Comitato economico e sociale europeo
Il CESE lavora con le organizzazioni che sono le sue controparti in America Latina e nei Caraibi sin dagli anni Novanta. Diversi pareri del Comitato si sono concentrati sulle relazioni con tale regione intrattenute a livello regionale, sub-regionale e nazionale. Le priorità del CESE comprendono lo sviluppo delle organizzazioni della società civile, lo sviluppo economico e sociale, l'integrazione regionale e la cooperazione multilaterale.
A livello regionale, il Comitato organizza riunioni biennali tra i rappresentanti delle organizzazioni della società civile in Europa, America Latina e Caraibi, che fanno parte degli incontri preparatori in vista del vertice tra l'UE e la Comunità degli Stati latinoamericani e caraibici (CELAC).
A livello sub-regionale e nazionale sono state istituite diverse strutture permanenti: nel 2009 il CESE ha avviato una tavola rotonda della società civile con il Consiglio per lo sviluppo economico e sociale del Brasile allo scopo di creare un forum di dialogo e cooperazione costante tra i rappresentanti della società civile brasiliana ed europea. L'accordo di associazione UE-Cile ha conferito al Comitato il mandato di creare un comitato consultivo misto con la sua controparte della società civile in Cile, il quale è stato poi istituito nel 2016. Per quanto concerne i paesi della Comunità andina, il CESE prende parte al gruppo consultivo interno che monitora l'accordo di libero scambio UE-Colombia/Perù/Ecuador. Partecipa inoltre al comitato consultivo Cariforum-UE che monitora il relativo accordo di partenariato economico. Sono state istituite relazioni permanenti con le controparti istituzionali del CESE nel Mercosur (il forum consultivo economico e sociale) e nell'America centrale (il comitato consultivo del sistema di integrazione centroamericano).
The Cariforum-EU Consultative Committee (CC) was established with the task and responsibility of promoting dialogue and cooperation between representatives of organisations of civil society, including the academic community, and social and economic partners.
The EU-Chile Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) held its sixth preparatory meeting in the new mandate on 7 December 2020, one week after the successful visit of Foreign Affairs Minister Andrés Allamand Zavalala in Brussels.
The fourth meeting of the EU-Chile Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), established by the EU-Chile Association Agreement was held via a video conference on 27 November 2019. At this meeting, the members adopted a Joint Statement.
The JCC is made up of eighteen members, nine from the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and nine from Chilean civil society organisations. It is co-chaired by Josep Puxeu Rocamora, EESC member, and Roberto Zúñiga Belauzarán, Director, National Confederation of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (CONAPYME).
The fifth meeting of the EU-Chile Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), established by the EU-Chile Association Agreement was held via a video conference on 15 May 2020.
The members discussed topics of interest for both parties, such as the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on cooperation, trade and investment, decent work and informal economy and the Agenda for Sustainable Development; as well as proposals for strengthening of the role of the Joint Consultative Committee. The members adopted a Final Declaration on these topics.
The Latin America Follow up Committee of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held a Hearing on the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement: The views of organized civil society on 13 of November 2019.
The main purpose of the debate was to:
During the meeting, the EU Domestic Advisory Group (EU DAG) and civil society representatives from the Colombia DAG, Peru Domestic Mechanism and Ecuador DAG discussed the implementation of the Trade and Sustainable Development Title of the Trade Agreement, with a particular focus on respect for international labour and environmental standards. They also discussed economic, social, environmental and human rights impacts resulting from the implementation of the Agreement. The participants reflected on how the civil society from the EU, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador can cooperate to promote sustainable development in the context of trade relations and prepare for the next joint meeting.
During the meeting, the EU Domestic Advisory Group (EU DAG) and civil society representatives from Colombia, Peru and Ecuador discussed implementation of the Trade and Sustainable Development Title of the Trade Agreement, with a particular focus on respect for international labour and environmental standards. They also discussed economic, social, environmental and human rights impacts resulting from the implementation of the Agreement. The participants reflected moreover on how the civil society from the EU, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador can cooperate to promote sustainable development in the context of trade relations and prepare for the next joint meeting. The participants adopted a joint declaration summarising outcomes of their discussion and presented it to the Parties during the Open Session with civil society on 12 December.
On 6 and 7 December 2018, the third meeting of the EU-Chile Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), established by the EU-Chile Association Agreement was held in Santiago de Chile. The members discussed topics of interest for both parties, such as investment and cooperation, decent work and informal economy, the Sustainable Development Agenda and proposals to reinforce the role of the Joint Consultative Committee. They adopted a Final Declaration on these four topics.
The JCC is made up of eighteen members, nine from the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and nine from Chilean civil society organisations. It is co-chaired by Josep Puxeu Rocamora, EESC member, and Roberto Zúñiga Belauzarán, Director, National Confederation of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (CONAPYME).
4ª reunión conjunta de los grupos asesores nacionales de la UE, Colombia, Perú y Ecuador y sesión abierta
During the meeting, members of the GCI were informed by the President on the civil society meeting of EuroLat's standing parliamentary committees (22-24 May), the hearing in the Walloon Parliament concerning the current state of The EU-Colombia, Peru and the FTA of Ecuador, as well as the public with DG Trade on the current status of the Advisory Groups. They were then interviewed by the European Commission on the preparation of the 2017 Civil Society Forum and the process of Ecuador's accession to the agreement.
