The European elections proved that the pro-European majority still holds, but also showed that voters across the EU demand urgent political and legislative responses to the challenges raised in the electoral campaign. Otherwise, the pro-European majority may risk losing support as citizens may increasingly turn their backs on the mainstream political forces.
At the July plenary session of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Committee president Oliver Röpke hosted a debate with the Hungarian Minister for European Union Affairs,János Bóka, who presented the main priorities of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU.
At its annual conference on energy poverty, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) took stock of the alarming spike in the number of energy poor over the past year. The EESC sends a strong message to EU leaders and puts forward concrete proposals to achieve an affordable and stable energy supply while supporting vulnerable people, households and SMEs.
Just a few days after the 2024 European elections, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the EU’s national Economic and Social Councils met to discuss the state of play of the ongoing digital and green transitions. Their conclusions: organised civil society is clearly instrumental in helping to remedy the shortcomings.
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.
With hate speech and hate crime rising at a frightening rate, Europeans 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 European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has 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. The EESC calls for, among others, compliance tools to be included in accession treaties to address potential post-accession challenges, such as emigration and rule of law concerns.
At its May plenary session, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) called on the EU institutions to include young people’s views in EU policies on a regular and systematic basis. With just one week left until the European elections, the EESC has stepped up its own youth engagement by urging youth organisations to take part in the EESC Youth Test. Designed to strengthen the voice of young people in policy making, the "EESC Youth Test" call for applications will be open until 30 June.
20 years after the accession of Slovenia to 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. Speaking at the conference, EESC President Oliver Röpke stressed the EESC's continuous support to the gradual integration of the Western Balkan region in the European Union, announcing the 'Civil Society Enlargement Summit' in Brussels on 19 September.
The European Parliament and the European Economic and Social Committee have signed a new cooperation agreement to strengthen and widen the involvement of civil society in future policy-making at EU level.
