603rd Plenary session with the following debates and guests: The lasting scars of Russia’s war against Ukraine: its devastating toll on childhood and youth, with Olena Zelenska, First Lady of Ukraine (video message) (tbc); Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (tbc), Maryna Domushkina, Munir Mammadzade, Danielle Bell, Rachel Watkins, Mariia Sulianina and Kateryna Rashevska, at 15:00 on Wednesday 18 February 2026; From ambition to action: an EU Affordable Housing Plan delivering for the people, at 10:00 on Thursday 19 February 2026; The potential of sodium batteries for the EU, at 12:00 on Thursday 19 February 2026. Web streaming.
The afternoon session of the Latin America Follow-up Committee meeting to be held on 24 February 2026 will be dedicated to the Gran Chaco. Organised in collaboration with the multi-actor platform Redes Chaco, the network implementing the EU-supported Impacto Verde initiative, this dialogue will spotlight the challenges and opportunities linking the American Gran Chaco to the EU-Latin America agenda.
"Cohesion policy 2028–2034: A new fund, a new framework, a new role for civil society?" brings together EU institutions, social partners and civil society representatives to reflect on the future of cohesion policy in the next Multiannual Financial Framework. The hearing explores proposals for reforming cohesion funding and governance, assesses the implications of the new framework through the National and Regional Partnership Plans and examines how civil society organisations can play a stronger role in the design, implementation and monitoring of cohesion policy. The discussion aims to identify how cohesion policy can continue to deliver territorial, social and economic cohesion while responding to new challenges and transitions facing the European Union.
On 25 February 2026, the University of Sussex and the EESC will host an event and workshop on European leadership on fossil fuel phase out: Lessons learned and future directions.
It is taking place at a critical moment - following the outcomes of COP30, amid growing calls for concrete roadmaps to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels, and ahead of the world’s first summit on a just transition away from fossil fuels in 2026 - the event will examine how EU leadership, experience, and policy tools can help accelerate action within Europe and beyond.
The 10th Meeting of the EU-Brazil Civil Society Round Table will take place in Brussels on 25-26 February 2026. Hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee, the dialogue will be co-chaired by the EESC President, Mr Séamus Boland and Mr Olavo Noleto, Executive Secretary of the CDESS.
The meeting will bring together civil society representatives from both regions to advance dialogue, strengthen cooperation, and identify practical avenues for joint action.
On 26 February 2026, the EESC in cooperation with Sustainable Development Solutions Network, will host an online event featuring the launch of the Europe Sustainable Development Report 2026 which tracks annually since 2019 the performance of all EU member states and partner countries on the SDGs and is co-designed with civil society.
Europe is facing a pivotal moment. Social and economic inequalities, rapid technological change, anti-democratic forces, and geopolitical instability are straining the foundations of the European project.
The 14th edition of European Citizens’ Initiative Day – ECI Day 2026 – will take place as part of the EESC’s Civil Society Week, held from 2 to 5 March under the title People, Democracy, Resilience – Our Future!
Room VMA 22, EESC building, rue Van Maerlant 2, 1040 Brussels and Interactio
Brussels
Belgium
The EESC's Permanent Group on disability Rights is organising a hybrid public hearing on " Delivering Full Inclusion: which measures for the second half of the EU Disability Strategy?" on 5 March 2026 from 10 am to 1 pm.
This event will feature insights from EU institutions, and highlight recommendations from civil society and disability organisations.
