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.
Pajjiżi tat-tkabbir
Il-KESE jimpenja ruħu b’mod attiv fil-proċess ta’ tkabbir tal-UE u żviluppa approċċ doppju – reġjonali u bilaterali – għar-relazzjonijiet tiegħu mal-organizzazzjonijiet tas-soċjetà ċivili (OSĊ) fil-pajjiżi tat-tkabbir.
Fejn jidħol l-approċċ reġjonali, il-Kumitat ta’ Segwitu tal-Balkani tal-Punent – korp intern permanenti tal-KESE – huwa l-istrument ewlieni għall-koordinazzjoni tal-attivitajiet tal-KESE f’dan ir-reġjun. Il-Forum tas-Soċjetà Ċivili tal-Balkani tal-Punent, organizzat kull sentejn, jifforma parti mill-ħidma tal-Kumitat ta’ Segwitu.
Il-KESE jaħdem ukoll b’mod bilaterali mal-pajjiżi tal-Balkani tal-Punent u t-Turkija. Abbażi ta’ ftehimiet ta’ assoċjazzjoni bejn dawn il-pajjiżi u l-UE, bil-għan li jiġu involuti l-OSĊ fil-proċessi ta’ qabel l-adeżjoni u ta’ adeżjoni, il-KESE ħoloq tliet korpi konġunti mar-rappreżentanti tas-soċjetà ċivili – mat-Turkija, il-Montenegro u s-Serbja. Kull korp huwa magħmul minn għadd indaqs ta’ membri mill-KESE u mill-pajjiż imsieħeb u jiltaqa’ darbtejn fis-sena.
Il-KESE jżomm kuntatti regolari u jorganizza attivitajiet konġunti mal-OSĊ tal-pajjiżi tat-tkabbir li magħhom ma jkunx għadu ġie stabbilit korp konġunt ta’ rappreżentanti tas-soċjetà ċivili.
Il-ħidma tal-korpi konġunti hija komplementata mit-tħejjija ta’ Opinjonijiet tal-KESE dwar il-proċessi ta’ qabel l-adeżjoni u ta’ adeżjoni tal-pajjiżi individwali, kif ukoll dwar suġġetti ta’ interess reġjonali.
This own-initiative opinion will draw upon the first-hand experiences of the non-state actors (civil society, business and trade unions) engaged in the accession negotiations between Croatia and the EU over the period 2005-11, as well as experiences of EESC members who have been engaged in the work of Joint Consultative Committees (JCCs) with accession countries over the past seven years (Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey and Montenegro) as well as the Western Balkans Follow-up Committee.
The EESC welcomes the special attention devoted to drawing up a European Union Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR), in order to support cohesion and competitiveness in the light of challenges that cannot be satisfactorily resolved by single regions or countries through the usual means. The EESC believes that EUSAIR must adopt a comprehensive programme with an action-oriented list of projects and schemes, and strongly recommends that better use be made of the private sector's potential to attract investment (both local and international) and to create business opportunities. Simultaneously, the strategy should include a stronger social dimension, in order to better support inclusive growth in the Adriatic and Ionian region.
The opinion should take stock of the current situation of civil society in Serbia (legal environment, relations with the authorities, situation of social and civil dialogues) and propose recommendations for possible EU action in this field. The opinion will provide an opportunity to get the views of Serbian civil society organisations in the course of a study visit to Serbia.