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.
Faced with a greater need than ever to enhance dialogue between countries of the Euro-Mediterranean region, civil society organisations answered the invitation of the European Economic and Social Committee and the Greek Economic and Social Council to discuss their role in addressing the challenges in the region. This was the main goal of the yearly Euromed summit of economic and social councils and similar institutions, organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the Economic and Social Council of Greece in Vravrona - Attica. Opened by the Greek Prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, it closed with the adoption of a common declaration, which underlines the conclusion of civil society representatives on ...
Today the European Economic and Social Committee's plenary assembly welcomed Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for research, science and innovation, for a debate on Horizon 2020, the EU's most ambitious programme for research and innovation ever, intended to provide approximately 80 billion euros-worth in funding to European R&I projects over the 2014-2020 period. In his opening remarks EESC President Georges Dassis observed that R&I is the poor relative ...
The EU has not delivered on its promise to abolish obstacles to the free movement of goods and services for consumers. The European Economic and Social Committee, Europe's voice for civil society, has delivered three key opinions on geo-blocking, roaming and parcel delivery – and concluded that Europe "can do better" in making the single market a reality for consumers ...
The list of high-risk third countries subject to enhanced due diligence measures, published on 14th July, does not include many of the countries believed to be acting as tax havens for money laundering, and in particular, those mentioned in the 'Panama Papers'. The EESC opinion on the EU Anti-Money Laundering Directive proposes that a new list of high-risk third countries be drawn up, or the scope of the measures be broadened...
An EESC debate on fighting money laundering, terrorist financing and tax evasion called for a number of policy proposals aimed at "making the lives of criminals more difficult and their actions impossible". The Brussels event made a clear distinction between tax fraud, tax avoidance and money laundering and brought forward policy proposals including enhanced control through cooperation offinancial intelligence units, a centralised European register of bank accounts, more transparency on the beneficiaries of companies and trusts and tackling the anonymity of financial transactions made with prepaid cards ...
On 4 and 5 October 2016 the first meeting was held of the EU-Chile Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), established by the EU-Chile Association Agreement (AA). With the establishment of this Committee, the final provision of the Association Agreement is being implemented, eleven years after the Agreement entered into force. The JCC will be made up of...
Competitiveness, economy, security of supply, climate change and public acceptability are key considerations for the future of nuclear power, says EESC in its opinion adopted at today’s plenary. “The European Commission’s proposal does not offer a clear and comprehensive approach to the future of nuclear power in Europe”, deplores EESC rapporteur Brian Curtis. "The recent ...
The EESC adopted an pinion targeting aggressive tax planning by multinationals. The European Commission proposal on income tax transparency provides for multinationals with an annual turnover of over 750 million EUR to disclose publicly the income tax they pay and other relevant tax-information on a country-by-country basis. Aggressive tax planning by ...
The EESC has adopted an opinion on the rights of live-in care workers. It urges policy-makers to fully recognise their contribution to long-term care, to treat them in a similar way to other care providers and to regularise the status of undocumented workers. An ageing population and cuts in public-sector spending have created a shortfall in the ...
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) will be organising a mission to Russia on 30-31 August. The two-day visit will provide an opportunity for EESC members to meet with both the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation and other Russian civil society organisations. The EESC delegation will discuss the current situation for civil society organisations, and specifically the situation with regard to human rights and the environment.