WE MUST STAND UP FOR THE VALUES THAT UNITE US

Dear readers,

The opening days and weeks of 2026 have certainly further demonstrated that we are living in very challenging and unnerving times.

Many of the things that we took for granted are no longer guaranteed. Geopolitical fundamentals including territorial integrity and respect for international organisations are being questioned. And we are rapidly approaching the fourth year of war on the European continent.

But my strong message to you for the year ahead is this: Do not abandon positive thinking and hope. We must stand up for what we believe in, for the values that define and unite us, and which provide the foundations for the European project. For freedom and peace. For democracy, which we know is not possible without a strong and active civil society. For human rights and dignity. 

These are topics I had the great honour to discuss with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV during a private audience on 10 January.

It was a true privilege to hear first-hand the insights that underpin Pope Leo's moral leadership and to have the opportunity to convey the EESC's vital role in European democracy, and our priorities: the need for poverty eradication, safeguarding democracy and protecting the most vulnerable.

In a European Union of immense wealth, the fact that 21% of people remain at risk of poverty or social exclusion is simply not acceptable. Tackling poverty and related challenges such as the affordable housing emergency will be key priorities in 2026.

My exchange with Pope Leo XIV also addressed the profound challenges facing the younger generations, shaped by the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic and mental health pressures amplified by social media.

This is linked to the advance of artificial intelligence. Ensuring that AI does not become a runaway train when it comes to workers' rights is a priority in 2026. It must serve as a tool for empowerment rather than displacement. On this topic, I share a commitment with Pope Leo to ensuring that humans – not machines – remain in control of decisions that affect people's lives.

My strongest reflection from my meeting with Pope Leo is the absolutely vital role of civil society in not only strengthening democracies but building and nurturing communities. Civil society organisations, including the social partners, are the fabric of our societies, knitting together individuals and building bridges across groups.

Civil society therefore remains essential to renewing hope and building a Union of opportunities, security, and resilience. 

This is a message that I have also been sharing in meetings with countless EU high-level figures since becoming president. These include European Council President António Costa, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, several key Commissioners, and numerous vice-presidents and committee chairs in the European Parliament.  

I am grateful to Pope Leo for using his powerful voice to spread a message of inclusion globally and of the need to protect the most marginalised. Irrespective of religious views, what great moral and political leaders have in common is their fervent belief in hope and human dignity and their respect for others.

Together, let us carry this outlook with us in the year ahead. In our efforts to put civil society at the heart of Europe, let us choose hope over fear.

Séamus Boland

President of the European Economic and Social Committee