We All are Europe - AESAEC
We All are Europe - AESAEC
We All are Europe - AESAEC
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cused of unlawful discrimination. Older citizens, preparing a <strong>Europe</strong>an project proposal, could gain<br />
inspiration by studying the different cases brought to court on the grounds of age discrimination.<br />
The Economic and Social Committee (EESC)<br />
The Economic and Social Committee (EESC) takes into account<br />
the interests of various economic and social groups. Its members<br />
<strong>are</strong> proposed by the member states’ governments and <strong>are</strong> appointed<br />
for a term of four years by the Council .They divide into<br />
the Employers’ Group (employers, bankers, federations etc.) the<br />
Workers’ Group (trade unions etc.) and Various Interest Groups<br />
(representatives of agriculture, small and medium sized enterprises,<br />
the professions, consumer organisations, families, older<br />
people etc.). The Committee must be consulted by the Council<br />
and the Commission in certain <strong>are</strong>as.<br />
The Committee of the Regions<br />
The Importance of the regions and the role they play in the Governance<br />
of the EU was recognised in the treaty establishing the <strong>Europe</strong>an Community.<br />
This Committee consists of representatives from regional and<br />
local bodies. It must be consulted by the Council or the Commission on<br />
matters like employment guidelines, legislation on social matters, the<br />
environment, education, vocational training, culture, public health and<br />
all other important matters such as cross-border cooperation.<br />
Reflection / Discuss<br />
You may have thought that what you already knew about <strong>Europe</strong> was quite enough. You may have<br />
had some idea about how <strong>Europe</strong> has become integrated. Probably you had heard about some of the<br />
treaties and strategies, but now you know to what extent and why they have become important<br />
milestones in <strong>Europe</strong>an Union history and also how they ultimately relate to older citizens.<br />
Although based on the principles of the French Revolution – liberty, equality, fraternity – the <strong>Europe</strong>an<br />
Union is not a revolutionary enterprise but it is an intellectual enterprise as much as it is a<br />
practical reality. Knowing a little bit more about the <strong>Europe</strong>an Union, its principles, history, current<br />
structural developments and mission, it is as important as understanding the identity and the<br />
aims of your own country.<br />
The <strong>Europe</strong>an Union and your country <strong>are</strong> closely related and you <strong>are</strong> <strong>Europe</strong>an citizens as much as<br />
you <strong>are</strong> citizens of your own country. Within this framework it is b<strong>are</strong>ly conceivable to think that<br />
<strong>Europe</strong>an institutions <strong>are</strong> of no concern to <strong>Europe</strong>an citizens, because they simply <strong>are</strong>! More than<br />
70% of your national legislation comes from <strong>Europe</strong>, whether it concerns maximum working hours,<br />
the food you eat, the air you breathe or the age when you can retire.<br />
And do you know who decides all these issues It is not the anonymous bureaucrats in Brussels, but<br />
increasingly it is the <strong>Europe</strong>an Parliament that makes decisions, the men and women who you elect.<br />
Together with your ministers, heads of state or government they take decisions affecting your everyday<br />
life, whether you <strong>are</strong> young or old, producer or consumer, or living in the North, South, East<br />
or <strong>We</strong>st of the Community. Often we complain that <strong>Europe</strong> is distant from its citizens - but is it<br />
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