Eastern Neighbours

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The EESC's activities concerning Eastern Neighbours involve Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The main objective of the EESC with regard to the European Eastern Neighbours is to enhance relations with civil society organisations in the region and to involve them in a dialogue with both their national policy makers and the EU organised civil society.

The main cooperation mechanisms with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine are the Civil Society Platforms which complement the political bodies existing within the framework of the EU Association Agreements with these countries. The Platforms allow civil society organisations from both the EU and the partner country side to monitor the implementation process and prepare their recommendations to the relevant authorities.

On the EU side, these Platforms comprise members of the EESC as well as representatives from large European civil society networks. On the partner country side, they represent a broad spectrum of civil society organizations. The membership of the Platforms is based on balanced representation of all interest groups (employers' organizations, trade unions and various interests' groups).

Within the EESC, the Eastern Neighbours Follow-up Committee was established in 2004 as a dedicated body responsible for relations with civil society in the Eastern Neighbourhood countries. The Follow-up Committee usually meets four times a year and its members take active part in the Eastern Partnership activities such as EaP multilateral platforms and the EaP Civil Society Forum.

  • Adopted on 26/10/2022 - Bureau decision date: 20/09/2022
    Reference
    REX/564-EESC-2022
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    EESC opinion: Specific provisions for the 2014-2020 cooperation programmes supported by the European Neighbourhood Instrument and under the European territorial cooperation goal, following programme implementation disruption
  • Adopted on 27/04/2021 - Bureau decision date: 01/12/2020
    Reference
    INT/930-EESC-2020-01-01
    Workers - GR II
    Malta

    The Communication stresses the EU's commitment to safeguarding an online environment providing the highest possible freedom and security, for the benefit of its citizens.

    EESC opinion: Communication on cybersecurity strategy
  • Adopted on 08/09/2015
    Reference
    REX/439-EESC-2015
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    Bulgaria
    Plenary session number
    510
    -
    EESC opinion: Agriculture, Rural Areas and Sustainable Development in the Eastern Partnership Countries
    Assessment of the Agriculture and Rural Development Sectors in the Eastern Partnership countries The Republic of Armenia
    Assessment of the Agriculture and Rural Development Sectors in the Eastern Partnership countries The Republic of Azerbaijan
    Assessment of the Agriculture and Rural Development Sectors in the Eastern Partnership countries Georgia
    Assessment of the Agriculture and Rural Development Sectors in the Eastern Partnership countries Moldova
    Assessment of the Agriculture and Rural Development Sectors in the Eastern Partnership countries Ukraine
    TOWARDS GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE IN THE EASTERN PARTNERSHIP COUNTRIES: ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN, BELARUS, GEORGIA, MOLDOVA AND UKRAINE
    Brochure EaP GREEN Project
    ENPARD Georgia
    Assessment of the Agriculture and Rural Development Sectors in the Eastern Partnership countries Regional report
    CoR opinion: OPINION EU SUPPORT FOR SUSTAINABLE CHANGE IN TRANSITION SOCIETIES
    Avis du Comité des Régions - «Soutien de l'UE en faveur d'un changement durable dans les sociétés en transition»
  • Adopted on 23/06/2015
    Reference
    REX/447-EESC-2015
    Employers - GR I
    Lithuania
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    Romania
    Plenary session number
    509
    -

    The Neighbourhood policy is high on the agenda of the EESC's external relations priorities. This opinion will provide the contribution of the Committee to this consultation process as a first step, to be followed by a reaction to the Commission document that will be issued in the 2nd semester of 2015.

     

    EESC opinion: Towards a new European neighbourhood policy
  • Adopted on 28/05/2015
    Reference
    REX/432-EESC-2015-7333
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    Lithuania
    Plenary session number
    508
    -

    The recent flow of disinformation in Europe, following the crisis in Ukraine, has underlined the need to consider the influence it has on social and political processes in the EU and the Eastern neighbouring countries. The impact caused by disinformation is often underestimated, as heavily funded disinformation is being spread not only via media, but also through cultural channels and public figures; its presence is strong and influential in the lives of European citizens, especially in Eastern Europe.

    How media is used to influence social and political processes in the EU and Eastern neighbouring countries
    Использование средств массовой информации как инструмента влияния на социальные и политические процессы в ЕС и восточных странах-соседях (REX/432 )
  • Adopted on 10/12/2014
    Reference
    REX/400-EESC-3060
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    Estonia
    Plenary session number
    503
    -

    The objective of the own-initiative opinion is to analyse the state of affairs of civil society in Russia and to elaborate recommendations on how the EU and EU civil society organization can contribute for improving the working conditions for civil society organizations in Russia and for the strengthening of genuine civil and social dialogue.

    Civil Society in Russia
  • Adopted on 27/11/2014
    Reference
    REX/420-EESC
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    Romania
    Plenary session number
    507
    -

    The opinion will provide an opportunity to get the views of Albanian civil society organisations in the course of a study visit to Albania.

    The role of civil society in EU-Albania relations
  • Adopted on 18/02/2013
    Reference
    REX/371-EESC-0000-01-01
    Employers - GR I
    Finland
    Plenary session number
    489
    -
    The opinion will look at the issues related to economic, social, environmental and human dimensions of the growing use of the Arctic wealth, potential role of the civil society in voicing the interests of the groups involved as well as in supporting the position of the EU in the dialogue with international partners concerned.
    EU Arctic Policy to address globally emerging interests in the region – a view of civil society
  • Adopted on 11/07/2012
    Reference
    REX/339-EESC-2012-1602
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    France
    Plenary session number
    482
    -
    The EU's relations with Moldova
  • Adopted on 17/01/2012
    Reference
    REX/354-EESC-2012-01-01-774
    Employers - GR I
    Czech Republic
    Social dialogue in the Eastern Partnership countries