Dear readers,

In this issue, I want to share with you our Committee's deep commitment to driving change and mobilising civil society to shape the future of Europe.

As the Vice-President for Communication, I have witnessed first-hand the transformative power that lies within our institution. It is a power rooted in our ability to not only identify critical issues but also to inspire collective action.

This year, the EESC has harnessed this power to focus on two pressing areas: water conservation and the forthcoming European elections.

Water, the essence of life on our planet, has taken centre stage in our Committee's agenda in 2023. The EESC is leading the way as the first EU institution to prioritise water-related issues with a comprehensive EU water strategy that focuses on safeguarding clean water resources, valuing water properly for the benefit of all, addressing potential conflicts arising from water issues and promoting sustainable water management.

Our EU Blue Deal initiative currently enjoys support from the European Parliament along with key stakeholders in the field. In September, President Ursula von der Leyen's State of the Union letter of intent highlighted "Water Resilience" as a key priority for 2024 and announced a new initiative on water under the European Green Deal. This demonstrates a growing recognition of the importance of water and the need to take bold action to address the challenges facing our water resources.

Working together with stakeholders and civil society, we are committed to ensuring that water remains abundant and accessible for generations to come. Our partnership with Ewa Ewart and her powerful film, "Until the Last Drop," stems from our conviction that the fight to save water transcends boundaries and requires collective action, involving water organisations, artists and individuals alike.

Looking ahead, our attention turns to the 2024 European elections. These elections are not merely a democratic exercise; they are an opportunity for civil society to influence policy and shape the future of our continent. To that end, the EESC Communication Directorate is already closely working with the other EU institutions and especially with the European Parliament's General Directorate for Communication, with which we regularly engage and work together.

To this end, we are preparing for the Connecting EU Seminar in Bratislava on 23-24 November entitled European Elections 2024: why vote?, where we will explore strategies to mobilise civil society organisations and ensure that their members turn out in force. We see mobilisation as a shared civic responsibility, and we are committed to actively engaging in this process to drive positive change and ensure that the voices of civil society are heard and valued.

Within that context of mobilising European citizens to vote in June's European elections, the seminar will constitute a strong platform to focus on engaging with a range of civil society players in order to invite them to activate their networks, contacts and stakeholders for that mobilisation in a spirit of a culture of dialogue.

I invite you to join us on this journey and to help us make a difference. Together, we can create a more sustainable and equitable future for all.

Laurenţiu Plosceanu
Vice-President for Communication