Enlarged Central Council

A dynamic ELEC looks at Europe's future

The ELEC assesses the need to boost new generations into the development of the ‘European spirit', with the involvement of national committees. The Central Council also supports the joint projects with the European Union in order to get funds, as well as the arrival of new committees from the Baltic and Balkan countries.

02.06.2006

The ELEC will have to think about integrating new generations in the development of the European Union progress. That was expressed by the ELEC's President, Mr. Anton van Rossum, at the beginning of the meeting of the ELEC's Central Council that took place the 1st, 2nd and 3rd June 2006 in Barcelona. The President started out the session by telling the attendants about the need to think of Europe's next half century, because today's Europe is not the same as the one that existed fifty years ago. The present Europe lives in a globalized world that needs to pay great attention to new generations. Furthermore, he noted, nowadays the EU is only willing to support the institution and its committees if there are joint projects with a common interest.

Concerning the work developed by the national committees, the attendants acknowledged Austria's and Poland's job as very positive towards the integration of new countries. The secretary general of the Austrian section, Mr. Eugen Widl, explained how his country made intense contacts leading to the creation of committees in Serbia, Montenegro, Slovenia and Croatia. The President of Poland's Committee, Maciej Dobrzyniecki, explained the big meeting held in the Baltic region with the purpose to integrate Estonia, Letonia and Lithuania in the heart of the ELEC.

There was also a chance to assess the situation of some of the national committees that, as expressed by the secretary general of the ELEC, Mr. Jean-Claude Koeune, need some support to re-establish their activities –like Belgium and Italy-, and others -like Great Britain, Luxembourg and Hungary- in which efforts should be made to ensure its relaunch. The British responsible, Mr. Bishop, gave hopeful indications in that sense.

Unifying efforts

Concerning the commissions, the President of the Spanish section and the Mediterranean Commission, Mr. Carles A. Gasòliba, suggested holding joint meetings about specific topics in order to benefit from the different points of view of each commission. On the work in the Mediterranean area, Mr. Gasòliba recalled that the present prespective of the commission is focused on education, training and social progress in the South Mediterranean countries.

About the Financial and Social Commission, its President, Mr. Philippe Jurgensen, highlighted the energy policies as one of its greatest projects. The report of the outgoing President of the Monetary Panel, Jean Jacques Rey, was also read. Mr. Rey has been replaced by Mr. Wim Boonstra, from Holland. Concerning the annual meetings of the Monetary Commission in Kronberg, the President of the German Committee, Mr. George Krupp, confirmed the next meeting in November and expressed his wish to keep holding this meeting in the following years. The projects of the Infrastructures and Agriculture Commissions were also reviewed.

The Central Council session continued in the afternoon with the report of the ELEC's secretary general and with the assessment of expenses until April, 2006, and the 2005 budget as well.

Previously, over a lunch offered by the banco Sabadell Atlántico, its President, Mr. Josep Oliu, gave a small welcoming speech to the attendants.

The gathering was held in Barcelona's Art Nouveau building known as Palau de la Música Catalana, designed by the architect Francesc Domènech i Muntaner in 1908. Before the beginning of the sessions, the president of the Spanish Committee, Mr. Carles A. Gasòliba gave the attendants a guided tour through the different spaces of the landmark.