Liaison Group Newsletter March 2024

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Dear members of the Liaison Group, dear colleagues and friends,

It is now only 80 days until the EU elections in the beginning of June. At the EESC, we particularly value the role of civil society in this crucial moment. In our March plenary, we organised a debate on the European elections through the civil society lens. We looked into the most pressing topics in the EU ahead of the elections, the importance of raising awareness to encourage voting, and the role of civil society in engaging in the elections and preparing for the next legislative term. This is why we adopted an EESC resolution calling on EU citizens to participate and vote.

In this regard, our cooperation with the European Parliament is fundamental; the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with President Metsola marked strong mutual support in each other's efforts to increase voter participation. We further enhanced synergies in media relations when communicating about the European elections and strengthened cooperation to counter information manipulation. We are confident that this joint effort will help increase voter turnout.

March was a particularly important month for the EESC. As you know, from the 4th to the 7th of March, we hosted the first edition of our flagship event, the Civil Society Week. It was fulfilling to bring together more than 800 people of all ages and backgrounds from civil society to discuss the upcoming elections and the future of the EU.

I am very grateful for all the work the Liaison Group put into the organisation of the different sessions. The voice of civil society has never been so clear about its demands: more citizens' participation; more collaboration with organised civil society; more youth involvement; a more democratic and inclusive civic space; and last but not least, an economy that works for all.

These vocal and strong messages will feed into an EESC resolution in July, outlining the expectations of civil society for the new European Parliament and Commission. I am determined to have the EESC play an even stronger role in the upcoming months; we cannot fail the democracy test that the European elections pose. I would like to thank all the Liaison Group members for their work and commitment. Now more than ever, it is fundamental to join forces and defend our democratic values, making the voices of civil society heard.

Oliver Röpke
President of the EESC
Co-chair of the Liaison Group