithuanian parliament

 challenges facing the EU and the need 
for an equitable, social and account-
able Europe. Under the auspices of 
the  Lithuanian  Presidency  of  the 
EU, representatives of European civil 
society and the Lithuanian authorities 
explored new ways to protect the Euro-
pean social model and help it recover.

Participants  proposed,  among 

other measures:
(cid:116)  A European Education Network 
for Unemployed Workers, which 
would offer job seekers a two-year 
re-training course and cross-bor-
der education vouchers

(cid:116)  A  new  European  Social  Action 
Programme  with  clear  tangible 
targets  (including  a  minimum 
guaranteed income)

As a result of the crisis, in 
some  austerity-hit  countries 
we have witnessed increasing 
political extremism, demagogy 
and prejudice. The fiscal, bank-
ing and financial unions are 
necessary pillars of Economic 
and  Monetary  Union.  But 
they  must  be  complemented 
by measures to promote growth 
and equity, employment crea-
tion,  poverty  reduction  and 
territorial and social cohesion. 
Democratic and political legiti-
macy are at stake.

Luca Jahier, 
president of the EESC’s 
Various Interests Group

EESC info — December 2013/9 special edition

7EESC info — December 2013/9 special editionPLENARY SESSION IN A NUTSHELLTowards a new European policy for networks regulation“There was a great deal at stake when the telecoms budget for 2014-2020 was still at EUR 9 bil-lion. Pruning it to EUR 1 billion will result in a freeze that may deprive the EU of advances already made in numer-ous strategic sectors”, warned Jacques Lemer-cier (Workers’ Group, France), EESC rapporteur, at the last plenary session for an opinion - on guidelines for trans-European telecommunications networks.The existing policy has doubtless led to greater competition and innovation, and resulted in lower prices for consumers, but it has also restricted the investment capacity of many operators.The Committee believes that designing a new European policy for regulating the networks would lead to “close, coordinated involvement of the major European operators” who, when Europe pulls itself out of the crisis, could “make up the ground lost in developing broadband and ultra-fast broadband, and eliminate gaps in coverage” (hb). (cid:79)Single resolution mechanism is a cornerstone of the banking unionThe European Economic and Social Committee looks forward to the establishment of the Single Resolution Mechanism (SRM) which it sees as a milestone in establishing the banking union. It will make the bank recovery and resolution rules consistent throughout the EU.In its opinion adopted in October, the Com-mittee said that handling both supervision and bank resolution at the same level of authority was a move in the right direction.Turning to the Single Bank Resolution Fund, whose aim is to ensure financial stability and the effectiveness of bank resolution, the EESC highlighted the need to establish clarity on the legal basis of the fund. “The legal basis of the fund needs to be clarified as soon as possible and all the challenges involved in setting up the fund, such as the risk of moral hazard, have to be addressed in advance”, stated Daniel Mareels (Employers Group, Belgium), rapporteur for the opinion.According to the Committee it is essential for the resolution fund to have sufficient finan-cial resources in order for it to be efficient and effective. Members of the Resolution Board must be independent and democratic scrutiny of their decision ensured. (ak) (cid:79)Abolition of EU roaming charges: beneﬁcial to both the public and the EUWhen people travel abroad, they often choose not to use their mobile devices as freely as they would in their home country for fear of large roaming bills. People make fewer and shorter phone calls and substantially cut back on the use of mobile data for the internet, apps etc. These and many other phenomena were the focus of the public hearing on the EU mobile roaming system held at the EESC on 23 October 2013 to assess the findings of its online public consultation on roaming. The consultation and the hearing are part of a priority project by EESC president Henri Malosse, who had personally supported a European Citizens’ Initiative in favour of a single mobile phone tariff across the Union.The main conclusion from the 60 or so contributions received from European citizens in Sep-tember 2013 was that the aboli-tion of the current EU roaming system would be of great benefit to the public and would also help foster genuine EU integration. Respondents called for an imme-diate end to all roaming charges and felt that consumers need bet-ter access to networks and must be able to enjoy the same level of connectivity abroad as they do at home. Ideally, Europeans see a future where there is a genuine single market for mobile communication, allowing for “Roam like Home” mobile phone use in any EU country.The new EU legislative package on the Tel-ecom Single Market unveiled by the European Commission last September includes provi-sions for progressively phasing out roaming charges. However, many respondents warned that preventive measures are needed to make sure operators do not off-set the loss of revenue due to the abolition of roaming charges by increasing domestic prices.At the public hearing, where the findings of the consultation were presented, most par-ticipants agreed that the European Commis-sion had created huge expectations for a full and rapid abolition of all roaming charges. In reality, however, the Commission has only proposed zero roaming charges for incom-ing calls in the short term. While its proposal includes some further measures for accelerating the creation of a “zero roaming” EU, the reac-tion of the Member States has been some-what reserved and uncertainty remains as to whether firm new legislation will be adopted by next spring, before the European Commission and the European Par-liament end their cur-rent terms. The EESC will continue to moni-tor this process closely. (hb) (cid:79)The new Common Agricultural Policy – far more pros than cons. Leťs make it workAs with any high-level political agreement, this new CAP is, of course, the result of a compromise. Some think the reform has gone too far, others that it has not gone far enough.There are two key words in the new CAP: flexibility and diversity assessment. These two principles were the main issues first raised by the EESC in its opinion on the Commission pro-posals on the future of the CAP.Valuing diversity in the EU through a com-mon policy is one of the main characteristics of the reform. Direct payments will be spread more fairly between Member States, between regions and between farmers. Historical ref-erences will disappear. Member States will be able to adjust the level of direct payments to the actual situation on the ground. In order to help countries make these adjustments, mandatory criteria have been established at EU level, for instance a basic payment scheme based on existing farming activity and occu-pation of land, limiting support to real, active farmers, and an ambitious policy to support young farmers. Additional tools are available to distribute direct payments at local level, particularly for disadvantaged areas or fragile sectors, thus levelling the play-ing field for the rural economy.Flexibility is most clearly seen in the opportunity to transfer funds between pil-lars: Member States will be able to transfer up to 15% of their national envelope for direct payments (1st pillar) to their rural development envelope (2nd pillar) or vice versa – with this figure rising to as much as 25% for those Member States that receive less than 90% of the EU aver-age for direct payments.There is also flexibility in the implementa-tion of environmental measures. A third of CAP funds will be invested in the environ-mental sustainability of European agriculture. This is known as “greening the CAP”.Some elements of the reform will enter into force as early as 1 January 2014, and all aspects will apply from 2015.Interesting facts:(cid:116)  Over 77% of the EU’s territory is classified as rural (47% is farmland and 30% forest) and is home to around half its popula-tion (farming communities and other residents).(cid:116) There are 12 million (full-time) farmers in the EU. Overall, agriculture and the agri-food industry – which depends on the agricultural sector for its supplies – account for 6% of the EU’s GDP, comprise 15 million businesses and provide 46 mil-lion jobs.(cid:116) The CAP costs each EU citizen around 30 eurocents a day. In 2011 it accounted for 43% of the EU’s annual budget, or €58 billion. Its share has been falling continu-ously since 1984, when it stood at 72%, while the successive enlargements of the EU since 1992 have resulted in a doubling of the number of farmers. For 2014-2020 the CAP will account for 38% of the EU’s annual budget.(cid:116) CAP expenditure makes up less than 1% of all public expenditure in the EU Member States.(cid:116) Agriculture is the only sector entirely funded from the EU budget (although rural development is co-financed by the Member States).(cid:116) The average EU household spends 15% of its budget on food – half as much as in 1960.Dilyana Slavova, EESC president of the Section for Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment (NAT) Various Interests Group (cid:79)Social entrepreneurs: have your say! 16/17 January 2014 - StrasbourgEurope is changing and new economic mod-els are needed. European citizens, business, entrepreneurs and policy makers are taking action on the challenges we are facing in our social, economic and environmental spheres, through social innovation, new forms of investment and surprising solutions.The EESC, in partnership with the Euro-pean Commission, is holding a high-level conference: “Social entrepreneurs: have your say!” to analyse present and future opportu-nities for social entrepreneurship in Europe. Participants will include businesses, pol-icy-makers and other relevant stakeholders.For further information and regis-tration, please visit: http://www.eesc.europa.eu/?i=portal.en.events-and-activi-ties-social-entrepreneurs (ail) (cid:79)SOON IN THE EESCJacques Lemercier, EESC memberDilyana Slavova, president of the NAT section“There are two key words in the new CAP: flexibility and diversity assessment.”© PeterPhoto123© amadorgsDecember 2013/9 special editionYves Somville: for me, the EESC means opennessIn a series of interviews, Béatrice Ouin, a French member of the EESC’s Workers’ Group and the members’ representative on EESC Info’s edito-rial board, has been talking to her fellow members to find out what issues they are most interested in. She recently met Yves Somville, a Belgian member of the Various Interests Group and deputy secretary-general of the Walloon Agricultural Federa-tion in Belgium.Here are a few extracts from their conversation:Béatrice Ouin: Can you tell me something about the organisation you represent? How many members does it have and what are its main activities at national level? What is your role in the organisation?Yves Somville: I am one of 12 EESC members from Belgium and I repre-sent the farming sector. I work for the Fédération Wallonne de l’Agriculture (FWA), or Walloon Agricultural Federation, whose headquarters are in Gembloux, Wallonia. In Belgium, agricultural policy is a regional com-petence and so we only deal with farmers working in the Wallonia region, in southern Belgium. When it comes to issues that are still dealt with at federal level (public health, tax, etc.), we of course have perma-nent links with the Flemish farming organisations.The FWA is a professional associa-tion financed mainly by its members’ subscriptions. Anyone can join: 7 000 farming families currently belong, representing approximately 65% of the Wallonia region’s farmers.Just like any other professional association, we do a variety of things: we are in dialogue with government, politicians and our members regard-ing legislation in the pipeline or needing review, training issues, and advisory services in all areas directly and indirectly related to farming. We also offer services to the farming and agribusiness sectors via our network of local offices.What does your organisation want from Europe? How do your members see their role in Europe?When it comes to farming, it is clear that Europe has been a regular topic of debate for over 50 years. Just last year we celebrated 50 years of the common agricultural policy (CAP), which was one of the first genuinely common policies in Europe. Given the many changes this policy has undergone in response to interna-tional developments (WTO, EU enlargement, growing environmental and budgetary concerns, etc.), there have always been and will always be permanent contacts with the Euro-pean level. The FWA belongs to COPA (Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations), an EU umbrella organisation. This means that our members have been “living and breathing” Europe for decades; they understand it, and how they feel about it varies depending on issues and circumstances.What does being a member of the Committee mean for you personally? What surprised you most when you ﬁrst joined the Committee and what do you appreciate most a few years down the line?In a word, openness: first to Europe, in all its wealth and diver-sity, but also to the world, thanks to the subjects addressed and discussed at all our meetings. I have benefitted enormously from the contacts made through my involvement in certain EESC bodies, such as the ACP-EU Follow-up Committee, which saw the 2008 food crisis put farming back on the agenda, especially for the ACP countries, but also in Europe. It makes it seem all the more interesting and important to be part of the EESC when you consider the crucial chal-lenges facing us in the medium term in relation to current population growth and the increasing scarcity of resources such as water and land, to name just two essential farming resources.And of course, as well as being extremely useful professionally speaking, the contacts I have made at the EESC have also been very enrich-ing and instructive in human terms.EESC info is published nine times a year during EESC plenary sessions.Printed versions of EESC info in German, English and French are available free-of-charge from the European Economic and Social Committee Press Oﬃce.EESC info is also available in 23 languages in PDF format on the Committee’s web site:URL: http://www.eesc.europa.eu/?i=portal.en.eesc-infoEESC info is not an oﬃcial record of the EESC’s proceedings; for this, please refer to the Oﬃcial Journal of the European Union or to the Committee’s other publications.Reproduction permitted if EESC info is mentioned as the source and a copy is sent to the editor.Print run: 12 310 copies.Next issue: January 2014PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPEREESC info in 23 languages: http://www.eesc.europa.eu/activities/press/eescinfo/index_en.aspEditor:Béatrice Ouin – EESC members’ representative on the Editorial Committee (Workers’ Group, FR)Maciej Bury (mb)Contributors to this issue:Alejandro Izquierdo Lopez (ail)Angeliki Karampourouni (ak)Anna Comi (ac)Arturo Iniguez Yuste (aiy)Henry Borzi (hb)Laure Limousin (ll)Leszek Jarosz (lj)Nele Rissmann (nr)Susanna Baizou (sb)Overall coordination:Agata BerdysAddress:European Economic and Social CommitteeJacques Delors Building, 99 Rue Belliard, B-1040 Brussels, BelgiumTel. (+32 2) 546.94.76Fax (+32 2) 546.97.64Email: eescinfo@eesc.europa.euInternet: http://www.eesc.europa.eu/QE-AA-13-009-EN-CPEER-TO-PEER INTERVIEWYves Somville, EESC memberNew EESC Communication StrategyThe EESC’s Communication Group, which has a strategic say in what and how the organisation communicates, agreed on an update of the com-munication strategy as part of the “Wind of Change”.The adopted rec-ommendations will be implemented through an annual action plan. Priority opinions and “going local” will receive particular attention.The goal is to ensure that the tools available are more closely geared to the Committee’s needs, focusing on the right audi-ences, the right timing and the right activities.Evaluations have been carried out to see how the existing com-munication strategies were imple-mented, including interviews with EESC members, staff, officials from EU institutions, media and other key stakeholders. As a result, the 2010-2015 Communication strategy remains valid. However, some fine tuning was needed, chiefly due to the rapid development of new tools such as social media. The EESC’s target audience continues to be primarily the EU institutions, civil society organisations and the press - although with an eye to the Euro-pean elections, the general public is another target audience. Moreover, communication within Brussels but also back home is very important. Members are ambassadors of the EESC and of the European project and they play an important role in communicating both. (nr) (cid:79)EESC commemorates 11 November in VerdunHenri Malosse and Göke Frerichs, the current French and a former Ger-man president of the EESC, were in Verdun on 11 November to remem-ber the soldiers who lost their lives in the First World War.Hand in hand, they said that “Standing together, shoulder to shoulder, as a Frenchman and a Ger-man, we shall remember that, before throwing themselves into battle, knowing that they would probably die, many of the soldiers who fought in the Great War must have dreamed of a different future.”Standing in Verdun, the site of one of the Great War’s bloodiest battles, the two presidents declared that “Europe is so much more than battles over budgets and markets. More than anything else, Europe is a beautiful story of women and men who have shared a common dream of creating a better future for their children. Europe is a place of peace and shared values”.Being in Verdun on 11 Novem-ber served to remind everybody that those who perished in the Great War “did not die in vain”, they said. (mb) (cid:79)IN SHORT“Europe is so much more than battles over budgets and markets.”Henri Malosse and Göke Frerichs, the current French and a former German president of the EESC© alpimagesDEAR READERS,As the end of the year approaches, we would like to take the opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for 2014, which we hope will be full of happiness, health and success.We would also like to thank our subscribers and readers and all those who have contributed articles, illustrations, ideas and more to our newsletter. We look forward to working with you again in the new year.The EESC info team© Meranda19EESC info