EESC to hold high-level debate on Eradicating Poverty by 2050 at October plenary

21-22 October 2026

European Parliament, Paul-Henri Spaak building (Grand hemicycle – PHSHEM), 1047 Brussels

Web stream click here

AGENDA

Debates

Wednesday 21 October 2026 at 16:00

EU technological sovereignty, with Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy,

linked to INT/1127 - Chips Act 2 and TEN/878 - Overcoming digital dependencies protects workers’ rights and data – EU sovereignty in the cloud

Thursday 22 October 2026 at 10:00

High-level debate on ‘Eradicating Poverty by 2050: fulfilling our collective responsibility’, with Séamus Boland, President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Dara Calleary, Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural and Community Development, 

Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU, Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, responsible for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Carlos Susias, President of the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN), Li Andersson, Chair of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, European Parliament. More

Opinions in the spotlight

AI

Overcoming digital dependencies protects workers’ rights and data – EU sovereignty in the cloud (TEN/878, rapporteur: Thomas Kattnig (AT-II))

The EESC calls for a cross-sectoral EU digital sovereignty strategy to reduce critical dependencies on non-EU cloud, AI and platform providers, while strengthening data protection, interoperability and the ability to switch providers. The Committee also urges the EU and Member States to invest in “Made in the EU” digital infrastructure and prioritise open-source solutions and European alternatives through “EU first” and “comply or explain” public procurement principles. More

ENERGY

Future-proofing electricity bills in the EU (TEN/892, rapporteur: Christophe Béguinet (FR-II))

The EESC assesses the European Commission's Electrification Action Plan, unveiled in July 2026, and its objective to future-proof electricity bills in the EU by lowering system costs and fostering electrification and digitalisation. The Committee recommends a holistic approach to the electricity system, supported by consolidated, reliable and near-real-time data to underpin overall efficiency. More

INTERNAL MARKET

Digital Fairness Act (INT/1132, rapporteur: Oleg Roibu (RO-I))

The Digital Fairness Act (DFA) should address gaps in consumer protection and clarify how existing rules apply in digital markets. The current concept of the average and vulnerable consumer should be reassessed in the context of digital market. The EESC also calls for a harmonised EU definition of a digital influencer and for influencers' obligations to be clarified. More

Chips Act 2 (INT/1127, rapporteur Gonçalo Lobo Xavier (PT-I), co-rapporteur Dirk Bergrath (DE-II))

The EESC welcomes the Commission’s Chips Act 2 proposal as a timely evolution of the original Chips Act, recognising semiconductors as a strategic asset for Europe’s competitiveness, technological sovereignty, economic security and industrial resilience. The Regulation should be guided by industrial competitiveness and strategic autonomy, with a view of Europe building a uniquely European semiconductor system across the full value chain. More

Boosting productivity through a more integrated Single Market (INT/1121, rapporteur Philip Von Brockdorff (MT-III))

Since a fully functioning single market has the potential to be the most powerful driver of productivity in Europe, the EESC believes that the single market integration must become a political priority backed by measurable targets and timelines. The main obstacle to EU firms expanding across borders are regulatory fragmentation, differing standards and red tape. More

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

Water security starts with restoring the global water cycle (REX 618, rapporteurs: Milena Angelova (BG-I), Carlos Trindade (PT-II), Ioannis Vardakastanis (EL-III))

The EESC calls for stronger EU 'Blue Diplomacy', common international rules and dedicated funding for restoration projects, including easier access for local communities. The goal is more reliable water supplies, healthier ecosystems and better protection from droughts and floods. More

ENVIRONMENT

Reforming climate governance in light of recent international judicial decisions (NAT/987, rapporteur: Corina Murafa Benga (RO-III))

The EESC calls for reform of global climate governance to make decision-making more effective and transparent and to strengthen civil society participation and influence at global climate summits. It also examines how recent international court rulings, particularly the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion of 23 July 2025, can shape climate negotiations and the future governance of the UN climate process. More

ECONOMY

2026 European Semester – Spring Package (ECO/703, rapporteur: Gonçalo Lobo Xavier (PT-I), co-rapporteur: Philip von Brockdorff (MT-II))

The EESC calls for a more integrated European Semester that links reforms and investment with sustainable competitiveness and social cohesion. It urges balanced country-specific recommendations, stronger administrative capacity and the systematic integration of single market performance and social convergence. Looking ahead to the next MFF, the Committee calls for better alignment of reforms and investment across all levels of government, drawing on lessons from the Recovery and Resilience Facility while avoiding punitive macroeconomic conditionality. It also stresses that organised civil society must be involved meaningfully, structurally and in good time. More

STRATEGIC AUTONOMY

Building a Skilled Workforce for Strategic Autonomy: Advancing Circular Economy Preparedness (CCMI/268, rapporteur: Adelina Dabu (RO-I), co-rapporteur: Srita Heide (DE-Cat.3))

The opinion highlights the key role of skills development in supporting the transition to a circular economy and strengthening the EU’s strategic autonomy. It calls for policies that equip workers with the competencies needed for resource-efficient and innovative industries, helping to boost competitiveness, resilience and sustainable growth across Europe. More

POVERTY

Civil society at the heart of Europe’s fight against poverty (SDG 1) (SOC/865, rapporteur: Anna Schoemakers (NL-III))

The EESC calls for civil society to be placed at the heart of efforts to fight poverty, stressing that strong democracy, civic participation and an open civic space are essential for effective poverty reduction. It calls for civil society organisations and the social economy to be treated as strategic partners in implementing the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, with structured dialogue, accessible funding and concrete measures to support their participation at EU, national and local level. More

Strengthening the Child Guarantee (SOC/872, rapporteur: Kinga Joó (HU-III))

The EESC calls for a stronger European Child Guarantee to help break the cycle of child poverty and ensure that vulnerable children can access essential services. It stresses the importance of quality employment for parents and affordable, accessible childcare, and calls for dedicated EU funding to tackle child poverty, better access to support for particularly vulnerable children, and greater involvement of local authorities and civil society in delivering the Guarantee. More

Anti-poverty strategy and inter-generational poverty (SOC/875, rapporteur: Jack O’Connor (IE-II), co-rapporteur: Krzysztof Balon (PL-III))

The EESC welcomes the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy but calls for a comprehensive, rights-based and adequately funded approach, backed by clear and measurable targets. It stresses that breaking the cycle of poverty between generations requires action from childhood into adulthood, including access to quality education, jobs, housing, childcare and social protection, alongside stronger measures to tackle in-work poverty and ensure adequate minimum incomes and pensions. More

Fighting housing exclusion and homelessness (SOC/876, rapporteur: Cristian Pîrvulescu (RO-III))

The EESC welcomes the proposed Council recommendation on housing exclusion but calls for a stronger focus on preventing and ending homelessness, firmly based on fundamental rights. It supports the "Housing First" approach and calls for stronger public action to increase access to adequate and affordable housing, backed by sustainable funding, coordinated national strategies and the involvement of civil society and people with direct experience of homelessness. More

SOCIAL AFFAIRS

Enhancing the strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities (SOC/870, rapporteur: Ioannis Vardakastanis (GR-III))

The EESC welcomes the new actions under the EU Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities up to 2030 but calls for stronger commitments and more binding measures to advance disability rights. It stresses that people with disabilities and their representative organisations must be closely involved in implementing and reviewing the measures and calls for clear deadlines and monitoring to ensure that the strategy delivers meaningful results. More

Inclusive democratic participation: promoting civil society in communities (SOC/873, rapporteur: Ionuţ Sibian (RO-III))

The EESC calls for more inclusive democratic participation, with civil society and local communities given a stronger role in shaping and implementing policies. It recommends permanent dialogue and partnerships between public authorities and civil society, better protection and funding for civil society organisations, and measures to ensure that disadvantaged and under-represented groups can participate effectively. More

Equality and the competitiveness agenda (SOC/874, rapporteur: Rebecca Sunnus (DE-III))
The EESC argues that equality and competitiveness are mutually reinforcing and calls for barriers to education, skills, employment, entrepreneurship and leadership to be removed so that Europe can make better use of its talent. It stresses that greater labour-market participation, gender equality, disability inclusion and lifelong learning can help tackle labour shortages and strengthen productivity. More

Employment Guidelines (SOC/877, rapporteur: David Hafner (AT-II))

The EESC welcomes the stronger focus in the EU’s revised employment guidelines on quality jobs, training, collective bargaining and social protection. It calls for better access to lifelong learning, support for disadvantaged people to enter or return to work, stronger collective bargaining and fair working conditions, while ensuring that the use of AI and new forms of work respect workers’ rights. More

For more information, please contact:

EESC Press Unit

E-mail: press@eesc.europa.eu 

Tel: + 32 2 546 9793

@EESC_PRESS