By the EESC Civil Society Organisations' Group

On 14 December, members of the Civil Society Organisations' Group of the EESC re-elected Séamus Boland as group president for another two and a half years, by acclamation. 

Séamus Boland will chair the group for his second half-term, from April 2023 to September 2025. The Irishman, who is a farmer and represents an organisation for rural and community development at the Committee, has chaired the group since October 2020. Mr Boland has been a member of the Committee since 2011.

The eradication of poverty and the role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in combating poverty will remain the overarching priority during his presidency.

"Poverty is heading for an all-time high as a consequence of COVID-19, climate change and the geopolitical turmoil due to the war in Ukraine. It affects all spheres of life and prevents us from achieving a sustainable future for all," said Séamus Boland. "Poverty eradication therefore remains the overriding priority of my presidency and civil society organisations play a pivotal role in combating poverty. CSOs help voice local concerns, define local needs and find local solutions. This is crucial for attaining the first Sustainable Development Goal, which is to eradicate extreme poverty everywhere."

For 2023, Séamus Boland proposes concentrating the work of the group on the following priority areas:

• Resilient European health and care systems;
• Climate change, energy poverty and vulnerable groups;
• Skills, digitalisation and vulnerable persons;
• The role of CSOs in defending and strengthening European democracy;
• Empowering young people and protecting children.

During its meeting, the Civil Society Organisations' Group also nominated candidates for other leadership positions at the Committee for the second half of the 2020-2025 term.

• Krzysztof Pater as EESC Vice-President in charge of the Budget
• Baiba Miltoviča as President of the Section for Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and Information Society (TEN)
• Ioannis Vardakastanis as President of the Section for Economic and Monetary Union and Economic and Social Cohesion (ECO)
• Panagiotis Gkofas for Quaestor

These nominees will be confirmed by a vote during the Committee's mid-term renewal in April 2023.

To find out more, continue reading at: europa.eu/!mmX8NV (jk)