Workshop maatschappelijk middenveld EU-Rusland in aanloop naar duurzaamheidsconferentie Rio 2012 (en)

As part of a continuing effort to promote dialogue in EU-Russia relations, the fourth joint workshop between the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the Civic Chamber of Russian Federation (CCRF) will take place on Tuesday, 28 June. The workshop will be hosted at the EESC and will involve around 50 participants. It provides an opportunity to discuss the prospects of moving towards greener economies prior to the United Nations conference on sustainable development next year.

In this context, the focus of the discussion will be primarily on two objectives: the involvement of civil society in the EU-Russia strategic partnership and the contribution of civil society to the United Nations conference on sustainable development. The exchange of views will allow the two parties to share perspectives and to seek consensus on various approaches. Attention will turn towards other important issues such as the EU-Russia partnership for modernisation and migration issues.

The workshop brings together a number of experts and representatives from the EU and Russia. EESC President Staffan Nilsson and the President of the CCRF, Dr Evgeniy Velikhov will open the workshop. There will be contributions from Vladimir Chizhov, the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the EU, David O'Sullivan, Chief Operating Officer of the European External Action Service and Knut Fleckenstein, Member of the European Parliament and chair of European Parliament Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee.

The inclusion of civil society in the forum of debate is a principle strongly endorsed by both parties and it is hoped that this workshop can serve to demonstrate a high level of agreement.

For further information please visit:

http://www.eesc.europa.eu/?i=portal.en.events-and-activities-eu-russia-june-2011