Europäischer Wirtschafts- und Sozialausschuss
In Asien unterhält der EWSA Beziehungen zu zivilgesellschaftlichen Organisationen in China, Japan und Südkorea. So wurde im Jahr 2007 im Anschluss an das 9. Gipfeltreffen EU-China ein offizielles Diskussionsforum EU-China eingerichtet, das mindestens einmal jährlich zusammenkommt. In den letzten Jahren bemüht sich der EWS im Hinblick auf das Freihandelsabkommen zwischen der EU und Japan, in dem der Zivilgesellschaft eine begleitende und beratende Funktion zugewiesen wird, um den Aufbau engerer Beziehungen zur organisierten Zivilgesellschaft Japans.
Das Freihandelsabkommen EU-Republik Korea, das im Jahr 2011 in Kraft getreten ist, war das erste der sogenannten neuen Generation von Handelsabkommen der EU. Die Besonderheit dieser Abkommen liegt in der Aufnahme eines Kapitels zu Handel und nachhaltiger Entwicklung, in dem dem EWSA – zusammen mit zivilgesellschaftlichen Organisationen der Republik Korea – eine offizielle Rolle bei der Begleitung der Umsetzung dieses Kapitels und der Beratung der zuständigen politischen Gremien in Sachen Umwelt-, Sozial- und Arbeitsstandards sowie weiteren für die Zivilgesellschaft unmittelbar relevanten Fragen zugewiesen wird. Jedes Jahr finden drei Treffen der Internen Beratungsgruppe der EU statt, und einmal im Jahr findet ein gemeinsames Treffen statt.
Darüber hinaus unterhält der EWSA Beziehungen zur Zivilgesellschaft in weiteren asiatischen Ländern und beteiligt sich ggf. an einschlägigen internationalen Veranstaltungen. Ein Beispiel hierfür ist das zweijährliche Asien-Europa-Bürgerforum, eine interregionale Plattform der Zivilgesellschaft, die Teil des Asien-Europa-Treffens ist.
During the meeting, the EU DAG will discuss with a representative of the European Parliament the progress in work on its report on implementation of the EU-Korea FTA. The European Commission will update participants on the state of play and the next steps in the implementation of the EU-Korea joint project related to the ILO Convention No. 111. The EU DAG will discuss moreover preparations for the next EU-Korea Civil Society Forum.
The EESC Employers' Group is organising a seminar on "Strengthening European Growth and Competitiveness: Proactive Trade Agenda – NOW!" taking place on 26 October in Helsinki and jointly organized with the Confederation of Finnish Industries and the International Chamber of Commerce, ICC Finland.
Trade and Investment are hugely important for the EU: 1 in 7 EU jobs depend on exports. The EU cannot risk falling behind in the global race to build a wide and ambitious network of free trade agreements. The signing of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement (involving 12 countries and 40% of world GDP) is a timely reminder of this. This seminar, which will be attended by many of our Members together with Finnish employers and entrepreneurs, politicians and academics aims to examine how to best contribute positively to the debate as trade agreements (TTIP - TISA - CETA - EU-JAPAN) increasingly become a top political issue.
During the meeting, the EU DAG will discuss with a representative of the European Parliament the progress in work on its report on implementation of the EU-Korea FTA. The Group may also inquire about the outcomes of the EP's mission to the Republic of Korea, which took place in May 2016. The European Commission will update participants on the state of play and the next steps in the ex-post evaluation of the agreement as well as implementation of the EU-Korea joint project related to the ILO Convention No. 111. The Commission will also inform the Group about the preparations for the meetings with Korea under the trade and sustainable development chapter, which will be held in Brussels by the end of 2016. The EU DAG will discuss moreover preparations for the next EU-Korea Civil Society Forum.
The 14th EU-China Civil Society Round Table took place in Brussels on 18 and 19 May 2016. Topics set up for discussion during this meeting of the Round Table were Innovation and economic development in rural areas, and Infrastucture and investment, in the framework of the One Belt One Road initiative and the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). The aim of the discussions was to find common ground and exchange ideas and best practices.
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.
Circular Economy and the Recycling of Batteries
- the legislative framework -
Reality of overtime work in Korea and its solution
Introduction and overview on the topic of social dialogue and changes in the last years
National tripartite dialogue
The Dynamics of Social Dialogue in South Korea
