Prior to the Spring Summit 2008 the EESC has submitted its Summary Report “Renewed Lisbon Strategy 2008-2010 – The role of organised civil society” to the European Council as requested in the Presidency Conclusion in March 2006. In this report, following an introduction by the EESC, organised civil society from all 27 Member States express their views on the national reform programmes and the degree of involvement of non-governmental actors in the process of their elaboration. Mario SEPI, President of the EESC Lisbon Group underlines that “for the Lisbon Strategy to succeed it is necessary that organised civil society in the Member States, in particular national Economic and Social Councils, where they exist, are involved in the implementation of the Lisbon Agenda as acting partners. Following good practices in several Member States, information, consultation and transparency are needed everywhere for the benefit of the design and the implementation of the National Reform Programmes”. The report also stresses the importance for organised civil society to be involved at an early stage in the formulation of the future prospects for the next cycle after 2010 which should be based on growth, jobs, social cohesion and sustainable development.

The EESC calls on the European Council to renew its mandate to the Committee and its network with national ESC’s and other partner organisations and “ask the European Economic and Social Committee to continue its regular work on the implementation of the renewed Lisbon Strategy, and the implementation of country-specific recommendations”.

The full text of the Summary Report is available at:

eesc.europa.eu/lisbon_strategy/index_en.asp