SEE: Revision of Public Procurement Directives –
Setting the Scene for Social Economy, Services of General Interest & the
EU, Brussels, 13 May 2025 Don’t
miss out on this key event at the European Parliament in Brussels on
13 May 2025, from 10:30 to 12:30. Find all the information, including the
draft programme and registration link on our web page.
Let’s all work together on this crucial topic! Image © Social Economy Europe, 2025. Visual
created with Canva Pro, using licensed content ACE: ‘Architects + Engineers: Partnership for
Resilient Design’ in Luxembourg, 15 May 2025 For
the first time, the Architects’ Council of Europe (ACE) is joining forces with
the Order of Architects and Consulting Engineers in Luxembourg (OAI), the
European Federation of Engineering Consultancy Associations (EFCA) and the
European Council of Engineers Chambers (ECEC), to organise a common conference
that will aim to: showcase how the architectural and engineering professions
create resilient design, in line with the New European Bauhaus ambitions;
explore challenges they face and innovative tools that can support their
collaboration; highlight the specificities of the procurement of design
services and make concrete recommendations for the revision of the EU Public
Procurement Directive, so that it can best support high-quality design in
Europe. Read more here. EASPD: Conference on inclusive arts, sports and
leisure! Gandia/Spain, 15-16 May 2025 On
15-16 May, the European Association of Service Providers for Persons with
Disabilities (EASPD) is heading to Gandia, Spain, to discuss access to arts,
culture, leisure and sports for people with disabilities. We will explore how a
culture of inclusion must be created to implement Article 30 of the UN's
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, empowering people with
disabilities to enjoy a fulfilling social life and connect with their
community. We have organised 24 interactive workshops covering diverse topics,
from inclusive rugby to accessible travel, to showcase how service providers
and local communities can work together to ensure that participation in leisure
and cultural life has no barriers. Read more here. Image © Fundació Espurna/espurna.org UIPI: Rethinking European Student Accommodation for a
Mobile Generation, EESC, 20 May 2025 The
future of student accommodation in Europe will take centre stage at the
conference Rethinking European Student Accommodation for a Mobile Generation,
set to take place on 20 May 2025 in Brussels at the EESC. Hosted by project
HOME², this full-day partnership event will bring together key stakeholders to
tackle one of the most pressing issues for students studying abroad: securing
good quality, reliable, affordable housing. Register by 7 May and help shape
the future of student accommodation in Europe! Register here. EASPD: Collaborating for change: Supporting inclusive
sport through journalism, 27 May 2025 The
SIMS project is working to improve the visibility of inclusive sport by
building connections between media professionals and organisations that
champion diversity and equal opportunities. On 27 May, the project will host an
event to explore the challenges of raising awareness around diversity in sport
and inclusive sporting activities. The event will also look at ways in which
organisations can collaborate with journalists to raise the profile of their
work. Register here. Image © Getty Images Signature COFACE: Webinar on single-parent and one-parent
families in North Macedonia, 2 June 2025 On
2 June, 9.30-11.00 CET, COFACE (Families Europe) will organise the
next Breakfast Byte webinar, focusing this time on the work of Youth of Diverse
Families (a COFACE member). Using a two-generation approach, the speaker will
give an overview of single- and one-parent families in North Macedonia and
highlight different campaigns and services they are developing to improve the
legal framework and rights of youth from diverse families. We will also discuss
the situation in other countries, namely by comparing the situation in North
Macedonia with policies for single-parent families in Serbia and Bosnia and
Herzegovina, and with responses from single-parent families in Hungary and
Spain. Register here to tune in. AGE: Annual Conference: Intergenerational Solidarity
in Europe, 17 June 2025 AGE
Platform Europe will dedicate its annual conference to intergenerational
solidarity in Europe. It will take place on 17 June 2025 from 09:30 to
13:00 (CET) and you can follow online. The conference will seek to contribute
to the upcoming Intergenerational Fairness Strategy and discuss the common
goals and issues that younger and older generations share and how
intergenerational solidarity can be a way to combat ageism. More information and registrations here. Image © Art Credits: Magda Castria/OHCHR EPD: The new European shield for democracy: How to
make it work? The
recently announced European Democracy Shield (EDS) aims to strengthen
information integrity in Europe by tackling issues such as disinformation and
election interference. The EPD Network (European Partnership for Democracy) and
a group of 49 organisations have joined efforts to outline priorities and
recommendations for an effective EDS. Read more here. Image © 2025 Detas Project Eurochild: Fighting Anti-Rights Movements With
the latest podcast episode on the global assault on Civil Society, Eurochild
launches a campaign to fight back against anti-rights movements and the growing
threats faced by NGOs, activists, journalists and civil society across Europe
and beyond. Now more than ever, we must stand together to protect democracy,
human rights, and the voices of those fighting for justice! Read more here. Eurochild: A Europe that protects every child:
Aligning the EU’s policies and budget to eradicate child poverty The
EU Alliance for Investing in Children calls for a bold and integrated approach
to end child poverty by fully implementing the European Child Guarantee and
revising the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy to address structural causes. It urges
the EU to prioritise child and family poverty in the European Pillar of Social
Rights Action Plan and to ensure adequate, long-term funding through the
Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The Alliance emphasises that ending
child poverty is not only a moral duty but also an economic and social
imperative for Europe’s stability and prosperity. You can read the paper on the Alliance’s website. Image © EU Alliance for Investing in Children
and its members EVBB VET House Now Open! We’re
excited to announce the opening of the EVBB VET House – our new European hub
for innovation in Vocational Education and Training. Located in the heart of
Brussels, the VET House will host collaborative events, strategic meetings and
hands-on activities that bring together VET providers, policymakers and
learners. The VET House is an initiative of the EVBB – the European Association of Institutes for
Vocational Training, dedicated to advancing
vocational education, lifelong learning and innovation through transnational
cooperation and dialogue. A new space. A shared mission. A stronger VET
community. EVBB: VET MAG – Call for articles Under
the MetaVET operational grant, EVBB is producing the 2nd edition of its VET
Magazine, set for release in 2025. The magazine aims to elevate vocational
education and training (VET) by showcasing original research, insights and
innovative practices from across Europe and beyond. For submission details or inquiries, please click here or
contact Alfred Pallarca at alfred.pallarca@evbb.eu,
or the team at comms@evbb.eu. CAE: Culture Action Now! – a call for EU leaders to
prioritise culture The
campaign by Culture Action Europe (CAE) calls on EU leaders to prioritise
culture in public policy. The campaign calls for at least 2% of the next EU
Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) to be allocated to creation of cultural
content, a vital investment to strengthen Europe’s democracy, competitiveness,
and security. It emphasises the need to ask artists to lead policy
discussions, pay them fairly for their work and trust their
expertise to drive innovation and deliver results. Read more here. Image © Ask Pay Trust – Culture Action Now (CAE) R.E.D.: Creating Dialogue Between Farmers and Citizens
Across Borders The
Décloisonnons project, coordinated by
FNCuma with Ruralité-Environnement-Développement (R.E.D.) and six other
partners, has identified successful approaches to create links between farmers
and citizens. Through transnational webinars with stakeholders from Southern,
Mediterranean, and Northwestern European regions, R.E.D. drafted an upcoming
e-book (available in English, French, Spanish and Italian) synthesising some
relevant findings, published on 15 April 2025. Learn more about our cross-border workshops and rural
action initiatives. |
News from the CSO members of the Liaison Group
News from the EESC
