Programme

Fundamental rights, the rule of law and the post-COVID-19 recovery

Programme

The hearing will build on the reflection launched by the EESC Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law (FRRL) Group at its first hearing on COVID-19 in December 2020. That first hearing was entitled "COVID-19: Mitigating Impact and Overcoming the Crisis". It focused on COVID-19's impact on employers, workers and CSOs and the EU response in terms of rule of law and fundamental rights.

While it is too early to assert that the COVID-19 crisis is being overcome, it is important to already think about the world after. The impact of the crisis on European socio-economic models has reached a critical point. It now appears more and more obvious that the world of tomorrow will not look like the one of yesterday.

The hearing will propose a discussion with the European Commission on how to integrate the lessons learned from the crisis in terms of fundamental rights and the rule of law within the recovery plans.

After a presentation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) by the European Commission, social partners will share their views on the way to ensure that freedom to conduct a business and workers' rights are properly considered within the National Recovery and Resilience Plans (NRRPs).

The question of the appropriate management of the plans in terms of inclusion and oversight will then be discussed by civil society and academic representatives. The European Commission will have the opportunity to respond to points made during these presentations, before a more general discussion is open.

Opening

Mr Cristian Pîrvulescu, President of the EESC FRRL Group (Group III, Romania)

Introductory panel

Moderated by Mr Cristian Pîrvulescu, President of the EESC FRRL Group (Group III, Romania)

  • Presentation of the Council conclusions on human rights-based recovery

         Ms Margarida Teixeira Araújo, Deputy Nikolaidis, Permanent Representation of Portugal to the European Union

  • Presentation of the Recovery and Resilience Plans

Ms Éva Török, Policy Officer, Recovery and Resilience Task Force, SG.RECOVER.B.3, European Commission

  • Presentation of the EESC Resolution on civil society involvement in the Recovery and Resilience Plans

Mr Javier Doz Orrit, President of the EESC Ad hoc group on the European Semester (Group II, ES)

Q&A

Moderated by Ms Ozlem Yildirim, Vice-President of the EESC FRRL Group (Group II, France)

  1. Social dialogue: how can social partners defend their rights in the recovery plans?

Chaired by Ms Ozlem Yildirim, Vice-President of the EESC FRRL Group (Group II, France)

  • Defending freedom to conduct a business in the recovery phase

Mr Gerhard Huemer, Director for Economic and Fiscal Policy, SMEunited

  • Defending fundamental rights of workers in the recovery phase

Ms Isabelle Schömann, Confederal Secretary, European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)

  1. Rule of law and the recovery funds: how to ensure good management, inclusivity and oversight?

Chaired by Ms María Helena de Felipe Lehtonen, Vice-President of the EESC FRRL Group (Group I, Spain)

  • Ensuring the appropriate management of recovery funds

Prof. Päivi Leino-Sandberg, Professor of Transnational European Law, University of Helsinki

  • Ensuring civil society inclusion and oversight

Ms Karina Carvalho, Executive Director, Transparency International national chapter in Portugal

Discussion

Moderated by Ms María Helena de Felipe Lehtonen, Vice-President of the EESC FRRL Group (Group I, Spain)

Conclusion

Ms María Helena de Felipe Lehtonen, Vice-President of the EESC FRRL Group (Group I, Spain)

Downloads

Draft agenda - Fundamental rights, the rule of law and the post-COVID-19 recovery