Liaison Group Newsletter December 2020

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United for the Future of Europe: enhancing the key role of the Liaison Group

I would like to start this edition of the Liaison Group Newsletter by congratulating Brikena Xhomaqi for her election as co-chair of the Liaison Group (LG) of European civil society member organisations, as well as the new members of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), for their appointment to the Liaison Group.

Recently elected president of the EESC, after 22 years at its service, I am thankful for the trust the Committee's members have placed in me and, at the same time, I acknowledge the importance of my responsibilities in the current challenging situation.

Europe is in the middle of a pandemic that is causing economic and social hardship and is deepening inequalities. Our countries' priority will be to recover and become more resilient. We have to take this opportunity to build, all together, a Europe that is prospering economically, socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable. That is my vision for the post-COVID-19 era. I also believe in an open, values-based society, which enables all civil society organisations (CSOs) to flourish.

Organised civil society has a major role to play in Europe's efforts towards recovery. Policies and reforms will be in line with people's needs and be accepted and well implemented if adopted with the involvement of the parties concerned.