Multilateralism in crisis: EU Civil society's views and proposals for action

Practical information

• Administrator: Marco RISTORI / Assistant: Elisabete DIAS
• Composition of the study group
• E-mail

Background

The objective of this own-initiative opinion is to identify practical ways for the EU to strengthen multilateral cooperation and uphold the rules-based international order in an increasingly fragmented global environment. It examines how existing institutions and frameworks, including the United Nations, the OECD and the Council of Europe, can sustain international cooperation and develop responses to shared global challenges. The opinion also explores how the EU can strengthen its global partnerships and build new alliances in support of democracy, international law, human rights and effective multilateralism.

The opinion places the meaningful and structured involvement of organised civil society at the centre of these efforts. It makes recommendations on how social partners and civil society organisations can contribute to shaping and monitoring global solutions, strengthening the legitimacy, effectiveness and accountability of international cooperation. In doing so, it aims to reinforcing civil society’s role in defending and renewing multilateralism, with support for longer-term efforts to make global governance more representative and inclusive.

The EESC Youth Test has been applied to this opinion.