Given the EESC specific expertise, the EESC's opinion is particularly sought on the role of the private sector –taking into account its diversity from SMEs to multinational companies- in fostering smart and sustainable economic growth and creating jobs, as well as investing in training, education, research and innovation, key enabling technologies such as information and communication technologies (ICT). Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, Public-Private Partnerships, joint innovation and inclusive business models could also be issues to be investigated. Possible mechanisms, processes allowing the involvement of the "private sector" in a global partnership for development in a post 2015 framework would also be of interest.
L-AKP u l-Afrika
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:
- laqgħat regolari tal-Kumitat ta’ Segwitu UE-AKP;
- Seminars Reġjonali fil-pajjiżi AKP, li jipprovdu forum għad-diskussjoni ta’ suġġetti ta’ interess komuni mar-rappreżentanti tas-soċjetà ċivili li jalternaw bejn reġjuni differenti,
- Laqgħat Ġenerali triennali bejn gruppi ta’ interess ekonomiku u soċjali mill-AKP u l-UE fi Brussell.
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.
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The opinion of the EESC should consider different options and scenarios for post-2015 and develop proposals on how to involve civil society more extensively in the process.
In this opinion, the EESC will aim to adopt a stance on the role of social protection in development policy. This is likely to be one of the main topics in the debate about the new goals of development policy which are to replace the Millennium Development Goals after 2015.
The EESC considers that the EU's underlying objectives for the renewed EU-Pacific development Partnership are ambitious, but believes that the implementing arrangements, which mainly concern environmental protection and biodiversity conservation in the region, are not clear. Synergies are needed with other organisations to address the impact of climate change, which has a cross-cutting impact on national and multilateral policies as well as social and economic repercussions. Issues associated with the impact of climate change should be incorporated in the area's comprehensive environmental policies and ensure coherent behaviour and actions. To this end, the active involvement of all local stakeholders is necessary.
EU support for good governance and human rights (pillar of the agenda for change) should be aimed at promoting a human rights-based approach to development whose features are: participation in political processes, democratic ownership and empowerment of rights holders; human rights compliance systems on internationally agreed commitments; policy coherence between human rights, aid, and economic policies.
On 22 November, participants in the 17th regional seminar of ACP-EU economic and social interest groups adopted a declaration highlighting the potential of the blue economy as a key factor for development in many eastern and southern African countries. The event, hosted by the EESC in Mauritius, was also an opportunity for civil society representatives to call for a greater role for civil society in the negotiation of Economic Partnership Agreements and bilateral Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements (SFPAs) and to acknowledge the role played by African and EU economic and social groups in the development of infrastructure.