The latest economic and political developments in Europe are a wake-up call for our political leaders to take swifter action in order to strengthen the foundations of our Union, notably the fragile architecture of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), thus ensuring lasting stability and prosperity for the people of Europe. This can only happen if all Member States concerned, the European institutions and stakeholders cooperate actively and without delay in the process of deepening EMU that was formally launched last year with the Five Presidents' Report and welcomed by the European Council.
With all eyes turned to the March 2017 Summit on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome and the upcoming Commission White Paper on the future of EMU, we believe that now is the right time to open an in-depth discussion with officials, economic experts and civil society representatives on the various threats and opportunities related to the completion of EMU during stage 2 as outlined in the Five Presidents' Report.
The annual meeting of the Presidents and Secretaries-General of the national ESCs of the EU and the EESC will be held in Bucharest on 19-20 November 2015. At this occasion participants will discuss "The role and implication of European ESCs in combatting poverty and social exclusion in times of economic and political crisis".
The European Union is undergoing a profound crisis of legitimacy. While two thirds of Europeans living in the euro area still support the common currency and economic and monetary union, only a third say they have faith in the EU's institutions, which is the lowest level ever recorded. Moreover, a growing majority believe that their voice is not heard loudly enough.
