The EESC Liaison Group

Transcription

1 The EESC Liaison Group Promoting civil dialogue and participatory democracy European Economic and Social Committee

2 ITS ORIGINS... The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) represents a wide range of national civil society organisations, from employers organisations to trade unions, and from consumer groups to social, educational, development and environmental organisations, just to name a few. In 2004, the Committee decided to set up a Liaison Group with European civil society organisations and networks in order to be more open, representative and effective, playing to the full its role as a bridge and major channel of communication between the EU and these European organisations. Aiming for stronger and more structured cooperation with these organisations and networks, the Liaison Group is designed to forge links and provide a forum for political dialogue. AND ITS COMPOSITION The Liaison Group is composed of two groups, EESC members and European civil society organisations, as follows: 17 members of the EESC, including its president and vice-presidents, the three group presidents, the six policy section presidents, the presidents of the three observatories, the president of the Consultative Commission on Industrial Change and the president of the Europe 2020 Steering Committee; 21 existing organisations and networks representing the main sectors of organised civil society at European level. Alternate member organisations can also participate. A FORUM FOR CIVIL DIALOGUE The Liaison Group provides civil society organisations with their only institutional bridge to the EU institutions, thereby establishing vertical civil dialogue allowing them to discuss and influence the EU agenda and decision-making processes (in accordance with Art. 11(1) of the Treaty on European Union (TEU)).

3 In addition, the Liaison Group also offers these European organisations and networks a forum in which to meet and discuss issues relevant to them, effectively establishing a dialogue among them, contributing to creating synergies between different players on issues of common interest, and thus creating a place for horizontal civil dialogue (Art. 11(2) TEU). In order to fulfil its twin mission of promoting both vertical and horizontal civil dialogue, the Liaison Group meets roughly twice a year in plenary, in addition to holding a number of other meetings of its civil society organisation component throughout the year. ACTIVITIES AND SUCCESS STORIES The Liaison Group is actively involved in the Committee s activities, notably in advising the other European institutions. Lately, it has been focussing increasingly on priority themes for the EESC and the EU, especially on cross-cutting issues of common interest. For example, it contributed actively to the Europe 2020 mid-term review and to the EESC s proposals for the Commission Work Programme for it also contributed to the drafting of the EESC s 2008 Action Plan for Europe. In 2015, the Liaison Group proposed a Roadmap for the implementation of Articles 11(1) and 11(2) of the Treaty of the EU, which was adopted by the Riga NGO Forum in March This roadmap outlines a vision, a structure and the actions needed for the implementation of better civil dialogue in the EU and involvement of citizens, and was actively supported by the Latvian Presidency of the Council. On the occasion of the European Year of Citizens 2013, which focused on raising public awareness about the rights guaranteed to European Union citizens, the Liaison Group promoted the creation of a civil society alliance aiming to advocate for a broad understanding of active European citizenship: the European Year of Citizens Alliance (EYCA), which is still active today. 3

4 The Civil Society Day The annual Civil Society Day is the major Liaison Group initiative, organised jointly with the EESC. It brings together key players in European and national civil society organisations, entrepreneurs, academics, EU policy makers and the media, and provides a forum for dialogue on issues that are of concern to civil society stakeholders at European level. The Civil Society Day 2015 focused on the Better Regulation Package and aimed at setting up principles and guidelines for a permanent and structured civil dialogue at European level in order to contribute to better legislation that better serves the general interest. The conference also focussed on the Road Map adopted at the NGO Forum in Riga in March 2015 and how to implement it through specific actions. Previous Civil Society Days have dealt with the expectations of European citizens and organisations of Europe, covering economic and social issues, democracy and active European Citizenship. For more information, consult: 4

5 THE CO-PRESIDENTS s Conny Reuter, Secretary General of SOLIDAR, on behalf of Social Services Europe t Georges Dassis, EESC President 5

6 THE MEMBER ORGANISATIONS AGE Platform Europe *European Federation of older people EURAG Confederation of Family Organisations in the European Union (COFACE) *EUROCHILD COOPERATIVES EUROPE Culture Action Europe *Platform for intercultural Europe European Association for the Defence of Human Rights (AEDH) European Civic Forum (FCE) *European Citizens Action Service (ECAS) European Civil Society Platform on Lifelong learning (EUCIS-LLL) European Disability Forum (EDF) European Foundation Centre (EFC) European Movement International (EMI) *Union of European Federalists (UEF) European NGO Confederation for Relief and Development (CONCORD) European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) European Volunteer Centre (CEV) *Volonteurope European Women s Lobby (EWL) European Youth Forum (YFJ) International Association of Mutualities (AIM) International Association Rurality Environment Development R.E.D. International Union of Tenants (IUT) * The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) Platform of European Social NGOs (Social Platform ) *European Federation of Public, Cooperative & Social Housing (CECODHAS) Social Services Europe *Social Economy Europe (SEE) SOLIDAR * Alternates To ensure broad involvement of different players from organised civil society, a group of alternates has been appointed, which may also take part in Liaison Group meetings. 6

7 For more information Please consult the Liaison Group s website: A newsletter is published several times a year: 7

8 European Economic and Social Committee Rue Belliard/Belliardstraat Bruxelles/Brussel BELGIQUE/BELGIË Published by: Visits and Publications Unit EESC EN European Union, 2016 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. REG.NO. BE - BXL - 27 Print: QE EN-C ISBN doi: /62745 Online: QE EN-N ISBN doi: / EN