On 8 February 2005, the European Economic and Social Committee, after a request received on February 2005 from the next UK's Presidency of the EU approved to draw an exploratory opinion on Ethical Trade and Consumer Assurance Schemes.
In its capacity as the home of civil society, the EESC welcomed participants from several developing countries to the 2023 Civil Society Forum on Trade and Sustainable Development. Joined by high-level representatives from the EU, the ILO and UNCTAD, civil society speakers openly discussed existing policies and new initiatives, called for a truly inclusive approach and proposed concrete solutions to make trade a driving force for the Just Transition.
In a plenary debate on the future of EU trade policy in a changing global reality, the EESC stressed that open, fair, inclusive and sustainable trade is the only trade that will deliver a resilient recovery and bring prosperity to business and people. It also acknowledged the key role of the World Trade Organisation towards this effort.
The new trade strategy launched by the Commission in February brings engaging principles to the table that will support the EU in achieving its domestic and external policy objectives. The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) welcomes this trade strategy as a way of improving market access and levelling the playing field. Alongside this, the modernisation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) will be the key to delivering for future generations.
On 30 November 2017, the Siauliai Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts, in partnership with the European Commission, Siauliai District Municipality, Siauliai University and the EESC, held an international conference under the heading "Globalisation and Economic Patriotism: Dilemmas, Challenges and Possibilities" in Siauliai, Lithuania. Nearly 200 representatives from business, science, governmental bodies, local municipalities, social partnerships and other institutions attended the event. The European Economic and Social Committee's Employers' Group delegated three members of the group to the conference: Janusz Pietkiewicz, István Komoróczki and Pietro Francesco De Lotto.
The 4th annual All DAGs meeting will take place on Monday 18 April 2024 09:00-13:00 at the EESC premises in JDE62. This will be the first All DAGs meeting of this DAG mandate and we are excited to welcome the newer DAG Members, as well as more experienced ones. It will be a unique opportunity to gather all EU DAG Members and EU institutions as one TSD community, to openly exchange ideas, challenges, and aspirations. The meeting will feature, among others, CTEO Denis Redonnet and DDG Maria Martin-Prat, DG Trade.
The EU-Japan DAG hosted a workshop: "Promoting human rights and environmental due diligence together" on 9 April 2024 following a Joint Dialogue with Civil Society in Tokyo on 8 April. The workshop's objective was to foster dialogue between EU and Japan civil society representatives, focusing on best practices and a solution-oriented approach in an area of importance to the implementation of the TSD-chapter of the EU-Japan EPA. Human rights and environmental due diligence are topics of common interest, as the EU and Japan share values and want to secure resilient supply chains so as to do business in a sustainable way.
O Comité Económico e Social Europeu (CESE) realizará o 9.º Encontro dos Representantes da Sociedade Civil Organizada da União Europeia e da América Latina e Caraíbas na Cidade do Panamá, em 3 e 4 de outubro de 2017. O encontro, que terá lugar no âmbito da preparação para a 9.ª Cimeira de Chefes de Estado e de Governo da União Europeia, da América Latina e das Caraíbas, permitirá aprofundar o diálogo entre as organizações da sociedade civil da UE e da ALC, promover o reforço destas organizações e chamar a atenção dos chefes de Estado para o ponto de vista da sociedade civil organizada.
O evento reunirá cerca de 120 participantes, incluindo membros do CESE, representantes da sociedade civil organizada da América Latina e Caraíbas, bem como oradores convidados. Os temas de trabalho que serão abordados durante o encontro incluem o multilateralismo, o comércio aberto e justo, e o trabalho digno e a proteção do ambiente enquanto pilares do desenvolvimento sustentável.
The 1st European Civil Society Forum on Trade and Sustainable Development organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) took place as a hybrid meeting on 29 March 2022.
This report and its recommendations reflect the discussions and different speakers’ view.
