Events

  • On 6 February 2017, the European Economic and Social Committee will be organising a hearing as part of its preparatory work in order to issue its own-initiative opinion on The effectiveness of EU policies for SMEs.

    The main objective of the hearing will be to debate the effectiveness and efficiency of the EU policies for SMEs, to find the ways in which they can be improved and to outline the opportunities and challenges for the future.

    All the issues will be addressed by high-level speakers from different institutions, and social organisations and stakeholders from across the EU will have the opportunity to exchange their views.

  • The European Economic and social Committee is organising the public debate "What future for the euro?  Threats and opportunities for stage 2 of deepening EMU". The aim of our public debate is to support the necessary consensus-building on an ambitious roadmap for completing EMU by 2025, as part of a global vision for the future of the European Union.

  • AI technologies offer great potential for creating new and innovative solutions to improve peoples lives, grow the economy, and address challenges in health and wellbeing, climate change, safety and security.

    Like any disruptive technology, however, AI carries risks and presents complex societal challenges in several areas such as labour, safety, privacy, ethics, skills and so on.

    A broad approach towards AI, covering all its effects (good and bad) on society as a whole, is crucial. Especially in a time where developments are accellerating.

    At the public hearing Artificial Intelligence & Society, the EESC started the discussion with participants from all corners of society on the broader impact of AI.

    The input and information gathered at this hearing will be implemented in an EESC Opinion on Artificial Intelligence that will be presented during the Plenary Session on 31 May and 1 June 2017 and feed into EU policy on AI.

     

  • The 8th meeting of the EU Advisory Group for the EU-Central America Association Agreement will take place on February 1st in Brussels. 

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    Photos by Czeslaw Czaplinski

    Photo exhibition on Andrzej Wajda, recently deceased Polish film director. Wajda is considered one of Poland’s greatest directors, who over his long career received an honorary Oscar and Palme d’Or. Many of his films were inspired by turbulent wartime and communist history.

    Although well known in Poland, Andrzej Wajda is not equally known in Europe and the exhibition would therefore aim at making its work and life known to a wider public. The photos were taken by Czeslaw Czaplinski, world-renowned artist photographer, journalist and documentary film maker.

    The exhibition will run from 21 December 2016 to 31 January 2017 – closing event on 25 January 2017.

     

    Venue: EESC – JDE building,
    rue Belliard 99 – 6th floor – Foyer 6

    Monday to Thursday: 9 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. and Friday: 8.30 a.m. – 3.30 p.m

  • Given that Europe's priority today is to promote sustainable growth and investment within a fair and better integrated market, the corporate tax reforms package will help to provide a fair and efficient taxation of corporate profits. The EESC is currently drawing up three interlinked opinions on key proposals presented and in this framework the Section for Economic and Monetary Union and Economic and Social Cohesion (ECO) will organise a public hearing on "The Corporate tax reforms package - with focus on Common (Consolidated) Corporate Tax Base".

     

  • Public hearing contributing to the preparation of the EESC opinion

    The EESC has organised a public hearing in the framework of its opinion on "Establishing a new Partnership Framework with third countries under the European Agenda on Migration" in the morning of the 12th of January. These hearings are the opportunity for the Member of the study group working on the opinion to hear the input from stakeholders on the topic before finalising the EESC opinion.

    Much has been achieved since the adoption of the European Agenda on Migration, not least beyond the EU's borders. Based on the Valetta Summit and the different process linked with migration and third countries, the EU looks to create new coherent and tailored partnerships on migration with countries of origin and transit.

    This hearing has focused on the status and challenges of these partnerships as well as the Civil society perspective on them.

  • On 10 January 2017, the EESC, in cooperation with the United Nations Regional Information Centre (UNRIC), is organizing the screening of the film "Sold" at Bozar.

    Based on true stories, "Sold" illustrates the brutality of child trafficking, which affects millions of children around the globe every year. EESC Vice Presdient Gonçalo Lobo Xavier will participate in the opening and Group I member Madi Sharma, rapporteur for opinions on human trafficking, will participate in the debate following the screening.

     

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    521st Plenary Session

    • Thursday 15 December at 9 a.m.: Presentation of the European Commission's 2017 work programme 
with
 
Frans Timmermans

    • Thursday 15 December at 10 a.m. Debate on the new sustainable economic models, 
with 
Jyrki Katainen

    • Award ceremony for the Civil society prize,  
on Thursday 15 December at 12 p.m.

  • 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.