The involvement of organised civil society and the EESC is crucial in ensuring the broad participation of citizens in the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE), highlighted Christa Schweng, president of the European Economic and Social Committee, at the inaugural Conference Plenary in Strasbourg on 19 June. Ms Schweng took part in the plenary along with a delegation of 18 EESC members.
The presidentof theEuropean Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Christa Schweng kicked off the Committee's official activities relating to the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) with a live question and answer debate. #CoFoE - Bringing the European project back to citizens took place on Thursday 10 June and set out organised civil society's views and expectations regarding the Conference. It also highlighted the importance of engaging with people outside the Brussels bubble and brainstormed in preparation for the coming citizens' consultations.
In a debate on European values with European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders, held at its plenary session on 10 June, the EESC asked for civil society organisations and citizens to be more heavily and more actively involved in standing up for democracy and the rule of law in the EU, which have taken a turn for the worse across Member States
To provide the European Commission with a valuable contribution to its 2022 work programme, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has adopted a Resolution. This timely and important document addresses the main issues around using investment and reforms to overcome the economic and social crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Frans Timmermans has announced measures to shield the most vulnerable from the possible extension of the emission trading system to heating and transport fuels, and heard the EESC's proposals to improve corporate decision-making on the green transition through social dialogue.
The 10th edition of ECI Day, dedicated to the European Citizens' Initiative, took place exceptionally online and over two days. EESC president Christa Schweng, European Commission Vice-President Věra Jourová and European Parliament Vice-President Pedro Silva Pereira took part in the opening session, assessing the state of this unique instrument of participatory democracy.
The involvement of organised civil society is far from satisfactory in a majority of EU countries, warned the European Economic and Social Committee at the annual conference of its European Semester Group, which took place remotely on 31 May. This event was organised right before the publication of the European Semester Spring Package by the Commission, on the 2 June 2021.
For the second consecutive year, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)opened its virtual doors and celebrated Europe online with a dedicated website, underlining that, now more than ever, civil society organisations are playing an essential role in Europe, from their involvement in the recovery to their vital work in dealing with our day-to-day challenges.
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) intends to play an active part in joint European efforts to translate the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) into action and to build a fairer and more prosperous Europe for everyone.
