Euroopan talous- ja sosiaalikomitea
ETSK on 1990-luvulta lähtien työskennellyt vastaavien Latinalaisen Amerikan ja Karibian alueen maissa toimivien 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 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:
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.
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) will celebrate its Ninth meeting of European Union, Latin American and Caribbean Organised Civil Society in Panama City on 3 and 4 October 2017. The meeting will take place within the framework of the preparation of the 9th Summit of Heads of State or Government of the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean and will enable the development of dialogue between civil society organizations in the EU and LAC, promote the strengthening of these organizations and bring to light the point of view of organized civil society before the Heads of State.
The event will bring together 120 participants, including EESC members, organized civil society representatives from Latin American and the Caribbean, as well as guest speakers. The topics for discussion include multilateralism, open and fair trade, and decent work and the preservation of the environment as pillars of sustainable development.
During the meeting, the members of the DAG debriefed on the results of the meeting with Colombia and Peru under the Trade and Sustainable Development Title, which took place on 7-8 December in Brussels . The representatives of the European External Action Service (EEAS) presented information about the EU relations and cooperation with Colombia and Peru. The Representatives of the DG Trade informed the members of the DAG on recent developments regarding the Trade and Sustainable development chapter as well as on their recent mission to Ecuador. The Group held then an internal debate on the topics to be selected for the next joint meetings, on the state of play of constitution of DAGs in Colombia and Peru and on the rights of indigene communities in Peru.
During the meeting, the EU Domestic Advisory Group (EU DAG) and civil society representatives from Colombia and Peru will discuss 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 will also discuss economic, social, environmental and human rights impacts resulting from the implementation of the Agreement. The participants will reflect moreover on how the civil society from the EU, Colombia and Peru can cooperate to promote sustainable development in the context of trade relations and prepare for the next joint meeting. The participants may adopt a joint declaration summarising outcomes of their discussion and present it to the Parties during the open session planned for 8 December.
