European Parliament President Martin Schulz to EESC plenary session

This afternoon the European Economic and Social Committee was happy to host the European Parliament’s new President, Martin Schulz, who had travelled back from Strasbourg to be present. In his speech, the President ranged across the challenges facing the European Union but remained resolutely optimistic and characteristically determined in his outlook. He also delivered an important post-Lisbon Treaty message to the EESC. This is, he declared, ‘a new beginning in the very necessary dialogue between the European Parliament and the European Economic and Social Committee and organised civil society.’