To catch the enlargement train, EU candidate countries must run simultaneously with the European Union, argues the EESC’s Dimitris Dimitriadis. He says responsibility for an increasing Western Balkans' disillusionment with the EU is shared.
The European, Economic and Social Committee has taken a unique approach to enlargement, using a future-proofing strategy to engage with EU candidate countries through a pilot initiative to include them in policy development discussions.
2024 brings a new European Union mandate and a multitude of challenges. The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) plans to be increasingly visible and relevant as the EU navigates climate and technological change, and new employment challenges.
After one year in office, the launch of a bold manifesto including the voices of youth, an emphasis on gender equality, and a fresh approach to enlargement, Oliver Röpke, President of the EESC is making waves with a Blue Deal.
Gradually integrating civil society from candidate countries into the EU will give them the ability to become as strong as they should be by the time of accession, write Oliver Röpke, Milojko Spajić and Edi Rama.
The EU's proposed rules on late payments will deprive SMEs of the flexibility they require from their business partners, argues Alena Mastantuono.
Read this article in Romanian. Young people’s voices should have a permanent role when considering legislation, the President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) Oliver Röpke told Euractiv in an interview, adding that youth participation should …
Deprived EU regions are looking at innovative solutions like crowdfunding and citizen-led energy communities to finance the transition to a net-zero economy.
Experts and lawmakers are making a case for a co-decision process allowing European citizens to have a voice in deciding how the EU budget is allocated, which could strengthen citizen participation and drive sustainable economic growth models across member states.
EU ministers approved the directive on adequate minimum wages on Tuesday (4 October), starting the two-year implementation process for member states. Meanwhile, trade unions argue for faster implementation due to the cost of living crisis.
Unconditional candidate status must be given to Ukraine without jeopardising the ongoing accession process of Western Balkans countries, a European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) resolution approved on Thursday (16 June) stated.
An EU directive on minimum wages "risks undermining collective bargaining and adding up complexities to the recovery and the resilience of the EU economy", Stefano Mallia, who represents employers in the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), told EURACTIV.
A “dashboard” to follow-up citizens' recommendations must be created, so the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) does not fail its goal of including citizens in EU policymaking, Christa Scweng told EURACTIV.
The workers’ groups of the European Economic and Social Committee have seized upon the term “just transition” in a bid to insert their aims for workers’ co-determination into the Commission’s flagship policy, the European Green Deal.
EU minimum wage legislation can help drive much-needed momentum for social policy reform, writes Oliver Röpke.
EU employers are ready to switch gear and accelerate the roll-out of the green and digital transitions, writes Stefano Mallia.
Christa Schweng has served as the President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) since October. She has a vision, but first Europe must get through the coronavirus crisis, protecting both jobs and people.
The European Union unveiled a strategy last week to become the world's first climate neutral economy by 2050, generating a positive momentum ahead of the COP24 in Katowice, writes Luca Jahier.
Refugees and immigrants have become modern-day scapegoats for demagogues, who are turning a blind eye to the real causes of the crisis - rising inequalities, according to Greece's Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Georgios Katrougalos. EURACTIV.com reports from Athens.
Climate change has been described as one of the biggest global threats of the 21st century. Dimitris Dimitriadis explains what the European Union needs to do to improve its civil protection capacities.
Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Finland…. The EU's Budget Commissioner Günter Oettinger did not hesitate to point the finger at countries reluctant to increase their contributions to the EU's next seven-year budget during a speech on Wednesday (19 September).
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) will discuss on Wednesday (19 September) the next multi-annual financial framework (MFF) with budget commissioner Günter Oettinger. EESC President Luca Jahier told EURACTIV.com that the long-term budget for 2021-2027 should be increased to 1.3% of EU’s GDP.
The European Economic and Social Committee expressed strong disagreement with the Commission's proposal to cut Cohesion policy funds by 10% in a recent opinion, saying the EU executive must show sensitivity for the current political environment rather than focus only …
Four conditions should be met if we want to make citizens' consultations a success and avoid turning the greatly anticipated initiative launched by France's President Emmanuel Macron and backed by 26 countries into a boomerang, which would irremediably drain trust in the EU project, writes Thierry Libaert.
