At its April plenary session, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) discussed the Talent Mobility Package. This initiative comprises a series of new measures designed to make the Union more attractive to talent from outside the EU, and to facilitate mobility within it.
Ten percent of women live in dire poverty. One in three women face violence. With a growing backlash against women's rights, unwavering commitment from both institutions and civil society is vital. A debate at the EESC plenary session underscored the need to keep up support for the fight for gender equality.
The new interinstitutional Ethics Body will bring together eight EU institutions and is expected to strengthen integrity, transparency, and accountability in the European decision-making process.
The European Commission’s Defence of Democracy package was the subject of a debate at the April EESC plenary session. Members of the EESC have expressed reservations about its timing and approach, particularly for addressing foreign influence. The EESC argued that the package is not only ineffective, but could harm civic spaces in Europe.
At the European Economic and Social Committee’s April plenary, Maive Rute, the Commission’s Deputy Director-General for Internal Market, and Oliver Röpke, EESC President, highlighted that strengthening the EU’s competitiveness is key to increasing the growth and well-being of our economy and society.
Today, EESC marks the first year in office of President Oliver Röpke, who was elected in April 2023, alongside Vice-Presidents Laurenţiu Plosceanu and Krzysztof Pater. Since then, the EESC has launched several landmark initiatives, including progressively integrating EU candidate countries, empowering youth, and advocating for gender equality. Committed to transforming the EESC into a unique gateway between citizens, civil society and the EU institutions, President Röpke will continue to work together with EESC Members to advance the reform agenda towards a more inclusive, transparent and equal EESC.
This year, the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ECESP), an initiative jointly developed and hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), joined forces with the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council and the Finland-based World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) for its flagship conference on 15 and 16 April at the Square, the Brussels Convention Centre.
The 18th meeting of the EU-Montenegro Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), which took place in Podgorica today, sent a clear message to the EU institutions, that Montenegro is firmly committed to becoming the 28th member by 2028. The JCC members encouraged their organisations, the national authorities and the EU institutions to spare no efforts to accomplish the rule of law interim benchmarks. Obtaining the Interim Benchmark Assessment Report (IBAR) for the rule of law by June, will be a turning point in the EU accession process, enabling provisional closing of other chapters.
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), at the request of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU, has unveiled crucial recommendations aimed at bolstering social cohesion, managing debt and prioritising investments in healthcare and employment across Europe. The EESC expressed concern that tight budgets might slow down progress in fighting poverty and climate change.
With democracy around the world in decline, the proliferation of disinformation and mounting dissatisfaction amid rising inflation and the threat of war, much is at stake in the vote for the new European Parliament.
