European Economic and Social Committee
The EESC has been working with Latin American and Caribbean counterpart organisations since the 1990s. Several EESC's opinions have focused on relations with this region, at regional, sub-regional and national level. The EESC's priorities include the development of civil society organisations, economic and social development, regional integration and cooperation in the multilateral sphere.
At a regional level, the EESC organises biennial meetings between civil society organisation representatives in Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, as one of the preparatory events prior to the EU-CELAC Summit.
At sub-regional and national level, several permanent structures have been set up: In 2009, the EESC set up a civil society Round Table with the Brazilian Economic and Social Council to provide a forum for dialogue and continuous cooperation between representatives of Brazilian and European civil society. The EU-Chile Association Agreement gave the Committee a mandate to establish a Joint Consultative Committee with its Chilean civil society counterpart in order to monitor the agreement, which was finally set up in 2016. As regards the Andean Community countries, the EESC takes part in the Domestic Advisory Group monitoring the EU-Colombia/Peru/Ecuador free trade agreement. It also participates in the CARIFORUM-EU Consultative Committee that monitors the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement. Permanent relations have been established with the EESC's institutional counterparts in Mercosur (the Economic and Social Consultative Forum) and Central America (the Consultative Committee of the Central American Integration System).
The agenda of the 10th hybrid meeting of the JCC includes the presentation of the ongoing work objectives, as well as the discussion on the EU-Chile Advanced Framework Agreement, in particular the state of play of the ratification process and the role of the civil society under the renewed deal.
EU-Central America joint meeting of civil society Advisory Groups and Civil Society Dialogue Forum
18th meeting of the EU - DAG Colombia-Peru-Ecuador
17 October 2022 - Hybrid Brussels
8th joint meeting of the EU DAG and representatives from the domestic mechanisms of Colombia, Peru and Ecuador and Civil Society Open Session
28 October 2022 - Virtual
The 21st meeting of the EU Advisory Group for the EU-Central America Association Agreement took place virtually on 4 April 2022.
The Cariforum-EU Consultative Committee (CC) was established with the task and responsibility of promoting dialogue and cooperation between representatives of organisations of civil society, including the academic community, and social and economic partners.
Under the auspices of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS)-European Union relations, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) organises regular consultation meetings with ACP and EU economic and social stakeholders, including representatives of civil society originating from the 79 ACP countries.
The 19th meeting of the EU Advisory Group for the EU-Central America Association Agreement took place virtually on 18 March 2021.
