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.
AKP i Afrika
Od prve Konvencije iz Loméa (1975.) do Sporazuma iz Cotonoua (2000. – 2021.) partnerstva EU-a i zemalja AKP-a uređivala su odnose između EU-a i 79 zemalja Skupine afričkih, karipskih i pacifičkih država (AKP), koja je nedavno postala Organizacija afričkih, karipskih i pacifičkih država (OACPS).
Tijekom tog razdoblja EGSO se, zajedno s civilnim društvom zemalja AKP-a, borio za priznavanje ključne uloge nedržavnih aktera u razvojnom procesu sve dok se to nije postiglo Sporazumom iz Cotonoua, kojim se EGSO-u daje mandat za organiziranje aktivnosti i savjetovanja s „gospodarskim i društvenim interesnim skupinama zemalja AKP-a i EU-a” kako bi se prikupljala stajališta organiziranog civilnog društva i kako bi im se osigurala veća vidljivost.
Cilj je poticati razmjene i iznositi preporuke o pitanjima i politikama važnima za odnose zemalja AKP-a i EU-a te ih potom službeno upućivati čelnicima EU-a i zemalja AKP-a.
U praktičnom smislu, aktivnosti EGSO-a u području odnosa između EU-a i OACPS-a uglavnom se provode pod vodstvom zajedničkog Odbora za praćenje AKP-a i EU-a koji čine članovi EGSO-a i delegati koji predstavljaju skupine gospodarskih i socijalnih interesa iz zemalja AKP-a.
Odbor za praćenje AKP-a i EU-a održava redovite kontakte s predstavnicima civilnog društva zemalja AKP-a na različitim razinama putem:
- redovitih sastanka Odbora za praćenje AKP-a i EU-a,
- regionalnih seminara u zemljama AKP-a, koji predstavljaju forum za raspravljanje o temama od zajedničkog interesa s predstavnicima civilnog društva u raznim regijama,
- glavnih skupština gospodarskih i socijalnih interesnih skupina iz zemalja AKP-a i EU-a koje se održavaju svake tri godine u Bruxellesu.
EGSO također održava redovite kontakte s predstavnicima gospodarskih i socijalnih interesnih skupina Afričke unije u okviru zajedničke strategije EU-a i Afrike.
Konkretno, EGSO svake godine održava sastanke s grupom gospodarskih i socijalnih dionika Afrike i EU-a.
Već dugi niz godina EGSO održava redovite odnose sa Zajedničkom parlamentarnom skupštinom AKP-a i EU-a te na zasjedanjima Plenarne skupštine podnosi izvješća o njezinim aktivnostima.
EGSO je također u bliskom kontaktu s međunarodnim organizacijama poslodavaca, radnika, poljoprivrednika, zadruga i potrošača. Te organizacije imenuju predstavnike AKP-a koji će biti pozvani na sastanke koje organizira EGSO, uključujući i sastanke Odbora za praćenje AKP-a i EU-a.
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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.