The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) will host the third edition of Civil Society Week, from 2 to 5 March 2026, under the title People, Democracy, Resilience – Our Future! The programme also includes the annual European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) Day, which returns on 3 March for its 14th edition.
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) will host the third edition of Civil Society Week, from 2 to 5 March 2026, under the title People, Democracy, Resilience – Our Future! The programme also includes the annual European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) Day, which returns on 3 March for its 14th edition.
The event will focus on tackling poverty, reducing social exclusion, involving the public and bridging divides across regions and generations to rebuild trust and foster lasting social cohesion. In this context, advancing diversity, civic engagement, equality and inclusion will be key pathways to renewing Europe’s social and democratic promise for future generations.
The four-day programme will feature sessions organised by the EESC Liaison Group with European civil society organisations and networks, the ECI Day, as well as sessions held by national economic and social councils and the EESC Ad Hoc Group on Fundamental Rights and the Rule of Law (FRRL Group). Participants will include youth representatives, journalists and civil society actors from candidate countries.
Registration will open on 2 February.
The full programme and registration link will be available soon on the event webpage.
On 19-20 March, the European Economic and Social Committee will host Your Europe, Your Say! (YEYS) 2026 under the theme ‘Meaningful Connections, Active Participation and Democratic Engagement’.
On 19-20 March, the European Economic and Social Committee will host Your Europe, Your Say! (YEYS) 2026 under the theme ‘Meaningful Connections, Active Participation and Democratic Engagement’.
This year’s call for applications attracted more than 3 000 submissions, including over 2 500 from individuals and around 500 from secondary schools. From this pool, one school per country was selected to participate, representing the EU Member States, the nine candidate countries and the UK. More than 40 individual participants from all the above countries will also join, ensuring a diverse and inclusive exchange of views. The highest number of applications came from Italy, Romania and Ukraine.
Starting in mid-January, EESC members will visit the selected schools to present YEYS and explain the Committee’s role in shaping Europe’s future.
YEYS 2026 aims to be more than an event. It is a platform for young people to connect, actively engage and contribute to democratic life across Europe, and is expected to feed into broader discussions and consultation processes on the next EU Youth Strategy. You can find more information on the YEYS webpage.
