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22 October 2010 Henri Malosse, President

GROUP I INTERNAL

NEWSLETTER

EDITORIAL

Speech of Henri Malosse on 21st October 2010, during the inaugural Plenary session of the new mandate 2010 - 2015:

"I congratulate Staffan Nilsson on behalf of the Employers Group, for his election as the President of the EESC for the period 2010 to 2013.

I can offer the support of our Group to his Program "Let us mobilize for sustainable Europe". We note, however, that sustainable companies are those that can survive the financial crisis and can remain competitive on the global market. In this spirit, we must not overload the enterprises with finicky regulations and constant legal recourse. We are envisioning especially small and medium enterprises, which are those that create 8O% of new jobs in the EU.

Dear Staffan, you are right to highlight the growing gap between citizens and the European institutions, but is this not primarily the result of a deception of public opinion about a Europe that is less and less concrete? After 4O years of specific achievements (peace, the single market, the common agricultural policy, the Euro), we entered a period where words have substituted actions. This is the reason why our Group's contribution to your Programme will take the form of concrete proposals to actually enforce this sustainable Europe. More specifically, we are thinking of common actions at the European level in innovation, education, research, entrepreneurs and the development of regions and infrastructure… The widening gap between citizens and the European Union is also an opportunity for the EESC if, in making the necessary renovation of our working methods, we are able to listen to the wishes of economic and social actors and able to transform them into concrete proposals to advance European integration and the improve the daily life of each and everyone."

MEMBERS' VOICES

My main priorities for the new mandate are raising the awareness about EESC's activities in the Member States and the successful implementation of the adopted strategy of the Group , as well as its adaptation toward new challenges. Another main goal for me will be reviving and strengthening the relations with national employers' and business organisations, in order to adequately express their views and present their positions in the opinions presented by the EESC. CEEP – the European Centre of Employers and Enterprises providing Public services, is a key partner of the Employers' Group of the EESC, due to its expertise

and clearly expressed position on matters of improving the competitiveness of European businesses and the socio-economic climate of the EU. I also consider it important to focus more efforts on developing corporate social responsibility and the transfer of its positive practices to all enterprises, as well as identifying and spreading best practices between the Member States. Concerning the planning of the new financial perspective of the EU, Group I needs a more active position on the challenges related to EU funds absorption .

Milena Angelova (BG) Vice-President of Group I

Staffan Nilsson (EESC President), Commissionner Maroš Šef čovi č, Anna Maria Darmanin (EESC Vice-President), Jacek Krawczyk (EESC Vice-President)

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MEMBERS' VOICES

In searching for the ways out of the crisis I see an important opportunity and role for the social partners in framing, implementing and monitoring the Europe 2020 strategy. We should not repeat the mistakes and shortfalls which made the Lisbon Strategy a bad example of European integration efforts. We have to ensure the changes in governance of the new Strategy, and I am looking forward to my participation in the new Steering Committee for the implementation of EU 2020 Strategy. Social partners throughout Europe should develop a capability to propose concrete policies and actions . EESC as an important platform for expressing different views of civil society is a good place to exchange best practices and

become a true ambassador of the best initiatives .

GROUP I EVENTS On October 13th 2010, the President of the Employers’ Group held a welcome reception during the Open Days before the new mandate 2010-2015. In his welcome note to new and returning Members, Henri Malosse mentioned the two lives of his EESC colleagues: in one Members work within the Group and support it, and in the other they collaborate with other Members of the Committee, in the cooperative spirit of the EESC. Mr. Malosse mentioned the challenges facing the Group during the new mandate: having a common goal, increasing solidarity for all Member and Group efforts, transparent and efficient work, enforcing the internal rules, having a positive atmosphere, and privileged relations with partner organizations. Below are some pictures from the event:

Cveto Stantic (SI) Vice-President of Group I

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GROUP I VICE-PRESIDENTS Dorthe ANDERSEN (DK)

Milena ANGELOVA (BG)

Paulo BARROS VALE (PT)

Anna BREDIMA (EL)

Peter CLEVER (DE)

Waltraud KLASNIC (AT)

Eve PÄÄRENDSON (EE)

Maurizio REALE (IT)

José Isaías RODRÍGUEZ GARCÍA-CARO (ES)

Cveto STANTI Č (SI)

GROUP I BUREAU MEMBERS WITH SPECIFIC PORTFOLIOS

Antal CSUPORT (HU) Relations with the Hungarian Presidency Filip HAMRO-DROTZ (FI) Monitoring and implementation of Group I's rules of procedure Joost VAN IERSEL (NL) Monitoring and implementation of the decisions of Group I's Bureau Tony VANDEPUTTE (BE) Relations with the Belgian Presidency and New Work for the period 2010-2011

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AFTER THE PLENARY Opinions presented by the members of the Employers' group and adopted during the plenary session of 20-21 October: ECO/272 - Private and public investment by Bernard HUVELIN INT/522 – Clean and energy efficient vehicles by Peter MORGAN NAT/470 - International climate policy post-Copenhagen by Stéphane BUFFETAUT NAT/472 - Integrated product policy by Josef ZBO ŘIL NAT/482 – Use of alien species in aquaculture by José María ESPUNY MOYANO CCMI/074 - Cultural and creative industries by Joost VAN IERSEL CCMI/075 - Metal working industry by José Isaías RODRÍGUEZ GARCÍA-CARO SC/33 – Renewal of the Community Method by Henri MALOSSE Two opinions where co-rapporteurs were members of Group I such as SOC/371 - Employee financial participation in Europe, co-rapporteur: Madi SHARMA and SOC/389 - European Year for Active Ageing (2012), co-rapporteur: José Isaías RODRÍGUEZ GARCÍA-CARO have also been successfully adopted. Otherwise, Members of Group I successfully passed amendments to opinions, most notably the ten amendments of Peter CLEVER on REX/297 - Transatlantic relations and the international promotion of the ESM.

MEMBERS' L IFE

In 2010 we can say Congratulations! to two proud parents:

This is Boris, born on 22 June 2010 to Milena Angelova.

And this is Emma, born on 23 July 2010

to Frank van Oorschot.

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FOR YOUR AGENDA (SAVE THE DATE)

Upcoming events before the next Plenary:

- Meeting of the Group I Bureau 05/11/2010, 09:00 – 10:00 - Extraordinary meeting of Group I 05/11/2010, 10:00 – 13:00 - Meeting of the EESC Bureau members of Group I 09/11/2010, 09:00 – 11:00 - Young European Entrepreneurs' Seminar 11/11/2010, 09:30 – 18:00 12/11/2010, 09:30 – 13:00 - Extraordinary meeting of the Group I Bureau 01/12/2010, 15:30 – 18:30 - "Small Business Act": Extraordinary Group I meeting 02/12/2010, 09:30 – 18:30 - Meeting of the EESC Bureau members of Group I 07/12/2010, 10:00 – 12:30 - Meeting of the Group I Bureau 08/12/2010, 09:00 – 10:00 - Group I meeting 08/12/2010, 10:00 – 13:00

GROUP I RETROSPECTIVE

Over the last four years, we the Members of the Employers' Group have scored points in a number of key political debates and distinguished ourselves by generally speaking with a single voice on internal issues, in particular giving communication fresh drive and making finance more transparent. We have prepared a retrospective covering the activities of our Group and its Members over the past mandate 2006 – 2010. In it, you can find a catalogue of meetings, events and opinions in order to commemorate all that we have accomplished together

and to give inspiration for the future.

NEW WORK - Please find the details of the New Work in attachment.

● Editor-in-Chief European Economic and Social Committee Tel: +32 (0) 2 546 95 53 GROUP I INTERNAL Henri MALOSSE Employers' Group Fax: +32 (0) 2 546 97 54 is a newsletter of the ● Editor Rue Belliard, 99 E-mail: gr1@eesc.europa.eu Employers' Group of the Birgit FULAR 1040 Brussels Website: European Economic and Social Committee ● Editorial Consultant Belgium www.eesc.europa.eu/employers-group Milen MINCHEV

October 22, 2010