European Economic
and Social Committee
EESC PLENARY: Candidate countries commend EESC for elevating civil society in enlargement process
At an Enlargement Forum hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), civil society representatives from candidate countries commended the Committee’s Enlargement Candidate Members initiative as a vital tool for shaping their countries’ European integration process and bolstering public support for EU accession.
At its plenary session on 17 July, the EESC held an Enlargement Forum focusing on Building an Inclusive Future in the Enlarged EU: The Role of Social Dialogue, Civil Society and Youth Engagement. The event opened with a high-level debate featuring Maida Gorčević, Minister for European Affairs in Montenegro, Orhan Murtezani, Minister for European Affairs in North Macedonia, and Antoine Kasel, Director for Labour Mobility and International Affairs at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion.
The forum brought together approximately 75 representatives from social partners and civil society organisations across the EU candidate countries. It was part of the EESC’s pioneering Enlargement Candidate Members initiative (ECM), which enables civil society organisations from candidate countries to participate in the process of drafting opinions and get involved in EESC debates. The project’s success has already led to additional financial backing by the European Commission to reinforce it and make it a permanent structure.
Several members of the EESC’s Civil Society Organisations’ Group took part in the debates. Three members spoke during a session on Institutionalising civil society and strengthening social dialogue in EU candidate countries:
Ionuţ Sibian, rapporteur for the REX/598 opinion on The importance of institutionalising civil and social dialogue in EU candidate and partner countries presented some of the main elements of the opinion: ‘We put forward some recommendations about how to align the national legislation in candidate countries in the area of social dialogue and civil dialogue with the EU’s institutional set-up. We developed some principles and standards for good practice, including an appropriate national regulatory framework. Civil and social dialogue should be among the conditionalities for the EU accession negotiations and we recommend that National Economic and Social Councils include civil society.’
Lidija Pavić-Rogošić, group vice-president, said that ‘Strong civil and social dialogue is not just a technical thing; it is a basis of social stability. Structural dialogue between governments, trade unions and civil society organisations can enable inclusive decision making, protects workers’ rights and strengthens people’s trust in institutions. Without dialogue, there is no sustainable development or just transition. It is very important to develop common standards and a comprehensive regulatory framework for civil dialogue.’
Andris Gobiņš thanked civil society representatives from the candidate countries for participating in the Enlargement Forum and called for continued cooperation with them. He said that ‘We need strong partnerships with all the neighbour countries now and in the future.’
Corina Andrea Murafa Benga participated in the session on Creating opportunities for youth – from education to employment. She said that ‘Across the candidate countries young people are sounding the alarm on climate. However, they lack access to climate information. It is not just an information deficit; it is a failure to include young people in the decisions that will shape their future.’ She asked the guest speakers how their countries were including young people in shaping the low-carbon transition and what the EU could do to support them.
Read the EESC’s press release: https://www.eesc.europa.eu/en/news-media/press-releases/candidate-countries-commend-eesc-elevating-civil-society-enlargement-process
Watch the debate at: https://webcast.ec.europa.eu/eesc-plenary-session-2025-07-17