The EESC issues between 160 and 190 opinions and information reports a year.
It also organises several annual initiatives and events with a focus on civil society and citizens’ participation such as the Civil Society Prize, the Civil Society Days, the Your Europe, Your Say youth plenary and the ECI Day.
Here you can find news and information about the EESC'swork, including its social media accounts, the EESC Info newsletter, photo galleries and videos.
The EESC brings together representatives from all areas of organised civil society, who give their independent advice on EU policies and legislation. The EESC's326 Members are organised into three groups: Employers, Workers and Various Interests.
The EESC has six sections, specialising in concrete topics of relevance to the citizens of the European Union, ranging from social to economic affairs, energy, environment, external relations or the internal market.
The event aims to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the European Union in the post-2020 era. The discussions will focus on the programme of the new European Commission, which will be taking up office in just a few weeks' time. The speakers will also exchange views on a wide range of topical issues, such as the challenges posed by new technologies, Brexit, sustainable development and the development of Europe’s Green Deal. The event will be addressed by Deputy Prime Minister Dr Chris Fearne and by leading local business representatives and stakeholders in the European institutions.
The conference aims to elaborate the role of the openness of the economy and society in building a business-friendly and strong EU. The timing of the conference, coinciding with the start of the new mandate of the European Commission and the European Parliament, would make it possible to convey a strong business message to policy-makers both at the EU and national levels. The conference also provides the participants with an opportunity to discuss and exchange views on the topics in question with a wide range of stakeholders.
On 16 September, the Diversity Europe Group held its Extraordinary meeting in Helsinki (Finland) - at the Auditorium (Annex Building of the Parliament).
The meeting entitled Boosting EU competitiveness – 3 pillars for sustainable growth will mainly focussed on bioeconomy and climate neutral Europe, digitalization and infrastructure in transport sector.
This public debate, titled "Beyond GDP: Measuring people's well-being and societies' progress", with Ms Martine Durand, OECD Chief statistician and Co-chair of the High-Level Expert Group (HLEG) on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress will be held on Tuesday, 4 June 2019, starting at 14.30 p.m. The aim of the debate is to explore the opportunities for the civil society to more actively support the development and implementation of socio-economic indicators alternative to GDP. The report of the HLEG, 'Beyond GDP: Measuring What Counts for Economic and Social Performance' will serve as a starting point for the discussion.
The public hearing on "Towards a more resilient and sustainable European economy with a vision for completing EMU" to be held on Friday, 12 April 2019, starting at 11.30 a.m., will discuss from a wider civil society perspective the future of the European economy and the political initiatives and decisions that need to be taken during the upcoming legislative term and beyond. Taking into account the conclusions of the debate, the EESC will draw up two own-initiative opinions, entitled "Towards a more resilient and sustainable European economy" and "A new vision for completing the Economic and Monetary Union", to be forwarded to the new European Parliament and European Commission.
EESC, Rue de Trèves 74 - room TRE7701, 10 a.m.-1.p.m.
Brussels
Belgium
Public Hearing on Strengthening the international role of the euro: European and international perspectives in the framework of ECO/489. This event will take place on Thursday, 4 April 2019, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is bringing together policy-makers and civil society representatives for an exchange of views from a European and an international perspective.
In order to bring together the views of policymakers and organised civil society, at both EU and national level, the EESC is organising a high-level conference "Towards a more inclusive European Semester", to be held on Thursday, 28 February 2019, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The topics to be discussed will include the current state of the European economy, policy challenges within the European Semester process and the future of the semester.
Economic policy, EU Budget, taxation, and sustainable finance in the European Union
Debate
Representation of the European Commission in Spain, Paseo de la Castellana 46
Madrid
Spain
In this public event organised on 5 February 2019 in Madrid, we are looking to kick-start a debate on the principle features of the European Union economy, its current state and governance, taking into account the present and perspectives for the future, as well as the economic policies related to macroeconomics, taxation and finance.
The Spanish economy will be discussed using a European perspective, framed by the economic situation and European policy.
Organized jointly by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the Representation of the European Commission in Spain, the intention is to create a dialogue between representatives of civil society, the Spanish government and academia.
High-level conference on "The Multiannual Financial Framework post 2020: Challenges and opportunities" with the participation of representatives from the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council presidency.
Boyana Conference Centre
16 Vitoshko Lale Street, Boyana, Sofia 1618, Bulgaria
Sofia
Bulgaria
On 6 March 2018, the Various Interests Group of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), organised a conference in Sofia, Bulgaria, entitled 'Supporting Vulnerable Regions and Citizens: boosting sustainable growth and cohesion'. The event took place at the Boyana conference centre, which had been kindly made available to the EESC by the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU.