The EESC issues between 160 and 190 opinions, evaluation 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 10th meeting of the EU Domestic Advisory Group (DAG) under the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), and second meeting of the new 2023-25 term, took place on 9 January, 2024.
Priorities for the Future Leadership of the European Union to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in a Fragmented and Multipolar World
Location
Brussels
Belgium
The Sustainable Development Solutions Network and the EESC will host a high-level hybrid event on Europe’s future and the SDGs during the meeting of the EESC NAT Section. The event will aim to provide relevant contributions on how the EU can strengthen its SDG leadership in the context of the upcoming European elections in June 2024 and UN Summit of the Future in September 2024. The event will notably feature the launch of the 5th edition of the Europe Sustainable Development Report which tracks annually since 2019 the performance of all EU member states and partner countries on the SDGs and is co-designed with civil society. The discussions will also aim to highlight opportunities and mechanisms for further engagement with civil society organizations and the private sector to advance the SDGs in Europe.
Making the European economy more resilient and dynamic through growth while at the same time prioritising environmental protection are not mutually incompatible but essential to future-proofing the continent's society. That is the main message from a European Economic and Social Committee conference "Sustainability and prosperity at the heart of the European project", held on 30 November on the fringes of an extraordinary Bureau meeting, where the EESC met with the upcoming Belgian presidency of the Council of the EU.
On 7 November, the Rural Pact Coordination Group (CG) convened for its second meeting since its inception. The CG plays a crucial role in developing strategies, coordinating actions, and ensuring effective implementation of the Rural Pact and brings together diverse stakeholders to address challenges and advance sustainable development in rural areas.
Our members address water-related challenges, in the context of the EESC's call for an EU Blue Deal - a comprehensive water strategy for Europe
Guest article by Hasmik Barseghyan, President of the European Youth Parliament for Water and Advisory Committee Member of the United Nations' University FLORES
Interview with rapporteur Ioannis Vardakastanis on Blue Diplomacy
Reports on recent events
Civil Society Organisations' Bulletin - October 2023
The European Economic and Social Committee calls on the European institutions to consider water as a priority and to adopt an EU Blue Deal as a standalone strategic policy, on an equal footing with the EU Green Deal.
The event will present a grassroots and local government perspective on the European Green Deal, with ECOLISE and ICLEI Europe sharing insights into the handprint of community-led initiatives and local governments in addressing the planetary crisis.
The other side of trade: a bottom-up approach to sustainable development
Event type
Conference
Location
EESC
Brussels
Belgium
The EESC hosted the 2nd Civil Society Forum on Trade and Sustainable Development : ' The other side of trade: a bottom-up approach to sustainable development' on 14 November 2023. Moving on from the fundamental question "Have we been listening?", the event examined Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) from different angles with a common approach: inclusive, bottom-up and solution-oriented.
The Civil Society Organisations' Group organised a photography exhibition in collaboration with the City of Culture of Galicia in the framework of its conference on EU food sovereignty: the role of agriculture, fisheries and consumers. The subject of the exhibition supported and complemented the Group's and the EESC's work on resilient and sustainable European food systems. The Group invited the Galician artist, Adrián Baúlde, to present parts of the series Mariscadoras.