Evropski ekonomsko-socialni odbor
EU in Združeno kraljestvo sta po dolgih in zapletenih pogajanjih 24. decembra 2020 uspešno sklenila sporazum o trgovini in sodelovanju, ki se je od 1. januarja 2021 uporabljal začasno, dokler nista Svet in Evropski parlament zaključila postopka ratifikacije. Podobno kot v drugih nedavno sprejetih sporazumih o prosti trgovini so tudi v tem sporazumu posebne določbe, ki se nanašajo na dialog s civilno družbo. EESO, ki je ključni akter tega dialoga, je zato sprejel odločitev o institucionalni obliki negovanja odnosov z Združenim kraljestvom in njegovo civilno družbo (podjetji, sindikati in drugimi organizacijami) ter o organu za spremljanje sporazuma o trgovini in sodelovanju.
Ta nova ureditev, prilagojena ne le sklenjenemu sporazumu in novim odnosom med EU in Združenim kraljestvom, temveč tudi nedavnemu institucionalnemu razvoju v Evropski komisiji, vključuje:
Prihodnje odnose med partnerjema zdaj torej ureja pomemben in celovit sporazum o partnerstvu, zato se EESO zavezuje, da bo prispeval k čim boljšemu izkoriščanju potenciala tega sporazuma, zlasti v odnosu do civilne družbe Združenega kraljestva. EESO je odločen, da bo tudi po brexitu vzdrževal tesne stike s civilno družbo Združenega kraljestva, spodbujal dialog in izmenjavo ter organizacije civilne družbe vključil v proces sprejemanja odločitev na socialnem področju. Tako bo zavaroval močne gospodarske, socialne in politične vezi, ki so se razvile v pol stoletja članstva Združenega kraljestva v EU.
The 6th meeting of the EU DAG set up under the EU-UK TCA will feature the participation of the UK DAG Chair, Mr. Sean McGuire, to discuss the recent Windsor Framework on Northern Ireland, the situation of both DAGs and future joint steps. A DG TRADE representative will present and discuss with members the technical aspects of Level Playing Field provisions.
Following the adoption of the EESC Information Report on the Implementation of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement, the Committee is now promoting and giving it a reinforced follow-up using various communication channels, considering the relevance and the perfect timing of the subjects covered in the report.
The 5th meeting of the EU DAG set up under the EU-UK TCA was dedicated to the assessment of the first year of DAG work -including the recent EU-UK Civil Society Forum, to an update on the Trade Specialised Committees and to a structured discussion of selected issues and recommendations with a DG TRADE representative.
The upcoming meeting of the Section for External Relations, which will take place on 20 December 2022, will be dedicated to EU-UK relations. The EU-UK Follow-up Committee was set up in March 2021 primarily to maintain and strengthen relations between UK and EU civil society organisations, and to monitor implementation of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement.
At this 4th meeting of the EU DAG set up under the TCA, the discussion focused on practical aspects as well as the preparations for the 1st DAG-to-DAG meeting (joint meeting of the EU and UK DAGs) and the 1st Civil Society Forum, that took place on October 3rd and 4th respectively.
