Press Release: What’s the new social reality of Europe? European Commission broadens debate about social well-being

The Commission has initiated a public consultation to take stock of present social realities and trends in European societies. This “social stocktaking exercise” was first proposed in the May 2006 “Citizens' Agenda” Communication. The European Council in June 2006 endorsed the idea. The aim is to reach out to different constituencies to discuss what forms Europe's social reality. This unprecedented exercise will be based on a consultation paper, a Eurobarometer poll and a special website. The Commission is in listening mode, not testing policy. Insofar as appropriate, results of this exercise may be fed into forthcoming policy initiatives, e.g. the review of the Commission's Social Agenda later in 2007.

European Commission: DG Communication: MEMO/07/83 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/07/83&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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