The economic and social effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the hardships and challenges caused by the unjustified Russian aggression in Ukraine highlighted the importance of developing a more resilient, sustainable and inclusive EU economy. The ongoing revision of the European economic governance framework is a key element in achieving this. On 26 April 2023, the European Commission presented its long-awaited reform proposals on the EU's economic governance rules and the EESC takes this opportunity to draw up a new opinion, presenting its views and recommendations on the proposed changes.
Insularity is considered to be a permanent and unchangeable geographical feature which involves additional costs (transport, energy, waste management, public services, necessity goods and services) that hamper the development and competitiveness of the islands, while particularly exposing them to biodiversity loss and climate change. The organised civil society has an important role to play and tackle all these challenges and through this debate. The aim is to find the best practices and solutions so that EU islands can preform better and recover from the multiple crises.
State of progress after the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit
Online event
Belgium
On 22 June, the EESC will host an online public hearing to explore the state of progress of the EU on the path to more sustainable, fairer and inclusive food systems, following the new actions agreed upon during the UN Food System summit in 2021.
The permanent group on Inclusion of the Roma is organising a public hearing on 22 June 2023 on ''The labour market situation and Roma workers' rights in a time of economic crisis''. At a time of rising inflation across Europe, with sharp increases on food stuffs and energy, this hearing will be looking at the situation of Roma workers in the labour market. It will discuss discrimination in employment and look at best practices aimed at resolving these situations in accordance with the EU Charter of Fundamental rights, the new EU Roma Strategic Framework and the European Pillar of Social Rights.
Europe's voice in the world is becoming less and less important.In addition to the strains caused by the pandemic and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, Europe is facing a historic structural transformation driven by geopolitical developments, demographic changes, digitization and the transition to a climate-neutral and circular economy.
579th Plenary session, with the following guests: Ebba-Elisabeth BUSCH, Swedish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy Business and Industry (tbc), Pedro LINARES, Professor from the Higher Technical School of Engineering (ICAI) in Madrid, Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the European Commission (tbc). Web streaming
The EESC is organising a hybrid public hearing to gather the view of youth representatives, rural development experts and various stakeholders on how to promote sustainable and inclusive rural development that benefits young people and rural communities as a whole.
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is working on a project on disinformation to be implemented with the help of civil society. Disinformation typically spreads among the population, often horizontally, so that the best way to tackle the problem is not in a top-down approach, but in citizens’ reflection and direct engagement. This is where organized civil society can play a crucial role.
On 9 June 2023, the European Economic and Social Committee is hosting a hearing in conjunction with its opinion on "Advertising through influencers and its impact on consumers", which was requested by the upcoming Spanish presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has looked into the advantages of modern industrial wooden construction at the request of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The EESC adopted an exploratory opinion focusing on how EU proposals such as sustainable carbon cycles, the bioeconomy strategy and the New European Bauhaus can be used to drastically reduce the huge amounts of construction-related CO2 emissions, store CO2 and make construction more efficient.
