Comitato economico e sociale europeo
The EESC's Sustainable Development Observatory is happy to team up with ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and host the 20th Breakfast @ Sustainability's in the broader framework of the European Sustainable Development Week. The discussions will focus on What SDGs actually mean for local communities and how citizens and grassroots initiatives can help implement them.
The 2030 Agenda is an action plan for people, planet and prosperity. It sets 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets in order to build on the Millennium Development Goals and complete what these did not achieve. The targets seek to ensure everyone's human rights and to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. They are integrated and indivisible, and they balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: economic, social and environmental. They are also to be implemented according to the principle of "leaving no-one behind".
These Days are a symbol of the cooperation between the EESC and the members of the Liaison Group representing European civil society organisations and networks.
This year, it will focus on migration and on how Europe can be made more open and adapt to what needs to be seen as a structural change.
In a time in which news relate daily crisis and problems to which we are obviously not prepared, it is clear that Europe must move from management by crisis to management by foresight and anticipation. Europe must cast on this phenomena and problems a wider and deeper vision, based on an open debate and a reflexion rooted in our common values and capable of frankly coping with the problems that our societies face.
On 31 May 2016, the Workers' Group of the European Economic and Social Committee held an extraordinary meeting at the Hague.
On 30/31 May the Committee is co-organising together with the Dutch presidency and the Sustainable Development Solutions Network an event “How to make the SDGs Europe’s Business? – A Multi Stakeholder Approach”.
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) will be opening its doors to the general public between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
This year, the EESC is focussing on what civil society organisations are doing in response to the migration crisis in Europe.
Under the common interinstitutional slogan of “United in diversity”, the Committee will also showcase its work on economic and social policy for the European Union, its work on sustainable development and its efforts to support participatory democracy in Europe and throughout the world.
On the day’s programme are a variety of information stands, fun activities for all, a photo booth, a children’s corner and musical events.
517th Plenary Session - On 25 May 2016, debate on the future of ACP-EU relations, in conjunction with the adoption of opinion REX/455 with Joseph Chilengi President of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union (ECOSOCC) and Neven Mimica Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development.
On 26 May 2016, debate with Patrick Bernasconi, President of the French Economic, Social and Environmental Council.
During the meeting, the Commission representative provided information about the implementation of the project on labour standards delivered in cooperation with the ILO in El Salvador and Guatemala. The Commission also informed about preparations for meetings with Central America planned for 15-17 June in Honduras, in particular meeting of the intergovernmental Board on Trade and Sustainable Development. The EU Advisory Group then discussed preparations for the civil society meetings with Central America, which this year will include a workshop on market access, a joint meeting of the Advisory Groups and an open Civil Society Dialogue Forum. In the afternoon, a video-conference with Central American partners took place to discuss preparations for joint meetings.
On 20 May 2016, the EESC's TEN Section project delegation carried out a study visit in Lisbon to gain first-hand knowledge of some of the extremely interesting smart city projects that have been set up in the city.
The Lisbon region boasts a high concentration of companies involved in high-level technology and research, with approximately 333 000 companies headquartered in the region.
The delegation had the opportunity for a study visit to learn more about the Sharing Cities lighthouse project.
The Raw Materials Initiative and the European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials are key policies that may contribute decisively to maintaining the competitiveness and sustainability of European industry and, consequently, the maintenance or creation of new jobs.
