Kumitat Ekonomiku u Socjali Ewropew
Mill-ewwel Konvenzjoni ta’ Lomé (1975) sal-Ftehim ta’ Cotonou (2000-2021), is-Sħubiji AKP-UE rregolaw ir-relazzjonijiet bejn l-UE u 79 pajjiż mill-Grupp ta' Stati Afrikani, tal-Karibew u tal-Paċifiku (AKP), li dan l-aħħar sar l-Organizzazzjoni tal-Istai Afrikani, tal-Karibew u tal-Paċifiku (OACPS).
Matul dan il-perjodu, il-KESE flimkien mas-soċjetà ċivili tal-AKP ġġieldu għar-rikonoxximent tar-rwol essenzjali tal-operaturi mhux statali fil-proċess ta’ żvilupp sakemm dan inkiseb fil-Ftehim ta’ Cotonou, li ta mandat lill-KESE biex jorganizza attivitajiet u konsultazzjonijiet ma’ gruppi ta’ interess ekonomiku u soċjali tal-AKP u l-UE bil-għan li jinġabru l-fehmiet tas-soċjetà ċivili organizzata u biex din tingħata leħen. L-għan kien li jiġu promossi l-iskambji u jitressqu rakkomandazzjonijiet dwar kwistjonijiet u politiki relatati mar-relazzjonijiet tal-AKP-UE, li mbagħad jiġu indirizzati mill-mexxejja tal-UE u tal-AKP.
F'termini prattiċi, l-attivitajiet tal-KESE dwar ir-relazzjonijiet bejn l-UE u l-OACPS jitwettqu prinċipalment taħt il-gwida tal-Kumitat ta’ Segwitu UE-AKP, magħmul minn membri tal-KESE u delegati li jirrappreżentaw lill-gruppi ta’ interess ekonomiku u soċjali mill-AKP.
Il-Kumitat ta’ Segwitu UE-AKP jżomm kuntatti regolari mar-rappreżentanti tas-soċjetà ċivili fil-pajjiżi AKP f’diversi livelli, permezz ta’ dawn li ġejjin:
Il-KESE jżomm ukoll kuntatti regolari mar-rappreżentanti tal-gruppi ta' interess ekonomiku u soċjali tal-Unjoni Afrikana fil-qafas tal-Istrateġija Konġunta Afrika-UE. B'mod partikolari, il-KESE jorganizza laqgħat annwali man-Network tal-Partijiet Interessati Ekonomiċi u Soċjali UE-Afrika.
Il-KESE ilu snin twal iżomm kuntatt regolari mal-Assemblea Parlamentari Konġunta AKP-UE billi jippreżenta rapport dwar l-attivitajiet tiegħu fis-sessjonijiet tal-Assemblea Plenarja.
Bl-istess mod, il-KESE jinsab f’kuntatt mill-qrib ma’ organizzazzjonijiet internazzjonali ta’ min iħaddem, il-ħaddiema, il-bdiewa, il-kooperattivi u l-konsumaturi. Dawn l-organizzazzjonijiet jinnominaw ir-rappreżentanti tal-AKP li jiġu mistiedna għal-laqgħat tal-KESE, inkluż il-Kumitat ta’ Segwitu UE-AKP.
On 9 November 2023, the ACP-EU Follow-up Committee held a meeting for a timely update on ACP-EU relations and with a view to discuss the participation of civil society in the post-Cotonou Agreement, the so-called Samoa Agreement that has been signed on 15 November.
The CARIFORUM-EU Consultative Committee (CC) was established with the task and responsibility of fostering meaningful dialogue and collaboration among delegates from civil society organizations, including the academic community, and social and economic stakeholders.
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) organises regular consultations of the European Union‑Africa Economic and Social Stakeholders' Network, which gathers representatives of organised civil society (employers and chambers of commerce, employees and trade unions, cooperatives, farmers' organisations, consumers' organisations, NGOs, etc.) from both continents.
The 8th meeting of the EU-Africa Economic and Social Stakeholders' Network will take place in Brussels, Belgium, on 28-29 June 2023, at EESC premises, with the participation of African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (AU ECOSOCC).
Meeting of the EU-ACP Follow-up Committee - April 2022
Being the first in-person meeting since the irruption of COVID-19 pandemic, Delegates from Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific and EESC Members are gathering in the context of the pending signature of the Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS).
Under the auspices of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS)-European Union relations, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) organises regular consultation meetings with ACP and EU economic and social stakeholders, including representatives of civil society originating from the 79 ACP countries.
This meeting is opportunity to take stock of the EU-Africa comprehensive agenda and strategy, the role of the organised civil society and social partners and the cooperation on development in the new negotiated partnership agreement between the EU and the organisation of ACP states as well as to prepare the 29th meeting of the ACP-EU economic and social interest groups.
The Meeting of the ACP-EU Follow-up Committee will virtually take place on 2 March 2021, 9.30 - 12.30 a.m. Brussels time.
This meeting will be the opportunity to welcome the delegates to the new mandate (2021-2013) of this ACP-EU Follow-up Committee.
Due to COVID-19 pandemic, the Seventh meeting of the EU-Africa Economic and Social Stakeholders' Network originally scheduled in 2020 had been postponed to 2021.
The EESC proposes holding the Seventh meeting of the EU-Africa Economic and Social Stakeholders' Network at the EESC building in Brussels, on 2 March 2021, from 2.30 to 6.15 pm.
The meeting will be held virtually from the EESC building in Brussels. The system INTERACTIO will used as it allows simulations interpretation in EN, ES FR and PT, which is the linguistic regime applied to EESC regular activities with Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific (ACP).
The Meeting of the Follow-up Committee ACP-EU will virtually take place on 14 December 2020, 5-7 p.m. Brussels time, which is 4-6 p.m. G.M.T., 12 a.m.-5 p.m. in Trinidad and Tobago, 7-9 p.m. in Nairobi or 4-6 a.m. in Suva (Fiji).
This meeting will be the opportunity to properly say good-bye and thank our delegates for the good cooperation during the 2018-2020 period, before the EESC launches call for the nomination of new delegates.
