1. Calls on the Commission to boost the involvement of organised civil society, of all stakeholders (such as NGOs, social economy organisations, service providers, experts in social innovation and the social partners) and of people living in poverty themselves – in partnership with the associations within which they freely express their opinions, and which have acquired experience and knowledge, particularly through the development of national platforms against poverty and social exclusion in each Member State – in the development of a European strategy at all levels of governance (European, national, regional and local); calls on the C ...[+++]ommission to enhance cooperation between local, regional and national authorities and the EU institutions, including Parliament; believes that synergies should involve all stakeholders, including SMEs and businesspeople; calls for discussions with people living in poverty and social exclusion to be extended at national level, and for their participation and their contribution to the annual convention on poverty and social exclusion to be made a formal and central part of that convention, and calls for appropriate and regular follow-up of the recommendations thereby developed;

1. Calls on the Commission to boost the involvement of organised civil society, of all stakeholders (such as NGOs, social economy organisations, service providers, experts in social innovation and the social partners) and of people living in poverty themselves – in partnership with the associations within which they freely express their opinions, and which have acquired experience and knowledge, particularly through the development of national platforms against poverty and social exclusion in each Member State – in the development of a European strategy at all levels of governance (European, national, regional and local); calls on the C ...[+++]ommission to enhance cooperation between local, regional and national authorities and the EU institutions, including Parliament; believes that synergies should involve all stakeholders, including SMEs and businesspeople; calls for discussions with people living in poverty and social exclusion to be extended at national level, and for their participation and their contribution to the annual convention on poverty and social exclusion to be made a formal and central part of that convention, and calls for appropriate and regular follow-up of the recommendations thereby developed;

8. Believes it will be crucial to EU competitiveness to increase the participation of enterprises in the next Framework Programme; is of the opinion that entrepreneurs, especially owners of micro- and small enterprises such as small-scale coastal fishing enterprises, might be encouraged to participate in European programmes by the establishment of a greater simplified, less bureaucratic, more transparent and easily accessible system; believes that various stakeholders, such as non-governmental organisations, fishermen’s organisations and Regional Advisory Councils, should also be able to apply for small, practically oriented projects;

In line with the aim of the renewed ENP to focus on links between societies, the EU will promote more intensive engagement with stakeholders, including parliaments in the framework of EURONEST, established by the European Parliament; regional actors in cooperation with the Committee of the Regions; business leaders, in the frame of an Eastern Partnership Business Forum; and civil society and social partners building on the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum and its national platforms.

The general public was targeted by around 80% of the 434 actions, civil society, administrative authorities and media organisations by about 50%, and business leaders by 33%.

It will give entrepreneurs, representatives of SME business organisations, banks, lawyers, tax and business consultants, as well as key politicians and administrators from Member States and European institutions the opportunity to analyse the best ways of transferring the ownership of enterprises, to examine and discuss practical experience of civil, company and tax law, and to evaluate specific measures already existing.