| QCEA Responses
to the Convention on the Future of Europe
CALL
TO SUPPORT THE CREATION OF A WORKING GROUP ON SOCIAL ISSUES
6
November 2002
Dear
Member of the Convention,
During
the plenary session of 7-8 November, the Convention will debate
the values and principles of the European social model, and consider
a proposal to create a Working Group on social issues. I would like
to call upon you to support this proposal, so that social aspects
of the EU can be properly considered by the Convention.
NGOs
have from the beginning supported the Convention process as a unique
opportunity to create a European Union according to the needs and
aspirations of its citizens. A huge European-wide alliance of NGOs
and trade unionists – under the heading act4europe - is now
calling upon the Convention to listen to the voices coming from
civil society.
Eurobarometer
surveys have shown that a majority of people consider that the fight
against social exclusion and unemployment should be a priority for
the EU. However the Convention has not yet found a way to reflect
this in its work, even though the Laeken Declaration emphasises
citizens’ demands in these areas.
As
a member of the Convention you have the opportunity to design a
political project that will improve the lives of millions of Europeans.
This cannot be done without guaranteeing the European social model
- promoting full employment, social inclusion, sustainable development,
quality services of general interest and a discrimination-free society
– within the revised Treaties.
The
creation of a working group on social issues would send out an important
signal that the Convention’s members recognise the need to
create a Future for Europe which matches the aspirations of its
peoples. I hope that you will be able to support this initiative
and to be our voice during the Convention's plenary of 7/8 November
2002.
Yours,
Liz
Scurfield and Martina Weitsch
Joint
Representatives
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