| Online debate on the economic and social future of Europe |
|
Everyone is invited to take part in an online consultation on the economic and social future of Europe. The 2009 European Citizens’ Consultation, a pan-European debate among citizens from every EU Member State was launched in Brussels on Wednesday 3rd December 2008 with websites in all 27 Member States going live on Thursday 4th December. Eurobarometer opinion polls show that rising inflation and unemployment are now the public’s main concerns. But what role can the EU play in addressing these and other concerns about our economic and social future? Does the EU take a balanced approach to economic, social and environmental development? What should the EU do to ensure that every person in the Union has the resources to live life with dignity? These are just some of the questions that you can address in this consultation. The website dedicated to the debate in Ireland is www.european-citizens-consultations.eu/ie or www.comhairliuchan-eorpach-do-shaoranaigh.eu The National Forum on Europe is the Irish partner in this programme. Everyone can join the online debate which is focussing on what the EU can do to shape our economic and social future in a globalised world. People can post their comments and make recommendations for action, which will then be discussed at a series of national consultations – the Irish one will take place in March 2009 in Dublin - and at a European Citizens’ Summit in May 2009. The final recommendations will be presented to EU policy-makers on the eve of the European elections which are scheduled for June 2009. The European Citizens' Consultations are run by a consortium of more than 40 European partner organisations, led by the King Baudouin Foundation (KBF), and is co-funded by foundations including the KBF, Compagnia di San Paolo and the Robert Bosch Foundation, and funders at national level. Everybody can contribute to the debate on the following website: www.european-citizens-consultations.eu/ie or www.comhairliuchan-eorpach-do-shaoranaigh.eu |