Euroopan talous- ja sosiaalikomitea
ETSK on 1990-luvulta lähtien työskennellyt Latinalaisen Amerikan ja Karibian alueen maissa toimivien vastaavien organisaatioiden kanssa. Useissa ETSK:n lausunnoissa on keskitytty suhteisiin tämän alueen kanssa alueellisella, paikallisella ja valtiollisella tasolla. ETSK:n painopisteitä ovat kansalaisyhteiskunnan organisaatioiden kehittäminen, taloudellinen ja sosiaalinen kehitys, alueellinen yhdentyminen ja monenvälinen yhteistyö.
ETSK järjestää alueellisella tasolla kahdesti vuodessa Euroopan, Latinalaisen Amerikan ja Karibian alueen kansalaisyhteiskunnan organisaatioiden edustajien kokouksen EU:n ja Latinalaisen Amerikan ja Karibian valtioiden yhteisön (CELAC) huippukokouksen valmistelua varten.
Paikallisella ja kansallisella tasolla on perustettu useita pysyviä rakenteita: ETSK perusti vuonna 2009 Brasilian talous- ja sosiaalineuvoston kanssa kansalaisyhteiskunnan pyöreän pöydän ryhmän, joka tarjoaa foorumin Brasilian ja Euroopan kansalaisyhteiskunnan edustajien vuoropuhelulle ja jatkuvalle yhteistyölle. EU:n ja Chilen assosiaatiosopimuksessa komitealle annettiin tehtäväksi perustaa neuvoa-antava sekakomitea Chilen kansalaisyhteiskuntaa edustavan vastaavan elimen kanssa sopimuksen seurantaa varten. Sekakomitea perustettiin lopulta vuonna 2016. ETSK osallistuu Andien yhteisön maissa EU:n sekä Kolumbian, Perun ja Ecuadorin vapaakauppasopimusta seuraavan sisäisen neuvoa-antavan ryhmän toimintaan. Lisäksi ETSK osallistuu Cariforum–EU-neuvoa-antavaan komiteaan, joka seuraa EU:n ja Cariforum-valtioiden talouskumppanuussopimusta. ETSK on luonut pysyviä suhteita vastaaviin institutionaalisiin elimiin Mercosur-maissa (neuvoa-antava talous- ja sosiaalifoorumi) ja Keski-Amerikan maissa (Keski-Amerikan integraatiojärjestelmän neuvoa-antava komitea).
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.
The EU-Chile Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) held its sixth preparatory meeting in the new mandate on 7 December 2020, one week after the successful visit of Foreign Affairs Minister Andrés Allamand Zavalala in Brussels.
The fourth meeting of the EU-Chile Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), established by the EU-Chile Association Agreement was held via a video conference on 27 November 2019. At this meeting, the members adopted a Joint Statement.
The JCC is made up of eighteen members, nine from the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and nine from Chilean civil society organisations. It is co-chaired by Josep Puxeu Rocamora, EESC member, and Roberto Zúñiga Belauzarán, Director, National Confederation of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (CONAPYME).
The fifth meeting of the EU-Chile Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), established by the EU-Chile Association Agreement was held via a video conference on 15 May 2020.
The members discussed topics of interest for both parties, such as the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on cooperation, trade and investment, decent work and informal economy and the Agenda for Sustainable Development; as well as proposals for strengthening of the role of the Joint Consultative Committee. The members adopted a Final Declaration on these topics.
The Latin America Follow up Committee of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held a Hearing on the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement: The views of organized civil society on 13 of November 2019.
The main purpose of the debate was to:
During the meeting, the EU Domestic Advisory Group (EU DAG) and civil society representatives from the Colombia DAG, Peru Domestic Mechanism and Ecuador DAG discussed the implementation of the Trade and Sustainable Development Title of the Trade Agreement, with a particular focus on respect for international labour and environmental standards. They also discussed economic, social, environmental and human rights impacts resulting from the implementation of the Agreement. The participants reflected on how the civil society from the EU, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador can cooperate to promote sustainable development in the context of trade relations and prepare for the next joint meeting.
During the meeting, the EU Domestic Advisory Group (EU DAG) and civil society representatives from Colombia, Peru and Ecuador discussed implementation of the Trade and Sustainable Development Title of the Trade Agreement, with a particular focus on respect for international labour and environmental standards. They also discussed economic, social, environmental and human rights impacts resulting from the implementation of the Agreement. The participants reflected moreover on how the civil society from the EU, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador can cooperate to promote sustainable development in the context of trade relations and prepare for the next joint meeting. The participants adopted a joint declaration summarising outcomes of their discussion and presented it to the Parties during the Open Session with civil society on 12 December.
On 6 and 7 December 2018, the third meeting of the EU-Chile Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), established by the EU-Chile Association Agreement was held in Santiago de Chile. The members discussed topics of interest for both parties, such as investment and cooperation, decent work and informal economy, the Sustainable Development Agenda and proposals to reinforce the role of the Joint Consultative Committee. They adopted a Final Declaration on these four topics.
The JCC is made up of eighteen members, nine from the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and nine from Chilean civil society organisations. It is co-chaired by Josep Puxeu Rocamora, EESC member, and Roberto Zúñiga Belauzarán, Director, National Confederation of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (CONAPYME).
4ª reunión conjunta de los grupos asesores nacionales de la UE, Colombia, Perú y Ecuador y sesión abierta
During the meeting, members of the GCI were informed by the President on the civil society meeting of EuroLat's standing parliamentary committees (22-24 May), the hearing in the Walloon Parliament concerning the current state of The EU-Colombia, Peru and the FTA of Ecuador, as well as the public with DG Trade on the current status of the Advisory Groups. They were then interviewed by the European Commission on the preparation of the 2017 Civil Society Forum and the process of Ecuador's accession to the agreement.
