Evropski ekonomsko-socialni odbor
Od prve konvencije iz Loméja (1975) do Sporazuma iz Cotonouja (2000–2021) so partnerstva EU-AKP urejala odnose med EU in 79 članicami skupine afriških, karibskih in pacifiških držav (AKP), ki se je nedavno preimenovala v Organizacijo afriških, karibskih in pacifiških držav.
EESO si je v vsem tem obdobju skupaj s civilno družbo držav AKP prizadeval za priznanje ključne vloge, ki jo imajo nedržavni akterji pri razvoju, dokler to ni bilo doseženo s Sporazumom iz Cotonouja, s katerim je EESO dobil nalogo, da organizira dejavnosti in posvetovanja z ekonomskimi in socialnimi interesnimi skupinami iz držav AKP in EU, da se zberejo stališča organizirane civilne družbe in se ji prisluhne. Cilj je bil spodbujati izmenjave in oblikovati priporočila o vprašanjih in politikah, pomembnih v odnosih med AKP in EU, ki so bili kasneje uradno naslovljeni na voditelje EU in AKP.
V praksi se dejavnosti EESO v okviru odnosov med EU in Organizacijo afriških, karibskih in pacifiških držav izvajajo predvsem pod okriljem vključujočega spremljevalnega odbora EU-AKP, ki ga sestavljajo člani EESO in delegati, ki zastopajo ekonomske in socialne interesne skupine držav AKP.
Spremljevalni odbor EU-AKP vzdržuje redne stike s predstavniki civilne družbe v državah AKP na različnih ravneh, in sicer z:
EESO je v okviru skupne strategije Afrika-EU v rednih stikih s predstavniki ekonomskih in socialnih interesnih skupin Afriške unije. Vsako leto organizira srečanja z mrežo gospodarskih in družbenih akterjev EU in Afrike.
EESO poleg tega že več let vzdržuje redne stike s skupno parlamentarno skupščino AKP-EU, tako da na njenih sejah predstavlja poročila o svojih dejavnostih.
Tesno sodeluje tudi z mednarodnimi organizacijami delodajalcev, delavcev, kmetov, zadrug in potrošnikov. Te organizacije imenujejo predstavnike skupine držav AKP, ki so povabljeni na seje EESO, vključno s spremljevalnim odborom EU-AKP.
The Consultative Committee (CC) is one of the 5 institutions foreseen in the EU-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement. The CC is composed of 40 (25 from the CARIFORM side and 15 from the EU side) standing representatives of organisations of the civil society representing employers' organisations, trade unions, other economic, social and non-governmental organisations, including development and environmental organisations; and the academic community.
The Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES) has been the main framework for relations between the continents of Europe and Africa since 2007. Its goal is to develop a shared vision of the main global issues whilst simultaneously strengthening cooperation in a broad range of areas such as development, governance, human rights, trade, regional integration, food security and migration. To this end, meetings of EU-African economic and social stakeholders are held on a regular basis.
Under the auspices of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) organises meetings with ACP and EU economic and social interest groups. This role has been confirmed by the Cotonou Agreement, which mandates the EESC to organise consultation sessions and meetings of ACP and EU economic and social interest groups (Protocol 1).
Within this framework, the EESC organises general meetings in Brussels every three years, with delegates from the 78 ACP countries, together with representatives of the EU institutions, national economic and social councils, the secretariat of the ACP Group of States, EU and ACP states' diplomatic missions, NGOs and other interested parties. These general meetings are in addition to the regional seminars, which take place in the ACP regions once a year.
The social economy is prominent in everyday life and in the productive activity of large regions of the world and makes a decisive contribution to improving the living and working conditions of millions of people. However, the social economy is not specifically recognised as a sector in the EU development cooperation programmes.One of the principal aims of the opinion is that the external dimension of the EU’s programmes and initiatives should establish support measures specifically targeted at boosting businesses and organisations in the social economy.
The EESC organises regional seminars every year in an ACP region –this year, in Eastern Africa (Nairobi) on 4‑5 July 2016, with three main topics of discussion:
- Implementation of the SDGs - The Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and Eastern African States. - The post-Cotonou agenda.
At the end of the seminar, a final declaration will be issued that will be forwarded to the partners of the Cotonou agreement.
Around 60 representatives of economic and social actors as well as political authorities and international organisations will attend the seminar.
The Consultative Committee (CC) is one of the 5 institutions foreseen in the EU-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement. The CC is composed of 40 (25 from the CARIFORM side and 15 from the EU side) standing representatives of organisations of the civil society representing employers' organisations, trade unions, other economic, social and non-governmental organisations, including development and environmental organisations; and the academic community.
The External Relations Section (REX) of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is responsible for dialogue between European civil society organisations and their homologues from the countries with which the European Union has formal relations (e.g. under the form of a Free Trade Agreement). Through this dialogue, made possible by a series of bilateral bodies, and through specialized opinions and information reports, the Committee is able to concretely contribute to EU foreign policy.
Letter from EEAS_Final Declaration 7th Meeting EU Africa
Letter of the President of the European Council, Mr Charles Michel
Final Declaration
