News

  • On 21st June 2016 the European Economic and Social Committee, in cooperation with the United Nations, the International Organization for Migration and the Italian cultural institute in Brussels, organised the screening of 'Fire at Sea' ('Fuocoammare'), the award winning film-documentary set on the island of Lampedusa, a frontline in the European migrant crisis.

  • The latest issue of the newsletter of the Association of former EESC members is online. 28 pages full of information and ideas, including Luca Jahier's reflections on Brexit, an exclusive interview with the Slovak RP, a simulation game to publicise the EESC's activities and the recollection of a visit paid by EESC members to King Baudouin...

  • On 21 June, the president of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) met Jean-Claude Juncker at the Greek Economic and Social Council (OKE), in the course of the European Commission president's visit to Athens. The Commissioner for migration, Dimitris Avramopoulos, and OKE president George Vernicos were also present. Speaking at thThe OKE extraordinary plenary session gave the two presidents an opportunity to state their positions on the major challenges facing Europe, and Greece in particular, with a special focus on the reforms in Greece and on development of the welfare state and social dialogue.

  • The European Union is home to world-class scientific research. Researchers from all over the world come to Europe to benefit from its border-free network of cooperation. They are attracted by the excellent research infrastructure containing world-class instruments funded jointly by Member States and the EU. All this is made possible as a result of cooperation within the European Research Programmes (Framework Programmes, Horizon 2020). The UK plays a major role within this European Research Area, keeping British research at the cutting edge. We want this success story to continue and we worry that Brexit would lead to a harsh disruption of this success story.

  • On June 20-21, the Various Interests' Group organised a conference entitled: 'A hope for Europe! Culture, cities and new narratives', organised in partnership with Bozar and the Education and Culture Committee of the European Parliament. The conference welcomed over 200 participants and emphasized the enormous potential culture has for ...

  • Today, the UN World Refugee Day calls for solidarity with the nearly 60 million people who are displaced worldwide. Last year, over one million arrived in Europe seeking safety, more than half of them fleeing from war in Syria. Civil society played a key role in the response to the crisis and its contribution is essential for a successful integration of asylum seekers.

    To acknowledge this effort, the 2016 Civil Society Prize will go to projects delivering concrete help to these displaced persons. As in previous editions, the award has a total value of 50 000 euros that may be shared between up to five winners. And this year, candidates are to apply directly via email until the 9 of September. Check all the details here!

  • On 17 June 2016, the EESC and more particularly the Workers' Group are hosting an event to mark the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the ILO Convention No. 52 on Holidays with Pay.

  • The ongoing digital transformation will have a tremendous impact on industry, business and citizens alike. Therefore, the European Union should actively prepare for a new post-industrial era so that it can seize the opportunities it brings. The closer the cooperation between business, academia and governments, the bigger the benefits will be – concluded the speakers at the seminar "Driving Innovation and Industry in Europe", which took place on 16 June in Cambridge, UK. The participants of the round table discussion attempted to identify the main issues and obstacles that industry and academia face when trying to cooperate more closely.

  • Today Brenda King, president of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)'s Sustainable Development Observatory (SDO) presented the EESC's recently adopted opinion A European Sustainable Development Civil Society Forum to a meeting of the Council of the EU gathering together three preparatory bodies - the Working Party on International Environmental Issues, the UN Working Party and the Working Party on Development Cooperation. The main focus of the meeting was the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

  • The President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) Georges Dassis will be visiting Athens with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on 21 June.