The European Economic and Social Committee will host its End of Mandate Ceremony on 17 September 2025. This event will gather EU leaders, civil society, youth voices and international partners around the Committee’s achievements of the 2023-25 mandate of EESC President Oliver Röpke.
You will be able to follow the ceremony by web streaming
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) recently adopted an opinion welcoming the European Commission’s Industrial Action Plan, designed to help Europe’s automotive industry navigate a period of profound change. The ongoing shift towards cleaner and more digital vehicles must be carefully managed to protect jobs, support businesses, and ensure that no region or worker is left behind in the transition.
Civil society is urging the EU to put people, not just policies, at the heart of its new Ocean Pact. In a new position, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) calls for maritime strategies that protect biodiversity while ensuring fairness for coastal communities and industry competitiveness. It also stresses the need to align the Pact with broader EU goals like the Green Deal, SDGs, and Blue Economy Strategy, and to ensure coherence with related frameworks.
Introduced by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in 2024, the Youth Test is now being recognised as a pioneering method for integrating youth voices into policy-making. A recent roundtable in Bratislava brought together young leaders, policymakers and civil society to examine how the Youth Test can be meaningfully integrated into national decision-making processes.
At its July plenary session, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) backed new EU proposals to strengthen Europe’s defence readiness, while underlining the need to preserve democratic values and promote a long-term strategy for peace.
At a time when the EU is grappling with slow productivity growth and rising global competition, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has adopted a set of recommendations highlighting the important role trade unions can play in helping Europe close the productivity gap, especially with the United States. The opinion argues that boosting productivity is not just about investing in technology and capital, but also about empowering workers, strengthening social dialogue and supporting workplace innovation.
At its July 2025 plenary session, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted a landmark opinion calling for a comprehensive EU strategy to support, protect and empower civil society. The opinion, requested by the European Commission, outlines a blueprint for a more structured, inclusive and resilient civil dialogue framework across the EU.
Across Europe, rising rents and house prices are putting decent housing out of reach for many. In response, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has adopted an opinion calling for urgent action, stressing that affordable housing must be a cornerstone of EU cohesion policy, as the crisis threatens both social inclusion and economic competitiveness.
At its July 2025 plenary session, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted an opinion on the European Commission’s “Union of Skills” initiative, calling for a bold, inclusive and well-funded strategy to equip Europe’s workforce with the skills needed for the green and digital transitions, global competitiveness, and social cohesion.
With energy bills up, housing out of reach, and food prices still rising, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has adopted a set of civil society-backed recommendations to tackle the cost-of-living crisis. Part of a broader EESC package, the opinion outlines urgent EU and national actions to protect vulnerable groups, promote fairness and build long-term economic and social resilience.
