Today's event and its main focus – the EESC opinion on the gender dimension in the Europe 2020 Strategy – are essential to put gender equality and gender mainstreaming on the European agenda.
The EESC has always been very active when it comes to promoting gender equality. Over the last 8 years, we have adopted some 20 opinions on crucial challenges to it.
Some of the results achieved by the SOC section are presented in this leaflet, with a specific focus on consultative work (including exploratory and own-initiative opinions) and events organised by the Committee.
Staffan Nilsson's Intervention before EC President Barroso takes the floor
Welcome! I would say it is a good moment, at the beginning of the year, for us to share our views with you, and for you to share with us the Commission's priorities and the Commission's needs in terms of the advice we can give.
The critical situation we are in is more than about economic aspects, it is about social, political and confidence. I feel to say it again and again that we need structural reforms with long-term effect. We look at this from a non-political perspective, from the civil society perspective. We think that austerity measures are necessary, but it is more than about budget and discipline. The management of economic policy in the euro area and in the EU also needs to be more comprehensive and ambitious.
Europe 2020 Steering Committee. Contributions from Economic and Social Councils and similar institutions from EU Member States.
