EESC Section for external relations (REX)
3 September 2010, Brussels
REX Section discussed and adopted the following opinions:
REX/274 EU – Canada Relation
European and Canadian civil societies share common values which continue to underpin the identity of their societies in the 21st century. Pooling these values can bring added value to the European Union and Canada, and thus to the international community as a whole, in areas such as economics, environmental policy, security, immigration and so on. Greater multilateral cooperation on issues such as economic governance, climate change and conflict-resolution would also be desirable.
In this regard, many sectors of their economies are complementary, and both regions share common economic values: this would facilitate any agreement. An EU-Canada Summit was held in Prague on 6 May 2009, the main outcome of which was the opening of negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the two sides.
The EESC welcomes the opening of the negotiations for an agreement and hopes that this agreement will mark the beginning of a new stage in relations between the EU and Canada, fostering cooperation of benefit to both parties. By the same token, it will send a clear signal to the international community that both the EU and Canada reject a protectionist approach at this time of economic and financial crisis. Moreover, seeking to reinvigorate transatlantic relations without Canada's full involvement would be inconceivable.
The EESC believes that neither the EU nor Canada can afford to miss this opportunity to forge closer relations, as it will be of benefit to their societies. To this end, the two sides should maintain an open dialogue with the representatives of organised civil society, not only during the negotiations but also in order to monitor the implementation and results of the future agreement so that they can be enhanced.
The EESC proposes that in conjunction with the negotiations for the agreement and subsequently, a joint consultative body of EU-Canada organised civil society be set up, possibly modelled on the EU-Cariforum agreement, to facilitate firstly the negotiations and subsequently the implementation, monitoring and application of the agreement. This body, which would perform a consultative function for the future joint body that is to provide the agreement's political leadership, could issue opinions when consulted by the EU or Canada on matters covered by the agreement.
REX/297 Transatlantic relations and international promoting of the European social model
The EESC is supportive of the gradual integration of the Euro-Atlantic free market and wishes to deepen Euro-American relations and in particular to place emphasis on the social context in order to anticipate the consequences of transatlantic economic integration, so as to ensure that both America and Europe draw equal benefit from it and that both emerge from it more competitive, particularly in relation to the emerging economies.
Given that the globally unique constellation of economic and social elements that make up the "European Social Model" (ESM) is a basis for successful development and represents a powerful shock absorber for the populations affected by the current crisis, the EESC draws attention to the fact that the signatories to the Treaty of Lisbon chose to promote this model. The EESC would like the legitimacy of the following to be developed as part of transatlantic dialogue:
1) European identity,
2) European values and culture, including environmental protection,
3) the EESC, which represents these values through its members.
Collective social protection systems, public services and social dialogue symbolise the "European social model". The EESC invites all EU institutions not only to represent this model, which citizens identify with, but also to promote it wherever possible, particularly in transatlantic dialogue.
Furthermore, making the social aspect one of the EU's general priorities would enable Europeans to be better prepared to do this within the framework of the "Transatlantic Labour Dialogue" (TALD).
In order to encourage greater awareness of the European Union's values in the United States and greater convergence between the two blocs on social issues, such as promoting equality and combating discrimination, ensuring that rights can be exercised and promoting social understanding, the EESC would like the EU to inform American civil society about the "European social model." The TALD could be one way of achieving this. For the EESC, "promoting" the ESM entails raising the EU's profile in the United States.
In addition to new financial regulations, the EESC calls for the Euro-Atlantic zone to develop common rules on ratings agencies and new competition rules that are more respectful of citizens' interests. It expects the EU to adopt strong positions which guarantee people's standard of living, and it expects transatlantic dialogue to listen to civil societies on both sides of the Atlantic.
It is a question of promoting dialogue with citizens and the world of work internally and within the framework of bilateral relations, beginning in the Euro-American bodies created for this purpose. The European Commission could help to facilitate this by increasing the resources it allocates even further than before. The EESC would be ready to organise a Euro‑American civil society council with its American counterparts. Ways need to be found between the two civil societies to give a voice to workers and to develop information and consultation measures, above all in this critical period following the 2008 financial crash. The EESC considers that this crisis, which has now been going on for three years, could have been averted had there been more civil and social dialogue and more transparency.
The objectives of transatlantic dialogue should include learning from each other and contributing in practical terms to promoting human, political and civil rights, but also economic and social rights. People's economic and social rights should be presented by the EU in the transatlantic dialogue as an integral part of its own position.
The EESC believes that dialogue between Europe and the United States would be enriched by discussing social matters which are so crucial for the cohesion of societies on both sides of the Atlantic: initial and lifelong education and ways to finance it, national competence but also "federal" competence; these are key to ensuring that the knowledge-based service economy benefits both societies.
Vladimíra Drbalová
International Organisations and EU Affairs
