In a note posted on the website of the President of the Republic on the Internet, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa recalled three decades of the CES and emphasized “the role of successive governments in statements on budgets, plans and labor laws.”

The head of state also highlighted “attempts – some of which were successful – social consultation, study and discussion of major issues, from demography to education, from health care to social security.”

Thus, the Economic and Social Council has established itself “as an important factor in the political system of Portugal,” added the President of the Republic.

The CES is 30 years old, without any major celebrations, but the president insists that the date should be used to rethink its model and enhance its role in Portuguese society.

In accordance with the Constitution of the republic, the SES was officially created by Law No. 108/91 of August 17, which defined its nature and competence, but began to function only a year later, due to a delay in the adoption of a decision. regulation.

To mark the occasion, a new image of the CES will be created with a new website and a historical publication will be published.

President of the Economic and Social Council Francisco Assis said in an interview with news agency Lusa about a month ago that he prefers to use the event to “foster reflection and debate” on the role of CES in Portuguese society. and instructed academician Miguel Poyares Maduro to coordinate this work.

The aim is to try to figure out what the current ESC should be like and if the layers of Portuguese society are properly represented.

“I think there are issues that need to be addressed and we want to reevaluate the CES Plenary and make the commissions and working groups work at full capacity,” Francisco Assis told Lusa.

Changes to the internal regulations of the CES are envisaged, and a proposal to amend its constitution will be studied, which will later be passed on to parliamentary groups.

For its president, CES cannot simply be the body that issues constitutionally mandated opinions, namely on the state budget or grand plan options (GOP), and cannot simply be the body that houses the Standing Commission on Social Work (CPCS). …

“This is a moment of transformation and CES needs to take on its role, (…) without discounting consistency, it is necessary to make CES the center of thought production,” said Francisco Assis.

Since its inception, CES has consisted of a plenary meeting, CPCS and specialized commissions.

With the creation of CES, the Permanent Council for Social Consultation was abolished, which was disputed by trade unions and business confederations, which demanded that the government create a social consultation section with absolute autonomy, which it did.

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