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).
Extraordinary meeting of Group III - Workshop on communication
Brussels
Belgium
On 6-7 December, the Diversity Europe Group held its extraordinary meeting at the EESC premises (VMA Building - Room VMA3). During this meeting entitled 'Bursting Brussels' 'Bubble': How to communicate Your Europe', EESC Group III Members learned more about efficient communication tools in order to become EU 'ambassadors' and to communicate the way they feel about Europe.
The Labour Market Observatory of the EESC is organising a conference entitled "Challenges and opportunities of SMEs in the context of future of work and digitalisation" on the 6 December 2018 from 10 am to 4:15 pm, at the EESC.
The event will look into the current situation of SMEs in the EU, in the context of recent developments linked to technological change. It will showcase several good practices from EU countries and feature speakers from the European Parliament, European Commission, the EESC, Eurofound, Cedefop, think-tanks, as well as from social partners and other civil society organisations.
The EESC Group on Fundamental Rights and the Rule of Law will hold a public hearing with a large audience of Polish civil society stakeholders to discuss the topics of freedom of assembly and freedom of association on 5 December in Warsaw, Poland.
The Consultative Committee (CC) is one of the 5 institutions foreseen in the EU-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement. The CC is composed of 40 (25 from the CARIFORUM side and 15 from the EU side) standing representatives of organisations of the civil society representing employers' organisations, trade unions, other economic, social and non-governmental organisations, including development and environmental organisations; and the academic community.
During the meeting, the composition of the presidency was confirmed. The Group discussed its mandate, and proposed topics ahead of the 2019 Civil Society Forum. 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.
This event will explore civil society's role in the Sustainable Development Strategies. It will also give particular attention to the monitoring of the progress on SDGs, both at the national and EU level by debating the SDG indicators and potential for their improvement.
To address planned obsolescence, protect consumers and boost the transition to a circular economy, in 2013 the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) called for a total ban on products with built-in defects designed to prematurely end a product's life. It recommended that better information to consumers on the lifespan of products should be established. On the basis of this opinion – the first European text on this topic – the European Parliament voted in July 2017 on a resolution for a longer lifetime for products: benefits for consumers and companies.
The 10th meeting of the EU Advisory Group for the EU-Colombia, Peru and Ecuador Free Trade Agreement took place on 29 November 2018 in Brussels. Please click on the programme tab to consult the topics on the agenda.
What is their new role as regards active labour market policies?
Conference
EESC, room JDE 62 - Rue Belliard 99
Brussels
Belgium
The Labour Market Observatory of the EESC is organising a conference entitled "Public employment services in the context of the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights: what is their new role as regards active labour market policies?" on the 29 November 2018 from 10 am to 5 pm, at the EESC. The event will look into the current situation of public employment services in the EU, in the context of the implementation of the Pillar of Social Rights and other recent developments. It will showcase several good practices from EU countries, as regards activation, outreach to vulnerable people and cooperation with employers and trade unions. Speakers include representatives from the European Parliament, European Commission, the EESC, the OECD, the Public Employment Services (PES) Network, Eurofound, academia, as well as social partners and other civil society organisations.
