European Economic and Social Committee
On Saturday 7 May, the EESC will celebrate Europe Day 2022 with a fully virtual event to commemorate the date of the historic Schuman declaration, considered to be the beginning of what is today's European Union.
It is a chance for reflection on what peace, cooperation and solidarity have built, and what we hope to achieve in the future. On this day, the EU invites citizens from across Europe to learn more about the EU's institutions, how it works and what the EU can do for them.
In the context of the 60 years anniversary of the Common Agricultural Policy but also of the terrible war in Ukraine, the NAT section of the EESC will hold a thematic debate with its members, EU institutions and stakeholders to discuss the economic, social and environmental transition needed to ensure European agriculture continues to achieve its objectives in a sustainable and resilient manner.
On 4th May 2022, the EESC will hold a remote public hearing on Decent work worldwide, in the context of the ongoing opinion on the topic. Millions of workers around the world suffer from violations of their labour rights and from poor working conditions. Still today, 160 million children – one in ten worldwide – are in child labour, and 25 million people are in a situation of forced labour. The COVID-19 crisis is deteriorating the working and living situation of workers worldwide, in particular of those most vulnerable. The European Commission's Communication on Decent work worldwide, adopted in February 2022, sets out the internal and external policies the EU uses to implement decent work worldwide, putting this objective at the heart of an inclusive, sustainable and resilient recovery from the pandemic. The hearing will represent a key contribution to the ongoing EESC opinion on "Decent work worldwide".
The hearing will assess the chances and challenges that SMEs face due to the green transition in terms of proper funding and support measures. The Green Deal and the Fit for 55 package affect SMEs through direct requirements or indirectly through increased costs or resources. Some specific groups – such as micro companies, social economy enterprises, crafts and some liberal professions, are especially vulnerable and have less resources and information to secure the successful green transition.
The Cariforum-EU Consultative Committee (CC) was established with the task and responsibility of promoting dialogue and cooperation between representatives of organisations of civil society, including the academic community, and social and economic partners.
The EESC´s Consultative Commission on Industrial Change (CCMI) is organising a hearing (web streamed) on the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles, with the participation of the European Commission and civil society stakeholders.
In response to increasing global demand for enhancing energy efficiency, reducing resource consumption and restoring our relationship with nature, the European Union is set to revamp its products policy by making sustainable products the norm. On 29 April 2022, the Section for Agriculture, Rural development and the Environment of the EESC is organising a public hearing to feed into the elaboration of the EESC opinion on the Sustainable products initiative, including Eco-design Directive.
The NAT section of the EESC will hold a public hearing on 26 April 2022 to engage stakeholders and civil society actors and discuss the engagement of young people towards achieving sustainable development. The conclusions of the hearing will feed into the preparation of the EESC information report on this topic.
The EESC conference, organised with the support of the French Presidency of the EU, on "Tackling energy poverty at the heart of the ecological and energy transition" was held on 21 April 2022. This was the follow-up event to the EESC's 2021 conference on "Energy poverty at the crossroads of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the European Green Deal". ...
In order to prepare its opinion on the Commission proposal for a directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence, the EESC is organising a hybrid public hearing on 21 April 2022 from 9:30 am to 1 pm.
The aim of the event is to gather input from civil society, including social partners and academia as well other EU Institutions and international organisations.
Your participation and input are most welcome!
