Coiste Eacnamaíoch agus Sóisialta na hEorpa
"I am proud to say that the European Economic and Social Committee has been leading the way when it comes to the promotion of the social economy. It is also a topic that features strongly in my own political manifesto."
Today is an important day for candidate countries, and for the European Union. We welcome the recommendation of the Commission to open accession negotiations for Ukraine and Moldova. We also welcome recommendations to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina and to grant candidate status to Georgia, upon them meeting certain necessary conditions. The EESC will foster this process by extending the scope of our bilateral civil society bodies, and from next year onwards integrate civil society representatives from EU candidate countries in the daily work of our Committee and perform civil society health check on the ground.
The relationship between European integration, the defence of EU founding values, and the role played by civil society is inseparable. For this reason, I have decided to place the defence of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law at the heart of my mandate.
Water is a global challenge and it very much concerns Europe too. Droughts are becoming more and more severe. Regions in all parts of our continent are being affected. The European Economic and Social Committee strongly believes that water can no longer be addressed in a silo mode or as a sub-chapter of another political priority. Water is THE priority.
The EESC has condemned in the strongest possible terms Hamas’ brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks across Israel. The EESC conveys its condolences and reiterates its sympathy with the families and its full solidarity with Israeli civil society. The EESC strongly emphasizes Israel’s right to defend itself in line with international law including international humanitarian law.
I would like to start by thanking all co-organisers and partners of today's conference: the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Economic and Social Council of Spain, Casa Mediterráneo and the Union for the Mediterranean with its "Day for the Mediterranean" campaign.
On 5 July President Röpke participated in the 2023 Euromed Summit organised in cooperation with the Union for the Mediterranean Secretariat, the Anna Lindh Foundation and Bibliotheca Alexandrina. This year's summit focused on water scarcity and desertification as well as on digital and energy transitions in the Euro-Mediterranean region.
The tragedy off the Peloponnese coast, southern Greece, in which hundreds of people are feared to be dead after a perilous voyage on an overcrowded fishing boat, proves, once again, the need for a common and effective migration and asylum policy.
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For photos of the President, please consult the EESC Media Library
