EESC to host debates with European Commissioners Michael McGrath, Christophe Hansen and Valdis Dombrovskis at March plenary

26-27 March 2025

European Commission - Charlemagne building (Alcide De Gasperi room)

Web stream click here

AGENDA

Debates

• Thursday 27 March 2025 at 9:00

De-polarising societies – Key Take-aways of Civil Society Week 2025

with Michael McGrath, European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Brikena Xhomaqi, Co-chair of the Liaison Group and Kristýna Bulvasová, Youth representative (YEYS)

• Thursday 27 March 2025 at 10:30

New Vision on Agriculture and Food

with Christophe Hansen, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food

• Thursday 27 March 2025 at 11:30

Presentation of the European Commission's Work Programme

with Valdis Dombrovskis, European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, Implementation and Simplification

Opinions in the spotlight

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Health and safety at work – current and future challenges in light of traditional and new technologies, with a focus on AI (SOC/818, rapporteur: Carlos Manuel Trindade (PT-II))

This exploratory opinion (at the request of the Polish presidency of the EU) focuses on the importance of a human-centric approach in addressing occupational safety and health challenges in an increasingly digitalised work environment. It stresses that new technologies can both enhance and introduce workplace hazards, necessitating a proactive regulatory framework. More

CIVIL PREPAREDNESS AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT

Crises and crisis phenomena in modern Europe and civil society (SOC/812, rapporteur: Ariane Rodert (SE-III))

In this exploratory opinion (at the request of the Polish presidency of the EU), the EESC calls for full integration of civil society into preparedness efforts, increased investment in its capacities, clear role definitions, stronger democratic safeguards, and easier cross-border cooperation. More

TRANSPORT

A European Liquid Fuels Strategy for a sustainable, affordable and resilient low-carbon transition (CCMI/234, rapporteur: Veselin Mitov (BG-II))

In this own-initiative opinion, the EESC calls for an EU strategy on liquid fuels that ensures the transition from fossil fuels to decarbonised and renewable alternatives, addressing sustainability, affordability and reliability across all modes of transport. More

ECONOMY

Ex-post evaluation of the European Regional Development Fund and the Cohesion Fund 2014-2020 (ECO/638, rapporteur: Maria del Carmen Barrera Chamorro (ES-II))

The EESC has adopted its evaluation of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund for the 2014-2020 period. The opinion aims to assess the effectiveness, relevance, and inclusiveness of these key EU funding instruments, providing insights that will shape future cohesion policies. The Committee highlights the need to reduce bureaucracy, enhance territorial balance, and boost digital and green investments to improve the effectiveness, inclusiveness, and impact of the ERDF and the Cohesion Fund. More

TRADE

Competitiveness and economic security - how should EU trade policy contribute to the objectives of the Draghi report? (REX/594, rapporteur: Georgi Stoev (BG-I))

The EESC proposes the establishment of an EU Investment Fund for Economic Resilience and Sustainable Competitiveness to help strengthen the financial capacity of the EU and the European Investment Bank's lending capacity for supporting InvestEU programmes. More

ENLARGEMENT

Moldova Growth Plan (REX/595, rapporteur: Dumitru Fornea (RO-II))

The EESC endorses the three pillars of the Moldova Growth Plan as they will accelerate the country’s economic and legal convergence with EU standard. It recommends that funding be allocated from the grant component of the Growth Plan to support the activity of CSOs that contribute to the implementation of the Plan and realisation of the reform agenda. More

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

Action Plan for enhancing cooperation between civil society organisations in the European Union and Kazakhstan, in the framework of the implementation of the New Strategy on Central Asia and of the Global Gateway (REX/587, rapporteur: Dumitru Fornea (RO-II))

The opinion supports strengthening cooperation between the European Union and Kazakhstan, in view of the priorities and opportunities resulting from the New EU Strategy on Central Asia and the Global Gateway initiative. The Committee calls the EU to support the development and consolidation of civil society in Kazakhstan by creating a programme for the exchange of experiences between civil servants. More

EU-India Strategic Partnership (REX/588, rapporteur: Aurel Laurenţiu Plosceanu (RO-I))

The EESC urges the European Commission to work consistently towards upgrading the Strategic Partnership with India and step up negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement, with a view to establishing India as a preferential partner of the EU in a strategic context. More

For more information, please contact:

EESC Press Unit

E-mail: press@eesc.europa.eu

Tel: + 32 2 546 9793

@EESC_PRESS