European Economic and Social Committee
The conference originally planned for 12 March 2020, rescheduled for 2 July and next for 26 November 2020, is now being again rescheduled. The organisers are now planning to hold the event on 17 June 2021. (Read more...)
The aim of this event was to illustrate the pivotal role and daily challenges of civil society organisations in helping refugees and migrants. In doing so, the Diversity Europe Group wished to re-focus political attention on the topic and to offer a forum for civil society and EU Institutions to debate these issues in the context of EU recovery and reconstruction, post Covid-19. Following the concept of a “hybrid meeting”, the conference took place both online and at the premises of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels.
The Diversity Europe Group is organising an extraordinary meeting in Rijeka (Croatia) to discuss and invigorate the civil society debate on the current and future role of European citizens in the protection and promotion of fundamental European values, with a special focus on democracy and the state of civic space across the EU, solidarity in the context of global migration and sustainable development – the Green Deal.
On 6 December, the Diversity Europe Group organised its Extraordinary group, entitled Agenda for Europe: towards 2025.
The debate was opened by the President of the group Arno Metzler and by Mr Ribbe who is rapporteur of the resolution 'The EESC's contribution to the Commission's 2020 work programme and beyond'.
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 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.
On 15 October, the Consumers and Environment Category of the EESC held its public event on the topic 'New EU goals and policies for sustainable development - Joint perspective of consumers and environmentalists'.
On 16 September, the Diversity Europe Group held its Extraordinary meeting in Helsinki (Finland) - at the Auditorium (Annex Building of the Parliament).
The meeting entitled Boosting EU competitiveness – 3 pillars for sustainable growth will mainly focussed on bioeconomy and climate neutral Europe, digitalization and infrastructure in transport sector.
On the 7th of May the Diversity Europe Group of the EESC organised its Extraordinary Meeting in Bucharest. This high level conference took place at the Atrium of the National Library, and its topic was 'A Europe of Shared Values and Civil Society'.
On 15 February, the Bureau of the Diversity Europe Group of the EESC hosted an extraordinary meeting on the topic 'Brexit' at Queen's University in Belfast. The seminar entitled 'The Implications of Brexit for Civil Society and the Peace Process' focussed on the fragility of the Good Friday Agreement in view of an impending Brexit. Politicians, academia and civil were called upon to give their views and some one hundred participants are expected. The conference took place at Isdell Courtyard seminar room, Ridell Hall.
