Comité Económico y Social Europeo
Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 has proved to be an endurance test for human and social rights, democratic values, the rule of law and economic resilience in the EU. While navigating stormy waters, organised civil society is playing a key role in coping with the countless pandemic-related challenges at European, national, regional and local level.
As part of its work to prepare an opinion on 'Telework and gender equality', the SOC Section of the EESC is organising a virtual public hearing on Monday 15 January 2021, from 10:30 a.m. to 13:00 p.m.
A selection of stakeholders from all levels (institutions, agencies, social partners and civil society organisations) will be invited to share their concrete reflexions and recommendations on this vast subject. This includes for instance the factors and considerations for taking up telework, how to secure work-life balance while teleworking, ways to ensure gender equality throughout these processes and any other matters they believe to be of relevance in this context.
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In an exploratory opinion requested by the Portuguese Presidency of the Council, the SOC Section of the EESC is organising a virtual/hybrid public hearing on 7 January to discuss the challenges of teleworking with a focus on organization of working time, work life balance and the right to disconnect. Due to Covid-19, working from home has become the norm for millions of workers. Early estimates suggest that close to 40% of those currently working in the EU began to telework fulltime due to the pandemic.
The input session will bring together stakeholders and EESC Members to discuss fundamental rights, democracy and rule of law aspects of the COVID-19 crisis.
A first session will cover the ongoing impact of the crisis on the fundamental rights of employers, workers and civil society organisations. A second session will discuss how fundamental rights, democracy and the rule of law can play a key role in the design of a crisis exit strategy and in a post-COVID-19 recovery phase.
The EESC is organising a virtual hearing on the New Pact on Migration and Asylum on 26 November 2020. The aim of the hearing is to provide an understanding of the key elements of the Pact and evaluate its impact on the European migration and asylum framework. By including perspectives from relevant institutional stakeholders, think tanks, social partners and civil society organisations, it will explore whether the Pact brings about the systemic change necessary to overcome the current deadlock and develop a sustainable, rational and rights-based EU asylum and migration policy.
The EESC is organizing together with CEDEFOP a Policy learning forum (PLF) on 5-6 November 2020. The event aims at bringing together governments, social partners and civil society to help each other in the definition and implementation of the Council recommendation ‘Upskilling pathways: new opportunities for adults’ adopted in December 2016. This year's PLF follows on successful similar events of 2018 and 2019 being part of a series of events aiming to create a platform for mutual learning on upskilling adults with low level of skills.
What is the role of the media in raising awareness on disability rights and combating stigma towards persons with disability?
How can the Media help in portraying persons with disability in a manner consistent with a human rights approach to disability?
What can be done to enhance the voice of persons with disability in the Media?
The EESC Study Group on Disability Rights is organising a public hearing on "Communicating disability Rights" on 28 June 2019, where we will try to give an answer to these questions.
Your participation and input is most welcome!
The Civil Society Days 2019 will take place at a crucial moment for Europe, namely after the Sibiu Summit and the European elections and ahead of the constitution of the new European Parliament and European Commission.
Current pressures on our democratic systems are threatening fundamental values (respect for human rights, individual liberty, equality, the rule of law) and the civil society space within the European Union. The alarming consequence is an erosion of democracy and restricted civic space in several parts of the EU.
Against this backdrop and in consideration of the transformation processes the EU is facing, namely on economic, energy and ecological, social, and democratic and participatory level, this year's Civil Society Days will focus on two main pillars, Democracy and Sustainability, and will explore their links and interactions.
The event aims at bringing together governments, social partners and civil society to help each other in the definition and implementation of the Council recommendation ‘Upskilling pathways: new opportunities for adults’ adopted in December 2016.
The event will focus on how the EU and its Member States can contribute to the implementation of the Global Compact for safe, orderly and regular migration. The first panel will cover the views of relevant institutional stakeholders on what can and should be done at European level. The second panel will focus on the role that social partners and civil society organisations can play in working towards achieving the compact's objectives.
