Events

  • Hearing - 29 November 2017, 9.30 – 12.30 | Európa Pont, Lövőház u. 35, Budapest, Hungary

    The European Economic and Social Committee is organising a hearing as part of its follow-up work related to its opinion on Improving the effectiveness of EU policies for SMEs, adopted in July 2017.
    The hearing takes place on 29 November 2017 from 9:30 to 13:00 , in Budapest, Hungary. It is part of a set of follow-up hearings to be carried out in 6 EU Member States.
    The main objective of the hearing is to debate the effectiveness and efficiency of the EU policies for SMEs and gather valuable input and feedback from Hungarian stakeholders on the matter with a view to finding ways in which they can be improved. Particular emphasis will be put on the recommendations that have been outlined in the EESC opinion with the aim of implementing them at national level.
    Issues such as access to finance, improving access to markets and internationalization, promoting entrepreneurship, reducing the administrative burden, simplification, supporting SMEs competitiveness and innovation will be at the forefront.  The stakeholders are also invited to express their views on the current definition of SMEs and on its potential need for revision.

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    Roma still remain the most underrepresented group on the labour market, with high numbers of unemployment. Due to the combination of various factors, such as poverty and deprivation, low levels of education and skills and discrimination in both education and employment, there are still serious structural barriers for Roma. Therefore they do not benefit from mainstream or targeted measures/initiatives. The Roma Platform is a high-level event that will provide an opportunity to discuss education and employment for Roma.

  • Conference poster
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    Objectives: To contribute to a broad public debate on the transition towards a new European ("post E2020") Strategy, addressing the global transformation of the economy and society through digitalisation and accelerated technological changes (the Fourth Industrial Revolution) in order to manage a transition towards a more sustainable European future. This will feed into concrete policy guidance for the European Commission and Parliament and contribute to an action plan for Civil Society Organisations to help them align and strengthen political and operational priorities.

  • On 27 November 2017, EESC President Georges Dassis and Commissioner Violeta Bulc will officially launch the EU Platform for Change aimed at increasing female employment and equal opportunities in the transport sector. The Platform, as developed by the European Economic and Social Committee in cooperation with the European Commission, will enable stakeholders from all transport sectors to highlight their specific initiatives in favour of gender equality and to exchange good practices.

    The launch conference will comprise a session where participants will be able to have a better understanding of the functioning of the Platform, while reflecting on key topics such as the setting-up of targets for female employment, the opportunities brought about by innovation, effective initiatives to fight gender-based violence in the workplace and the feasibility of more flexible shifts to increase work-life balance.

            

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    EESC Civil Society Media Seminar

    The 11th Civil Society Media Seminar, which the European Economic and Social Committee is organising in cooperation with European institutions and with the support of the Spanish Economic and Social Council, the City of Madrid and  the Estonian presidency, will take place in Madrid from 23 to 24 November 2017.

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    4ª reunión conjunta de los grupos asesores nacionales de la UE, Colombia, Perú y Ecuador y sesión abierta

  • Wood as a building material has been rediscovered by the building industry. It offers amazing possibilities for a sustainable growth and local employment in Europe. Advantages for human health and wood cultures are put forward while external demand from third countries is putting the European industry at risk.

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    The Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES) has been the main framework for relations between the continents of Europe and Africa since 2007. Its goal is to develop a shared vision of the main global issues whilst simultaneously strengthening cooperation in a broad range of areas such as development, governance, human rights, trade, regional integration, food security and migration. To this end, meetings of EU-African economic and social stakeholders are held on a regular basis.

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    Maintaining Momentum and Creating Lasting Change

    The event follows up on the Social Innovation for Refugee Inclusion seminar that took place in September 2016. Following the arrival of large amounts of migrants from 2015 onwards, a large amount of non-traditional actors has initiated innovative ways to foster the inclusion of newcomers. Yet, this movement has struggled to bring on structural change. The event aims to reflect on how this field can mature in partnership with other stakeholders, with a particular focus on labour market inclusion.

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    As in previous years, the EESC was present at the yearly Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – COP23, which took place in Bonn, Germany, from 6-17 November 2017.