The Consultative Role of Economic and Social Agents

The Consultative Role
of Economic and Social Agents
Within the framework of the
Euro-Mediterranean Partnership
&
The European Union’s
Neighbourhood Policy
Financed by
Organized by
Background
The Barcelona Process
The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership between the European Union and the southern and
eastern Mediterranean countries was created in 1995.
In 2005, at the time of its tenth anniversary, a further Euro-Mediterranean Summit was held
in Barcelona, and this duly reaffirmed the need to ensure sustainable economic growth in
order to combat poverty and inequalities.
tresmed3 is going to work in line with the priorities set by the Plan of Work for the coming
five years:
>> Peace, security, stability, good government and democracy.
>> Sustainable socio-economic development.
>> Education and cultural exchanges.
>> Justice, security, migration and social integration.
http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/euromed
The European Neighbourhood Policy
Developed since 2004, its aim is to establish privileged relationships through national
plans of action. It focuses on the development of democracy, liberties, prosperity, security
and stability, based on the respect for shared values.
http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp
Euro-Mediterranean Summits of the Economic and Social
Councils and similar institutions
>> The Euro-Mediterranean Summit held in Amman in 2005
>> The Euro-Mediterranean Summit held in Ljubljana in 2006
>> The Euro-Mediterranean Summit held in Athens in 2007
http://eesc.europa.eu
tresmed3 issued from the results obtained and the experience acquired in earlier editions; continuing the advances made in the institutionalization of social dialogue and
the democratization of the Euro-Mediterranean zone.
tresmed (2001-2002):
tresmed2 (2004-2006):
http://www.ces.es/tresmed
General objective
To continue providing support for strengthening the role of the economic and social
agents in decision-making processes, achieving fuller involvement of the former in the
Euro-Mediterranean partnership so as to facilitate the creation of a representative model
for integration within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy.
Specific objectives
Creation and strengthening of the economic and social councils and similar institutions.
Reinforcement of the capacities of civil society organizations and the structures for social
dialogue.
The mutual interchange of experiences in the field of institutionalized social dialogue in order
to configure an open area for reciprocal learning to support economic growth and social prosperity with the participation of all the agents involved.
Strengthening and promotion of social dialogue via education and awareness-raising
in regard to the consultation processes for social stakeholders in democratic societies.
Bringing the civil societies of the European Union closer to those of neighbouring
Mediterranean countries, in order to achieve a better understanding of cultures
and civilizations.
Activities
Two seminars and a closing conference
LI KELY ACTIVITI ES
A Maghreb Seminar: possible participants might include representatives from Algeria, Morocco,
Tunisia, Belgium, France, Spain and the European Economic and Social Committee.
A Masreq Seminar: possible participants might include representatives from Lebanon, Syria, Egypt,
Italy, the Netherlands, Ireland and the European Economic and Social Committee.
Agenda items will be related to: _a)The contribution of economic and social councils to democracy
and/or, _b) the economic and social agents possibilities for consultation in the context of the Barcelona
Process and the European Neighbourhood Policy.
The Closing Conference will be held in Madrid (Spain) where all the stakeholders who have taken part
in the tresmed Project will be represented, and there will be showed the advances achieved. The Conclusions will be shaped in a proposal of Plan of action, that will be put to the Conference for its approval.
The southern and eastern Mediterranean countries included in the European Neighbourhood
Policy (Maghreb + Masreq + Israel + Palestinian Authority) shall be invited to attend and all
member states of the European Union with an economic and social council or similar institution shall be invited to attend as shall the European Economic and Social Committee.
Technical assistance for preparation of reports
with the israeli esc and the palestinian esc
Technical assistance shall be formalized via the organization of working seminars; in which different
European esc shall be invited to attend alongside the Israeli esc or the Palestinian esc. This technical
assistance shall be aimed at sharing knowledge on the drafting of reports and issues of interest.
Initiatives in the field of education for young people
tresmed3 proposes to open a chapter on the education of young people, who shall be invited
to undertake a simulation of a typical competence of the economic and social councils: drafting a joint report on a subject of mutual interest. They will imitate the methods normally
employed by the esc of the region.
It is planned to constitute six teams (three from Mediterranean countries and three from member states of the European Union) each comprising six young people, who shall be nominated by
the esc or by similar institutions, and shall represent all the relevant interest groups. Once the
teams have been formed, their members shall have full working autonomy to undertake the
simulation. Their opinions shall not be binding on the councils or other similar institutions.
The working methodology will be that of the economic and social councils, with the sole exception that mobility will be virtual. To this end, young people involved shall be required to have
access to a computer and the internet and language skills in French and English.
Participants
Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, the Palestinian Authority and Tunisia.
The project is open to all European countries, in particular to those which have an economic
and social council or similar institution; and to the European Economic and Social Committee.
Target groups
High-level representatives of the economic and social councils and similar institutions.
Socio-professional organizations: trades unions, business organizations, cooperatives,
the agriculture and fisheries industries and other civil society organizations.
Representatives of the legislative power.
Experts in sociology and economics, academics specializing in economic and vocational
themes, in international relations, particularly within the context of the European
Neighbourhood Policy and the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.
Duration, funding and management
tresmed3 is financed by the Commission of the European Union.
Its expected duration is thirty months: from 1 January 2008 until 30 June 2010.
The Economic and Social Council of Spain will be responsible for organization and technical,
administrative and financial management of the project. It was created by act 21/1991,
of 17 June, in order to comply with the constitutional function to reinforce the participation
of the economic and social agents in economic and social life. It is a consultative body of the
government on socio-economic and employment matters. It has its own legal personality, full
capacity and organic and functional autonomy to perform its role. It issues reports, which may
be mandatory or advisory, on the subjects which the government submits to it for consultation and acts on its own initiative in undertaking studies and reports on questions within its
area of competence.
It is composed of sixty-one councillors, nominated by the most representative trades union
and business organizations, professional organizations active in the agricultural sector, fisheries producers’ organizations, the consumers’ and users’ council, cooperative associations,
employment societies representing the social economy sector, and six experts in the socioeconomic and employment field.
The Spanish esc organized and managed tresmed and tresmed2.
For further information
please contact:
Economic and Social Council (esc)
C/Huertas, 73
28014-Madrid (Spain)
www.ces.es/tresmed
tresmed3@ces.es
Financed by
Organized by