Press releases

  • Reference number
    17/2024

    This year the UNCSW, the UN’s top annual meeting on gender equality, will focus on ending women’s poverty. During its inaugural participation in the event, the EESC will contribute to the theme with a declaration comprising ten action points for the economic empowerment and social protection of women

  • Reference number
    16/2024

    Following last year's rare diseases conference in Bilbao, the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Commission are joining forces to deal with rare diseases at European level.

  • Reference number
    15/2024

    This week, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) hosted the first-ever Civil Society Week, where over 800 representatives from civil society organisations and youth groups gathered to discuss the incoming elections and the future of the EU. The takeaways will be incorporated into an EESC resolution in July that will outline what civil society expects from the incoming leadership of the European Parliament and Commission.

  • Reference number
    14/2024

    On 7 March, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) rewarded five non-profit organisations for their outstanding contribution to fighting mental health disorders, which have risen dramatically in the EU.

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    13/2024

    On 4 March, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) kicks off its first ever Civil Society Week, titled 'Rise Up For Democracy!'. This week-long event brings to Brussels more than 200 citizens' organisations and stakeholders from across Europe, including youth organisations, NGOs and journalists. They will be discussing the state of democracy, the challenges it faces, and the vital role civil society plays ahead of the EU elections, drawing up demands for the next EU leaders.

  • Reference number
    12/2024

    On 23 February, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the European Commission held a flagship event for the European Year of Skills, bringing together over 400 young people from all EU Member States to shine the spotlight on the skills needed for current and future jobs.

  • Reference number
    11/2024

    At a high-level conference, the EESC, the EU’s home of organised civil society, sounded the alarm: the shortage of decent and affordable housing is a matter of increasing concern, especially for vulnerable groups and young people, and the European Union must pull together the resources to fight it.

  • Reference number
    8/2024

    The pivotal role of civil society in driving forward the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) took centre stage during the plenary session of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). The discussion made it crystal clear that the UN and EU need to work together to advance the SDGs.

  • Reference number
    10/2024

    In a debate with Commission Vice-President and Commissioner for Democracy and Demography Dubravka Ĺ uica, the EESC called for a strategy on civil dialogue as a first step towards strengthening the role of civil society and increasing citizen participation in EU policy-making

  • Reference number
    9/2024

    Today, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) officially launched its initiative to welcome civil society representatives from EU candidate countries. A total of 131 'Enlargement Candidate Members' (ECM) were selected to make up  the pool of civil society experts who will be participating in the Committee's work, thus making the EESC the first institution to open its doors to EU candidate countries. The initiative, a political priority of EESC President Oliver Röpke, sets new standards for involving candidate countries in EU activities, facilitating their progressive and tangible integration into the EU.