EESC Scenario 2040 – Study on the future role of the EESC and the Workers' Group

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is planning to launch a procurement procedure for a study on "EESC Scenario 2040 – Study on the future role of the EESC and the Workers' Group".

This announcement is made pursuant to Annex I.14 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union, to award a low-value contract as a result of a negotiated procedure. It is published ahead of the procurement procedure with basic information on the subject matter of the contract to give interested economic operators the possibility to express their interest to participate as tenderer in the subsequent procurement procedure.

All economic operators established in the European Union, European Economic Area and countries with a Stabilisation and Association Agreement, with proven experience in conducting studies on related topics, may express their interest to participate.

DESCRIPTION

The EESC was set up (as the ESC) already in 1957 by the Treaty of Rome, as an EU institution to involve economic and social interest groups in the establishment of the common market and to provide an institutional structure for briefing the European Commission and the Council of Ministers on European Community issues. The EESC's role was reinforced by the Single European Act in 1986 and the Treaties of Maastricht (1992), Amsterdam (1997), Nice (2000), and Lisbon (2007).

Over time, the number of issues and thematic areas the EESC deals with has increased significantly. At the same time, its influence and resources have not followed suit, in contrast to other representative institutions such as the European Parliament or the European Committee of the Regions.

Against these developments, but also in the light of the current overlapping of current fundamental social, economic and political challenges, there is a strong need to rethink both the past experience as well as the future perspective of the EESC as regards it role and position as a European consultative and representative body. Such a reflection should also take into account the long-term impact of the COVID-19 crisis and other trends such as decarbonisation on the work of the EESC, for example the likely continuation of online meetings and consultations.

The main purpose of the study will be to gather and evaluate data and information on the current role of the EESC in the light of current and future challenges, evaluating the state of play and producing a set of possible future scenarios based on current and past evidence, with a view to strengthen the consultative role of the EESC as representing organised civil society and a key instrument of participatory democracy in the European Union. 

For this purpose, the study should gather information through different means, including both desk research and primary sources via at least interviews or surveys, to identify and map the current context and evolution of the EESC and its place in the European institutional structure. Using this information, the contractor shall propose different plausible scenarios of institutional change leading up to 2040, and analyse the different impact they would have in the influence and role of the EESC. 

Languages 

The study should be carried out in English.

Indicative calendar

• Launch of the invitation to tender: September 2021.
• Contract award: end of third quarter 2021.
• The final study report is expected within 9 months following the signature of the contract.
• Deadline for submission of offers: approximately third quarter 2021.

DISCLAIMER

Please note that this announcement does not create any obligation for the EESC to launch a procurement procedure. The EESC will take the submitted information into account only to identify potential candidates. Expressing interest to participate in a negotiated procedure of this type does not create any legal right or legitimate expectation on the part of any economic operator, and the EESC has the right to cancel the procedure at any time. The procurement documents will only be provided to the identified candidates, and any tender received from a legal or natural person not invited to tender will be rejected.

DATA PROTECTION

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