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European NGO Platform calls for stronger consultatative role
European NGO Platform Calls for Stronger Consultative Role EU press release
April 3, 1998
The members of the European Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee (chair: Stephen HUGHES, PES, UK) took a positive, though critical view towards the proposals tabled by the representatives of the Platform of European Social NGOs about the further development of civil dialogue. The Platform seeks an acknowledged consultative role in relation to the European institutions. The future of the civil dialogue was discussed in a public hearing organized by the Committee on 2 March.Mr. Olivier GERHARD representing the Platform of the Social NGOs said that in order to introduce a structured approach to the civil dialogue, the Commission should draw up a list of international NGOs that should be consulted regularly. In addition, DG V should set up twice-yearly meetings between the members of the Platform and the Commission in order to start an ongoing evaluation of the Commission's work programmes in social policy. The Parliament should also be involved in these meetings.
Members of the Committee saw the NGOs as an important link to people who are not represented by traditional organizations. Some of them were fairly hesitant about the proposed framework. They suggested that differences in background, funding and aims may undermine NGO's ability to work together. An institutionalized civil dialogue may turn them into bureaucracies who loose contact with grassroots.
The Commission representative reminded those present that a reference to civil dialogue was left out of the Amsterdam Treaty despite the efforts made by the Commission. It was, he said, still necessary to persuade Member States to include civil dialogue as a point to be discussed during a future IGC. A legal basis is required if funding is to be available for civil dialogue and this could only be justified if the platform of NGOs could identify the added value they could bring to EU decision making.
For further information: Virpi KOYKKA, tel. 322 284 6222, e-mail: vkoykka@europarl.eu.int
