News

  • In a newly adopted opinion on the European Commission's regulation on short-term accommodation rental through online platforms, the EESC stresses that national and local authorities should be urged to carry out impact assessments to see how such activities are affecting the lives of local residents and businesses such as hotels and other hospitality facilities.

  • In an opinion adopted on 23 February, the EESC commented on the Commission's Communication on the 2023 Annual Sustainable Growth Survey, which outlines the economic and employment policy priorities for the EU for the coming 12 to 18 months.

  • Supporting labour market developments: how to maintain employability, boost productivity and develop skills, especially in SMEs, in the context of the European Year of Skills 2023 and linked to the adoption of the related SOC/722 own-initiative opinion

  • This month at the EESC plenary: Bielarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and war in Ukraine one year on – Web streaming  Agenda

  • A debate organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) revealed how useful wood construction can be in enabling the EU to achieve the objective of carbon neutrality by 2050.

  • At the debate held in Brussels by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), participants pointed to the importance of infrastructure and harmonised standards to connect the EU and its neighbouring countries, especially in light of the redefined geopolitical landscape brought about by the war in Ukraine.

  • The EESC's External Relations Section held a debate during its section meeting dedicated to the situation of women in Latin America. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities worsening the situation of women in the region. Participants in the debate called for legislative reforms to the social and employment system in order to eliminate gender inequalities. They also flagged up the role of civil society in the empowerment of women. The thematic discussion concluded the series of EESC events, following up on the European Parliament's Gender Equality Week initiative started in October 2022.

  • At its January plenary session, the EESC adopted an information report on the Implementation of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement, including the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland. The report shows that UK organised civil society is strongly in favour of a deeper and more constructive relationship with their EU counterparts and the EU as a whole. This could contribute to the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement and help maximise the potential of the EU-UK Trade Cooperation Agreement.

  • At its January plenary session, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted an opinion welcoming the EU's new approach to Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) as laid out in the recent Communication on "The power of trade partnerships". The EESC supports the Commission’s comprehensive review setting a new benchmark on TSD and considers the introduced elements as part of the package in all trade agreements – be it future ones, those under negotiation or applied to existing agreements as much as possible. However, the new TSD plan is not exempt from shortcomings, and the EESC regrets that no action is being taken to involve civil society more thoroughly during the negotiation process.

  • At its January plenary session, the EESC debated the EU's "Strategic Compass" vision for security and defence, pointing out that security should be understood broadly, far beyond military defence. Civilian and preventive security policy should complement military defence capabilities, with NATO being the EU's key security provider. Civil society should not be a bystander in security issues. In fact, as proven in the current war in Ukraine, it can have a stabilising role in times of crisis.