European Economic and Social Committee
The aim of the conference was to discuss the opportunities and challenges provided by digitalisation, in particular cutting-edge digital tools, AI and robotics as well as the prerequisites to make this happen. It also addressed expectations for future steps of policy making on the European Level.
The conference aims at inquiring about Europe's future in the coming era of artificial intelligence and policies like Society 5.0
Is Europe being cornered in an unfavourable position as European digital companies struggle to compete with overseas competitors? How will a workplace of tomorrow look like? What is the future of labour in Europe? How can Europe make the best use of the upcoming new digital era?
Will we live in a surveillance capitalism?
On 13 November, the event, entitled Trust in liberal professions in the age of digitalisation and artificial intelligence, aimed to gain fresh insight into the impact of artificial intelligence on the exercise of professional services and on clients' and patients' rights. Speakers addressed fundamental issues such as transparency, communication and trust in professionals, regulators' awareness of the challenges linked to the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence, the consequences on the quality of professional services and their capacity to protect public interest. Stay tuned for more information !
The Latin America Follow up Committee of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held a Hearing on the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement: The views of organized civil society on 13 of November 2019.
The main purpose of the debate was to:
Perception, fear, myth and prejudice continue to limit the understanding and acceptance of disability in workplaces everywhere. Most of society still looks at persons with disabilities as unable to work and thinks that accommodating them in the workplace is expensive.
The EESC is organising a public hearing on "Employment of persons with disabilities: how can we change society's view" on 13 November 2019, with the aim to present programmes and projects that prove that these perceptions are incorrect.
Your participation and input are most welcome!
The objective of the conference on 12 November was to launch the discussion on interrelated topics, but with a forward looking and practical approach. To explore how to move from the personal experience to the Institutional, how to change mind-sets and overcome prejudices.
During the first joint meeting, the EU and Canada DAGs had a tour de table to introduce the respective members, and exchanged views on the work of the respective groups. A discussion on the CETA Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) Chapters followed, along with a debate on joint priorities and ways of working together.
Representatives of the two Domestic Advisory Groups (DAGs) from the EU and Ukraine held their third joint meeting in Brussels on 6 November 2019. Please click on the programme tab to consult the topics on the agenda.
The European Standardisation System must become as inclusive as possible, to involve a wide range of participants (representative of businesses of all sizes, consumers and societal stakeholders such as trade unions, environmental NGOs, etc.) and develop close cooperation among partners (European Standardisation Organisations (ESOs), National Standardisation Bodies (NSBs) and public authorities at the European and national levels).
In July 2019, the European Commission published a Communication entitled 'Strengthening the rule of law within the Union – A blueprint for action', which details actions on the promotion, prevention, and response aspects. The EESC, on its side, made proposals in a series of key Opinions over the past years, and has set up a transversal Group on Fundamental Rights and the Rule of Law (FFRL) in 2018. The FRRL Group leads country visits and seeks to provide a forum for European CSOs to share their assessment on the state of fundamental rights, democracy and rule of law in the Member States.
