The EESC issues between 160 and 190 opinions and information reports a year.
It also organises several annual initiatives and events with a focus on civil society and citizens’ participation such as the Civil Society Prize, the Civil Society Days, the Your Europe, Your Say youth plenary and the ECI Day.
Here you can find news and information about the EESC'swork, including its social media accounts, the EESC Info newsletter, photo galleries and videos.
The EESC brings together representatives from all areas of organised civil society, who give their independent advice on EU policies and legislation. The EESC's326 Members are organised into three groups: Employers, Workers and Various Interests.
The EESC has six sections, specialising in concrete topics of relevance to the citizens of the European Union, ranging from social to economic affairs, energy, environment, external relations or the internal market.
The Social Economy Intergroup of the European Parliament held the final hearing of its legislature on 6 February 2019 at the EESC. As the objective was to take stock of what has been done in the last 5 years in the field of the Social Economy, it was proposed to give this hearing a higher profile and to organise a joint event with the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee, the European Committee of the Regions and Social Economy Europe.
This opinion aims at promoting the value of strong civil society organisations as automatic stabilisers in our democratic systems, which are facing challenges from the rise of populist and extremist movements, distrust of the free press, authoritarian tendencies, and xenophobia. Democratic civil society organisations therefore need to be supported at all levels - local, regional, national and European.
Economic policy, EU Budget, taxation, and sustainable finance in the European Union
Debate
Representation of the European Commission in Spain, Paseo de la Castellana 46
Madrid
Spain
In this public event organised on 5 February 2019 in Madrid, we are looking to kick-start a debate on the principle features of the European Union economy, its current state and governance, taking into account the present and perspectives for the future, as well as the economic policies related to macroeconomics, taxation and finance.
The Spanish economy will be discussed using a European perspective, framed by the economic situation and European policy.
Organized jointly by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the Representation of the European Commission in Spain, the intention is to create a dialogue between representatives of civil society, the Spanish government and academia.
In view of the upcoming EU elections of 23-26 May, the EESC Study Group on Disability Rights is organising a public hearing on "Participation of Persons with disabilities in European elections ".
Are persons with disabilities really on equal terms with the rest of the population when talking about their right to vote?
What has been done so far and which are further steps to be taken?
The objective of this Hearing was to present the results already achieved in the field of Digital Health Literacy, but also to debate with the different stakeholders the role of the different sectors in this area and to discuss next steps to fully unleash the potential of this topic. The event brought together players from the European institutions, the pharmaceutical sector, healthcare professionals, patient organisations, insurance organisations, experts and academics, as well as EESC members to discuss this topical issue.
In this conference, we will discuss a legally binding instrument to ensure that businesses respect human rights, adding civil society support to the steps already taken by the European Parliament and mirroring civil society involvement in the UN process.
Taxation of enterprises that use digital technology is high on the political agenda. Goods are increasingly sold by including services provided over the internet. New business models are used and the need for a permanent establishment in a specific location is less pronounced than before. The EESC has been working on this thematic over the recent years and is currently drawing up an own-initiative opinion entitled Taxation in the digitalised economy. In this context the EESC will organise a public hearing Taxation in the Digitalised Economy – Which Way Forward? during which high-level participants will look at the digitalisation of the economy with a view to identifying possible solutions to the resulting taxation challenges - amongst others, on how to reform international taxation rights. The findings of the hearing will feed into the EESC opinion that will be adopted later in 2019.
The third edition of the Social Innovation for Refugee Inclusion seminar follows up from two previous events in 2016 and 2017. More than three years on from the peak period of arrivals to Europe, many countries are shifting from ‘crisis management’ towards long-term inclusion of migrant and refugee populations. This event aims to explore how innovations in living situations promote community-driven inclusion, overcoming divisions, facilitating economic opportunities, and fostering a sense of ‘home’.
The event is fully booked. No late registrations are possible.
Debate on Brexit, with Michel BARNIER, on Wednesday 23 January at 2.30 p.m. – Debate on "Reforming the WTO to adapt to developments in world trade", with Karl BRAUNER, on Wednesday 23 January at 4.30 p.m. – Debate on the presentation of the priorities of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU, with Vasilica Viorica DĂNCILĂ, prime minister of Romania, on Thursday 24 January at 9.30 a.m.
The EESC is organising a public hearing in the context of preparing an opinion on European philanthropy at the request of the Romanian Presidency. The hearing will focus on the following questions:
Which measures and initiatives should be taken at EU and national level to promote organised philanthropy?
How can the EU eliminate barriers within the internal market that are hindering the realisation of philanthropy's full potential?
How can philanthropy contribute to EU values, such as cohesion, social justice and European Policies, and to the competitiveness of the European economy?
The results of the hearing will feed into the EESC’s work on the opinion.