Events

  • The Latin America Follow up Committee of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held a Hearing on the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement: The views of organized civil society on 13 of November 2019.

    The main purpose of the debate was to:

    • Assess the opportunities and challenges ahead of the implementation of the Agreement;
    • Evaluate compromises and possible impacts of the Trade and Sustainable Development Chapter of the Agreement;
    • Explore how the civil society and consultative structures should monitor the impact of the Association Agreement in terms of improving human rights and labour, social and environmental rights as well as a strict compliance with international conventions or agreements the parties have committed to.
  • Perception, fear, myth and prejudice continue to limit the understanding and acceptance of disability in workplaces everywhere. Most of society still looks at persons with disabilities as unable to work and thinks that accommodating them in the workplace is expensive.

    The EESC is organising a public hearing on "Employment of persons with disabilities: how can we change society's view" on 13 November 2019, with the aim to present programmes and projects that prove that these perceptions are incorrect.

    Your participation and input are most welcome!

  • Extraordinary meeting of the Diversity Europe Group

    The objective of the conference on 12 November was to launch the discussion on interrelated topics, but with a forward looking and practical approach. To explore how to move from the personal experience to the Institutional, how to change mind-sets and overcome prejudices.

  • During the first joint meeting, the EU and Canada DAGs had a tour de table to introduce the respective members, and exchanged views on the work of the respective groups. A discussion on the CETA Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) Chapters followed, along with a debate on joint priorities and ways of working together.

  • Representatives of the two Domestic Advisory Groups (DAGs) from the EU and Ukraine held their third joint meeting in Brussels on 6 November 2019. Please click on the programme tab to consult the topics on the agenda.

  • The European Standardisation System must become as inclusive as possible, to involve a wide range of participants (representative of businesses of all sizes, consumers and societal stakeholders such as trade unions, environmental NGOs, etc.) and develop close cooperation among partners (European Standardisation Organisations (ESOs), National Standardisation Bodies (NSBs) and public authorities at the European and national levels).

    The objective of the event is to disseminate the main messages of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) opinions on the "Harmonised standards: Enhancing transparency and legal certainty for a fully functioning Single Market" and "European standardisation for 2019",  to debate on progress and next steps how inclusiveness can be better achieved, by ensuring that all stakeholders are represented and to discuss solutions how their participation in international standardisation should also be supported, expanded and promoted.

  • Trends in the EU from a civil society perspective

    In July 2019, the European Commission published a Communication entitled 'Strengthening the rule of law within the Union – A blueprint for action', which details actions on the promotion, prevention, and response aspects. The EESC, on its side, made proposals in a series of key Opinions over the past years, and has set up a transversal Group on Fundamental Rights and the Rule of Law (FFRL) in 2018. The FRRL Group leads country visits and seeks to provide a forum for European CSOs to share their assessment on the state of fundamental rights, democracy and rule of law in the Member States.

  • -

    Encouraging civil society dialogue with the United Kingdom post Brexit with Michel Barnier, chief negotiator for Brexit; Resolution on The EESC's contribution to the Commission's 2020 work programme and beyond and a debate on A cultural vision for Europe

  • Can a rights-based approach to climate action as well as embracing nature-based solutions for adaptation and mitigation shift the focus of climate action? How can we ensure that no one is left behind in the transition? The EESC Sustainable Development Observatory hosted a public debate aimed at providing answers to the above questions.

  • -

    The Euro-Mediterranean Summit of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions aims at promoting greater understanding of the main issues affecting organised civil society in the Euromed region and at discussing the common challenges they face