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.
The main aim of this European Year must be active, participatory citizenship. The Year should encourage informed, active and inclusive citizen participation in the European integration process and in political and social life. The EESC advocates specifying the legal basis for the European Year and naming it the European Year of active and participatory citizenship.
Download — EESC opinion: European Year of Citizens (2013)
The Commission's communication sets out a strategy for the implementation of the charter in the new legal environment created by the Lisbon Treaty. The charter must serve as a compass for the Union's policies and their implementation by the Member States. The EESC finds that the Commission should strengthen the culture of fundamental rights at all government levels and across all policy and legislative domains level. It is as well urgent to establish a strategy for monitoring and for rapid reaction.
Download — EESC opinion: Strategy for the effective implementation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights by the European Union
The strategic role of civil society in defending EU founding values
Location
EESC, Rue Van Maerlant 2, 1000
Brussels and online
Belgium
The sixth EESC FRRL Group's annual conference will provide a platform for debate of the annual EC rule of law report, as well as of the recent country visits carried out by the FRRL Group.
EESC Members, civil society representatives (including social partners), EU institutions and other stakeholders will discuss the main recent developments in the EU in the area of fundamental rights and the rule of law, as well as the EU response notably through the rule of law review mechanism.
Public debate on Defence-related investments in the EU budget in the context of the new geopolitical order, to contribute to the final report of the EESC´s ad hoc group on the new geopolitical order, and in the framework of the opinion ECO/679 - Defence-related investments in the EU budget.
EESC, Rue Van Maerlant/Van Maerlantstraat 2, 1040 Brussels
Brussels and online
Belgium
The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, proclaimed 25 years ago in December 2000, plays a crucial role in upholding fundamental rights, democracy, and the rule of law across the Member States. To facilitate the effective implementation and application of the Charter, in 2020, the European Commission presented its “Strategy to strengthen the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the EU”. This year, the Commission is undertaking a mid-term review of its strategy to strengthen the application of the Charter.
Teatro Thalia, Estrada das Laranjeiras 205, Lisboa 1600-134
Lisbon
Portugal
This conference in Lisbon is the fourth event on disinformation being hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) as part of its ongoing project aiming to fight disinformation with the help of civil society.
The hearing will gather stakeholders from civil society and institutions to look into the various forms of violence against women and girls that are not covered by 2024 Directive on gender violence. The objective will be to provide a perspective that truly contemplates a common comprehensive policy against gender-based violence, offering a comprehensive and effective strategy against this violation of human rights within the framework of the Union. Reflexions will feed into an Own-Initiative Opinion by the EESC FRRL Group.