European Economic and Social Committee
Europe's industrial fabric is at the heart of our/the backbone of its economies: it generates wealth, it creates jobs and it fuels our welfare systems. Since the beginning of the health crisis, many companies have been struggling to tackle unprecedented challenges and find creative ways to reinvent themselves, build resilience and survive.
On 1 and 2 March 2022, this annual conference will bring together Europe's largest network of stakeholders in the Circular Economy. The focus this year is on the path to a new normal: "sustainable products for sustainable consumption."
The webinar will take place in the context of the EESC International Trade Follow-up Committee, in cooperation with the EESC INT Section and will explore the topic of 'Supply chains and the case of reshoring'.
On February 11th 2022, the EESC organises an online public hearing in the context of the Commission's Strategic Foresight Report (SFR) and the Committee's own related opinion INT/958. The 2021 report considers 'The EU's capacity and freedom to act' and provides a multidisciplinary perspective on important global trends. The hearing will consist of two panels, each concluded by a discussion among the speakers and attendants. The first of the two panels will discuss the role and the best possible involvement of civil society organisations (CSOs) in participatory foresight while the second panel will give the floor directly to representatives from CSOs to present their own views on the present and next SFR.
Webstreaming will be available on the day of the event.
In making their choices, consumers cannot always take into account the digital dimension and the ecological dimension at the same time. A young consumer who would be tempted to replace his mobile phone every year to keep up with digital developments cannot at the same time take into account the environmental impact of the transport of devices often coming from Asia.
The first-ever legal framework on AI will be in the spotlight of the second edition of the AI stakeholder summit, co-organised by the Digital Transition and Single Market Observatory (EESC) and the Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence in a Digital Age (European Parliament).
Crisis management and recovery is in the focus of the activities of the European Institutions and the Member States in 2021.
Sustainable finance aims at supporting the delivery on the objectives of the European Green Deal by channelling private investment into companies and projects that support the transition to a climate-neutral, climate-resilient, resource-efficient and just economy. The challenges this brings about should be addressed in a joint effort by the financial sector, businesses, regulatory authorities and citizens. The Industry sector will face major challenges, and be affected by recent and upcoming measures adopted at EU level.
On 1 October the Category will mark its 30th anniversary, with high-profile speakers and round tables. The event is organised in the context of the Conference on the Future of Europe.
Between June 2021 and March 2022 we organised a series of events on the updated new industrial strategy, announced by the European Commission on 5 May 2021. The main objective of these events was to hear the view of civil society organisations on the future of European industry. Each event focused on a specific aspect of the strategy, from the role of critical raw materials to industry's role to achieve the Green Deal, from Europe's competitiveness on the global stage to a truly Just Transition and public & private investments.
On 15 September 2021 we organised a webinar on The EU's industrial strategy – which indicators to track its progress?
