The EESC issues between 160 and 190 opinions and information reports a year.
It also organises several annual initiatives and events with a focus on civil society and citizens’ participation such as the Civil Society Prize, the Civil Society Days, the Your Europe, Your Say youth plenary and the ECI Day.
Here you can find news and information about the EESC'swork, including its social media accounts, the EESC Info newsletter, photo galleries and videos.
The EESC brings together representatives from all areas of organised civil society, who give their independent advice on EU policies and legislation. The EESC's326 Members are organised into three groups: Employers, Workers and Various Interests.
The EESC has six sections, specialising in concrete topics of relevance to the citizens of the European Union, ranging from social to economic affairs, energy, environment, external relations or the internal market.
Nothing can escape today's digital revolution. The "internet of things", 3D printing, artificial intelligence, big data, online platforms and the sharing economy are bringing new businesses into the digital arena and create new opportunities for innovative SMEs and start-ups. The digital revolution is bringing about changes in modes of production and patterns of consumption, how we understand the world, and even how we live together as a society.
"The Aviation Strategy should create a better climate for investment to encourage EU investors. This will increase the competitiveness of the sector and its overall role for the economy and, in consequence, promote growth and jobs", said Jacek Krawczyk, EESC rapporteur for the Aviation Strategy. In his opinion, instead of searching for financing from outside the EU and giving away market share, EU aviation should expand to emerging markets with growth potential.
"The European Citizens Initiatives (ECI) is an instrument for citizens to take a role in European policy making. After 5 years of experience we see it is not working properly. It is time for the European Commission to act upon the institutions recommendations" said Michael Smyth, EESC Vice-President in his introductory speechat the ECI DAY 2016 on 20 April in Brussels, organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). "Providing citizens with an effectively working instrument to voice their needs and concerns could have a tangible influence on European politics making it more targeted, relevant and in particular more democratic."
"Labour mobility is also sometimes associated with social and wage dumping, and the belief that mobile workers undertake 'welfare tourism'. That is an unfounded belief, and all studies show that mobile workers go where the jobs are, not to exploit social and public services," stated Gonçalo Lobo Xavier, EESC's Vice-President for Communication, speaking at the European Council's informal meeting of Ministers of social affairs and employment in Amsterdam today. Held under the Dutch Presidency of the Council of the EU, the ...
At the end of his official two-day visit to Tunisia, Georges Dassis, EESC president, signed an agreement consolidating the links between European and Tunisian civil society with Quartet representatives Mr Noureddine Taboubi, UGTT deputy secretary-general, Mr Slim Ghorbel, UTICA vice-president, LTDH vice-president Mr Ahmed Galai and ONAT head Mr Mohamed Fadhel Mahfoud.
"I welcome this agreement which opens the way to support for the full involvement of Tunisian civil society in shaping the country’s policies and in pressing ahead with economic and social issues", said Georges Dassis.
The signature of the agreement sends a positive signal to leaders on both sides of the Mediterranean. It confirms the key role of civil society in Tunisia's participatory democracy and in the country's relations with Europe, including the joint monitoring of the DCTFA (Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement), on which negotiations open next week.
During his visit, Mr Dassis also met the ministers responsible for relations with civil society, vocational training issues and social affairs. He welcomed the importance attached to freedom of expression, democracy and the role of civil society.
Since the peak of the migration flow in 2015, the European Union has had to focus on operational and urgent responses to immediate challenges. However, a solid long-term migration policy needs to be developed to manage and accompany migration, as stated in the European Agenda on Migration. The second edition of the European Migration Forum (6-7 April), co-organised by the European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee, is tasked to translate civil society's feedback into a concrete migration policy for the European Union.
How are new forms of employment impacting workers? Is the total flexibility of workers and labour market desirable? Will the sharing economy be putting an end to Europe's social protection systems?
Today, the EESC is releasing a study, entitled "The influence of Lifespan Labelling on Consumers", which clearly demonstrates the effect of lifetime labelling on consumer purchasing behaviour. And it's very clear: products labelled as long-lasting, such as suitcases and printers, would see a huge boost in sales, by 128 % and 70% respectively. Smartphones are markedly affected, with an increase of 41% on sales for products indicating a longer lifespan. Interestingly, the importance of the product lifetime to consumers increases in proportion to the amount consumers are prepared to spend.
Your Europe, Your Say! (YEYS) lived up to all expectations, as young people from the EU-28 and candidate countries shook things up with their enthusiasm and fresh ideas to help integrate migrants into European societies – the theme of this year’s event.
Closer cooperation needed to defeat terrorism, curb firearm access
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has adopted today an opinion calling for the development of new tools to prevent radicalisation, as part of a broader EU anti-terrorism strategy, and for access to firearms to be significantly curbed. The opinion on the European Agenda on Security (Rapporteur: Cristian Pîrvulescu), responds to both the Commission’s EU Action Plan against illicit trafficking in and use of firearms and explosives, and a proposal for a Directive on combating terrorism. More