Convention under pressure to deliver on ‘civil society’ pledge

Date: 23/05/02

By Martin Banks

MEMBERS of the 'civil society' forum have accused Valéry Giscard d'Estaing's Convention of ignoring them in discussions on the future of Europe.

Giscard, the Convention's chairman, pledged to hear the opinions of civil society, including trade unions, business groups and non-governmental organisations, when the body was set up in February.

But the Brussels-based Civil Society Contact Group (CSCG) says the former French president and other Convention members have paid only 'lip-service' to their promise to receive input from them.

In a letter to Giscard, CSCG chair Mary McPhail writes: 'While there has been much talk about consulting civil society, we are concerned that, so far, there has been little substantive engagement with civil society organisations.

'Many parts of civil society have organised extensive consultations regarding the issues before the Convention.

'We are disappointed that we have yet to receive a response to our requests for meetings with the praesidium to discuss the results of our discussions.'

The CSCG represents thousands of non-governmental organisations throughout Europe and the European Trade Union Confederation.

McPhail says the Convention leadership's failure to listen to their views 'is simply not acceptable'.

The CSCG is still waiting for a response to a letter sent six weeks ago to Jean-Luc Dehaene, the Convention vice-chairman, requesting a meeting with the praesidium.

'We are starting to feel impatient with the lack of information and clarity surrounding the whole working of the Convention.

'It's as if Giscard is just paying lip-service to what he said he would do.

'We are told that a Convention website has been set up but that is no answer to the very serious issues it is supposed to address,' added McPhail.

Dehaene, whose job is to oversee input from NGOs and other groups, pointed out that he had already attended the first of a series of meetings involving civil society groups which have been arranged.

Further meetings will be held on 27 May, 27 June and 15 July at the Brussels offices of the Economic and Social Committee.

'We are committed to having a dialogue between the Convention and civil society organisations,' he said.

• The Convention next meets at the European Parliament in Brussels on 23-24 May.

Members of the Civil Society Contact Group (CSCG) have accused Valéry Giscard d'Estaing's Convention of ignoring them in discussions on the future of Europe.