Tanja Miscevic met the EESC representatives

Director of the European Integration Office (SEIO), Tanja Miscevic met with the delegation of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), visiting Belgrade from 28-29 January 2008 in order to prepare a report on the role of the civil society in relations between the EU and Serbia. EESC members were introduced in the activities realized by SEIO in cooperation with non-government organizations signatories to the Memorandum of cooperation.

The European Commission requested the European Economic and Social Committee to draft an exploratory opinion on `EU-Serbia relations: the role of civil society”. A study group made of 15 members of the EESC started its work in November 2007, chaired by Cveto Stantic. The rapporteur of this opinion is Seppo Kallio.

They have meet representatives of social partners and of several NGOs, the members of the Economic and Social Council of Serbia, as well as the Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Rasim Ljajic, and the Director of the European Integration Office, Tanja Miscevic.

The rapporteur, Mr Seppo Kallio, said that the Serbian NGOs and social partners had a key role to play in strengthening democracy and promoting a better standard of living. He added that EESC was fully committed to support their efforts.

The chairman of the study group, Mr Cveto Stantic, added: “While representing different interests, the EESC members – trade unions, employers, NGOs – are all united in considering that European integration is the best way to ensure prosperity and social cohesion.”