Given the EESC specific expertise, the EESC's opinion is particularly sought on the role of the private sector –taking into account its diversity from SMEs to multinational companies- in fostering smart and sustainable economic growth and creating jobs, as well as investing in training, education, research and innovation, key enabling technologies such as information and communication technologies (ICT). Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, Public-Private Partnerships, joint innovation and inclusive business models could also be issues to be investigated. Possible mechanisms, processes allowing the involvement of the "private sector" in a global partnership for development in a post 2015 framework would also be of interest.
ACC agus an Afraic
Ón gcéad choinbhinsiún, mar atá, Coinbhinsiún Lomé, (1975) go dtí Comhaontú Cotonou (2000-2021), is le Comhpháirtíochtaí AE-ACC a rialaíodh an caidreamh idir an tAontas agus 79 dtír de Ghrúpa na Stát san Afraic, i Muir Chairib agus san Aigéan Ciúin (ACC), ar a dtugtar Eagraíocht na Stát san Afraic, i Muir Chairib agus san Aigéan Ciúin (ESACC) anois.
Le linn na tréimhse sin, throid CESE, i gcomhpháirt le sochaí shibhialta ACC, ar son aitheantas a thabhairt don ról ríthábhachtach atá ag oibreoirí neamhstáit sa phróiseas forbartha go dtí gur baineadh an méid sin amach le Comhaontú Cotonou, lenar tugadh sainordú do CESE gníomhaíochtaí agus comhairliúcháin a eagrú le “grúpaí sainleasa eacnamaíocha agus sóisialta ACC-AE ” d’fhonn tuairimí na sochaí sibhialta eagraithe a bhailiú agus guth a thabhairt di. Is é an aidhm atá leis ná malartuithe a chothú agus moltaí a dhéanamh maidir le saincheisteanna agus beartais a bhaineann le caidreamh ACC-AE agus cuirtear na moltaí sin faoi bhráid cheannairí AE agus ACC go hoifigiúil tráth níos faide anonn.
Go praiticiúil, cuirtear gníomhaíochtaí CESE a bhaineann le caidreamh AE-ESACCi gcrích, go príomha, faoi threoir Choiste Leantach cuimsitheach ACC-AE ar a bhfuil comhaltaí ó CESE agus toscairí a dhéanann ionadaíocht thar ceann ghrúpaí sainleasa eacnamaíocha agus sóisialta ACC.
Tá teagmháil rialta á cothú ag Coiste Leantach ACC-AE le hionadaithe na sochaí sibhialta sna tíortha ACC ar leibhéil éagsúla de thoradh na nithe seo a leanas:
- Cruinnithe rialta de Coiste Leantach ACC-AE,
- Seimineáir réigiúnacha i dtíortha ACC, lena gcuirtear fóram ar fáil chun ábhair sainleasa choitinn a phlé le hionadaithe na sochaí sibhialta i réigiúin mhalartacha,
- Cruinnithe Ginearálta tríbhliantúla de ghrúpaí sainleasa eacnamaíocha agus sóisialta ACC-AE sa Bhruiséil.
Tá teagmháil rialta ag CESE le hionadaithe ó ghrúpaí sainleasa eacnamaíocha agus sóisialta an Aontais Afracaigh, faoi chuimsiú straitéis chomhpháirteach AE-na hAfraice. Go háirithe, reáchtálann CESE cruinnithe bliantúla leis an líonra de Gheallsealbhóirí Eacnamaíocha agus Sóisialta AE-na hAfraice.
Tá teagmháil rialta á cothú ag CESE le Tionól Parlaiminteach Comhpháirteach ACC-AE le roinnt mhaith blianta anuas trí thuarascáil ar a ghníomhaíochtaí a chur i láthair ag seisiúin an Tionóil Iomlánaigh.
Chomh maith leis sin, tá CESE i ndlúth-theagmháil le heagraíochtaí idirnáisiúnta, mar atá eagraíochtaí fostóirí, eagraíochtaí oibrithe, eagraíochtaí feirmeoirí, eagraíochtaí comharchumann agus eagraíochtaí tomhaltóirí. Ainmníonn na heagraíochtaí sin na hionadaithe ó thíortha ACC a gheobhaidh cuireadh chuig na cruinnithe arna reáchtáil ag CESE, lena n-áirítear Coiste Leantach ACC-AE.
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The opinion of the EESC should consider different options and scenarios for post-2015 and develop proposals on how to involve civil society more extensively in the process.
In this opinion, the EESC will aim to adopt a stance on the role of social protection in development policy. This is likely to be one of the main topics in the debate about the new goals of development policy which are to replace the Millennium Development Goals after 2015.
The EESC considers that the EU's underlying objectives for the renewed EU-Pacific development Partnership are ambitious, but believes that the implementing arrangements, which mainly concern environmental protection and biodiversity conservation in the region, are not clear. Synergies are needed with other organisations to address the impact of climate change, which has a cross-cutting impact on national and multilateral policies as well as social and economic repercussions. Issues associated with the impact of climate change should be incorporated in the area's comprehensive environmental policies and ensure coherent behaviour and actions. To this end, the active involvement of all local stakeholders is necessary.
EU support for good governance and human rights (pillar of the agenda for change) should be aimed at promoting a human rights-based approach to development whose features are: participation in political processes, democratic ownership and empowerment of rights holders; human rights compliance systems on internationally agreed commitments; policy coherence between human rights, aid, and economic policies.
On 22 November, participants in the 17th regional seminar of ACP-EU economic and social interest groups adopted a declaration highlighting the potential of the blue economy as a key factor for development in many eastern and southern African countries. The event, hosted by the EESC in Mauritius, was also an opportunity for civil society representatives to call for a greater role for civil society in the negotiation of Economic Partnership Agreements and bilateral Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements (SFPAs) and to acknowledge the role played by African and EU economic and social groups in the development of infrastructure.