▁European ▁feder ations . ▁Since ▁the ▁late ▁ 1 9 8 0 s , ▁C EC ▁European ▁Man agers ▁has ▁been ▁making ▁its ▁genu ine ▁and ▁positive ▁contribution ▁as ▁a ▁social ▁partner ▁to ▁the ▁European ▁integration . ▁ ▁Since ▁the ▁Ma astr icht ▁Tre aty , ▁C EC ▁has ▁become ▁an ▁inter loc utor ▁for ▁the ▁European ▁Commission ▁and ▁is ▁consult ed ▁on ▁new ▁legisl ative ▁initi atives . ▁ ▁Since ▁July ▁ 1 9 9 9 ▁C EC ▁European ▁Man agers ▁is ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁employee ▁deleg ation ▁in ▁the ▁negoti ations ▁under ▁the ▁social ▁protocol ▁representing ▁the ▁interests ▁of ▁its ▁members ▁in ▁these ▁negoti ations . ▁ ▁Mission ▁ ▁According ▁to ▁C EC ▁European ▁Man agers , ▁their ▁mission ▁can ▁be ▁described ▁as ▁follows : ▁ ▁- ▁to ▁st rive ▁for ▁European ▁integration ; ▁- ▁to ▁contribute ▁to ▁find ▁a ▁balance ▁between ▁the ▁economic ▁performance ▁of ▁enter pr ises ▁and ▁income ▁and ▁social ▁protection ▁for ▁the ▁work force . ▁We ▁raise ▁aw aren ess ▁about ▁the ▁fact ▁that ▁man agers ▁and ▁workers ▁need ▁different ▁degrees ▁of ▁security ▁and ▁flex ibility ; ▁- ▁to ▁express ▁and ▁defend ▁the ▁needs ▁and ▁opinions ▁of ▁European ▁man agers ▁on ▁current ▁topics ▁such ▁as ▁sust ain able ▁development , ▁environmental ▁protection , ▁active ▁age ing , ▁energy ▁self - su ffic iency , ▁lif el ong ▁learning , ▁active ▁age ing , ▁equal ▁opportun ities ▁or ▁divers ity . ▁- ▁to ▁provide ▁relevant ▁knowledge ▁to ▁man agers ▁and ▁policy ▁mak ers ▁at ▁the ▁cutting ▁edge ▁of