INVITATION TO COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL COHESION (CDCS)

UNCLAS PARIS 005473

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/ERA, EUR/PGI, IO/SHA, DRL/IL, DRL/MLA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM SOCI XG FR COE
SUBJECT: INVITATION TO COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL COHESION (CDCS)
MEETING AND FORUM, COUNCIL OF EUROPE, NOVEMBER 15-18 2005,
STRASBOURG


1. This is an action request, see para 5.


2. The U.S. is invited to send a representative to the 15th
meeting of the European Committee for Social Cohesion (CDCS)
on November 15-16 2005 and a forum entitled "Reconciling
Labor Flexibility With Social Cohesion" on November 17-18

2005.


3. Draft agenda includes:

-- Implementation of the decisions taken by the third summit
of the Council of Europe (Warsaw, May 16-17 2005);

-- Committee of Experts on children and families;

-- Coordination of activities relating to children;

-- Platform for political dialogue on socially responsible
consumption and finance systems;

-- Progress report on intergovernmental cooperation and
bilateral and multilateral assistance activities;

-- Cooperation with other Council of Europe bodies: the
European Committee of Social Rights, the Council of Europe
Development Bank and others;

-- Activities of other international bodies relevant to
social cohesion.


4. The program for the accompanying forum includes:

-- Labor flexibility and social cohesion: a political
challenge for Europe;

-- Contribution of labor flexibility to social cohesion;

-- New forms of labor flexibility: how labor law should
evolve;

-- Workshops on the effects of labor flexibility and
considerations for reconciliation;

-- Perspectives and proposals from international
organizations.


5. Please contact john.murray@coe.int and ConGen Strasbourg
concerning any planned attendance. The U.S. expert will have
observer status; i.e., without the right to vote or defrayal
of expenses from the Council of Europe.
Hofmann