The aim of the conference was to discuss the opportunities and challenges provided by digitalisation, in particular cutting-edge digital tools, AI and robotics as well as the prerequisites to make this happen. It also addressed expectations for future steps of policy making on the European Level.
This public debate, titled "Beyond GDP: Measuring people's well-being and societies' progress", with Ms Martine Durand, OECD Chief statistician and Co-chair of the High-Level Expert Group (HLEG) on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress will be held on Tuesday, 4 June 2019, starting at 14.30 p.m. The aim of the debate is to explore the opportunities for the civil society to more actively support the development and implementation of socio-economic indicators alternative to GDP. The report of the HLEG, 'Beyond GDP: Measuring What Counts for Economic and Social Performance' will serve as a starting point for the discussion.
The public hearing on "Towards a more resilient and sustainable European economy with a vision for completing EMU" to be held on Friday, 12 April 2019, starting at 11.30 a.m., will discuss from a wider civil society perspective the future of the European economy and the political initiatives and decisions that need to be taken during the upcoming legislative term and beyond. Taking into account the conclusions of the debate, the EESC will draw up two own-initiative opinions, entitled "Towards a more resilient and sustainable European economy" and "A new vision for completing the Economic and Monetary Union", to be forwarded to the new European Parliament and European Commission.
High-level conference on "The Multiannual Financial Framework post 2020: Challenges and opportunities" with the participation of representatives from the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council presidency.
In line with the EESC opinion " Strengthening Europe's Cyber Resilience System " (TEN / 608) adopted in December 2016 and taking into account the growing importance of cybersecurity, the EESC is organizing a half-day conference on 09 January 2018, in Brussels.
The conference is the opportunity to evaluate the EU model of resilience, in the context of attacks targeting citizens, social systems and economic sectors in the Member States.
The ECO Section of the European Economic and Social Committee organises a workshop on "Digitalization – the Future for Cities?" inviting three cities to participate: Paris, Tallinn, and Jun. The aim of this workshop is to discuss the cities’ growing role in the world’s undeniably changing environment. This year, specific focus will be given to modern concepts (technology, innovation, digitalisation etc.) which are rapidly gaining more and more importance in city regions. These three cities have proven examples that in several areas – such as transport, education, culture, e-governance, e-democracy and so on – digitalisation has significant social, environmental and economic added value.
The event seeks to foster the debate of cross-cutting topics that have emerged from the EESC's recent work on the "Clean Energy for All Europeans" package, namely governance, empowering consumers, financing the energy transition, greening the economy, and the future (progress) of the Energy Union
Following on from its work on the the circular economy, the functional economy and the collaborative economy and the successful joint conference on the New Economy Models and Social Innovation, on 30 June the EESC is organising a public hearing to gather practical examples of how the EU can create policies to foster a more sustainable economic, social and environmental system through these new models.
The European Economic and Social Committee organised a panel discussion on "Sustainable Economy and Social Cohesion". The EESC as the consultative Committee for the European Union, in which European Social Partners as well as other organisations of civil society have been represented, has adopted an opinion on the "Economy for the Common Good", that has been presented at the event by EESC rapporteur Carlos Trias Pintó. This was followed by a debate on political implementation and scientific concepts of alternative economic models.
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology, the European Economic and Social Committee and the EU project Responsible-Industry organized a conference “Responsible Research and Innovation in the Health Industry” held at the EESC premises, in Brussels, on 18 and 19 May 2017.
The conference discussed how Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) can help to boost innovation in biomedicine and health with a special focus on Information and Communication Technologies. It was asked how social values and needs can be “integrated from scratch” and which drivers and obstacles RRI encounters when implemented in companies.
