Commissione europea

The objective of the public hearing is to examine how cohesion policy can more effectively address housing affordability challenges to advance its core goals of economic, social and territorial cohesion. The participants will explore how strategic housing investments can stimulate regional economic development, enhance competitiveness, improve labour market efficiency, and reduce territorial disparities. The aim is to provide concrete recommendations for improving the effectiveness of existing instruments for the remainder of the 2021-2027 period and developing a more comprehensive approach to affordable housing within the post-2027 cohesion policy framework.

The EESC organises a public hearing on Financial literacy and education for Europeans. It will gather together institutions, industry and civil society stakeholders, and will discuss desirable policy actions and share good practices along the EU.

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is organising a public hearing to assess the economic impact of extending the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) to the maritime sector.

The hearing will focus on the risks of carbon and business leakage, and how these developments may affect port competitiveness and trade flows- particularly in smaller and peripheral EU Member States. The event will provide a platform for maritime stakeholders, economic experts, and EU institutions to discuss real-world implications and explore fiscal and strategic solutions to mitigate negative effects.

Speakers will include representatives from DG CLIMA, maritime and port organisations, as well as leading economists and policy analysts.

Malta’s strategic location and role in European maritime logistics make it an ideal setting for this timely discussion.

In a context such as the one that Europe is experiencing, characterised by multiple crises, it is appropriate to promote a reflection on European public goods and on fundamental political priorities capable of ensuring the sustainable growth of the EU and the well-being of its citizens. This reflection gets ever more important in view of the upcoming negotiations on the next European Multiannual Financial Framework for the period post 2027.

On 11 February, the European Commission published its 2025 work programme. Several initiatives in the work programme – initiatives to enhance competitiveness through the promotion of reforms and investments, both private and public, the new the Savings and Investment Union, as well as the next Multiannual Financial Framework, just to name a few – fall in the remit of the Section for Economic and Monetary Union and Economic and Social Cohesion (ECO) of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). We organise this debate to discuss with representatives of the Commission and the members of the EESC the conditions and actions needed for the EU and its Member States to successfully implement what is outlined in the Commission and achieve the shared goals of the Union.

The EESC is organising this public hearing to discuss the framework of the own-initiative opinion on "Leaving the crises behind – Measures for a resilient, cohesive and inclusive European economy". 

In the context of the ongoing exploratory opinion, requested by the Polish Presidency, to examine how civil society actors can make use of a results-orientation approach in cohesion policy in the next programming period, the EESC is organizing a hearing in Warsaw on 17 January 2025. The hearing will be important as the EESC will explore how civil society and local actors understand the concept of a results-orientation approach to cohesion policy, to which degree they are prepared and if they have the administrative capacity to implement it. 

The hearing is co-organized with the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU and it has the patronage of the Polish Presidency. The venue is the premises of the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy of Poland.

The EESC is organising this public debat to discuss how civil society partners can use a results-orientation approach in cohesion policy for the next programming period. The principles of multi-level governance and shared management are contradictory or complementary to the results-focused cohesion policy ?

Public debate The involvement of youth in the work of the ECO section - Recent experience and way forward, organised during the ECO section meeting.