THE president of Europe's committee of employers, unions and other interests lobbied the Taoiseach in Dublin yesterday, seeking an enhanced role in the framing of EU legislation.
Mr Carlos Ferrer also urged Mr Bruton to ensure that unemployment, competitiveness and the social agenda are priorities at the EU's Inter-Governmental Conference (IGC), which Ireland will chair in the second half of this year.
According to Mr Ferrer, his Economic and Social Committee (EcoSoc) could play an important part in making the EU more accountable to the European public. "The European citizen feels far away from the construction of Europe," he said. "It is necessary to bridge the gap between the European institutions and the person in the street, and EcoSoc is the appropriate body to do this."
EeoSoc has 222 members from trade unions, employers organisations and other interests. The members are nominated by EU member-states. The committee advises the Council of Ministers on draft legislation in certain subject areas.
Mr Ferrer disagreed with a suggestion that as the body was not elected, it could not "bridge the gap between the European institutions and the person in the street". The committee had representatives of unions, employers, farmers, consumers, environmentalists and other interests. "We are very representative," he said.
Ms Bridin Twist, the president of the Irish Countrywomen's Association and a member of the committee, said she felt it was very representative. Her organisation had 23,000 members, she said.