The EESC issues between 160 and 190 opinions and information reports a year.
It also organises several annual initiatives and events with a focus on civil society and citizens’ participation such as the Civil Society Prize, the Civil Society Days, the Your Europe, Your Say youth plenary and the ECI Day.
Here you can find news and information about the EESC'swork, including its social media accounts, the EESC Info newsletter, photo galleries and videos.
The EESC brings together representatives from all areas of organised civil society, who give their independent advice on EU policies and legislation. The EESC's326 Members are organised into three groups: Employers, Workers and Various Interests.
The EESC has six sections, specialising in concrete topics of relevance to the citizens of the European Union, ranging from social to economic affairs, energy, environment, external relations or the internal market.
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.
Room VMA 3, EESC building, Rue Van Maerlant 2, 1040
Brussels
Belgium
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.
Extraordinary meeting of the Diversity Europe Group
Brussels
Belgium
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.
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.
József Antall building (European Parliament) – room JAN 4Q2 (Anna Lindh)
Brussels
Belgium
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
2.30-5.30 p.m. | Van Maerlant building, room VMA 3, Rue Van Maerlant 2
1040 | Brussels
Belgium
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