Civil Society Organisations' Bulletin - February 2026

By Cillian LOHAN, President, EESC Civil Society Organisations’ Group

By Ewa KULIK-BIELIŃSKA, member of the EESC EU-Ukraine Civil Society Platform and the EESC Civil Society Organisations’ Group, representing the Polish Donors’ Forum

By Pavel TRANTINA, member of the EESC Civil Society Organisations’ Group, representing the European Movement in the Czech Republic

By Ioannis VARDAKASTANIS, EESC rapporteur on 'The Island Dimension in European Cohesion, Competitiveness and Sustainable Development Policies' and member of the EESC Civil Society Organisations’ Group, representing the Greek National Confederation of Disabled People (ESAMEA) amongst others

By Thierry LIBAERT, EESC rapporteur on the '2030 Consumer Agenda' and member of the Civil Society Organisations’ Group, representing the endowment fund Equité Partagée, created by the NGO Max Havelaar/Fair Trade France

By Véronique WILLEMS, Secretary General of SMEunited

By Sarah DE HEUSCH, Director of Social Economy Europe (SEE)

By Lidija PAVIĆ-ROGOŠIĆ, Vice-President of the EESC Civil Society Organisations’ Group, representing the Croatian Sustainable Community Development (ODRAZ)

Join the third edition of Civil Society Week, taking place from 2 to 5 March 2026 at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels, under the title People, Democracy, Resilience – Our Future!.

Registrations are open until 27 February: here

We spoke with the rapporteur for the EESC opinion ECO/682, representing the Christian Associations of Italian Workers (ACLI).

By Joe HEALY, rapporteur for the EESC opinion NAT/960 and Member of the Civil Society Organisations’ Group, representing the Irish Farmers Association (IFA)

By Katrīna Leitāne, co-rapporteur for the EESC opinion SOC/842 and member of the Civil Society Organisations’ Group, representing the National Youth Council of Latvia

At its plenary session on 21 January, the EESC held a debate on artificial intelligence (AI) with guest speakers from the European Commission, the Centre for Future Generations and the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS). The debate was linked to the presentation and adoption of its opinion INT/1105 on Apply AI Strategy – strengthening the AI continent. Read the key messages of the members of the EESC Civil Society Organisations’ Group.

At its plenary session on 21 January, the EESC held a debate on the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) My Voice, My Choice: For Safe and Accessible Abortion, with a representative of the ECI and guest speakers from the European Commission, the European Parliament and the European Women’s Lobby. The debate was linked to the presentation and adoption of the Committee's opinion on the ECI SOC/848. Read the key messages of the members of the EESC Civil Society Organisations’ Group.

At its plenary session on 22 January, the EESC held a debate on the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union, with Marilena Raouna, Deputy Minister for European Affairs of Cyprus. Read the key messages of the members of the EESC Civil Society Organisations’ Group.