Oliver Röpke, President of the European Economic and Social Committee
Organisation
European Economic and Social Committee
The State of the Union is always a moment to reflect on Europe’s direction. In a period of profound uncertainty, where geopolitical turbulence and pressure to our democracies have marked our continent, we must remember that Europe’s strength is in its people and in its organised civil society. War has returned to our continent. Populism and disinformation are testing our democracies. Citizens are faced with inflation, higher cost of living and the twin green and digital transitions. In this context Europe needs unity, ambition and trust.
From the first day of my Presidency, I made it clear that our pledge would be to stand up for democracy and speak up for Europe. This has meant giving organised civil society a real voice in Europe’s decisions, not after the fact but from the very start. That is why we as the EESC also extend this expectation to the European Commission, the executive power of the Union, as it sets out priorities on defence, competitiveness, democracy and social policies.
