Civil society organisations (CSOs) are under attack across Europe and America. The EU must act now to defend them and safeguard democracy. At its plenary debate on the International Day of NGOs, the European Economic and Social Committee sent out a clear message: CSOs are democracy’s frontline defenders. With funding cuts threatening their survival, the EU must take immediate action to protect and support them.
Lors de sa session plénière de février, le Comité économique et social européen (CESE) a organisé un débat sur les priorités politiques de l’actuelle présidence du Conseil de l’Union européenne, qui a débuté en janvier et se poursuivra jusqu’en juin 2025.
Despite progress in gender equality, millions of women across Europe still face violence, discrimination and barriers to equal opportunities. From under-representation in leadership to the alarming rise in gender-based violence, urgent action is needed. The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) High-Level Forum on Women’s Rights brought together leading voices to address these pressing issues and outline key priorities ahead of the upcoming UN Commission on the Status of Women session.
Expanding across borders in the EU means navigating a maze of conflicting VAT rules and paperwork, driving up costs. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in particular, face disproportionate compliance burdens, making it harder to scale up and compete. To cut red tape and boost competitiveness, the EESC calls for urgent reforms in two opinions adopted during its February plenary, building on the Letta and Draghi reports. Proposals include harmonised financial regulations, AI-driven reporting and a coordinated industrial policy.
This year, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is awarding its flagship Civil Society Prize to non-profit projects dedicated to combating the harmful polarisation of European society.
Artificial Intelligence is transforming the world of work at an unprecedented pace, bringing both opportunities and challenges for workers, businesses and policymakers. On 3 February, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) held a joint high-level conference entitled ‘Social Justice in the Digital Era: AI’s Impact on work and society’, gathering over 300 experts, policymakers and social partners and civil society representatives to discuss how AI can contribute to inclusive labour markets, decent work and social justice.
With artificial intelligence reshaping the workplace, it is crucial to continue promoting human-centric AI and advocating for policies that balance strong AI development in Europe with social justice and workers’ rights, a high-level debate at the EESC heard.
Les jeunes de la région méditerranéenne doivent être associés à chaque étape, de l’élaboration des politiques à leur mise en œuvre. Ils façonnent non seulement les politiques, mais aussi la vie, un point qui a été mis en lumière lors du débat tenu par le Comité économique et social européen (CESE).
On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the EESC's Liaison Group, the founders and current members of the Group called for intensive action to defend European democracy, open public space and a just Europe.
Lors de sa session plénière de décembre, le Comité économique et social européen (CESE) a tenu son tout premier forum sur le logement, soulignant l’urgence de garantir l’accès à un logement décent, durable et abordable dans l’ensemble de l’Union européenne. Le forum a réuni des parties prenantes de haut niveau afin de s’attaquer à la crise actuelle du logement et d’explorer les solutions envisageables.
