Erweiterungsländer

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Der EWSA ist aktiv am Erweiterungsprozess der EU beteiligt und hat einen zweifachen – regionalen und bilateralen – Ansatz für seine Beziehungen zu den Organisationen der Zivilgesellschaft in den Erweiterungsländern entwickelt.

Der Begleitausschuss Westbalkan – ein ständiges Arbeitsorgan des EWSA – ist das wichtigste Instrument des regionalen Ansatzes zur Koordinierung der Aktivitäten des EWSA in dieser Region. Im Rahmen seiner Tätigkeit veranstaltet der Begleitausschuss alle zwei Jahre ein Forum der Zivilgesellschaft des Westbalkans.

Der EWSA arbeitet auch auf bilateraler Basis mit den Ländern des Westbalkans und der Türkei zusammen. Auf der Grundlage der Assoziierungsabkommen zwischen der EU und der Türkei, Montenegro und Serbien hat der EWSA mit diesen drei Ländern gemeinsame Gremien mit Vertretern der Zivilgesellschaft eingerichtet, um die Organisationen der Zivilgesellschaft in die Heranführungs- und Beitrittsprozesse einzubeziehen. Jedes dieser Gremien setzt sich zu gleichen Teilen aus Mitgliedern des EWSA und des Partnerlandes zusammen und hält zweimal jährlich eine Sitzung ab.

Der EWSA steht in ständigem Kontakt mit den Organisationen der Zivilgesellschaft in den Erweiterungsländern, mit denen noch kein gemeinsames Gremium aus Vertretern der Zivilgesellschaft eingerichtet worden ist, und organisiert gemeinsame Aktivitäten mit ihnen.

Ergänzend zur Tätigkeit der gemeinsamen Gremien erarbeitet der EWSA Stellungnahmen zum Heranführungs- und Beitrittsprozess einzelner Länder sowie zu Themen von regionalem Interesse.

  • Reference number
    30/2023

    The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) welcomed representatives from civil society organisations from candidate countries at its July plenary session, announcing the initiative to appoint Honorary Enlargement Members and invite them to participate in the daily advisory work of the Committee

  • The  EU-Serbia Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) held its 14th meeting on 29 November 2022 in Belgrade, to discuss the state of play in the accession process and reform policies in the country. The participants from Serbia and the EU Institutions, as well as from civil society organisations pointed out concerns and challenges that still need further improvement. The joint declaration of the EU-Serbia JCC was adopted unanimously.

  • Panel I - In the shadow of war: Europe's new geopolitical context and the consequences for the future of the EU, Zagreb

  • Reference number
    44/2022

    The high-level civil society conference on youth policy in the Western Balkans, hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), highlighted the key role of young people for the future of the region and called for their active involvement in policy-making. 

  • Cohesion policy is key to overcoming the COVID-19 crisis, to achieving climate neutrality by 2050 and to reducing disparities in Europe. Its most serious challenge for the foreseeable future, however, is the war in Ukraine, the EESC cautions in a recent opinion. Rapid action is needed to help refugees and ensure the country's European integration.

  • Reference number
    26/2022

    On 24 May in Sarajevo, the EESC's Western Balkans Follow-up Committee held its yearly external meeting - for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic - to meet with civil society organisations (CSOs) in Bosnia and Herzegovina and discuss their role and concerns regarding the current situation. The conclusions will be conveyed to the country's political authorities and to the EU institutions.

     

  • Reference number
    22/2022

    The May plenary session of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) hosted a debate led by its President Christa Schweng and the President of the European Council Charles Michel on Europe's response to this turning point in history.

  • With youth as one of the main policy areas of the Innovation Agenda for the Western Balkans (WBs), the participants in the hearing "Youth Policy in the Western Balkans, as part of the Innovation Agenda for the WBs", held by the EESC, reaffirmed the importance of young people for the future of the region.

  • The 51st Western Balkans Follow-up Committee meeting, held on 3 December 2021, placed conflict resolution and normalisation of relations between Kosovo* and Serbia in the spotlight. The meeting, presided by Ionuţ Sibian, hosted prominent speakers from the ranks of EU officials, Western Balkans experts, as well as civil society representatives from the local communities, all of whom agreed that EU-facilitated dialogue was the only way to move forward.

  • Members of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and representatives of the Montenegrin organised civil society held on the 1st March the 14th meeting of the EU-Montenegro Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), which took place online. Members of the JCC adopted a joint declaration urging the EU to assist Montenegro to face the devastating consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.