EESC info

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 not only is the package ineffective, but it could also harm civic spaces in Europe.

Despite its stated intentions to improve transparency and democratic accountability in Europe, the EESC sees the Defence of Democracy package as deeply flawed. It argues that the package has arrived far too late to have any real impact on the upcoming 2024 European elections and has failed to address the Committee’s previous recommendations for strengthening European democracy.

In his remarks, EESC President Oliver Röpke said that ‘when talking about “dangers” for our democracies, it is important to underline the strong response of the EU and the track record of the current Commission in the defence of democracy, fundamental rights and the rule of law. The EESC has also heard the concerns expressed by many civil society actors on what they see as the risks of the package. We need to find a common approach to combine the defence of democracy and all necessary safeguards to preserve civic space.’

While the EESC supports the transparency objectives of the proposed directive on lobbying carried out on behalf of third countries, it strongly opposes the proposed methods, cautioning against unintended consequences on civic spaces. Christian Moos, EESC rapporteur for the opinion on the Defence of Democracy package, said that ‘we consider this directive to be dangerous. It resembles a “foreign agents” law. It is potentially stigmatising NGOs. Clearly, the current proposal should be withdrawn. It risks adding to the problem of shrinking civic spaces in Europe, and that is something the Commission couldn’t possibly want.’

Co-rapporteur José Antonio Moreno Díaz expressed scepticism regarding the package’s ability to address the root causes of democratic erosion within the EU’s borders. By narrowly focusing on external threats, the package overlooks the insidious efforts to destabilise EU democracies from within, thereby creating a dangerous blind spot.

The Commission acknowledged concerns about the package’s impact on NGOs but believes safeguards are in place. (gb)

At its plenary session on 25 April, the EESC approved the agreement establishing an interinstitutional body for ethical standards. The new agreement was formally signed by the representatives of the participating EU institutions and bodies on 15 May. It should enter into force on 6 June, the first day of voting for the European elections.

The agreement is a significant step towards bolstering a common culture of integrity and ethics.

The new EU body will develop, update and interpret common minimum standards for ethical conduct, and publish reports on how these standards have been reflected in the internal rules of each participating EU institution and body.

In addition to the EESC, the following seven EU institutions and bodies will be part of the new ethics body: the European Parliament, the Council of the EU, the European Commission, the Court of Justice of the European Union, the European Central Bank, the European Court of Auditors and the European Committee of the Regions.

Each participating institution will be represented by one senior member and the position of chair of the body will rotate between the institutions on an annual basis.

Five independent experts will support the work of the body by delivering opinions upon request. Any party to the agreement will be able to consult them on individual standardised written declarations, including declarations of interest. (mp)

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.

Guest speaker Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson called for the EESC's support in bringing together the Member States and civil society organisations to embrace this innovation and ensure that there is an effective policy on labour migration.

One of the basic measures in the Talent Mobility Package is the 'Talent Pool' initiative, the first EU-level voluntary matching tool, where interested Member States can bring together EU employers with jobseekers from third countries.

EESC president Oliver Röpke stressed that 'The EU faces severe labour and skills shortages due to the transition to a green and digital economy, and demographic challenges. The talent mobility package can be one instrument among others to alleviate these challenges'.

The European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, called for a Team Europe approach to labour migration with a broader European dimension. 'Labour migration is mainly a national competence and it will continue to be so. But we need to create a Team Europe approach, with EU institutions, Member States and civil society organisations working together to deliver new initiatives and facilitate the implementation of labour mobility policies.'

EESC member Tatjana Babrauskienė, rapporteur for the opinion on the Talent Mobility Package adopted at this plenary, underlined that 'the EU Talent Pool needs to be a practical, easy-to-use and trusted tool that is attractive for workers and employers. At the same time, it has to support fair and ethical legal labour migration'. (at) 

One in ten women live in dire poverty. One in three face violence. We are witnessing a growing backlash against women's rights across the world, including in the EU. With the European elections and the formation of a new European Commission fast approaching, continued institutional and civil society support will be crucial to furthering the empowerment of women and girls.

On 25 April, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held a plenary session debate with some of the EU's top organisations championing gender equality to highlight the pressing need to keep pushing for women's rights in the EU's next term of office.

The debate took place a day after the European Parliament gave the green light to the first EU Directive on combating gender-based violence, and its theme was the conclusions of the 68th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW68). The CSW is the world's top international forum for assessing progress on achieving gender equality, and this year it focused on poverty among women.

The EESC contributed to UNCSW68, held in March in New York, with a declaration entitled A gender lens on poverty, comprising 10 action points for the economic empowerment and social protection of women.

"As poverty is not gender-neutral, our response to it cannot be either. Violence committed against women has an impact on women's risk of poverty and their ability to participate on an equal basis in the labour market. I can therefore only welcome the final vote in the European Parliament on the first ever Directive to protect women against gender-based violence and domestic violence at European level," said EESC president Oliver Röpke.

Concerted action at all levels has achieved a number of milestones during this Commission's term of office, such as the EU Pay Transparency Directive and the Care Strategy, said Lanfranco Fanti, a member of the private office of the Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli.

Participants in the debate called for an EU Council formation on gender equality, an EU coordinator on violence against women and a renewed mandate for the Commissioner on Equality.

"We need political support from the EU," said Florence Raes, Director of UN Women Brussels. Despite real progress on equality, women’s rights are being undermined to an unprecedented extent and there is a growing danger that gender equality could be knocked off the list of priorities.

"Being a woman and a member of a minority group means that you will struggle. We have to remember that equality is not enough anymore: equality needs intersectionality," said Ilaria Todde, Advocacy Director for the Eurocentralasian Lesbian Community.

"Violence against women is deeply rooted in patriarchal systems throughout the world. Today we applaud the adoption of the first ever EU Directive on violence against women and domestic violence," said Mary Collins, Director of the European Women's Lobby. (ll)

At the EESC’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 was key to increasing the growth and well-being of our economy and society.

According to Ms Rute, there is no time to lose. The EU has to act quickly and urgently if it wants to catch up and survive in the face of the excessive power of the world’s economic giants.

Assessing the state of play of EU competitiveness, she said: ‘What we need is radical change. We cannot leave the implementation of the single market to be carried out through good will – we need real enforcement behind it. We need to export our goods and technologies, but not our jobs. Our industries need to be competitive, and investment must happen here.’

Emphasising that competitiveness was a cornerstone of the EU’s economic success, driving growth, innovation, and prosperity while enhancing its global influence and resilience, Mr Röpke added: ‘When we discuss European competitiveness, we must put people at the centre of the debate and ensure that we leave no one behind. Its ultimate impact and significance lie in how it affects the well-being, opportunities and prosperity of individuals and communities. Therefore, any debate on competitiveness must prioritise the needs, rights and aspirations of people.’

The plenary also saw the adoption of the opinion on the Long-term competitiveness strategy drawn up by rapporteur Emilie Prouzet and co-rapporteur Stefano Palmieri. (mp)

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.

Held at the Square, the Brussels Convention Centre, and boasting more than 1000 participants and 150 speakers, the conference showcased impactful circular solutions, guided by the latest scientific findings. EESC delegates shared the ECESP's success story.

Cillian Lohan, EESC member and ECESP co-founder, hailed the ECESP as the 'network of networks,' bridging policy-making and civil society for circular progress. Anders Ladefoged, member of the ECESP's Steering Group, highlighted its role in discussing Europe's circular progress and gaps, offering a platform for collaboration and learning. EESC's Maria Nikolopoulou emphasised the ECESP's growing interactivity, facilitating dialogue through initiatives like #EUCircularTalks.

During the conference's closing plenary, the Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen announced two initiatives to support the global transition to a circular economy: the EU Circular Economy Resource Centre, funded by the European Commission with EUR 15 million, and the "SWITCH to Circular Economy in East and Southern Africa" programme, to which the Commission will contribute €40 million over five years. ECESP pledged support for both initiatives.

The ECESP, initiated by EESC and the European Commission in 2017, promotes dialogue, disseminates good practices and provides information on the circular economy to turn visions into actions. The EESC has been actively advocating for circularity, having thrown its support for the EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy back in 2015. The platform serves as a joint endeavour to engage all stakeholders in realising a circular vision, aiming to accelerate the transition through dialogue and cooperation.(ks)

The EESC's External Relations Section (REX) organised its 2^nd campaign and conference on fighting disinformation as part of its overall project on disinformation, which is to be implemented with the help of civil society.

Following a successful campaign in Bulgaria, this time the event was held in Moldova, on 18 April. The country has recently strengthened its capacities in the field of strategic communications and dialogue by setting up two dedicated bodies: the Centre for Strategic Communications and Combating Disinformation, and the Centre for Civil Initiatives for National Minorities.

The conference was held in cooperation with Moldova State University in Chișinău.

Speaking at the conference, EESC President Oliver Röpke highlighted the importance of promoting dialogue and involving all citizens, from various backgrounds and communities, in combating foreign interference and disinformation.

Disinformation typically spreads among the population, often horizontally, which means that the best way to tackle the problem is not with a top-down approach but by means of citizens’ reflection and direct engagement. This is where organised civil society can play a crucial role, as disinformation is tearing the fabric of our societies.

Ana Revenco, Director of the Centre for Strategic Communications and Combating Disinformation and one of the main speakers at the conference, underlined that citizens could not fight disinformation alone and the Centre could improve their skills in order to fight toxic disinformation in the long term.

"Eradicating disinformation is an unrealistic goal. Our joint efforts will be targeted at debunking and preventing fake news and mitigating the malicious impact they have on our societies," she added.

Mihai Peicov, leader of the Centre for Civil Initiatives for National Minorities, said that the creation of this centre by the government was an important step for the integration of everyone in society. He added that new educational policies were needed for minorities.

The conference highlighted the role of education and the focus on young people, as many of the insights came from the youngest populations, students and journalists who attended it.

You can watch the video report on the conference here.

#EUvsDisinfo (at)

The EESC's External Relations Section (REX) held two meetings with its Serbian and Montenegrin counterparts within the framework of the respective Joint Consultative Committees (JCCs). This joint institution enables civil society organisations from both sides to monitor the country’s accession negotiations, discuss issues of common interest, and point out concerns to be tackled on the path to joining the European Union.

On 5 April 2024, the EESC welcomed the Serbian members of the Joint Consultative Committee to Brussels to discuss the current state of play in EU-Serbia relations and the accession process negotiations with the EU. Other issues on the table included the opportunities for Serbia presented by the new Growth Plan and Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans, the post-election situation in the country and an overview of its state of democracy and the rule of law.

The event saw the participation of the newly appointed Head of Mission of the Republic of Serbia to the EU, Danijel Apostolović, who underlined the common position between the EU and Serbia for closer cooperation regarding all relevant issues for Serbia’s accession negotiation talks.

EESC Vice-President for Communication, Laurentiu Plosceanu, stressed the importance of these meetings as they guarantee the presence of civil society representatives, so as to enhance the narrative of European accession in Serbia. 

The meeting ended with the adoption of a joint declaration, which will be forwarded to the EU institutions and to local authorities and government in Serbia.

You can watch a video report of the meeting here.

On May 13, member of the EU-Serbia JCC Nataša Vučković was elected the new president of the European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA). The EESC was represented at the ALDA General Assembly in Barcelona by Mr Plosceanu, who congratulated Ms Vučković on her appointment. 

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The 18th meeting of the EU-Montenegro Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) took place in Podgorica on 16 April and sent a clear message to the EU institutions that Montenegro is firmly committed to becoming the 28th EU Member State by 2028.

The JCC members encouraged their organisations, the national authorities and the EU institutions to spare no effort in accomplishing 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 the provisional closing of other chapters.

Co-chair and EESC member Decebal-Ștefăniță Padure said: ‘The Montenegrin authorities should fulfil their ambitious goals, and organised civil society should be involved in every step of the accession negotiations.’ Co-chair from the Montenegrin side, Gordana Đurović, called on all stakeholders to support the efforts to obtain a positive report from the Commission by June.

The chief negotiator, Dr Predrag Zenović, pointed out the important role and concrete help of civil society in the negotiation process, with public support for Montenegro's EU membership reaching 80%.

EU Ambassador to Montenegro Oana Cristina Popa noted that Montenegro seemed to have finally found the necessary stability to focus on EU accession as its main strategic priority, adding: ‘We will all endeavour to ensure that this opportunity is not missed.’

At the end of the meeting, a Joint Declaration was adopted, which will be presented to the Stabilisation and Association Committee, the Parliamentary Committee for Stabilisation and Association, the European External Action Service, the European Commission and the Government of Montenegro. (at)

The Committee opened its doors to the public for its traditional Open Day on Saturday 4 May 2024, informing and enthusing people about its role among the European institutions and about the upcoming European elections.

During the day, the EESC organised a number of activities at its headquarters, the Jacques Delors building in Brussels. Participants were able to visit the premises and discover what the EESC could do for people, learn about the Committee’s role in the EU decision-making process, and share their interests and concerns with EESC members.

Visitors also had the opportunity to find out what EESC members do back in their home countries and take part in live activities such as interactive games, an EU quiz, and face painting for children.

In the morning, the Committee also welcomed the arrival of a group of EESC members and staff who had cycled hundreds of kilometres across France and Belgium to raise awareness about the importance of the European elections.

Headed by EESC member Bruno Choix from the Employers’ Group, the group travelled from Caen (France) to Brussels over 4 days, covering a total of around 500 km; they were joined by other EESC members and staff in the final stretch from Waterloo to the EESC headquarters in Brussels. (mp)

On 24 April, the EESC hosted a screening of the Ukrainian documentary "20 Days in Mariupol" which this year won the Oscar in the category of Best Documentary Feature Film.

The film follows its director, journalist Mstyslav Chernov, and his colleagues during 20 dramatic days in February and March 2022, when they documented Russia's brutal siege of Mariupol, a major Ukrainian port on the Azov Sea. Working for the Associated Press, Chernov and his team were the last foreign journalists to stay in the city before it was seized by the Russian army. Their poignant recordings and photos, including those of massive bombardments of a maternity hospital and of the city theatre which served as a shelter for children, travelled the world, bearing witness to the horrors inflicted by the invading Russian army on the Ukrainian civilian population.

Apart from the Academy Award, "20 days in Mariupol" also won many other prestigious awards, including the BAFTA Film Award for the Best Documentary and the Audience Award for the World Cinema – Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival. 

The screening was attended by EESC president Oliver Röpke, as well as by distinguished guests including H.E. Vsevolod Chentsov, Head of the Mission of Ukraine to the EU, and Yevhen Tuzov, one of the documentary's main protagonists.

"We must remember our solemn duty to bear witness to history. This movie has a clear message: we have to show the world what hate can do. Let us not forget the sacrifices made by the people of Ukraine, nor the resilience they have shown in the face of adversity. The prospect of Ukraine becoming an EU Member State is not only a testament to our shared values, but also a beacon of hope for a brighter future," said EESC president Oliver Röpke. 

"20 Days in Mariupol' offers a gruesome but essential look at the suffering caused by Russia's aggression. I am proud to say that our committee has remained unwaveringly at the side of Ukraine, and of its vibrant civil society, in these difficult times, and your presence tonight means a lot," said EESC Vice President for Communication Laurentiu Plosceanu. 

The EESC has firmly stood by Ukraine and its civil society from the first day of the Russia's war of aggression and reinforced its cooperation with Ukrainian civil society organisations (CSOs) through the EU-Ukraine Civil Society platform. It created the Ukraine hub, offering Ukrainian CSOs in Belgium a working space. It started the Enlargement Candidate Members initiative, to share the EESC expertise with Ukrainian CSOs. A high-level EESC delegation, led by Mr Röpke, visited Ukraine in November where it met with Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko, representatives of the Verokhna Rada and of civil society. EESC members paid respect to Ukrainian war victims at war memorials in the country. 

The screening, organised at the initiative of the EESC Latvian member Andris Gobiņš, once again showed the solidarity of Europe's civil society with Ukraine and its people. The audience also had the opportunity to see a photo exhibition dedicated to Mariupol under siege, organised in cooperation with the Ukra-Bel association, which was displayed alongside the main event. (dp)

If you are interested in Belgian art, make sure to visit the exhibition Before our very eyes in Atrium 6 of the EESC Jacques Delors building, Rue Belliard 99, before 28 June.

You will be able to enjoy the work of three talented Belgian artists: Luk Vander Plaetse, Hugues Legros and Thibault Choquel. 

Through their photos, the three artists – photographers, graphic artists and designers – show the beauty of the ordinary. Before our very eyes ‘whispers a wild and gentle human poetry where different genres and people mingle’.

The exhibition has been organised by the Belgian members of the EESC, supported by a team of coordinators, as part of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU, which runs until 1 July 2024. The organisers see the presidency as an opportunity to showcase their country’s know-how and promote Belgian culture within Europe and abroad. (ll)