Events

  • Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law Aspects

    The input session will bring together stakeholders and EESC Members to discuss fundamental rights, democracy and rule of law aspects of the COVID-19 crisis.

    A first session will cover the ongoing impact of the crisis on the fundamental rights of employers, workers and civil society organisations. A second session will discuss how fundamental rights, democracy and the rule of law can play a key role in the design of a crisis exit strategy and in a post-COVID-19 recovery phase.

  • As Europe embarks on its ambitious green and digital transitions in a more unsettled and unpredictable world, it is essential that the right strategies and means to maintaining and improving the EU's competitiveness are duly reasoned and substantiated. De-carbonisation and digitalisation are two mutually reinforcing and intertwined processes that represent an unparalleled opportunity to move out of the fragility of the COVID-19 crisis and – strengthen the position of the EU in key strategic value chains while preserving the benefits of an open economy.

  • The 4th meeting of the EU DAG under the EU-Japan EPA took place on 7 December 2020. The meeting was held as a videoconference. As this was the first meeting under the 2020-2023 mandate, a new Chair (Ms Erika Koller) and Co-chairs (Ms Stéphanie Ghislain and Mr Georgi Stoev) were elected.
    The European Commission gave an update on EU-Japan trade relations and the state of play of the TSD implementation, including a presentation of the Acces2Markets platform and the new complaints mechanism. The EU DAG members also received information on other recent developments in Japan. Members reported on topical issues and events, e.g. the EPA progress seminar. The EU DAG also established its work programme for the new mandate.

  • JCC meeting / Virtual

    The EU-Chile Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) held its sixth preparatory meeting in the new mandate on 7 December 2020, one week after the successful visit of Foreign Affairs Minister Andrés Allamand Zavalala in Brussels.

  • EU-Canada DAG to DAG

    This is the 3rd Joint Meeting of the Domestic Advisory Groups (DAGs) under the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). The meeting will be the opportunity for the EU DAG to introduce its new Members and the newly elected chair, Ms Stephanie Ghislain, Eurogroup for Animals, and hear from the Canadian counterparts on the latest developments since the September 2020 meeting. Among the topics to be discussed, the TSD review and enforcement, the impact of COVID-19 on trade and CETA DAGs, more specifically 'supply chains', CETA trade and the impact on climate change. Members will also identify joint priorities (2020-2023).

     

  • During the meeting, the EU DAG elected its presidency for the 2020-2023 mandate. It discussed the progress of the implementation of the EU-Korea FTA, the ongoing dispute settlement procedure, initiatives in the environmental area, and exchanged views on its work programme for the new mandate.

  • To mark the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement, the EESC and the German Development Institute/Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE) organise under the patronage of the German Presidency of the Council of the EU an online event bringing together the EU Institutions, the COP26 UK Presidency, the High-Level Climate Champions and key climate actors to discuss opportunities to strengthen engagement and climate action.

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    556th Plenary session, in the presence of Sinéad Burke, Irish writer, academic, influencer, activist and broadcaster and  Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission.

  • Euromed Summit 2020

    The Euro-Mediterranean Summit of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions aims at promoting greater understanding of the main issues affecting organised civil society in the Euromed region and at discussing the common challenges they face.

  • The EESC is organising a virtual hearing on the New Pact on Migration and Asylum on 26 November 2020. The aim of the hearing is to provide an understanding of the key elements of the Pact and evaluate its impact on the European migration and asylum framework. By including perspectives from relevant institutional stakeholders, think tanks, social partners and civil society organisations, it will explore whether the Pact brings about the systemic change necessary to overcome the current deadlock and develop a sustainable, rational and rights-based EU asylum and migration policy.