EESC Liaison Group Newsletter October 2023

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Dear Members of the Liaison Group,

In September, the EESC made a historic decision to open our doors and invite civil society representatives from the EU candidate countries to join our advisory work already as of January 2024. I firmly believe that the enlargement process should not merely involve waiting for candidate countries to fulfil the acquis criteria and tick all the boxes. Instead, it is about actively engaging with these countries already now to nurture a vibrant and healthy civil society in preparation for their accession. Given the current geopolitical context and the momentum towards enlargement, it is crucial to respond to the call of history, as stated by President von der Leyen in her 2023 State of the Union speech. I am proud that we are the first EU institution to take such a substantial and very tangible step, paving the way towards the European future of civil society in candidate countries.

However, our work is far from over. We see that the civic space and fundamental rights are under growing pressure in Europe and beyond. This is why I am working with the EESC team to extend the mandate of our Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law Group to EU candidate countries. We are also exploring "civil society health checks" to pro-actively monitor the wellbeing of civil society also in those countries. Upholding fundamental rights and the rule of law is essential for a healthy democracy and a vibrant civil society. This is why I warmly welcome Paul Soete, President of the EESC Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law Group, as a new member of the Liaison Group. Together we will work to defend the rights of civil society and protect civic space in Europe.

The upcoming European election in 2024 will be a real test of European democracy. It is a test that Europe cannot afford to fail. As you may know already, I am determined to have the EESC play a more active role and I am grateful for your support in setting up civil society panels during the Civil Society Week scheduled for 4-7 March 2023. The idea is to facilitate structured consultations between Liaison Group members and organisations in our networks on topics and issues that matter to civil society and EU citizens. All these efforts should feed into the "EESC Resolution to the elections" which will be presented to the new European Commission and new European Parliament.