Comité Económico e Social Europeu
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The EU is not only a common market; it is a union of common values that shape the European identity. These values are set out in the Treaty on the European Union and also include the rights, freedoms and principles laid out in the Charter of Fundamental Rights: the "indivisible, universal values of human dignity, freedom, equality and solidarity; [the Union] is based on the principles of democracy and the rule of law. It places the individual at the heart of its activities, by establishing the citizenship of the Union and by creating an area of freedom, security and justice."
The Charter brings together into a single text all the personal, civic, political, economic and social rights enjoyed by people within the EU and apply to the EU institutions and Member States when they implement EU law.
The EESC is very active in the promotion of fundamental rights, the rule of law and democracy, and especially in the fight against discrimination based on race, ethnic origin, disability or gender. In 2018, it established the Group on Fundamental Rights and the Rule of Law to further expand analysis of the situation across Europe and promote a constructive dialogue amongst all stakeholders.
What kind of Europe do you dream of?
Civil society and the Conference on the Future of Europe
Lisbon, 18-19 November 2021
Report on the virtual country visit to the Czech Republic – 30 September and 1 October 2021
This report relays the views of Czech civil society on freedom of association, freedom of assembly, the rule of law.
For the current mandate (October 2020 to April 2023) of the Diversity Europe Group (Group III), it has been decided to concentrate on the topic of poverty and on the role of civil society organisations and citizens' initiatives in combating it. The objective of the work programme of Group III for this period is to contribute to making local communities more sustainable, resilient, equitable, productive and socially just, whilst also upholding the highest levels of democratic governance, respect for rights and the rule of law.
This report examines how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the work of civil society organisations (CSOs) across Europe. It also focuses on how solutions implemented in individual EU Member States have impacted CSOs' ability to exercise their fundamental rights and freedoms.
Report on the virtual country visit to Ireland – 28-29 June 2021
This report relays the views of Irish civil society on freedom of association, freedom of assembly, the rule of law.
Report on the virtual country visit to Germany - 21-22 April 2021
This report relays the views of German civil society on freedom of association, freedom of assembly, the rule of law.
On 12 October, the Polish Constitutional Tribunal ruling, which found that parts of EU law were "incompatible" with the Polish Constitution, entered into force. ...
This research report has been produced in the context of a project entitled ‘The definition of worker in the platform economy’ (CES/FSA/09/2020), which was commissioned by the workers’ group of the European Economic and Social Committee. The report aims to contribute to the debates on platform workers’ risks and regulatory solutions.
