At the conference of the Europe Academy of the CESI on the "Trade unions’ rights of participation within the framework of a European constitution", which took place in Brussels on 15 October, the CESI welcomed the inclusion of the European social model as well as the recognition of the social partners in the draft constitution. The representatives of the CESI once more pointed out that the CESI is not yet adequately recognized as a social partner. In his speech Peter Heesen, president of the Europe Academy of the CESI, reaffirmed: "If Europe wants to be a Europe of the citizens, then it must be a Europe of all citizens and their representatives."
 
During the discussions on the Convention and the employees’ rights two different points of view emerged: one rather positive, welcoming the achievements, and another, rather reluctant one, emphasizing a severe deficit of democracy (e.g. the maintenance of unanimity rule in a number of fields). In their conclusions the participants demanded more democracy and transparency, a strengthening of the "social aspects" as well as an appropriate place for the CESI as a social partner in an enlarged social dialogue.
 
Numerous speakers from the ranks of the trade unions, the employers, the European institutions and the academic world exchanged their standpoints: the members of parliament Jens-Peter Bonde (EDD, Denmark) and Paolo Bartolozzi (EPP-ED, Italy) as well as Hans-Werner Müller (General Secretary of UEAPME), Guillaume Durand (The European Policy Centre), Jackie Morin (European Commission) and Lucien François (Council of Europe). Participants from the CESI were the General Secretary Helmut Müllers, the President Valerio Salvatore as well as Charles Bonissol and Fedele Ricciato (Vice-presidents of the Europe Academy of the CESI). The discussions were presented by Mrs. Claude du Granrut (Committee of the Regions) and Ferdinando Riccardi (Editor of the Bulletin quotidien Europe).