Featuring speakers from the EESC and other EU institutions, international and European organisations, social partners, civil society organisations and think tanks, the event looks at the state of play regarding the reception of Ukrainian refugees in the EU, 9 months on from when the war began. The event will look at different perspectives: the institutional/political perspective, what is happening on the ground, and then to the progress of integrating refugees in the EU, focussing on employment, education and housing.
International Ocean Governance in need of a multidisciplinary approach
Location
Brussels
Belgium
International Ocean Governance is a particularly relevant topic in light of the problems that oceans and seas are currently facing, and one where the EU is leading by example. Policies aimed at reducing the impact of unsustainable human activities at sea, such as overfishing, have become tradition in Europe, and the Union is now trying to involve the rest of the world in a common effort to protect the marine environment.
As in the previous years, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) will actively take part in the annual United Nations Framework on Climate Change – COP27, which this year will take place in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt from 6 to 18 November 2022. This year's COP marks the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Since 1999, the EESC has been organising the European Consumer Day where consumers gather to influence the EU debate. The topic of this year was "Empowering consumers for a more sustainable world". The objective was to reflect on how to give consumers the information they need and how to help them make the best choices when purchasing a product. Round tables focused on topics such as tech for good, the right to reparability, the functional economy, consumption and health. The event held both in Brussels and online. It gathered high level speakers and representatives of EU institutions, national governments and civil society organisations.
The 10th meeting of the EU-Moldova Civil Society Platform took place in Chisinau, Moldova, on 10 November 2022. During the meeting, a debate focused on assessing the progresses of Moldova in the implementation of the European Commission recommendations regarding its accession to the EU, as well as the state of play of the implementation of the EU-Moldova Association Agreement.
The Platform also discussed the 2022 developments in the anti-corruption field, the impact of regional and global crises on the social-economic situation in Moldova, and participation of the Trade Unions and Employers' Associations in EU-funded projects.
A joint declaration, prepared by both sides, was discussed and adopted.
As part of its work to prepare an opinion on Energy policy and the labour market: consequences for employment in regions undergoing energy transitions, the EESC is organising a remote public hearing on 10 November 2022 from 10:00 to 13:00. By including perspectives from relevant institutional stakeholders, social partners and civil society organisations, the event will explore different policies that have been implemented and will aim to gather recommendations on what works and what does not, in order to ensure a just transition. The input will then feed into the EESC's opinion. Your participation is most welcome!
The 2022 debates will be dedicated to "Turning geopolitical challenges into a European Union success story: the contribution of organised civil society".
Energy poverty exacerbates gender gap worldwide. It is estimated that 70% of 1.3 billion population in developing countries living in poverty are women. Research has shown that women are more likely to fall into energy poverty as they are the main users and producers of household energy, due to economic, biological/physiological and socio-cultural factors. For instance, older women are the most likely to suffer from energy poverty due to a higher life expectancy and lower pensions compared to men. Women are also more likely to be responsible for householding and cooking activities requiring energy sources.
The Council of the EU has started its discussion on the Cohesion policy after 2027 with the objective to give political guidance on the kind of Cohesion policy that Member States consider appropriate. On 8 November 2022, from 11:30 to 13:00, the EESC organised a public debate is of great relevance for organised civil society who is an important partner in the design and implementation of cohesion policy programmes.
The negative impact of the COVID-19 crisis on women's social and economic situations triggered a debate on the urgent need for a gender-sensitive policy response to the pandemic. In this context, the establishment of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) – the EU's biggest financial instrument supporting recovery in the Member States – was an opportunity to channel extraordinary resources towards measures that take into account the principles of gender equality.
