Det Europæiske Økonomiske og Sociale Udvalg
Fra den første Lomékonvention (1975) til Cotonouaftalen (2000-2021) er forbindelserne mellem EU og 79 lande i Gruppen af Stater i Afrika, Vestindien og Stillehave (AVS), der for nylig blev til Organisationen af Stater i Afrika, Vestindien og Stillehavet, blevet reguleret af EU-AVS-partnerskaber.
I hele denne periode har EØSU sammen med civilsamfundet i AVS-landene arbejdet indædt for at få anerkendt den vigtige rolle, som ikkestatslige aktører spiller i udviklingsprocessen. Dette lykkedes med indgåelsen af Cotonouaftalen, hvori EØSU fik til opgave at organisere aktiviteter og høringer med de økonomiske og sociale interessegrupper i AVS-landene og EU for at indsamle det organiserede civilsamfunds synspunkter og for, at det kan blive hørt. Målet har været at fremme udveksling og fremsætte anbefalinger vedrørende spørgsmål og politikker af relevans for forbindelserne mellem AVS-landene og EU, som senere videreformidles til lederne i EU og AVS-landene.
Rent praktisk gennemføres EØSU's aktiviteter knyttet til forbindelserne mellem EU og Organisationen af Stater i Afrika, Vestindien og Stillehavet overvejende efter retningslinjer, som udstikkes af et inklusivt opfølgningsudvalg EU/AVS, der består af EØSU-medlemmer og delegerede, som repræsenterer økonomiske og sociale interessegrupper i AVS-landene.
EØSU har på forskellige niveauer regelmæssig kontakt med repræsentanter for civilsamfundet i AVS-landene gennem:
EØSU opretholder også regelmæssige kontakter med repræsentanter for økonomiske og sociale interessegrupper i Den Afrikanske Union inden for rammerne af den fælles Afrika-EU-strategi. Helt konkret afholder EØSU årlige møder med EU-Afrika-netværket af økonomiske og sociale aktører.
EØSU har i mange år haft regelmæssig kontakt med Den Blandede Parlamentariske Forsamling AVS-EU og forelagt en årsberetning ved forsamlingens møder.
Derudover har EØSU tæt kontakt med internationale arbejdsgiver-, arbejdstager-, landbrugs- og forbrugerorganisationer. Disse organisationer udpeger de AVS-repræsentanter, der inviteres til møderne i EØSU, herunder i opfølgningsudvalget AVS/EU.
The Consultative Committee (CC) is one of the 5 institutions foreseen in the EU-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement. The CC is composed of 40 (25 from the CARIFORM side and 15 from the EU side) standing representatives of organisations of the civil society representing employers' organisations, trade unions, other economic, social and non-governmental organisations, including development and environmental organisations; and the academic community.
The Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES) has been the main framework for relations between the continents of Europe and Africa since 2007. Its goal is to develop a shared vision of the main global issues whilst simultaneously strengthening cooperation in a broad range of areas such as development, governance, human rights, trade, regional integration, food security and migration. To this end, meetings of EU-African economic and social stakeholders are held on a regular basis.
Under the auspices of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) organises meetings with ACP and EU economic and social interest groups. This role has been confirmed by the Cotonou Agreement, which mandates the EESC to organise consultation sessions and meetings of ACP and EU economic and social interest groups (Protocol 1).
Within this framework, the EESC organises general meetings in Brussels every three years, with delegates from the 78 ACP countries, together with representatives of the EU institutions, national economic and social councils, the secretariat of the ACP Group of States, EU and ACP states' diplomatic missions, NGOs and other interested parties. These general meetings are in addition to the regional seminars, which take place in the ACP regions once a year.
The social economy is prominent in everyday life and in the productive activity of large regions of the world and makes a decisive contribution to improving the living and working conditions of millions of people. However, the social economy is not specifically recognised as a sector in the EU development cooperation programmes.One of the principal aims of the opinion is that the external dimension of the EU’s programmes and initiatives should establish support measures specifically targeted at boosting businesses and organisations in the social economy.
The EESC organises regional seminars every year in an ACP region –this year, in Eastern Africa (Nairobi) on 4‑5 July 2016, with three main topics of discussion:
- Implementation of the SDGs - The Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and Eastern African States. - The post-Cotonou agenda.
At the end of the seminar, a final declaration will be issued that will be forwarded to the partners of the Cotonou agreement.
Around 60 representatives of economic and social actors as well as political authorities and international organisations will attend the seminar.
The Consultative Committee (CC) is one of the 5 institutions foreseen in the EU-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement. The CC is composed of 40 (25 from the CARIFORM side and 15 from the EU side) standing representatives of organisations of the civil society representing employers' organisations, trade unions, other economic, social and non-governmental organisations, including development and environmental organisations; and the academic community.
The External Relations Section (REX) of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is responsible for dialogue between European civil society organisations and their homologues from the countries with which the European Union has formal relations (e.g. under the form of a Free Trade Agreement). Through this dialogue, made possible by a series of bilateral bodies, and through specialized opinions and information reports, the Committee is able to concretely contribute to EU foreign policy.
Letter from EEAS_Final Declaration 7th Meeting EU Africa
Letter of the President of the European Council, Mr Charles Michel
Final Declaration
