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.
Room VMA 22 EESC building and Interactio, Rue Van Marlant 2, 1040
Brussels
Belgium
The EESC's Permanent Group on disability Rights is organising a hybrid public hearing on " Potential and challenges of Assistive Technology and Artificial Intelligence on the life of PWD " on 14 March 2024 from 9:30 am to 1 pm.
When implemented effectively, assistive technology (AT) can improve accessibility and quality of life. Artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance the effectiveness of AT in a number of fields, but it is important that it is developed safely with accessibility and inclusion in mind.
During the hearing, we will discuss with stakeholders the potential but also challenges associated with the use of AT and AI on the life of PWDs.
Room JDE 62 EESC building, Rue Belliard 99, 1040 Brussels and Interactio
Brussels
Belgium
The EESC's Permanent Group on disability Rights is organising a hybrid public hearing on "The Web accessibility directive: looking forward" on 23 October 2023 from 9:30 am to 1 pm.
The aim of the Web Accessibility Directive is to provide people with disabilities with better access to public websites and mobile apps.
In the hearing, stakeholders will look at the main challenges hindering a full application of the directive and discuss which would be the necessary next steps to take in this field to ensure full digital accessibility within the EU
Room JDE 70 (& Interactio), EESC building, Rue Belliard 99, 1040
Brussels
Belgium
In the context of the European Year of Skills, the EESC's Permanent Group on disability Rights is organising a hybrid public hearing on "Skills for employment for persons with disabilities in the context of the green and digital transition" on 10 July 2023 am ( 9:30 am to 12:30 pm).
The hearing will look at what could be done to improve and adapt skills of persons with disabilities to the requirements of the labour market in the context of the green and digital transition and to ensure they have access to quality jobs.
The EESC is organising a hybrid public hearing on "Towards a European Health Union and European Global Health Strategy fully inclusive of Persons with Disabilities " on 7th March 2023 am ( 9:30 am to 1 pm).
Despite being recognized by the UN Convention on the Rights of persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, persons with disabilities (pwd) are still victims of discrimination in access to healthcare both in the EU and at global level. The hearing, organised by the EESC Permanent Group on Disability Rights, will discuss what can be done to advance the rights of pwd in the field of health within the European Health Union and the EU Global Health Strategy.
The EESC is organising a public hearing on "Climate justice and how it is affecting people with disabilities in Europe and in the world" on 19 October 2022.
Climate justice is a concept that addresses the just division, fair sharing, and equitable distribution of the benefits and burdens of climate change and responsibilities to deal with it.
People with disabilities, especially those living in low income countries, are among those most impacted by climate change. In addition, their human rights are most at risk of violation by inappropriate climate action. To avoid this, their meaningful participation in climate policy forums for the development of climate adaptation and mitigation plans is needed.
The aim of the event is to identify necessary steps to reach disability inclusive climate justice.
the explosion of the phenomenon during the pandemic
Interactio and Room JDE 60, EESC building, Rue Belliard 99, 1040
Brussels
Belgium
In order to prepare its own initiative opinion on "The role of family members caring for people with disabilities and the elderly: the explosion of the phenomenon during the pandemic", the EESC is organising a remote public hearing on 4 July 2022 from 9:30 am to 1 pm.
The aim of the event is to gather input from policy makers, civil society organisations and social partners, which will feed into the EESC's opinion.
The EESC is organising a public hearing on "Transport Accessibility for persons with disabilities" on 23 June 2022.
The aim of the event is to reflect on which steps the EU could take to make progress on this topic, in particular by identifying the existing barriers and obstacles and good practices and to offer a space for debate to organisations representing persons with disabilities and other stakeholders.
The EESC is organising a public hearing on "The right to make decisions: advancing the issue of Legal Capacity for persons with disability" on 15 November 2021.
The aim of the event is to:
show the cross-cutting nature of legal capacity, and how not being entitled to it has repercussions on different areas of life
reflect on which steps the EU could take to make progress on legal capacity
De-institutionalisation and the role of families as carers of persons with disabilities
Interactio and Room JDE 62, EESC building, Rue Belliard 99, 1040
Brussels
Belgium
The aim of the hearing is to discuss the challenges of the transition from institutional to community-based support for persons with disabilities (de-institutionalisation) as well as the role played by families as their carers.
In order to prepare its opinion on the Commission's proposal on the "EU Disability Strategy 2021-2030", the EESC is organising a public hearing on 1 June 2021, from 9.30 am to 1 pm.
The aim of the event is to gather input from other EU Institutions, organisations representing persons with disabilities, social partners and other civil society organisations on the Commission's proposal. This input will feed into the EESC's opinion.