74. Insists that trade union rights and freedoms and the representation of democratically-elected workers’ representation bodies are at the centre of any CSR strategy; commends the existing EU framework of sectoral and cross-sectoral social dialogue structures and calls for full and active consultation and involvement of representative organisations and trade unions, in particular in the development, operation and monitoring of companies' CSR processes and structures, working with employers in a genuine partnership approach; calls o ...[+++]n the Commission to treat unions and staff representatives, who are essential actors, as partners in dialogue in connection with CSR-related topics, alongside businesses and other stakeholders; takes the view that the social partners can play a major role in promoting corporate social responsibility which, it should be noted, contributes to and facilitates social dialogue;

76. Insists that trade union rights and freedoms and the representation of democratically-elected workers’ representation bodies are at the centre of any CSR strategy; commends the existing EU framework of sectoral and cross-sectoral social dialogue structures and calls for full and active consultation and involvement of representative organisations and trade unions, in particular in the development, operation and monitoring of companies' CSR processes and structures, working with employers in a genuine partnership approach; calls o ...[+++]n the Commission to treat unions and staff representatives, who are essential actors, as partners in dialogue in connection with CSR-related topics, alongside businesses and other stakeholders; takes the view that the social partners can play a major role in promoting corporate social responsibility which, it should be noted, contributes to and facilitates social dialogue;

19. Calls on the Commission to present, as soon as possible, comprehensive current data on female representation within all types of company in the EU and on the compulsory and non-compulsory measures taken by the business sector as well as those recently adopted by the Member States with a view to increasing such representation, and, following this exercise, if the steps taken by companies and the Member States are found to be inadequate, to propose legislation – including quotas – in the course of 2012 to increase female representation in corporate management bodies to 30 % by 2015 and to 40% by 2020, while taking account of the Member ...[+++] States' responsibilities and of their economic, structural (i.e. relating to company size), legal and regional specificities;

As regards the institutions, let us remember that with the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, the European Union may be assured of coherent and structured representation through the new figures of the President of the Council and the European Foreign Minister.

9. Is deeply worried that female representation at the next European Parliament elections risks falling dramatically because of very low female political representation in the accession countries; therefore, calls on the Commission and the accession countries to support financially women's NGO's in the accession countries so that they can establish information programmes specifically designated to prepare and train female candidates for the European Parliament elections in June 2004, taking account of the conclusions of the Ministerial Conference held in Syracuse on the participation of women in decision and policy-making processes, whi ...[+++]ch provide for a minimum 30% representation of women on their lists of candidates standing in the European elections. Calls on the political parties in all Member States to introduce positive action systems to promote a balanced representation of women and men and to review their party structures to avoid any form of gender discrimination, direct or indirect. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to support financially womens's NGO's arranging awareness raising campaigns to promote a better political participation of women at the next European elections.

(15) This Directive should not affect other existing rights regarding involvement and need not affect other existing representation structures, provided for by Community and national laws and practices.