On 6-7 December, the Diversity Europe Group held its extraordinary meeting at the EESC premises (VMA Building - Room VMA3). During this meeting entitled 'Bursting Brussels' 'Bubble': How to communicate Your Europe', EESC Group III Members learned more about efficient communication tools in order to become EU 'ambassadors' and to communicate the way they feel about Europe.
The European Council of December 2012 agreed that the roadmap for the completion of the European Monetary Union (EMU) should include a social dimension, comprising social dialogue. President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy called for the EESC proposals on the social dimension of the Economic and Monetary Union. To assemble the views of institutional stakeholders, social partners and civil society organisations, the EESC is holding a hearing on "For a social dimension of the EMU".
Two years after the launch of the ECI and one year before the revision of the implementing regulation, the ECI Day 2014 creates an excellent opportunity to discuss the best practices stemming from the first successful ECIs and to set up the list of recommendations for improving this instrument of direct democracy. The event will focus on three aspects of the ECI: the ECI and political challenge, its legal aspects and ECI campaigning in view of the new e-democracy tools.
The organisation of the annual ECI Day - which I hope will remain a landmark in years to come with more and more partners on board - is also clear proof of our commitment to initiate dialogue on this tool. Last year's event was only a small seminar to celebrate the launch of the ECI process, but it attracted many people.
We have also supported the ECI process by hosting technical working groups on the online signature collection software, bringing together IT experts and ECI organisers to see what can be improved on (participants will hear about the ongoing work during the afternoon's panel).
Presentation on the occasion of the EESC hearing on Europe for Citizens 2014-2020
In 2004 the European Union experienced its biggest enlargement so far, welcoming 10 new Member States. A decade later, members of the Employers' Group representing employers' organisations from these countries summarise the changes that have taken place thanks to accession to the EU.
The study carried out by the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) aims to provide an analysis of the current consultation practices at the European Commission as well as to examine the potential of an intermediary body, such as the EESC, and organised civil society, in improving this tool for participatory democracy in the EU.
Presentation by Kristine Kloeck (CEO of ChildFocus) on the occasion of the EESC hearing ’Protection of children against sexual abuse’
Presentation on the occasion of the EESC hearing on the Europe for Citizens Programme for 2014-2020 (Brussels, 3 May 2012)
