Civil Society Organisations' Group of the EESC

23/10/2026

22/10/2026

📣Our EESC - European Economic and Social Committee high-level debate on by 2050 is about to start!

🚨Navigating the road ahead, with the participation of:

• Dara Calleary TD, Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural and Community Development, Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU
• Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, responsible for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness
• Carlos Susías, President of the EAPN - European Anti Poverty Network
• Li Andersson, Chair of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, European Parliament

🚨Signature of the Memorandum of Understanding between the European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee on cooperation to implement the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, and the presentation of our EESC study 'Breaking the cycle of disadvantage - reviewing EU policy through the lens of poverty'👉link.europa.eu/T7HdNM

🚨Ending inter-generational poverty, with the participation of:

• Octavion Bivol, Director of the UNICEF European Partnerships Office in Brussels
• Maria Petkova, President of Platform Europe (AGE)
• Massimiliano Mascherini, Head of Unit for Social Policies, presentation of the Eurofound report Bridging the rural-urban divide: addressing inequalities and empowering communities

🚨Jointly preventing and protecting against poverty, with the participation of:

• Tayyab Munir Choudri, person experiencing poverty, EAPN Norway
• Meelis Joost, Executive Board Member of the European Disability Forum (EDF)
• Sandrine Gaudin, Vice-Governor of the Council of Europe Development Bank
• Petri Salminen, Entrepreneur in Salminen & Tikka LtD
• Giulio Romani, ETUC Confederal Secretary

🖥️Follow LIVE👉link.europa.eu/3DYXbv

20/10/2026

🎉50 years of OCU, championing consumer rights.

Its commitment to the EU remains a hallmark of the organisation. Since its inception, the OCU has actively participated in the European project, in the firm belief that many of the major challenges facing consumers require collective responses rooted in cooperation, dialogue, and the defence of the common good.

The priorities of the European Economic and Social Committee’s Civil Society Organisations’ Group for the period 2025-2028 are focused on placing organised civil society at the heart of European integration, and reinforcing participatory democracy, social inclusion, sustainability, and community resilience. These objectives align perfectly with the vision OCU has championed for decades: a European Union that is geared towards listening to citizens and incorporating their needs into public policy-making.

Against this backdrop, the OCU considers it particularly important to strengthen civil dialogue and ensure that consumer organisations and civil society can play their part in EU decision-making.

Strong civil dialogue, social justice, a fair green transition and an active role for civil society are key to building a more democratic and sustainable EU.

Read Enrique García López OCU in our 👉link.europa.eu/cWtCNc

19/10/2026

🔜Our on 21-22 October!

Our opinions:
🗳️ Inclusive democratic participation, rapporteur Ionut Sibian (Fundația pentru Dezvoltarea Societății Civile)
🗳️ Revision of the EU emissions trading system, rapporteur Kädi Ristkok (Eesti Puhta Tööstuse ja Tehnoloogia Liit)
🗳️ Civil society at the heart of Europe’s fight against poverty , rapporteur Anna Schoemakers

🎙️High-level debate on

Follow EESC - European Economic and Social Committee plenary LIVE👉 link.europa.eu/r7mWv4

17/10/2026

On International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, we are reminded that poverty is often passed from one generation to the next, limiting opportunities and deepening inequality.

This is why an EESC - European Economic and Social Committee study Breaking the cycle of disadvantage - Reviewing EU policy through the lens of poverty calls for:
👉 poverty-proofing EU policies from the start
👉 tackling the root causes of intergenerational poverty
👉 stronger support for children and families
👉 evidence-based action to break the cycle of disadvantage

Cillian Lohan, President of the Civil Society Organisations' Group, which requested the study, said: With this study, we draw attention to the deep-rooted factors that perpetuate poverty over one’s life course and across generations, something we call 'Intergenerational poverty'. The EU must strongly support Member States’ efforts to combat poverty and ensure that policies reach local communities. Civil society, drawing on its longstanding commitment and expertise, stands ready to contribute.

Further information on the study can be found:
📌in an interview with the authors: link.europa.eu/PNHXnd
📌on our dedicated website, which also includes an executive summary: link.europa.eu/T7HdNM

Read the full Press Release here: link.europa.eu/nRBH6W

16/10/2026

🎂On 15-16 October, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of Cooperatives Europe during our partnership event held in the presence of Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Cohesion and Reforms.

The event highlighted two decades of work by Cooperatives Europe alongside its members to build a fairer and more democratic economy.

On the first day, Giuseppe Guerini, President of Cooperatives Europe and member of the EESC Civil Society Organisations' Group, reflected on the journey of the European cooperative movement over the past two decades and the challenges that lie ahead.

He recalled how, in 2006, cooperatives were still striving to be recognised in Brussels, whereas today they are acknowledged as key actors of the social economy and active across all sectors of the European economy. He stressed that this recognition was achieved through years of committed advocacy and partnership with institutions such as the EESC - European Economic and Social Committee.

Looking ahead, Mr. Guerini argued that cooperatives have a crucial role to play not only in fostering innovation, competitiveness and social cohesion, but also in strengthening Europe's strategic autonomy and democratic resilience. As citizens increasingly feel excluded from economic decision-making, he highlighted cooperatives as a model of economic democracy, where people collectively own, govern and shape their enterprises.

He concluded that while twenty years ago the priority was to reposition the social dimension within the economy, today's defining challenge is the defence of democracy itself!

On the second day, María Lourdes Márquez de la Calleja, member of the EESC Civil Society Organisations' Group and spokesperson of the EESC Social Economy Category, highlighted the crucial role played by cooperatives and the social economy in European competitiveness and in building a stronger, more resilient Europe.

She said: 'Europe must recognise cooperatives and the social economy as strategic players in shaping its economic future. Cooperatives and the social economy demonstrate that democratic participation, economic competitiveness and social cohesion can go hand in hand.'

More info: https://coopseurope.coop/events/cooperatives-europes-20th-anniversary-whats-the-next-chapter-towards-economic-democracy/

15/10/2026

The recent General Affairs Council's conclusions on inclusive democratic participation, and societal and community resilience send an important signal: An independent, diverse civil society contributes to democratic resilience, accountability and better policymaking.

As EESC rapporteur, I welcome the Council’s call for adequate and sustainable funding that supports civil society engagement and advocacy, a central recommendation of our opinion.

The real test now is delivery: a stronger AgoraEU programme, a permanent structured dialogue with civil society, and meaningful participation in the European Centre for Democratic Resilience.

The Centre should fully involve the EESC - European Economic and Social Committee, and its Stakeholder Platform should be selected transparently and reflect the diversity of civil society, from grassroots organisations and disadvantaged groups to fact-checking and civic-tech organisations. Civil society must help set priorities, deliver activities and evaluate results, not just be consulted.

💬 Ionuţ SIBIAN (Fundația pentru Dezvoltarea Societății Civile), our rapporteur for the upcoming EESC opinion SOC/873 Inclusive Democratic Participation: Promoting Civil Society in Communities

The opinion will be put to the vote of the on Wednesday, 21 October 2026. You will find it at: link.europa.eu/c8fDwk

14/10/2026

As the Council of the European Union prepares to discuss the EU's long-term budget 2028-2034, the EESC - European Economic and Social Committee calls for a that supports competitiveness, resilience, strategic autonomy & stresses the need for a substantial increase in own resources!

Read the opinion👉link.europa.eu/VgYNbn

| EU summit, 15-16 October 2026

On the EU leaders’ agenda:
📌competitiveness
📌MFF 2028-2034
📌Ukraine
📌European defence and security
📌migration
📌enlargement and reforms
📌the Middle East

More info on all topics of discussion 👉 https://link.europa.eu/KRTJK7

14/10/2026

We need to listen to civil society organisations and businesses, when it comes to challenges of implementing measures!
Professional transition brokers can help unlock the potential. Part of the benefits must accrue to local communities.

Cillian Lohan, President of the EESC Civil Society Organisations' Group, in the panel on 'Critical raw materials: diversification and circularity for Europe's clean transition' at the , organised by Friends of Europe.

Mr Lohan was the rapporteur for an EESC opinion that was requested by the European Commission in preparation for the planned Circular Economy Act. The EESC opinion is available at: https://lnkd.in/em9KpTrP

13/10/2026

On the occasion of , we emphasise the importance of rural areas for Europe’s prosperity, resilience and social cohesion and call for a common approach to .

Rural proofing is about checking how policies affect rural areas and avoid unintended consequences from the start of the policy process.

Rural proofing can help turn territorial cohesion into reality. It must be a horizontal principle for the next EU long-term budget.

Read the related opinion of the EESC - European Economic and Social Committee 👉 lnkd.in/eQP4rY9t

European Committee of the Regions, PES Group in the European Committee of the Regions, EPP Group in the European Committee of the Regions, Raffaele Fitto, ODRAZ-Održivi razvoj zajednice