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 featured 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 presented and discussed 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.
