Liaison Group Newsletter May 2026

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Dear Members of the Liaison Group,

The growing number of devastating conflicts around the world is a stark reminder of how urgently we need a strong and vocal civil society, one that speaks up at a time when too many are trying to silence civic space.

The most pressing illustration of this today is the conflict in the Middle East. Since the outbreak of hostilities, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered what the International Energy Agency has described as the worst global energy security challenge in history. For Europe, this translated into soaring gas prices and a downward revision of growth forecasts. But behind these macroeconomic figures and numbers lies a deeply human reality: energy shocks impact low-income households the most, deepening the inequalities we are committed to fight. 

As President of the EESC, I place equality at the heart of my mandate, embodied in the first pillar of my programme, "A Union of Opportunities." The energy crisis now unfolding threatens this ambition. Rising energy costs are not simply an economic challenge, they rapidly become a social one, widening the gap between those who can absorb higher bills and those who were already vulnerable. They deepen the divide between urban and rural areas, drive up inflation, threaten jobs, and push more people into poverty.

This is why I welcomed the Commission's AccelerateEU energy package as a crucial instrument to support citizens across Europe and to ensure that the transition to clean energy remains fair and inclusive. Civil society's voice is essential in this effort: to hold institutions to account and to ensure that Europe brings fairness, competitiveness and sustainability together in its approach to the Just Transition. This is what makes Europe strong. 

I look forward to seeing you all at the upcoming Liaison Group meeting in June, where we will have much to discuss, including the latest developments on the EU civil society strategy and upcoming events co-organised with EU institutions and key partners. 

Seamus Boland
President of the EESC 
Co-chair of the Liaison Group