European Economic
and Social Committee
EDITORIAL: This could be the summer of connection
Welcome to the July edition of our bulletin.
This month you can read about the European Economic and Social Committee’s (EESC) annual Connecting EU seminar, which is taking place in Sofia, Bulgaria, on the day of publishing this bulletin. This seminar is an annual forum to exchange views on European issues shaping public debate. It brings together EESC members, EU representatives, civil society organisations and journalists. The event is about stimulating our large network of civil society all over the EU Member States and beyond. This aligns with my belief that together we are a strong force for change and for better policymaking. Regular readers will remember that I announced at the start of my term of office that I wanted to focus on making communities resilient. Connecting with them, connecting with you, is an essential part of that.
This month you can also read from our members about recent developments in the civic space in Romania, the energy crisis in the context of the war in Iran, and the proposed internal security strategy ProtectEU, amongst other contributions. We also have a piece on how to build resilient communities from the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) and the Greek National Union of Agricultural Cooperatives (ETHEAS).
July sees the start of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which we celebrated with a conference in Cork, Ireland, a couple of days ago. Our group was joined by over 40 external participants from all over Ireland. They exchanged with our guest speakers, which included the European Commission’s former Executive First Vice-President Frans Timmermans. This event really helped us realise how connected all of the topics that we represent and work on are – from affordable housing to rural development, from the essential role of food and fisheries to protecting democracy. It is impossible to touch on one topic without seeing the connection to another. That is why we need a holistic approach to solving the greatest challenges that we face as a society. For us as the EESC Civil Society Organisations’ Group, two things are clear:
- The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals must remain the compass for our future beyond 2030.
- There are no simple answers to complex problems, and we should remain vigilant and suspicious of those who offer us such simplicity.
Our work highlights that complexity and interconnectedness are normal and are a more truthful representation of how we exist. We must also remember that as human beings we are very adept at collaborating to create intricate solutions that can be innovative and adaptive. Enjoy this month’s bulletin, filled with examples of this in action in different areas.
Keep in touch with us, and I hope you can all enjoy some time off and space over the summer to relax and connect with those closest to you.
The next edition of this bulletin will be released at the beginning of September.
President, EESC Civil Society Organisations’ Group
#Ireland2026EU: Statement by President Lohan on the priorities of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union: