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.
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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.
Some 42% of Europe's older population report that age discrimination is prevalent in their country, with ageism peaking in the workplace. As the proportion of people over 65 is set to steadily rise in the coming decades, the EU is in dire need of a comprehensive strategy which will allow for a fundamental change, both in policies and in society's perception of older people
In a plenary debate with Commission Vice President Dubravka Šuica, the EESC asked the Commission to present a new strategy for older persons before the end of the current mandate
Le secteur européen des soins risque de ne pas être en mesure de répondre aux besoins croissants de sa population vieillissante. Il est absolument nécessaire d’investir massivement dans ce domaine et d’y opérer un changement de conception des politiques, ce qui devrait permettre d’assurer que les prestataires de soins soient correctement rémunérés, qu’ils disposent d’horaires de travail réglementés et qu’ils bénéficient d’un soutien adéquat. Pour réaliser ces objectifs, l’action de l’Union européenne ne sera pas suffisante et la volonté politique au niveau national sera fondamentale, comme il ressort d’une audition du CESE.
The EESC firmly believes that a care model for dependent older people with long-term care needs should be mainstreamed into EU policymaking, given that the proportion of the population aged over 80 is expected to more than double by 2050. The pandemic revealed failures and shortcomings in this area, which must be addressed fast. The Commission's initiative to establish a new European Care Strategy is a step in this direction, but consultative institutions and European civil society organisations representing older people have to have a say.
Le CESE a organisé la quatrième réunion du programme qu’il consacre au secteur des prestataires de services à la personne logés à domicile dans l’UE dans le cadre de ses initiatives visant à «investir l’échelon local». Cette fois, la rencontre se tenait en Pologne, pays qui fournit une grande partie de la main-d’œuvre du secteur dans les États membres de l’ouest de l’Europe et qui commence lui aussi, depuis quelques années, à être confronté à une grave pénurie de personnel soignant qualifié.