Kumitat Ekonomiku u Socjali Ewropew
Fl-Asja, il-KESE għandu relazzjonijiet ma’ organizzazzjonijiet tas-soċjetà ċivili fiċ-Ċina, il-Ġappun, Singapore, il-Korea t’Isfel u l-Vjetnam.
Maċ-Ċina hemm Round Table tas-Soċjetà Ċivilili ġiet stabbilita fl-2007 wara d-9 Summit bejn l-UE u ċ-Ċina u tiltaqa’ darba fis-sena.
Fi Frar 2009, ġie stabbilit Kumitat ta’ Segwitu mal-Ġappun biex jimmonitorja d-dimensjoni tas-soċjetà ċivili fir-relazzjonijiet bejn l-UE u l-Ġappun u jippromovi kooperazzjoni bejn il-KESE u l-organizzazzjonijiet tan-negozju, tal-ħaddiema, tal-konsumatur u dawk ambjentali u organizzazzjonijiet ewlenin oħra tas-soċjetà ċivili fil-Ġappun. Twaqqaf Grupp Konsultattiv Domestiku UE-Ġappun fi ħdan il-Ftehim ta’ Sħubija Ekonomika bejn l-UE u l-Ġappun, li jagħti rwol ta’ monitoraġġ u konsulenza lis-soċjetà ċivili fil-kapitolu tiegħu dwar il-kummerċ u l-iżvilupp sostenibbli.L-UE kkonkludiet ftehimiet ta’ kummerċ ħieles mal-pajjiżi Asjatiċi li ġejjin: il-Korea t'Isfel (2011), il-Ġappun (2019) u l-Vjetnam (2020). Dawn il-ftehimiet huma karatterizzati mill-inklużjoni ta’ kapitoli dwar il-kummerċ u l-iżvilupp sostenibbli, u jagħtu lill-KESE u lil organizzazzjonijiet oħra tas-soċjetà ċivili – flimkien mal-organizzazzjonijiet tas-soċjetà ċivili fil-pajjiżi msieħba – rwol formali fil-monitoraġġ tal-implimentazzjoni tagħhom u l-għoti ta’ konsulenza lill-awtoritajiet politiċi rilevanti fl-oqsma tal-istandards ambjentali, soċjali u tax-xogħol u kwistjonijiet oħra ta’ rilevanza diretta għas-soċjetà ċivili permezz tal-Gruppi Konsultattivi Domestiċi. Il-Gruppi Konsultattivi Domestiċi tal-UE jiltaqgħu darbtejn jew tliet darbiet fis-sena u darba fis-sena tiġi organizzata laqgħa konġunta.
Barra minn hekk, il-KESE jidħol f'kuntatt mas-soċjetà ċivili f’pajjiżi oħrajn tal-Asja u f’avvenimenti internazzjonali rilevanti fuq bażi ad hoc.
The Communication stresses the EU's commitment to safeguarding an online environment providing the highest possible freedom and security, for the benefit of its citizens.
The 2030 Agenda, the new global framework for sustainable development agreed by the UN in 2015, needs to be reflected in EU's development policy, the major orientations of which are set out in the 2005 European Consensus on Development ("the Consensus").
To this end, the Commission issued Communication COM(2016) 740, "Proposal for a New European Consensus on Development: Our World, Our Dignity, Our Future" in November 2016. Interinstitutional negotiations are expected to result in its endorsement in the form of a Joint Statement by the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission, in May 2017.
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) warns against granting China market economy status (MES) and calls on the European institutions to promote fair international competition and actively defend European jobs and European values with efficient trade defence instruments (TDIs). In its opinion, adopted at its 514th plenary session on 14th July, the EESC points to the disastrous impact a possible granting of MES to China would have on Europe's industry and consequently on Europe's labour market. The EESC insists on China's fulfilment of the five EU criteria for achieving the MES.
The main aim of the review is to assess whether all existing priorities of the EU-Central Asia Strategy remain valid, and whether the EU should maintain its current focus on issues such as security, education, sustainable development (energy, transport and environment), and the rule of law.
This own initiative opinion looks to examine the agreement already under negotiation between EU and Japan (being the third non-European EU trade partner) and in particular its economic, social and environmental consequences. This agreement is not only dealing with trade, but will have on societies expected consequences to be enlightened and taken in account by negotiators. The automobile sector, public procurement, services, agricultural and pharmaceutical products sectors are, among others, concerned.
An EU-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) would cover over a fifth of the global population, making it one of the most significant FTAs in the world. It has the potential to bring significant benefits for society to both the EU and India.
However, the EESC is concerned with its uncertain social and environmental effects for the EU, especially in terms of Mode 4 (mobility of workers) and for the poorer segments of Indian society.