The EESC's Permanent Group on Disability Rights concludes a visit to the Netherlands
On 9-10 December 2024, a delegation of three members from the Permanent Group on Disability Rights of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), accompanied by a representative from the European Disability Forum concluded a two-day visit to the Netherlands.
During the visit, the delegation had the opportunity to hear the Dutch umbrella organisation representing persons with disabilities Ieder(in) and representatives from public authorities, including the national police, about the Dutch policy on disaster risk reduction and civil protection.
You can read the report here.
Mission report from Country Visit to the Netherlands
Increasing digitalisation in the construction and housing industries and involving social economy actors in housing provision services can help address current challenges related to housing affordability and sustainability in Europe.
Increasing digitalisation in the construction and housing industries and involving social economy actors in housing provision services can help address current challenges related to housing affordability and sustainability in Europe. Since housing is not just a need but also a human right, a pan-European response to the various challenges is needed, according to a recent conference at the EESC.
On 21 November, the EESC’s Civil Society Organisations’ Group organised the conference Protecting Europe’s most vulnerable through sustainable and affordable housing,where discussions centred around how the EU and its Member States could make housing conditions across Europe more inclusive, affordable and sustainable.
Séamus Boland, President of the Civil Society Organisations’ Group, stressed that access to adequate housing constitutes a human right that requires a pan-European approach. He highlighted the link between increasing housing prices and poverty levels, pointing out that ‘the provision of affordable and sustainable housing is central to poverty eradication’.
Mr Boland also underlined that ‘the EU anti-poverty strategy and European Affordable Housing Plan proposed by the European Commission President-elect must be part of a cross-sectoral policy approach to end poverty. This approach must involve civil society organisations throughout the entire process of designing, implementing and monitoring solutions. Sustainable housing must be examined from a broader perspective that encompasses resource efficiency, circularity, resilience, adaptation and economic accessibility’.
The event also showcased the new EESC studyAffordable sustainable housing in the EU, commissioned by the Civil Society Organisations’ Group. The study explores policy solutions for achieving affordable and sustainable housing across the EU. It investigates two emerging trends: digitalisation and involving social economy actors in housing provision. The study examines innovative initiatives in six Member States, assessing their potential for broader application across Europe.
You can learn more about the medium and long-term policy recommendations of the EESC studyhere.
On 13 December 2024, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) and Press Club Belarus jointly organised a seminar on the role of Belarusian independent media in fostering a resilient and democratising society. Being the only source of information for people in the country, Belarusian independent media need to be supported financially and be involved in partnerships with western media to keep Belarus high on the news agenda.
Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on a public interface connected to the Internal Market Information System for the declaration of posting of workers and amending Regulation (EU) No 1024/2012
