The EESC issues between 160 and 190 opinions and information reports a year.
It also organises several annual initiatives and events with a focus on civil society and citizens’ participation such as the Civil Society Prize, the Civil Society Days, the Your Europe, Your Say youth plenary and the ECI Day.
Here you can find news and information about the EESC'swork, including its social media accounts, the EESC Info newsletter, photo galleries and videos.
The EESC brings together representatives from all areas of organised civil society, who give their independent advice on EU policies and legislation. The EESC's326 Members are organised into three groups: Employers, Workers and Various Interests.
The EESC has six sections, specialising in concrete topics of relevance to the citizens of the European Union, ranging from social to economic affairs, energy, environment, external relations or the internal market.
The EESC NAT Section and its Sustainable Development Observatory are marking International Women Day 2021 by taking part in the #IWD2021 action to celebrate women's achievement, raise awareness against bias and take action for equality.
Room JDE63, JDE building, Rue Belliard 99-101, 1040
Brussels
Belgium
The EESC will hold a public hearing to examine the recently adopted LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy 2026–2030. The event will bring diverse stakeholders to discuss opportunities and challenges in implementing the strategy’s actions, enforcement of anti-discrimination norms, and strategies to ensure that EU policy frameworks meaningfully foster the Union of Equality. Key questions will focus on mainstreaming LGBTIQ+ equality, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, mechanisms for Member State engagement, and strategies for bridging gaps between EU-level and national practices.
In the context of the European Gender Equality Week, the European Economic and Social Committee is organising a thematic debate during the meeting of its Section for Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment (NAT) on 13 November 2024 (14:30 - 16:00 CET), focusing on the disproportionate impact of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss on women and girls, and the critical role they play in advocating for solutions.
Room VMA 22 EESC building & Interactio, Rue Van Maerlant 2, 1040
Brussels
Belgium
The EESC's Permanent Group on disability Rights is organising a hybrid public hearing on " Ensuring sexual and reproductive health rights for women with disabilities " on 8 July 2024 from 9:30 am to 1 pm.
During the event, we will discuss with relevant stakeholders existing good practices as well as problems encountered by women with disabilities both in the EU and on a global level.
The hearing will gather stakeholders from civil society and institutions to look into the various forms of violence against women and girls that are not covered by 2024 Directive on gender violence. The objective will be to provide a perspective that truly contemplates a common comprehensive policy against gender-based violence, offering a comprehensive and effective strategy against this violation of human rights within the framework of the Union. Reflexions will feed into an Own-Initiative Opinion by the EESC FRRL Group.
In the context of the European Gender Equality Week and as part of its section meeting, the NAT section will host a public debate on gender equality and youth in rural areas.
The ECO Section of the EESC will organise a public debate with the title: "Gender inequality in access to financial markets. Causes, consequences and policy solutions" in order to present the views of different actors and discuss on the gender gaps in the access to funding and on investment.
To prepare its opinion on "Strengthening the role and independence of equality bodies", the European Economic and Social Committee is organising a hybrid public hearing.
Equality bodies combat discrimination at the national level through prevention and assistance to victims. However, their tasks and resources vary significantly across EU countries, resulting in different levels of effectiveness.
The hearing will address how to improve the powers of equality bodies to better fight discrimination, by gathering inputs from institutions, social partners and other civil society organisations.
Hearing of the Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law Group
Location
EESC, Rue Belliard 99, 1040 Brussels
Brussels and on line
Belgium
Recent developments in the US and some European countries have shown that rights acquired by women are not irreversible. This particularly applies to sexual and reproductive health and rights. These questions are a matter of individual rights but also of public health, as sexual and reproductive health services are an essential part of comprehensive healthcare provision. Societal debates on the questions tend more and more towards polarisation, at the expense of women who can become deprived of their free and informed choice. The hearing will gather the view of civil society on these developments.
As part of its work to prepare an opinion on "Gender lens investing as a way to improve gender equality in the European Union", the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is organising a remote public hearing on 23 September 2022 from 9:30 am to 11 am.
The discussion will focus on the EU's role in improving the position of women in receiving capital invested within the Union. It will also address how the EU can step up the implementation of gender budgeting in its annual budget and external financing mechanisms.