Comité Económico y Social Europeo
With a view to taking stock of the Action Plan's implementation, looking at next steps and discussing the goals and practicalities of a European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform, the EESC and the European Commission co-organised a conference which took place on 9-10 March in Brussels.
The second meeting of the EU Civil Society Domestic Advisory Group under the EU-Ukraine DCFTA took place on 8 March 2017 at the EESC premises. The meeting was chaired by Ms Isabelle Brose.
The European Migration Forum – the dialogue platform on migration, asylum and migrant integration - met for the third time in March 2017.
Participation in the Forum meeting is by invitation only
The severe economic crisis as well as the challenges of the Sustainable Development Goals require the EU to move forward with its strategic thinking beyond Europe 2020. The EESC intends to launch the debate with an EESC opinion on a long-term strategy for a sustainable Europe. The hearing on 1 March with experts and stakeholders should provide input for the further elaboration of the EESC opinion.
On June 2016, the Commission and the European external Action service presented the Joint Communication 'Towards an EU strategy for international cultural relations'. In it, three work streams are outlined:
- Supporting culture as an engine for sustainable social and economic development.
- Promoting Culture and intercultural dialogue for peaceful inter-community relations.
- Reinforcing cooperation of cultural heritage.
For the 4th time, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and Serbia held the Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee (JCC). The JCC is a civil society platform established between the EESC and Serbian civil society. It complements the EU institutional framework related to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the EU and Serbia, with a civil society point of view. This joint institution allows civil society organisations on both sides to monitor the country's accession negotiations. It is also a platform to discuss issues of common interest and to inform the public at large of the challenges ahead during the accession period.
On 28 February 2017, the Labour Market Observatory (LMO) organised a public event on the topic of long-term unemployment, including aspects related to Roma and persons with disabilities. We discussed about the current state of play, further initiatives and good practices examples in this field, as well as about our Observatory's project to assess the implementation of the 2016 Council recommendation on long-term unemployed by Member States.
523rd Plenary Session
Thursday 23 February 2017: General debate on the Future of the EESC.
During the 5th EU-Korea Civil Society Forum (CSF), participants will discuss labour standards with the ILO representative, including progress achieved by both Parties to the Agreement as well as the next steps in the ratification and effective implementation of the ILO fundamental and other up-to-date conventions. Both DAGs also will exchange information about the role of civil society in the EU and the Republic of Korea in the development and implementation of the climate change policy at national, EU and international level. They then will adopt final conclusions.
The 2nd meeting of the EU-Georgia Civil Society Platform (CSP) will be held on 16 February 2017 at the EESC. The CSP complements the political bodies existing within the framework of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement, and it allows civil society organisations from both sides to monitor the implementation process and prepare recommendations to the relevant authorities both in Georgia as well as in the European Union.
The CSP is made up of nine members from both Parties, representing the EESC and large European civil society networks, on the one side, and civil society organisations from Georgia, on the other side.
