The Civil Society Contact Group was established to encourage a co-ordinated approach amongst NGO networks based in Brussels towards the European Convention. It brings together representatives from NGOs working around development, environmental, human rights and social issues. The European Trade Union Confederation
(ETUC) is also part of the Contact Group. The Contact Group includes up to two representatives from each sector. The secretariat of the Social Platform provides co-ordination for the Contact Group. Currently the representatives from the different sectors are:
When the Convention was established by the European Council at its meeting in Laeken (December 2001) to consider a number of questions concerning the future of Europe, a commitment was made for the work of the Convention to be carried out in an open, transparent and participatory way. The establishment of the Contact Group was to try to ensure that the opportunities for the participation of civil society could be maximised, and for there to be a common basis for the work of the NGOs from the different sectors. Since the establishment of the Contact Group: - a toolkit has been produced that provides information and material which can be used by civil society actors from across the EU and in accession countries;
- approaches to the Convention have been co-ordinated, particularly the preparations towards the June hearing of the Convention with civil society;
- A common statement was adopted by the Contact Group in June just prior to the hearing on 24 & 25 June;
- A strategy is being pursued from September onwards to encourage debate across the EU and to promote pressure on members of the Convention around the issues concerning the different sectors, and the proposals that are being made for changes to the Treaties of the EU.
See also the founding statement of the Contact Group. Updated 10 September 2002
