Comitato economico e sociale europeo
In Asia il CESE mantiene relazioni con le organizzazioni della società civile nei seguenti paesi: Cina, Giappone, Singapore, Corea del Sud e Vietnam.
Per quanto riguarda la Cina, esiste una tavola rotonda della società civile, istituita nel 2007 a seguito del nono vertice UE-Cina, la quale si riunisce una volta all'anno.
Quanto al Giappone, nel febbraio 2009 è stato istituito un comitato di monitoraggio incaricato di tenere sotto osservazione la dimensione "società civile" nei rapporti UE-Giappone e promuovere la cooperazione tra il CESE e le organizzazioni delle imprese, dei lavoratori, ambientaliste e dei consumatori giapponesi nonché altre importanti OSC di tale paese. Inoltre, il capitolo relativo al commercio e allo sviluppo sostenibile dell'accordo di partenariato economico UE-Giappone ha conferito alla società civile un ruolo di monitoraggio e consulenza, dando luogo alla creazione di un GCI dell'UE sul Giappone e di un gruppo consultivo nazionale giapponese sull'UE.
L'UE ha concluso accordi di libero scambio con i seguenti paesi asiatici: Corea del Sud (2011), Giappone (2019), Singapore (2019) e Vietnam (2020). Tali accordi sono caratterizzati dalla presenza di un capitolo sul commercio e lo sviluppo sostenibile e conferiscono ufficialmente al CESE e ad altre OSC dell'UE, come pure alle OSC dei rispettivi paesi partner, il ruolo di monitorare la loro attuazione e consigliare le pertinenti autorità politiche in materia di norme ambientali, sociali e del lavoro nonché su altre questioni di diretto interesse per la società civile, attraverso i gruppi consultivi interni e nazionali. Ogni anno si tengono due o tre riunioni del gruppo consultivo interno dell'UE, e una volta all'anno si tiene una riunione congiunta.
Il CESE porta inoltre avanti il dialogo con la società civile in altri paesi asiatici, nonché nel quadro di eventi internazionali pertinenti organizzati ad hoc.
During the meeting, the Chair of the EU DAG under the new mandate was elected. The Group also discussed its mandate, working methods, reporting procedures and cooperation with other civil society organisations, as well as exchanged views on its rules of procedure and assess possible amendments . Moreover, the EU DAG discussed with representatives of the EC matters related to the implementation of the EU-Korea FTA under three pillars of sustainable development.
The 16th EU-China Civil Society Round Table will take place in Varna, Bulgaria from 28 May to 29 May 2018.
The topics of the Round Table meeting will be the following: Social security and social solidarity mechanisms, and trade and investment as part of EU-China relations. In the fringes of the Round Table, a tripartite seminar on EU-China Tourism Year 2018 will be organised.
During the 6th EU-Korea Civil Society Forum (CSF), participants discussed labour standards with the ILO representative, including progress achieved by both Parties to the Agreement as well as the next steps in the ratification and effective implementation of the ILO fundamental and other up-to-date conventions. Both DAGs also exchanged information about the role of civil society in the EU and the Republic of Korea in the development and implementation of the climate change policy at national, EU and international level. They then adopted final conclusions.
During the meeting, the EU DAG discussed with a representative of the European Commission the preparation for the meetings with Korea under the trade and sustainable development chapter, as well as about the current business environment in Korea and presentation of the white paper of the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea. Preparations of the 6th meeting of the EU-Korea Civil Society Forum in Seoul were also discussed.
In the light of the agreement in principle reached in July 2017 between the EU and Japan on an Economic Partnership Agreement, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)'s Follow-up Committees on International Trade and Japan are taking the opportunity to organise a half-day joint seminar. The seminar aims at examining the significance of the EU-Japan Agreement in the global context, reflecting on the role that civil society may play in the implementation of such agreement, and aims to assess possible challenges and benefits for different stakeholders (the business community, workers, farmers, consumers, etc.).
During the meeting, the EU DAG discussed with a representative of the European Commission the outcome and follow-up of the last CTSD meeting, held on March 24th, as well as the Commission's annual report on the EU-Korea FTA that was presented in June. Presentations of the recent developments in the Republic of Korea were also made by representatives of the correspondent country desk oin the European Commission and the EEAS. The EP shadow rapporteur on the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Korea, Dr Joachim Schuster, MEP (S&D Group), presented the European Parliament resolution adopted on 18 May 2017 to the EU DAG.
The 15th EU-China Civil Society Round Table will take place in Beijing from 28 to 30 June 2017. To mark this anniversary edition of the Round Table – it has been 10 years since it was first set up – an overarching theme, “Partnership for Growth, Civilization of mutual benefit”, was chosen. Thematic session will examine key aspects of this partnership.
During the 5th EU-Korea Civil Society Forum (CSF), participants will discuss labour standards with the ILO representative, including progress achieved by both Parties to the Agreement as well as the next steps in the ratification and effective implementation of the ILO fundamental and other up-to-date conventions. Both DAGs also will exchange information about the role of civil society in the EU and the Republic of Korea in the development and implementation of the climate change policy at national, EU and international level. They then will adopt final conclusions.
The discussion focussed on the preparation (topics, stakeholders, organizational aspects) of the Civil Society Forum with Korea and the Workshop on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), held In February in Brussels (20-21 February 2017).
During the meeting, the EU DAG will discuss with a representative of the European Parliament the progress in work on its report on implementation of the EU-Korea FTA. The European Commission will update participants on the state of play and the next steps in the implementation of the EU-Korea joint project related to the ILO Convention No. 111. The EU DAG will discuss moreover preparations for the next EU-Korea Civil Society Forum.
