EUROPEAN CIVIL SOCIETY
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		Involving civil society… "Civil society plays an important role in giving voice to the concerns of citizens and delivering services that meet people’s needs. "Non governmentalorganisations play an important role at global level in development policy. Theyoften act as an early warning system for the direction of political debate." Trade unions and employers’ organisations have a particular role and influence. The EC Treaty requires the Commission to consult management and labour in preparing proposals, in particular in the social policy field. Under certain conditions, they canreach binding agreements that are subsequently turned into Community law (within the social dialogue). "The social partners should be further encouraged to use the powers given under the Treaty to conclude voluntary agreements." "Civil society increasingly ( should) sees Europe as offering a good platform to change policy orientations and society. This offers a real potential to broaden the debate on Europe’s role. It is a chance to get citizens more actively involved in achieving the Union’s objectives and to offer them a structured channel for feedback, criticism and protest." "With better involvement comes greater responsibility. Civil society must itself follow the principles of good governance, which include accountability and openness. The Commission intends to establish, before the end of this year, a comprehensive on-line database with details of civil society organisations active at European level, which should act as a catalyst to improve their internal organisation." "The Economic and Social Committee must play a role in developing a new relationship of mutual responsibility between the Institutions and civil society, in line with the changes to article 257 of the EC Treaty agreed at Nice. In order to do this, its organisation and role will have to be reconsidered. Member States should take this new role into account when appointing members to the Committee. More effective and transparent consultation at the heart of EU policy-shaping… Participation is not about institutionalising protest. It is about more effective policy shaping based on early consultation and past experience. The Euroisation of the European Debate, intended as the further political and economic implications of the single currency, will consider three different but not separate approaches. EUROPEAN SOCIAL MODEL EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENTAL MODEL EUROPEAN DEFENCE & SECURITY IDENTITY
			Further Goals >To help European citizens to participate actively in the design and  the building of European Civil Society >To alert educational and academic institutions regarding the potential role of community network as a learning environment for the information society and as a new interdisciplinary research field >To raise awareness among the public of the benefits of community networks, creating a positive attitude within the media towards the community network movement. >To inform the political representatives on how community networks can help to reinvigorate the democratic process in each of the countries of Europe >To negotiate with the commercial sector ways to sustain and collaborate with the community networks movement in creating new work and market opportunities