Európsky hospodársky a sociálny výbor
EHSV sa aktívne angažuje v procese rozširovania EÚ a vypracoval dvojaký prístup – regionálny a bilaterálny – pre vzťahy s organizáciami občianskej spoločnosti v krajinách zahrnutých do procesu rozširovania.
Pokiaľ ide o regionálny prístup, monitorovací výbor pre západný Balkán – stály vnútorný orgán EHSV – je hlavným nástrojom na koordináciu činnosti EHSV v tomto regióne. Fórum občianskej spoločnosti krajín západného Balkánu organizované každé dva roky je súčasťou činnosti monitorovacieho výboru.
EHSV pracuje aj na bilaterálnej úrovni s krajinami západného Balkánu a s Tureckom. Na základe asociačných dohôd medzi týmito krajinami a EÚ s cieľom zapojiť organizácie občianskej spoločnosti do predvstupového a prístupového procesu EHSV vytvoril tri spoločné orgány so zástupcami občianskej spoločnosti – s Tureckom, Čiernou Horou a Srbskom. Každý orgán sa skladá z rovnakého počtu členov z EHSV a partnerskej krajiny a stretáva sa dvakrát do roka.
EHSV udržiava pravidelné kontakty a organizuje spoločné činnosti s organizáciami občianskej spoločnosti v krajinách zahrnutých do procesu rozširovania, s ktorými dosiaľ nebol vytvorený žiadny spoločný orgán zástupcov občianskej spoločnosti.
Činnosť spoločných orgánov je sprevádzaná prípravou stanovísk EHSV o predvstupových a prístupových procesoch jednotlivých krajín, ako aj o témach regionálneho záujmu.
Civil society representatives from both the EU and Turkey called on Turkish authorities to undertake major reforms in the fields of rule of law and human rights as a prerequisite to resume accession negotiations with the EU. This was one of the main conclusions of the 38th meeting of the EU-Turkey Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) held in Brussels on 8 and 9 April, which also agreed on the important role of the JCC as an open channel for exchanges at civil society level.
The importance of Social Dialogue, the role of employers' organisations, the economic situation in the Balkan countries, progress in the accession process and current political challenges: these were main topics of the discussions at the Balkan Employers' Round Table that took place in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on 22 March 2017. The event brought together representatives of employers' organisations from former Yugoslavia (Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia).
EESC criticises European Council decision to deny the opening of accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is deeply disappointed about EU leaders' decision to further postpone opening accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania at the European Council of 17-18 October, due to the lack of unanimity between the Member States.
The 7th edition of the Western Balkans Civil Society Forum, which took place in Tirana on 16 and 17 April, concluded with a call for the next Commission to maintain the Western Balkans enlargement policy as one of its priorities in the interest of both the region and of the EU.
For the 8th time, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and Montenegro held the Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) in Budva, Montenegro.
This meeting tackled following issues: Assessment of the state of play in Montenegro accession negotiations to the EU, Chapter 28 of the accession negotiations – with focus on Consumer protection and Debate on the situation of young people on the labour market.
For the 7th time, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and Montenegro held the Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee (JCC).
The meeting was held in Brussels and tackled following issues:
- The current state of play in EU-Montenegro relations and the accession process
- The Connectivity Agenda in the areas of Energy and Transport
- Chapter 5 - Public procurement
- The state of industrial relations and the development of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Montenegro
The EESC will keep on advocating for the enlargement process to go on, in an inclusive, transparent and fair manner. Any delay due to the current turmoil in the EU has to be seen as a chance for reaching a better level of preparedness when entering the EU. But for this opportunity to be seized, the EU needs to work side by side with civil society in the region.
