Kumitat Ekonomiku u Socjali Ewropew
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.
The 7th edition of the Western Balkans Civil Society Forum, which took place in Tirana on 16 and 17 April, concluded with a call for the next Commission to maintain the Western Balkans enlargement policy as one of its priorities in the interest of both the region and of the EU.
The EESC's annual seminar for civil society communicators zoomed in on the impact of the war in Ukraine on the EU, addressing three thorny issues.
For the 8th time, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and Montenegro held the Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) in Budva, Montenegro.
This meeting tackled following issues: Assessment of the state of play in Montenegro accession negotiations to the EU, Chapter 28 of the accession negotiations – with focus on Consumer protection and Debate on the situation of young people on the labour market.
For the 7th time, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and Montenegro held the Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee (JCC).
The meeting was held in Brussels and tackled following issues:
- The current state of play in EU-Montenegro relations and the accession process
- The Connectivity Agenda in the areas of Energy and Transport
- Chapter 5 - Public procurement
- The state of industrial relations and the development of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Montenegro
The External Relations Section (REX) of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is responsible for dialogue between European civil society organisations and their homologues from the countries with which the European Union has formal relations (e.g. under the form of a Free Trade Agreement). Through this dialogue, made possible by a series of bilateral bodies, and through specialized opinions and information reports, the Committee is able to concretely contribute to EU foreign policy.
The EESC will keep on advocating for the enlargement process to go on, in an inclusive, transparent and fair manner. Any delay due to the current turmoil in the EU has to be seen as a chance for reaching a better level of preparedness when entering the EU. But for this opportunity to be seized, the EU needs to work side by side with civil society in the region.
