NEWS ON OUR ACTIVITIES: End of the EESC’s 2020-2025 term of office

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A moment of gratitude and renewal

As the EESC Civil Society Organisations’ Group prepares for the 2025-2030 term of office, it bids farewell to 41 esteemed Members whose dedication and expertise have profoundly shaped its work – in many cases, over several terms. Their voices have been integral to strengthening civil dialogue and ensuring that Europe’s policies remain rooted in the values Europeans hold dear and the realities of their daily lives.

Among them, a few Members stand out for the exceptional length of their service: Bernardo Hernández Bataller, who has been with us for 31 years, and Lutz Ribbe and Miguel Ángel Cabra de Luna, who have both been Members for 27 years. Their long-standing commitment reflects not only personal dedication, but also the enduring strength of the group as a platform for civil society’s contribution to strengthening participatory democracy and the European project. While this is a moment of heartfelt appreciation, it is also a moment to look to the future. The legacy of those who now leave the EESC will continue to inspire the Group’s work in the years ahead.

Bernardo Hernández Bataller – Advocating consumer rights and protection

Bernardo Hernández Bataller has been a Member of the EESC since 1994, dedicating 31 years to strengthening consumer protection policy. Over his terms of office, he has served as rapporteur for 106 opinions, including landmark work on services of general interest (TEN/334 in 2008), the collaborative consumption (INT/686 in 2014) and consumer information (INT/1057 in 2024) among others. He has also held several leadership roles at the EESC, including President of the Commission for Financial and Budgetary Affairs (CAF), President of the Section for Single Market, Production and Consumption (INT); Quaestor; and Co-spokesperson for the Consumers and Environment Category. His legacy is one of tireless commitment to consumer interests and the EESC’s mission, always grounded in collaboration and consensus building.

Lutz Ribbe – Advancing sustainable development and prosumerism

Over his 27 years at the EESC, Lutz Ribbe has played a pivotal role in shaping debates on sustainable development and renewable energy at the Committee. Twice serving as chair of the Sustainable Development Observatory (SDO), he has enabled dialogues with representatives of the United Nations Environment Programme, the EU Agriculture Commissioner and numerous other policy-makers. He has been rapporteur for key opinions, including on sustainable development (NAT/229 in 2004), the common agricultural policy (NAT/449 in 2010) and renewable energies and regional economies (TEN/660 in 2018). Mr Ribbe has also championed the concept of ‘citizen energy’, known as prosumerism, placing it firmly on the Committee’s agenda. His terms reflect both his pride in our achievements and a clear-eyed realism about the challenges that remain in advancing sustainability within Europe, particularly in the current political climate.

Miguel Ángel Cabra de Luna – A legacy of social commitment

Since joining the EESC nearly three decades ago in 1998, Miguel Ángel Cabra de Luna has been a tireless advocate for the social economy, the rights of people with disabilities and older persons, and the European Social Fund as a tool for inclusion and employment. His work has left a lasting imprint, particularly through his role as rapporteur of an opinion on different types of enterprises (INT/447 in 2009), which established official recognition and differentiated treatment for social economy enterprises. Through numerous opinions, constructive institutional dialogue and a strong commitment to EU values, he has contributed to building a more inclusive Europe, embodying his deep commitment to social justice and the most vulnerable in society.

We warmly thank all departing Members for their invaluable contributions and for the lasting impact they leave on the work of the Civil Society Organisations’ Group and on the EESC as a whole. Their names are listed here in recognition of their service.

  • ANDERSSON Jan Torsten
  • BÁLEŠ Vladimír
  • BLANC Patricia
  • BOGUSZ Małgorzata Anna
  • BRZOBOHATÁ Zuzana
  • CABRA DE LUNA Miguel Ángel
  • CSER Ágnes
  • DESTOM Joël
  • DIOGO Edgar
  • DIRX Jan
  • DUBRAVSKÁ Jarmila
  • DULEVSKI Lalko
  • GILLOT Dominique
  • GKOFAS Panagiotis
  • GRABO Louise
  • HAUKANÕMM Monika
  • HERNÁNDEZ BATALLER Bernardo
  • INDJOVA Diana
  • KILIM Irma
  • KIUKAS Vertti
  • KOLYVAS Ioannis
  • KRUSE Andreas
  • KÜKEDI Zsolt
  • KUPŠYS Kęstutis
  • MARIJON Svjetlana
  • MENDONÇA António Augusto
  • MOSTACCIO Alessandro
  • NABAIS DOS SANTOS João Diogo
  • PLUTA Marcin
  • RAMMO Alari
  • RAVNIK Branko
  • REPANŠEK Neža
  • RIBBE Lutz
  • RIZZO Benjamin
  • SCHLÜTER Bernd
  • SELLOS Laurence
  • SINKEVIČIŪTĖ Elena
  • TOPOLÁNSZKY Ákos
  • TUPILUȘI Tudorel
  • VYYRYLÄINEN Tiina Johanna
  • ZYCH Tymoteusz Adam