EESC President

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  • EESC President Boland hosts EU Commissioner Marta Kos on his family farm in County Offaly

    Reference number
    41/2026

    On Tuesday 8 September 2026, European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) President Séamus Boland welcomed European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos to his family farm in Ballycumber, County Offaly, for discussions on EU enlargement and the essential role of civil society in preparing candidate countries for membership. The meeting took place during Commissioner Kos's visit to Ireland for the EU Council Presidency meetings of foreign affairs and European affairs ministers in Wicklow and Dublin.

    External relations

  • The Socio-Economic Value of Job Quality

    Launch of the European Employment and Social Outlook (EESO) 2026

    Location

    European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Rue Belliard 99/101
    Brussels
    Belgium

    The European Commission (DG EMPL) and the EESC (SOC section) are organising this conference to present and discuss the key findings from the European Employment and Social Outlook (EESO) 2026 – DG EMPL's flagship report. 

    The 2026 edition of this report, scheduled to come out in October 2026, focuses on job quality, its link to macroeconomic outcomes and related policies.

  • Where European policy meets the land: Commissioner Roswall visits President Boland’s farm in Offaly

  • Europe Day statement

    Statement by
    Séamus Boland, President of the European Economic and Social Committee

    On Europe Day, we celebrate not simply a political union or an economic project, but a democratic vision founded on peace, participation and solidarity among peoples.

    At the heart of that vision lies an essential principle: democracy is not sustained by institutions alone. It survives because people believe they still have a voice.

    Today, across Europe and beyond, that principle is under growing pressure.

  • Fulfilling our collective responsibility to eradicate poverty by 2050

    It is with immense pleasure that I welcome the European Commission's (EC) ambitious social package and in particular, the first EU Anti-Poverty Strategy. I very much look forward to the European Economic and Social Committee's (EESC) concrete role in its implementation, through the cooperation agreement to be signed with the European Commission (EC).

  • President Boland in Moldova: advancing EU accession with civil society at the heart

    On a mission to Moldova, European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) President Séamus Boland met with Moldova’s political leadership, civil society organisations and young people to reaffirm the EESC’s strong support for the country’s European path. 

  • EESC President statement on Montenegro EU accession progress

    Statement by
    Séamus Boland, EESC President

    I welcome the decision by European Union Ambassadors to establish a Council Working Party tasked with drafting the Accession Treaty with Montenegro and congratulate Montenegro for this important milestone. This represents both a recognition of progress and an incentive to accelerate reforms. 

  • President Boland in New York and Washington D.C. to stand up for global cooperation and build bridges with civil society across the Atlantic

    On a mission to United Nations headquarters in New York and the World Bank and Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) President Séamus Boland met with several high-level UN, political and civil society leaders. He stressed the EESC's firm commitment to international cooperation and the importance of civil society participation to strengthening multilateralism, sustainable development and democracy. 

  • 21st meeting of the EU-China Round Table

    -
    Event type
    Round table

    Location

    Hangzhou
    China

    The 21st meeting of the EU-China Round Table will take place in Hangzhou, China, on 14 September 2026.

    The delegations of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and its Chinese counterpart, the China Economic and Social Council (CESC), will discuss the following topics:

    • Addressing poverty and promoting social inclusion
    • Promoting higher-quality and more efficient EU-China trade and investment
    • People-centred artificial intelligence

    The EU-China Civil Society Round Table was established in 2007 following a decision taken at the 9th EU-China Summit held in Helsinki. Delegations from the EESC and the CESC meet regularly to discuss economic and social issues of common interest.

    Through the preparation of joint reports, exchanges of views and discussions on matters of mutual concern, representatives of the EESC and the CESC contribute to the development of EU-China relations from a civil society perspective.

Displaying 1 - 9 of 27

Contact

Séamus BOLAND

European Economic and Social Committee 

rue Belliard/Belliardstraat 99-101 1040 Brussels Belgium

Tel (secretariat): +32 (0)2 546 97 25 - Email (secretariat)

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