The 2026 Civil Society Week organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) concluded on Thursday 5 March with the achievement of an important milestone. The stage is now set for the EESC to take part in the Commission's Civil Society Platform and host its annual summit.

The EESC recommends to:

• ensure that any simplification of sustainable finance legislation, including disclosure requirements, does not weaken the contribution of the financial system and its credit and investment products to achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal within the legally bound timelines, and does not weaken measures against greenwashing; 

Gender stereotypes continue to be perpetuated and amplified by contemporary media, particularly in the digital sphere. At a conference organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), speakers called for stronger use of EU legal instruments to address the repression of female journalists, both online and offline.

Barely 2 months ago, we saw the quick unfolding of the special military operation in Venezuela, in open disregard of international order. We have spent the best part of January and February on the edge of a possible US seizure (and even military intervention) against a European NATO ally in Greenland. Now, half a year after the bombings of what was allegedly Iran's nuclear programme, Trump has started another special military operation in Iran.