At its inaugural plenary session on 22 October, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) elected Marija Hanževački, General Secretary of the Independent Trade Unions of Croatia, as its new Vice President. She will head up the EESC’s communication activities for the first half of its new five-year term of office, representing the voice of civil society across Europe.
The new president of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) vows to put civil society at the heart of Europe through a people-centred programme that balances economic growth and social inclusion and ensures everyone has a fair chance to thrive. Topping his priorities are the eradication of poverty by providing opportunities and protecting and empowering civil society to ensure Europe stays true to its democratic and social core amid a shrinking of civic space and growing political and economic instability.
Ireland’s Séamus Boland has been elected the 35th President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) for the 2025–2028 term of office. A lifelong advocate for rural communities and social inclusion, he will guide the EU body representing organised civil society for two and a half years. His programme is devoted to providing opportunities through poverty eradication, securing democracy by protecting civic space, and ensuring the transition to a more competitive and green economy in a way that doesn’t leave anyone behind.
Piotr Sadowski, a committed civil society leader and an advocate for social justice, has been elected as the new co-chair of the Liaison Group of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). He will serve alongside the EESC President, jointly steering the Group’s efforts to promote civil dialogue and participatory democracy across the European Union.
At its September plenary, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) hosted a debate with Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen, and called on the European Commission to take urgent action to address the ongoing housing crisis.
At its September plenary in Brussels, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) brought together EU leaders, civil society, youth groups, and international partners in the European Parliament hemicycle to mark the end of President Oliver Röpke’s 2023-2025 term of office. The ceremony celebrated the Committee’s recent achievements and looked ahead to the challenges set to shape Europe’s future.
The Executive Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) signed a pivotal joint declaration today on the sidelines of the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York. The declaration reaffirms the two institutions’ shared and unwavering commitment to promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls across the globe.
At an Enlargement Forum hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), civil society representatives from candidate countries commended the Committee’s Enlargement Candidate Members initiative as a vital tool for shaping their countries’ European integration process and bolstering public support for EU accession.
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) reaffirmed its commitment to youth inclusion in policymaking during a high-level debate with European Commissioner Glenn Micallef at the EESC plenary session. The debate brought together EU stakeholders, youth representatives and institutional leaders to discuss the future of youth participation, intergenerational fairness and the practical tools that make youth mainstreaming a reality, chief among them the EESC Youth Test.
The July plenary session of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) hosted a debate on the political priorities of the current Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Main objectives: the EU must take responsibility for its own security and strengthen its competitiveness.
