INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL DIALOGUE
The International Association of Economic and Social Councils
and Similar Institutions (IAESCSI) met in Bucharest, Romania, in
July. Professor Raymond Parsons attended on behalf of Nedlac. About
40 Economic and Social countries from around the world were
represented at the main meetings.
Working group
South Africa was asked to make input into a working group which
is preparing the programme and agenda for the 8th meeting of the
Association in Algiers in June 2003. The theme is "Fighting Poverty
by promoting Sustainable Development - towards a new partnership
approach". Apart from the input from South Africa, important
contributions were also made by the EU, Italy, Gabon, Morocco and
Algiers. These six countries constitute the Working Group.
All participants agreed that the economic and social councils
and similar institutions, by way of their composition, could
provide an important "added value" contribution to the proposals
for fighting poverty on global, regional and national levels and in
promoting sustainable development.
General Assembly
The General Assembly was opened by the President of Romania, Ion
Iliescu. Addresses were also given by the President of IAESCSI,
Mohamed Salah Mentouri and the President of the Economic and Social
Council Romania, Ion Giurescu. All the speakers emphasised the key
rôle which social dialogue and civil society could play in meeting
the economic and social challenges facing the world today, and
identified ways in which this could be encouraged.
There was also a report and discussion on the progress IAESCSI
was making in forging closer links with important world bodies like
the WTO and the FAO, and especially with the UN Economic and Social
Council (ECOSOC).
New members accepted by the General Assembly were Spain,
Nicaragua, Malta and, as an Associate Member, Montenegro. IAESCSI
hopes to receive applications for membership in the near future
from Bulgaria, Eire, Estonia, Mozambique, Slovakia and
Slovenia.
(From a report by Professor Parsons)