EESC info

The EESC has emphasised the importance of incorporating youth perspectives into EU policies, urging youth organisations to engage with the EESC Youth Test, an initiative aiming to amplify young people's voices in policymaking. 

In its recent call for applications, the EESC invited youth organisations to apply to participate in the EESC Youth Test, with a deadline of 30 June 2024. Selected organisations will identify EESC opinions they wish to influence, participate in meetings and hearings and provide written contributions. Eligible organisations must be democratically established, uphold the principles of the European Convention on Human Rights, and have activities or decision-making bodies led by young people. 

Over the past year, the EESC has piloted this test, allowing youth representatives across Europe to contribute to discussions on significant issues, such as democracy, the common agricultural policy, and EU-UK youth engagement. The success of this pilot project has led to its establishment as a permanent tool, and the EESC is calling on other EU institutions to adopt similar measures. 

During a recent plenary debate, youth representatives expressed satisfaction with the initiative, which ensures their involvement beyond traditionally youth-centred topics, such as the climate crisis. 

EESC president Oliver Röpke highlighted the initiative as a core political commitment, emphasising the need for continuous youth engagement in the EU's decision-making process. He noted that elections should not be the only occasion for youth voices to be heard, and that the Youth Test would ensure they had regular input in EU policies. 

Katrīna Leitāne, president of the EESC's ad hoc Youth Group, remarked on the progress of integrating youth voices into EU decision-making, noting that the Youth Test is a living document that will evolve with experience. Elias Dray, vice-president of the European Youth Forum, praised the EESC for its leadership and encouraged youth organisations to join the initiative, ensuring their perspectives shape future EESC opinions. 

Albania’s Minister for Youth and Children, Bora Muzhaqi, also took part in the EESC plenary session. Her country is striving to be a model in the field of youth policy, demonstrating the value of having people in office who are responsible solely for youth issues."I truly believe that with our work today with youth and for youth, we are preparing our young people for the future… we are empowering them to be the leaders of the present to ensure they inherit a sustainable and ecologically diverse planet."

The EESC has excellent working relationship with Albania, showcasing the key role of transnational partnership in promoting youth participation at all levels of governance.

The EESC has been committed to this initiative since September 2022, when it adopted an opinion on the EU Youth Test. The EESC's ongoing efforts, including the annual Your Europe, Your Say! event, further demonstrate its dedication to enhancing youth participation in the EU decision-making process. 

This year's recommendations from the event, which was held in March 2024, are aimed at the next EU leaders and are available online. (ks)

With hate speech and hate crime rising at a frightening rate, civil society, citizens and institutions are joining forces and stepping up action against all forms of hatred, to send the message that there is no place for hate in the EU. 

The EESC is joining EU efforts to curb hatred in the EU, which has seen an alarming spike, with groups and individuals increasingly being targeted due to their faith, racial or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation or political beliefs. 

The EESC, together with citizens and institutions, is committed to doing more to fight hatred both online and offline, it said during a high-level debate at its May plenary session, where it adopted the opinion No place for Hate: a Europe united against hatred, denouncing all forms of hatred and welcoming the European Commission Communication on the same topic. 

‘We all have a responsibility to combat hatred’, said EESC President Oliver Röpke, opening the debate at the EESC plenary session. ‘To effectively tackle it, we must all work together – politicians, civil society and citizens. Only together and in dialogue can we prevail and fight the increasing hostility in our society, which is a true threat to our democracy.’

The debate brought together top European Commission and Belgian government officials and representatives of citizens and civil society organisations (including ILGA-Europe and the European Network Against Racism (ENAR)) who highlighted the rise in hate and violence. 

Recent attacks on politicians have exposed deep divisions within European society. Figures show that anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic messages doubled in 2023. Common targets are LGBTQIA+, people of African descent and migrants. Misogyny is also running high. A recent analysis of online messages in the EU shows that there has been a 30% increase in hate toxicity since early 2023. 

The Commission’s Communication on No Place for hate: A Europe united against hatred is a call for action to stand up against hatred and to speak up for tolerance and respect. 

‘The values set out in the EU Treaty clearly outlaw hate crime and hate speech. Unfortunately, we have seen a rise in both lately’, said Commission Vice-President for Democracy and Demography Dubravka Šuica.

In its opinion, the EESC called on the EU to adopt a comprehensive approach to fighting hate based on any protected human characteristics, and to use the same approach to ‘fight all types of hate’. (ll)

At its May plenary, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) discussed lessons learned from the 2004 EU enlargement. The current geopolitical and security situations make further enlargement an even more urgent task for Europe. 

At its plenary debate dedicated to the great 2004 enlargement, the EESC welcomed speakers who played a significant role in the negotiation process, including former Polish Secretary of State in charge of EU accession Jarosław Pietras, Secretary General of the Foundation for European Progressive Studies László Andor from Hungary, and former European Commissioner for Enlargement Štefan Füle from Czechia. 

In the discussion, participants stressed that the EU – which only recently regained its interest in further enlargement – needed to provide a clear roadmap to accession for the candidate countries. Leave them knocking on the door for too long, and the enlargement process could lose its credibility. 

EESC President Oliver Röpke said: ‘The 20-year anniversary marks not only a significant milestone, but also the ongoing success of the EU enlargement process, with more countries aspiring to join'. 

Mr Pietras said: ‘Enlargement is a two-way transformation process, bringing benefits not only to the candidate countries but also to the EU Member States’. 

Mr Füle, who now chairs the European Policy Centre Task Force on EU enlargement, stressed that ‘we need to prepare both candidate countries and the EU Member States for the new wave of enlargements’. 

Speaking about the driving force of the 2004 enlargement, Dr Tinatin Akhvlediani, Research Fellow in the EU Foreign Policy Unit at the Centre for European Policy Studies, highlighted the economic aspects of enlargement, given the fact that candidate countries at the time had been experiencing poor financial situations. However, the main motivation for future enlargement now is security. 

According to Mr Andor, rule of law represented one of the deficiencies of the 2004 enlargement, with the EU failing to create the right tools to address it. This led to the recent creation of the rule of law conditionality. 

In September, the EESC will hold a Civil Society Enlargement Summit, inviting all the enlargement candidate members to participate in its plenary session for the first time ever. (mt)

The EESC adopted two opinions at its May plenary, emphasising the crucial role of cohesion policy – the EU’s primary funding instrument for regional development – in future enlargements. Among other things, the EESC called for compliance tools to be included in accession treaties to address potential post-accession challenges, such as emigration and rule of law concerns. 

In its new set of recommendations, the EESC stressed the importance of integrating and empowering civil society organisations (CSOs) for the effective use of cohesion funds. Success in cohesion policy is measured by territorial and social outcomes, not just economic investments. Strengthening public administration capacities is crucial for achieving cohesion. 

The plenary discussion with Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, and President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Vasco Alves Cordeiro, highlighted the importance of pre-accession aid and empowering CSOs. 

EESC President Oliver Röpke and other speakers stressed the need for a robust cohesion policy to address EU enlargement challenges and prevent a fragmented EU. Tailoring aid to candidate regions is essential for peace and prosperity, with key recommendations including strengthening education, involving CSOs, and using special mechanisms for countries like Ukraine. 

The EESC also noted the broader impacts of enlargement on current Member States, highlighting the need for additional funds for affected regions. The 9th Cohesion Report calls for adapting to new challenges by investing in SMEs, enhancing local administrations, and supporting fair access to employment. A dynamic cohesion policy is vital for unlocking the EU’s economic potential and ensuring the effective integration of new Member States (tk).

Nuclear medicine and the supply of radioisotopes must be a top priority for the European Union if we want to guarantee equal access to cancer treatment for all patients in Europe. 

The EU and the Member States should make sure that funding is available for medical radiological and nuclear technologies. At the same time, they should also step up their cooperation to remove regulatory barriers to the supply of radioisotopes and reduce their dependency on third countries for raw materials. 

With this end goal, the EESC opinion entitled Europe's Beating Cancer Plan: Driving forces for the security of medical radioisotopes supply, adopted at the May plenary session, stresses the need to leave no stone unturned in taking action against cancer. 

Rapporteurs Alena Mastantuono and Philippe Charry were both firmly of the view that the only way to better secure the supply of radioisotopes in Europe and meet the increasing demand from patients is ‘if we take bold political decisions and if we have sound regulation’. 

Every year, up to 10 million European patients benefit from nuclear medical imaging when it comes to diagnosing different diseases, such as cancer and heart disease. Radiological and nuclear technologies that use radioisotopes are essential in the fight against cancer at all stages of care: in early detection, diagnosis, treatment and palliative care. (mp)

With the number of cancers and cancer-related deaths across the EU rising at an alarming rate, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) calls for much-needed cancer prevention measures, as about 40% of cancer cases are deemed preventable. 

At its plenary session in May, the EESC adopted an opinion welcoming the European Commission's proposal for a Council Recommendation on vaccine-preventable cancers as a follow-up initiative to the EU's Beating Cancer Plan (the 'Cancer Plan'). 

The opinion focuses on vaccination against human papillomaviruses (HPV) and hepatitis B (HBV), as vaccination could prevent several kinds of cancers caused by these viruses. 

The EESC emphasises the need for proper information, education and communication that encourages target groups to be vaccinated. It also highlights the important role that general practitioners, family doctors, school physicians and civil society organisations play in this endeavour. 

Milena Angelova, rapporteur for the opinion on Vaccine preventable cancers said: 'We must fight stigma and false beliefs around vaccines. For example, there is this erroneous belief that vaccinations are only for young girls. However, that is not the case. In order to eradicate these viruses (HPV, HBV), we also have to engage with boys and their parents'. Vaccines must be accessible to all. 

It is extremely important 'to reverse the trend of scepticism', added co-rapporteur Sára Felszeghi. Fighting misinformation and disinformation is a key part of encouraging people to be vaccinated. 

The EESC calls for a comprehensive approach to beating cancer, with a well-functioning and integrated system for all forms of prevention, including primary prevention (vaccination, healthy lifestyle), secondary prevention (screening) and tertiary prevention (care and rehabilitation). 

Ms Angelova reaffirmed 'the need for Member States to coordinate more and to exchange best practices' in order to be much more efficient in the fight against cancer and to increase vaccination coverage across the EU. It is of utmost importance that cancer prevention be seen as a political priority. (sg)

The European Commission has proposed a target to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040, aiming for climate neutrality by 2050. The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) endorsed this goal during its May plenary, emphasising that these goals align with scientific recommendations to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. 

By offering its support, the EESC highlighted the importance of bringing a fair contribution to global climate efforts while also ensuring the competitiveness of European industries during the transition to a low-carbon economy. Teppo Säkkinen, rapporteur of the opinion EU climate target for 2040, emphasised the need for a carbon-free electricity system by 2040 to power the decarbonisation of industry, transport and buildings, advocating for genuine emission reductions by phasing out fossil fuels. 

The EESC cautioned against over-reliance on carbon removal, due to risks such as forest fires and pests, urging a balanced approach between emission reductions and carbon removal. The next phase of EU climate policy should focus on investment, creating a robust economy, enhancing energy security and generating high-quality jobs. Achieving the 2030 target of a 55% emission reduction and implementing the Fit for 55 legislation are key to this. 

The EESC envisages a carbon-free power generation sector by 2040, followed by decarbonised heating and cooling. Clean and affordable energy is essential for decarbonising industry, buildings and transport. 

The EESC also suggested an emissions reduction target for the agri-food sector, developed through dialogue with farmers and stakeholders to ensure food security, and taking into account diverse natural conditions across the EU. 

Public support and stakeholder engagement are crucial for reaching the 2040 target. The EESC therefore calls for broad dialogue, including with social partners, civil society and citizens, in setting targets and developing policies. 

With the EU preparing its legislative proposal for the 2040 target, the EESC stresses the need for a comprehensive competitiveness check against other major economies to maintain Europe’s global competitiveness and industrial base, while upholding high environmental and social standards. (ks)

20 years after Slovenia joined the EU, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) gathered political and civil society leaders in Ljubljana to mark this symbolic anniversary, underlining the fundamental benefits of EU membership and reaffirming that the future of the Western Balkan region lies in the European Union. 

The conference "Continuing the success story of EU enlargement - Bringing benefits to the Western Balkans in advance of accession", organised by the EESC in close cooperation with the European Commission and the Open Society Foundation-Western Balkans, put the spotlight on the necessary reforms to progress on the accession path, including the importance of upholding the EU's fundamental values. 

Speaking at the conference, President Oliver Röpke was joined by Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tanja Fajon, Slovenian Minister of Labour, Luka Mesec, and Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, Majlinda Bregu. 

As the EESC president Oliver Röpke highlighted: "The place of the Western Balkans is in the EU; until then, our EU family is not complete. You can count on the EESC to continue to do its part by organising a ‘Civil Society Enlargement Summit’ in September." 

Tanja Fajon, Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs, said: "I believe that in the current geopolitical situation we need each other more than ever before. For this process, we need civil society to put pressure on politics and the government to move in the direction of getting closer to the EU." 

Luka Mesec, Slovenian Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, said: "Slovenia and the Western Balkan countries have a long common history. Our common home is the European Union, so I will work together with the Slovenian government to facilitate the accession of the countries of the Western Balkans to the European Union". (mt)

The EESC has launched a new programme to further develop its relations with the community of national economic and social councils (NESCs). This initiative is aimed at enabling more regular exchanges on priority topics, on planned opinions and reports, as well as on good practices.

The first such exchange took place last March in France with President of the EESC Youth Group Katrīna Leitāne paying a two-day visit to the French Economic, Social and Environmental Council (ESEC) to exchange views on youth policies. The result? New ideas to promote the youth agenda at EU and national level, mainstream youth expectations across EESC's activities and meet new colleagues working on the same subject in a Member State. 

In this video, Katrīna Leitāne's shares her impressions about her working visit and the fruitful exchanges she had with ESEC in France. 

For more information on the exchange programme check out our webpage here. 

For all information, please contact the secretariat of the Relations with National Economic and Social Councils and Civil Society Unit (EESC-ESCS-relations@eesc.europa.eu).