Europski gospodarski i socijalni odbor
Nakon dugih i složenih pregovora Europska unija i Ujedinjena Kraljevina 24. prosinca 2020. uspješno su sklopile Sporazum o trgovini i suradnji. Od 1. siječnja 2021. taj se sporazum primjenjivao privremeno dok Vijeće i Europski parlament nisu završili postupak ratifikacije. Kao i drugi noviji sporazumi o slobodnoj trgovini, i taj sporazum sadrži posebne odredbe o dijalogu s civilnim društvom. EGSO, ključni subjekt u tom dijalogu, stoga je donio odluku o institucijskom ustroju za poticanje odnosa s Ujedinjenom Kraljevinom (UK) i njezinim civilnim društvom (poduzeća, sindikati i druge organizacije) te o tijelu za praćenje tog sporazuma.
Taj novi ustroj, prilagođen u svjetlu kako sklopljenog sporazuma i novog odnosa EU-a i Ujedinjene Kraljevine tako i novijih institucijskih promjena u Europskoj komisiji, obuhvaća:
S budućim odnosima između dvaju partnera uređenima tako važnim i sveobuhvatnim sporazumom o partnerstvu, EGSO će predano raditi na optimizaciji potencijala tog sporazuma, naročito u odnosu na civilno društvo Ujedinjene Kraljevine. EGSO je odlučan održati bliski kontakt s civilnim društvom te zemlje nakon Brexita, poticati dijalog i razmjenu te uključivati organizacije civilnog društva u proces donošenja socijalnih odluka, čime će se osigurati zaštita čvrstih gospodarskih, socijalnih i političkih veza razvijenih u više od pola stoljeća članstva Ujedinjene Kraljevine u EU-u.
The 6th meeting of the EU DAG set up under the EU-UK TCA will feature the participation of the UK DAG Chair, Mr. Sean McGuire, to discuss the recent Windsor Framework on Northern Ireland, the situation of both DAGs and future joint steps. A DG TRADE representative will present and discuss with members the technical aspects of Level Playing Field provisions.
Following the adoption of the EESC Information Report on the Implementation of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement, the Committee is now promoting and giving it a reinforced follow-up using various communication channels, considering the relevance and the perfect timing of the subjects covered in the report.
The 5th meeting of the EU DAG set up under the EU-UK TCA was dedicated to the assessment of the first year of DAG work -including the recent EU-UK Civil Society Forum, to an update on the Trade Specialised Committees and to a structured discussion of selected issues and recommendations with a DG TRADE representative.
The upcoming meeting of the Section for External Relations, which will take place on 20 December 2022, will be dedicated to EU-UK relations. The EU-UK Follow-up Committee was set up in March 2021 primarily to maintain and strengthen relations between UK and EU civil society organisations, and to monitor implementation of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement.
At this 4th meeting of the EU DAG set up under the TCA, the discussion focused on practical aspects as well as the preparations for the 1st DAG-to-DAG meeting (joint meeting of the EU and UK DAGs) and the 1st Civil Society Forum, that took place on October 3rd and 4th respectively.
