Press releases

  • Reference number
    43/2018

    An amazing opportunity to exchange views and a wonderful learning experience. The Jubel Festival, the very first festival on European democracy in Belgium, took place on Saturday 22 September 2018 in Park Leopold in Brussels. EESC members Pierre Jean Coulon, Ronny Lannoo, Thierry Libaert and Daniel Mareels contributed to a fruitful meeting on the future of Europe, one that was particularly relevant in view of the upcoming European elections.

  • Reference number
    42/2018

    Despite an overly complicated ECI tool, one million signatures collected for diversity in Europe

    At its plenary on 20 September, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) invited the initiators of the European Citizens' Initiative Minority SafePack – represented by Loránt Vincze, president of the Federal Union of European Nationalities – to present their request, which is aimed at improving the protection of national and linguistic minorities in Europe

     

  • Reference number
    41/2018

    EESC President Luca Jahier and European Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc engaged in a fruitful debate on mobility at the EESC plenary session on 20 September 2018. An adequate regulatory framework for a well-functioning Single European Transport Area, digitalisation in land transport technology, better interoperability between the various existing electronic road toll systems and investment in clean electricity were at the heart of the debate with EESC members.

  • Reference number
    40/2018

    Commissioner Oettinger joined EESC plenary to discuss the Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027

  • #CivSocPrize @EU_EESC

    The EESC has received 150 applications for its Civil Society Prize, which this year celebrates innovative initiatives promoting identities, European values and cultural heritage in Europe

  • Last chance to compete for the EESC Civil Society Prize 2018 on identities, European values and cultural heritage in Europe! Applications closing soon

    The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is inviting organisations and individuals who work for a better Europe to put themselves forward for the Civil Society Prize, which this year is promoting initiatives to do with European values, identities and cultural heritage. The deadline is 7 September 2018.

  • Reference number
    37/2018

    The European economy loses over 2% of productivity per year due to a mismatch of skills, according to a recent study commissioned by the European Economic and Social Committee. This means a loss of 80 eurocents for each hour of work. The situation will get even worse in the future due to demographic trends and ongoing technological developments, if no reforms are undertaken.

  • Migration was one of the main topics during the discussion with the Austrian EU-presidency. While members of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) welcomed the title "A Europe that protects" they called on the presidency to put European values at centre stage and be a real bridge builder between all EU Member States.

  • Pre mestá a regióny predstavuje energetická transformácia obrovský potenciál, pokiaľ ide o využívanie inovatívnych a efektívnych politík na regionálnej úrovni. Podpredseda Európskej komisie a komisár zodpovedný za energetickú úniu Maroš Šefčovič na júlovom plenárnom zasadnutí Európskeho hospodárskeho a sociálneho výboru (EHSV) zdôraznil, že je dôležité prepojiť iniciatívy EÚ v oblasti energetiky s regionálnou politikou a rozvojom a posilniť spoluprácu medzi orgánmi EÚ a občianskou spoločnosťou.

  • The first Stakeholder Summit on Artificial Intelligence, organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the European Commission, stressed that the EU must ensure that artificial intelligence is safe, unbiased and in line with European values. The event, which aimed to discuss the next steps to advance the EU strategy on artificial intelligence, took place on 18 June in Brussels.