Press releases

  • Reference number
    21/2020

    We are awaiting the New Pact on Migration and Asylum with great hope but also concern, the EESC tells Commissioner Schinas.

    At its July plenary session, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) hosted a debate with Commission Vice-President, Margaritis Schinas, who presented several upcoming initiatives falling under his portfolio of "Promoting our European Way of Life", including the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, the Skills Agenda, the EU for Health Programme and the new Security Union Strategy.

  • Reference number
    20/2020

    President Jahier criticised the EU Council's recent proposal to give national governments the power to veto a country's reform programmes under the package. In a debate with economy commissioner Paolo Gentiloni at the EESC plenary, Mr Jahier said the whole Committee stood behind the European Commission.

  • Reference number
    19/2020

    In an exchange of views on the priorities of Germany's presidency with the German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Peter Altmaier, the EESC said it applauds its highly ambitious goals and is ready to join forces 

  • Reference number
    18/2020

    Komitee tunnustab kuni 29 solidaarsusalgatust, mis on tehtud ELis ja Ühendkuningriigis eesmärgiga võidelda COVID-19 vastu ja pehmendada selle laastavaid lööke

  • Reference number
    17/2020

    The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) demonstrates its members' commitment on the ground to tackling the coronavirus crisis by officially opening a special section on its website.

  • Reference number
    17/2020

    The EESC says threats to the rule of law and fundamental rights and the shrinking space for civil society, as described in its report based on visits to several EU countries, may be further exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis

  • Reference number
    16/2020

    At its June plenary session, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted a resolution with its proposals for the post-COVID-19 crisis reconstruction and recovery. Under the slogan 'the EU must be guided by the principle of being considered a community of common destiny', the adopted text suggests taking the opportunity presented by the crisis to build a new societal model: “We cannot simply restore what existed in the past: we need to restructure and improve it.”

  • Reference number
    15/2020

    At its June plenary, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) hosted a debate on the recovery of the European economy following the crisis brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, stressing that the focus must now be on implementing the European Commission's plan.

  • Reference number
    14/2020

    At its June plenary session the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) hosted a debate with Michel Barnier, Head of the EU Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom. Barnier informed of the state of play of Brexit negotiations and expressed his disappointment over the attitude of the British government which, in his opinion, was not respecting the Political Declaration signed in October 2019: "We expect the UK to respect its engagements", said Barnier.

  • Reference number
    13/2020

    A few days after the European Commission presented its proposal for a major recovery plan to face the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, on 2 June the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held a webinar to assess its suitability. All participants agreed on the importance of this ambitious initiative, an example of the solidarity and the political will of all EU Member States in times of uncertainty.