News

  • The President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Georges Dassis, participated on 12 April in the concluding session of the European Solidarity Corps Stakeholder Forum, alongside the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, and the President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani...

  • The phasing-out of coal in Europe needs smart long-term strategies. It is important to focus on the balance between the economic, environmental and social impacts. A change to renewables can be part of the solution. Regional investment schemes and the involvement of the local population concerned in order to build public support are key to a successful transition. On 7 April, the CCMI of the EESC held a high-level debate on "Industrial and energy transition – the industrial, economic and social consequences", bringing together...

  • Five years after the launch of the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) and after around 50 initiatives that have had quite limited success, the Commission has finally acted on the European Economic and Social Committee's (EESC) proposal for a review of the ECI regulation. At the Committee's 4th ECI Day, Commissioner Timmermans announced that he would carry out a review of the instrument and that a proposal for the revised ECI regulation would be launched as early as autumn this year.

  • The President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Georges Dassis, participated on 12 April in the concluding session of the European Solidarity Corps Stakeholder Forum, alongside the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, and the President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani.

  • European Parliament President, Antonio Tajani, met with European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) President, Georges Dassis today.  Both agreed on the need to reinforce political cooperation between the two institutions and to work on concrete actions to reduce the distance between EU institutions and citizens. In its role as the institutional representative of civil society, the EESC plays a key role in bridging that gap.

  • On Tuesday, the 11th of April, President Georges Dassis welcomed Ms. Cecilia Wikström, Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs of the European Parliament for a working lunch at the Committee. The President expressed his interest for "a reinforced and meaningful cooperation" between the European Economic and Social Committee and the Parliament and for substantial ways in which the work of the EESC can be helpful for the EP, for example through the presence of EESC Rapporteurs in EP Committee meetings and  hearings. He went on to underline the importance that rapporteurs on both sides work on priority files together, stating that: "we need to create stronger links between those working on the same cause, all dedicated to the cause of true European integration" as well as that the EESC can be a great help for the Members of the European Parliament, "who have nothing to lose and everything to gain" from a closer working relationship.

  • The EU budget needs to be reformed – in order to provide Europe with the necessary resources to address its challenges and policy priorities. The EU High Level Group on Own Resources (recommends reforms both on the revenue and the expenditure side, which are vital in order to answer citizens’ concerns. This was the main message of the debate on the future financing of the EU with Mario Monti, former Italian Prime Minister and EU Commissioner, at the EESC. The EESC has since long advocated the introduction of a new system of own resources that would help ...

  • The EESC has published a brochure about the 2016 Civil Society Prize, drawing attention to the work of European civil society organisations and citizens who have come up with innovative ways to help refugees and migrants amidst the growing nationalistic, xenophobic and racist trends that have emerged during the recent migrant crisis in Europe. The brochure presents the five winning projects and ...

  • On 5 April, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)'s NAT section invited supporters and opponents of the European Citizens' Initiative calling for a ban on glyphosate to debate in its premises. A million supporters from at least 7 member states are needed in order for the Commission to consider taking action about this substance along the demands of the ECI. After two months the initiative has already collected over 640,000 signatures. The ECI includes three requests: firstly, a ban on glyphosate, secondly, a reform of the pesticide approval procedure, and thirdly, setting EU-wide mandatory reduction targets for pesticide use.

  • On 7th April 2017, Georges Dassis, President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) – the EU advisory body representing civil society, will take part in a seminar in Belgrade organised by the by the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI).