At its October plenary, the EESC adopted the Resolution Charting the EU’s democratic progress: a resolution for the next legislative mandate drafted by its members Christa Schweng, Cinzia Del Rio and Ioannis Vardakastanis.

With a view to the current multi-crisis, the EESC asks the new European Parliament and Commission to make use of the EESC’s diversity of representation to strengthen the European Union.

The new legislative term should aim to reinforce the EU’s international position, deal with the problems in its institutional architecture, provide a solid anchor for Europe’s common values, and lead the economy into a sustainable future built around an advanced, inclusive social model – something that is vital for progress, unity and competitiveness.

In the Resolution, the EESC asks the EU institutions to establish a six-fold concept of security, based on a Union that:

• protects its people against external threats;
• protects people against internal risks, mainly those relating to health, demographic change and poverty, and that provides accessible, universal social protection and well-being across Europe;
• guarantees a competitive social market economy built on ecosystems that ensure productivity, innovation, good quality jobs and full employment;
• creates a resilient economy for all;
• ensures dialogue and the participation of the social partners, organised civil society and the public in order to cope with the challenges and far-reaching changes of today and the near future;
• protects against the current and future threats of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.

The Resolution is the outcome of the first ever Civil Society Week, held by the EESC in March 2024 to sound out the views of Europeans of all ages, social partners and civil society organisations. (mp)