On 17, 18 and 19 March, the EESC hosted meetings of EU-Canada Domestic Advisory Groups (DAGs) and the EU-Canada 2025 Civil Society Forum (CSF). The discussions over the three days underscored the shared commitment of the EU and Canada to integrating sustainability into trade, ensuring labour rights protection, and advancing environmental and gender-related policies within the CETA framework, particularly in the current challenging global context. Key officials representing the European Commission and the Government of Canada engaged in rich exchanges with civil society, outlined the progress of the Trade and Sustainable Development Committee (TSD) and set objectives for the upcoming year. The event reinforced shared commitments to ongoing collaboration and stakeholder engagement in shaping the future of EU-Canada trade relations. The DAGs adopted their Joint Statement. On the Civil Society Forum, you can view our dynamic post here.

On 2 April, members of the EESC met with their counterparts from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway at the 35th meeting of the European Economic Area Consultative Committee (EEA CC). The discussions, which took place at the EFTA House in Brussels, focused on European preparedness and defence, the fight against disinformation and the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace. Presentations were made by Ariane Rodert, John Comer and Franca Salis-Madinier, all of whom are EESC rapporteurs on the respective topics.

Furthermore, Lukas Lanzrein from the Swiss Mission to the EU, provided an overview of the key elements of the package deal reached between the EU and Switzerland in December 2024. This was followed by contributions from Swiss social partners (who attended the meeting as observers), focusing primarily on internal discussions in Switzerland regarding wage protection.

It was agreed that the topic for the 2025 resolution and report would be ‘A European Single Market for Preparedness and Defence’. This document will be prepared for the 36th meeting of the EEA CC, which will take place in Copenhagen from 9-10 December 2025.

An official study visit of the Albanian government to the EESC took place on 15 and 16 January under the heading ‘Strengthening dialogue with civil society in Albania’. The Albanian delegation, led by Olta Manjani, Deputy Minister for Economy, Education and Innovation, participated in the meeting of the REX section. The next day, a number of discussions were held on the role of organised civil society in Albania’s EU integration process, the role of national economic and social councils in the EU Member States and Albania, and on how the EESC works in practice, with the EESC President Oliver Röpke, group presidents, members of the EESC’s Western Balkans Follow-up Committee, EESC Secretary General and officials from the EESC Secretariat. Meetings were closely followed also by H.E. Ferit Hoxha, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Head of Mission of Albania to the EU, and Giulio Venneri, Deputy Head of the Albania Unit in the European Commission (DG ENEST).

The 20th meeting of the EU-Montenegro Joint Consultative Committee was held on 20 March in Podgorica to discuss the Reform Agenda and Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and Agenda 2028, the implementation of the Fundamentals Cluster, the competitiveness of Montenegro and the EU in the context of the Draghi Report, social dialogue and an overview of the civil society situation in the country. The JCC members welcomed the progress of Montenegro in the accession path towards the EU and expressed hope that the country would be able to close all remaining chapters of negotiations by the end of 2026. The JCC insisted that civil society and citizens should be included more effectively in the negotiations process, and they reminded the Montenegrin Government and Parliament to respect all agreements between the social partners reached by consensus within the Social Council. The JCC commended the Montenegrin Government on the newly established practice of reporting on the implementation of JCC recommendations, and expressed hope that this would continue in the years leading up to Montenegro’s accession to the EU.

The EESC, the European Training Foundation (ETF) and Eurofound joined forces on 3 April in Tirana to discuss how to promote social dialogue in the Western Balkans. The event, entitled Enhancing quality of work and life through effective social dialogue in the Western Balkans, brought together key stakeholders to explore challenges and opportunities in the region’s labour markets and social policies. With keynote speakers such as Majlinda Dhuka, Minister of State and Chief Negotiator of Albania, Olta Manjani, Albanian Deputy Minister of Economy, Culture and Innovation, H.E. Silvio Gonzato, Head of the EU Delegation to Albania, Oliver Röpke, President of the EESC, Pilvi Torsti, Director of the ETF, and Ivailo Kalfin, Executive Director of Eurofound, the event highlighted how social dialogue supports resilient labour markets, better working conditions, and the green and digital transitions. Discussions focused on improving living and working conditions, providing the workforce with the skills they need and expanding opportunities for young people through initiatives such as the Youth Guarantee. By working together, trade unions, employers and governments can uphold EU social and economic principles, as highlighted in the European Pillar of Social Rights and the Union of Skills. Strong tripartite partnerships, as well as the involvement of civil society, are crucial for addressing labour and skills challenges..

On 4 April, EESC President, Oliver Röpke, and Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, opened the inaugural meeting of the EU-Albania Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), which brings together representatives of trade unions, employers and civil society organisations from both sides, enabling them to monitor reform implementation and issue joint recommendations to the Albanian authorities and EU institutions on Albania’s path towards EU membership. ‘This JCC is not symbolic – it is structural’, said President Röpke: ‘It formalises the voice of civil society in the EU accession process and ensures that reforms are not just passed, but shaped and supported by the people they affect to ensure a meaningful, gradual integration’. The meeting covered the state of play in EU-Albania relations, adopted rules of procedure for the JCC, and discussed the functioning of civil and social dialogue in the country. Albanian Ministers Majlinda Dhuka, Delina Ibrahimaj, and Olta Manjani took part in the proceedings, reflecting the strong institutional commitment to the JCC’s success. The Albanian delegation’s inclusive and transparent selection process was praised, with all six of its members also taking part in the EESC’s Enlargement Candidate Members initiative. Read more..

Due to an unforeseen event, the 43rd meeting of the EU-Türkiye Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) was postponed at the last minute, but the EESC decided to convert the event into a one-day preparatory meeting for its members dealing with the country, in view of the actual JCC meeting, the date of which will be confirmed at a later stage. The meeting, held on 13 March at the EESC, saw contributions from H.E. Ambassador Faruk Kaymakcı and representatives from the EEAS and DG ENEST. During the working session, EESC rapporteurs Diana Indjova, Isabel Caño Aguilar and Petru Sorin Dandea presented topics including migration and international relations, the just transition in the context of climate change, and fair distribution of wealth and tax justice. Each presentation was followed by a general debate.

On 25 March, EESC President Oliver Röpke issued a statement in reaction to the crackdown on democracy in Türkiye following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.

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On 11 March, the EESC and the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) presented a Joint Declaration at the 69th meeting of the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York, reaffirming their commitment to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment. 30 years after the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action, the EESC and AU ECOSOCC acknowledge both the progress achieved and the ongoing challenges that continue to hinder full gender equality.

The two institutions call for urgent action to accelerate progress in key areas, including women’s representation in governance, the eradication of gender-based violence and the advancement of women’s economic and digital inclusion. They stress that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals requires comprehensive and integrated approaches that mainstream gender equality across all policies. Governments, international organisations, civil society and the private sector must work together to accelerate progress and ensure that gender equality remains a global priority. Read more.

The 8th^­ meeting of the CARIFORUM-EU Consultative Committee took place in Nassau (The Bahamas) on 20 March. Co-chaired by Berivan Öngörur (EU) and John Robin (CARIFORUM), the meeting focused on the five-year review of the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), the situation in Haiti, the EPA’s impact on the implementation of ILO core conventions and the EPA’s services dimension. Key outcomes include a call for the application of the regional preference clause, for the facilitation of temporary entry for education and training, for support for the Bridgetown Initiative (to address climate change and debt crises) and for a reinforced consideration of marginalised groups in the EPA’s application. Moreover, consultative committee members encouraged joint support for WTO plurilateral agreements, especially the Disciplines on Services Domestic Regulation and the Joint Statement Initiative on E-Commerce.

On 31 January, the EU-Chile Joint Consultative Committee held its 13th meeting to reflect on past achievements and discuss the transition to the new Advanced Framework Agreement, which will reshape and strengthen cooperation between both parties. The discussion, with the participation of Ambassadors Claudia Gintersdorfer (EU) and Gloria Navarrete (Chile), representatives from the European Commission, Chilean civil society, and the EESC, highlighted the importance of maintaining strong EU-Chile ties amid evolving global challenges. Key topics addressed included reinforcing democracy, human rights and civic engagement as fundamental pillars of the EU-Chile relationship, strengthening economic cooperation to promote sustainable investment, trade resilience, and support for SMEs and the circular economy, addressing global security concerns and cybersecurity cooperation to safeguard citizens’ rights and digital governance, ensuring a smooth transition to the new partnership framework while preserving structured civil society dialogue.

The meeting concluded with the adoption of a final declaration outlining priorities for continued engagement and structured dialogue under the forthcoming agreement. The JCC has played a pivotal role in shaping EU-Chile relations and, as this chapter closes, both parties remain committed to the continuation of our partnership. The next phase will focus on implementing the new agreement, while ensuring that civil society continues to play an active role in shaping the future of EU-Chile cooperation.

On 18 March, the EESC’s Latin America Follow-up Committee met to discuss key aspects of EU-Latin America relations, particularly trade agreements, regional cooperation and social development. A central topic of discussion was the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay): speakers from the European Parliament, the EEAS and DG TRADE provided institutional and political perspectives, emphasising the agreement’s economic benefits, market access improvements and regulatory cooperation. They also addressed concerns about sustainability commitments, environmental responsibilities and social impacts, while underlining the agreement’s role in strengthening economic ties and attracting investment to Mercosur countries.

Members and Latin American partners debated the geopolitical significance of the agreement within the broader framework of EU foreign policy. Discussions also covered labour rights, fair trade concerns, indigenous community protection, inclusive development and safeguarding local producers in rural areas. The meeting also featured a presentation on Ação da Cidadania Contra a Fome e Miséria, a Brazilian NGO dedicated to combating hunger and social exclusion. The presentation highlighted grassroots efforts to address food insecurity and extreme poverty in Brazil and other Latin American countries.

On 17-18 March, two REX members participated in the joint meeting of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly at the European Parliament premises in Brussels. Mr Cillian Lohan was invited to speak on youth opportunities, as the rapporteur of the REX opinion on EU-UK Youth Engagement. He presented the opinion’s main points and engaged with MEPs and UK parliamentarians on challenges and opportunities facing youth on both sides of the Channel, stressing the importance of youth for the present and future of the bilateral relationship. Both Mr Lohan and Ms Tanja Buzek (Vice-Chair of the EU DAG under the TCA) attended breakout sessions on topics like AI and data protection, climate and energy cooperation and regulatory cooperation in financial services.

On 20-21 March, a delegation of REX members travelled to Geneva for a series of meetings with international organisations on migration, human and labour rights and multilateralism.  The delegation met high-level representatives like Ms Celeste Drake, the Deputy Director General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and Ms Lotte Knudsen, the EU Ambassador to the UN. Other meetings included the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (IRCR). Throughout these talks, the delegation illustrated the EESC’s work on these topics and explored potential avenues of future collaboration.

The Domestic Advisory Groups (DAGs) are set up in the framework of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) or free trade chapters within Association Agreements that the EU has with third parties. In principle, each side has its own DAG and, on the EU side, members advise the Commission’s DG TRADE in particular on the trade and sustainable development (TSD) chapters.

On 19 March, Tanja Buzek, EESC coordinator for the EU DAGs, along with the Chairs of the EU DAGs for Vietnam and for Colombia-Peru-Ecuador, as well as the Canada DAG, made an annual presentation to the INTA Committee in the European Parliament. Ms Buzek praised the cooperation with INTA as an important element of strengthening the DAGs, and explained that MEPs would be regularly updated on the EU DAG meetings. She also expressed her hope that the DAG members would be invited to the EP’s monitoring groups and informed on EP missions and activities.

From the EU-Vietnam DAG, the Chair highlighted current difficulties, despite EU hopes to upgrade trade relationships: there is particular concern regarding Vietnam’s restriction of civil society organisations, including its active vetting of their participation in the Joint Forum under the EU-Vietnam FTA. Regarding the Canada DAG, strong emphasis was placed on the role of civil society in ensuring that economic growth aligns with sustainability objectives. Against the backdrop of tumultuous relations with the U.S. and a challenging global context, both affirmed the significance of the EU-Canada alliance as like-minded partners. Looking to the DAG on Colombia-Peru-Ecuador, stronger enforcement mechanisms of TSD chapters were called for, as well as better support for civil society participation and labour rights protections. In particular, some labour violations were signalled in Peru and Colombia, with Peru showing a serious lack of commitment in responding adequately and in a timely manner to these concerns.

Overall, speakers underscored the need for better and stronger support to guarantee civil society’s participation, also ahead of the entry into force of new trade agreements. The ultimate goal would be to have a structured dialogue to monitor and advise during the negotiation of trade agreements.

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