Completion of the Single Market is one element necessary for the European venture to succeed. The EESC has a key role to play here, for the good of both consumers and business. To this end, the EESC set up a Single Market Observatory (SMO) in 1994, with the support of the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council. The SMO is made up of 33 members representing European civil society organisations. Its aim is to monitor how the Single Market operates in practice, identify where the problems are and help legislators remedy existing shortcomings.
The role of the EU-Turkey Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) created by the EESC in 1995 is to promote interaction between the economic and social actors of organised civil society in the EU and Turkey.
Some of the results achieved by the SOC section are presented in this leaflet, with a specific focus on consultative work (including exploratory and own-initiative opinions) and events organised by the Committee.
On 13 February 2013, the European Economic and Social Committee adopted an opinion on "Nautical industries: restructuring accelerated by the crisis." The works that resulted in this opinion were backed by a public hearing organized in partnership with the European Boating Industry (Representing the Leisure Marine Industry in Europe), within the framework of the 52nd International Boat Show 2012, held in Genoa, Italy, on 9 October 2012.
In May 2012, one beehive was installed on the European Economic and social Committee’s rooftop terrace. The initiative aims to increase urban biodiversity and sends a message of hope for the future of our bees and natural ecosystems.
For the fourth year running, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is offering an unique opportunity for secondary schools from across Europe to come to Brussels to debate, negotiate, stand up for their beliefs and try to find a consensus in a simulated plenary session.
Social Media have clearly altered the nature of civil society and also have an impact on democratic and political engagement, particularly among civil society organisations.
