The European Commission’s Defence of Democracy package was the subject of a debate at the April EESC plenary session. Members of the EESC have expressed reservations about its timing and approach, particularly for addressing foreign influence. The EESC argued that the package is not only ineffective, but could harm civic spaces in Europe.
A new report from the Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law (FRRL) Group of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) highlights the growing challenges civil society organisations face in Europe. The report was unveiled on 7 November during the FRRL Group's conference on the current state of the rule of law and its impact on civic space.
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has slammed the EU for its inadequate support and insufficient funding for civil society organisations working in the area of fundamental rights, the rule of law and democracy. With civil society encountering ever more difficulties, the EESC announced that it would monitor the situation of democracy and human rights defenders more closely, both in the EU and in enlargement countries
On Thursday 20 July 2023, EESC President Oliver Röpke was honoured to invite the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, to the premises of the EESC in order to discuss the state of human rights inside and outside the European Union with representatives from important civil society organisations (CSOs).
Statement on the fourth European Commission's Rule of Law Report - Today, the European Commission issued its fourth Report on the Rule of Law. On this occasion, the EESC President and the Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law (FRRL) Group reassert the EESC's commitment to support the central role of civil society in that domain.
Despite being recognised as a constitutional principle of the EU, participatory democracy in Europe is still largely unstructured, with no formal institutional agreements that would allow citizens and civil society organisations to directly contribute to the development of EU policies
With populism and authoritarianism on the rise across Europe, civil society organisations face growing hostility. Battling with financial constraints, smear campaigns, political attacks and legal and administrative obstacles, they urgently need reinforced support on all fronts to be able to play their key role of making our societies more open, more accountable and just.
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) calls on the EU and Member States to work on better communicating fundamental rights and the rule of law towards the general population. In its opinion, the EESC suggests focusing on fairness and justice and giving a voice to those who experience human rights and human rights violations first hand.
The EESC Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law Group held a public hearing on protecting women's sexual and reproductive health and rights. Participants in the debate called for free health services, access to contraception, more inclusive policies, and reproductive and sexual education. This debate was organised in collaboration with the EESC Equality Group as part of a series of EESC events following up on the European Parliament's Gender Equality Week initiative.
