EESC info. September 2017/7.
Date: 2017-09-13
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: European Economic and Social Committee, information, serial publication

European Economic and Social Committee

ISSN 2363-2615

EESC info

European Economic and Social Committee
A bridge between Europe and organised civil society
September 2017 | EN

EDITORIAL
Dear readers,

The many faces of European solidarity

Brexit, economic competitiveness, job creation and social security, immigration, natural 
disasters, fear: Europe is facing a myriad of challenges, and many Europeans are convinced, 
as I am, that the European Union can only rise to these challenges by sticking together 
and joining forces.

This summer my home country, Portugal, was hit by the devastating forest fires that also 
struck several other countries in southern Europe. As we struggled to put out the fires, we 
experienced what European solidarity means when we received prompt assistance under 
the EU-wide coordination system, which helped us deal with the catastrophe. Unfortu-
nately many lives have been lost as a result of these enormous disasters.

European solidarity has many faces, ranging from the euro rescue package to assistance 
in asylum centres in the Member States most affected by migration. It could also include 
putting up a united front against interference by non-European leaders in national or 
European decisions and issues. Solidarity is not a one-way street: a country can be a receiver 
at one time and a giver at another. Solidarity definitely involves mutual assistance and is 
inherent in the ideal of Europe.

European solidarity also includes sticking to the same democratic rules. Europeans need 
assurance that their leaders will uphold the values of democracy, freedom of speech, 
independence of the media, gender equality and solidarity. When these values are in 
danger or no longer guaranteed, it is the EU’s joint duty to defend them, including by 
sanctions or other measures provided for by the Treaties. I do hope that, for pending 
decisions, democratic principles will eventually prevail in all our Member States. I also 
count on all Member States to fulfil their duties vis-à-vis the EU asylum system. A Union 
cannot work properly when each Member State wants to work alone.

The EESC is well aware of how important it is to work together on an equal footing, and to 
find good compromises that work well for east and west, north and south, and that suit 
workers and employers as well as consumers and producers. This involves dialogue but also 
flexibility. The willingness to tackle a problem and the readiness to sacrifice one’s position 
for the sake of a common solution are necessary attitudes for a Union of 28.

As work resumes in Brussels after the summer break, I wish to remind European leaders of 
their duty and responsibility towards their own citizens and towards Europe as a whole. 
I am convinced that my colleagues from the Member States concerned will do their utmost 
to defend democratic rights in their countries and support European solutions. I expect 
the same from European political leaders, as freedom and social peace are assets that are 
too important to be put at risk.

Welcome back to Brussels!

Gonçalo Lobo Xavier
EESC Vice - President

DIARY DATES
3-4 October, Panama City 
9th meeting of European Union, 
Latin American and Caribbean 
Organised Civil Society

3 – 13 October, Brussels 
Photo exhibition 20 years of the 
European Disability Forum”, JDE, 
Foyer 6

18-19 October, Brussels 
EESC plenary session

the European Commission’s 
2018 work programme

IN THIS ISSUE
2 The EESC’s contribution to 
3  The EU needs to tackle the 
3 EESC calls for long-term 

action plan for social 
economy by 2018

issue of ship-breaking

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and industries by updating, harmo-
nising and strengthening the regula-
tory  framework. Antonello Pezzini 
(Employers’ Group – IT), rapporteur 
of the EESC opinion on The counter-
feit and pirated products industry, 
adopted  at  the  EESC’s  July  plenary, 
urged the European Commission and 
Member States to focus on accelerating 
the establishment of a single European 
customs  system  with  shared  proce-
dures  and  instruments  and  unified, 
readily available databases.

Fake products cost the EU 800 000 jobs annually
Customs Union crucial in the 
fight against counterfeiting.
The  production  of  counterfeit 
goods is on the rise. While still con-
sidered an external phenomenon, it 
is also on the increase within the EU. 
Criminal networks see counterfeiting 
as a profitable business, with lower 
risks  than  other  activities,  and  the 
advantage  of  lower  transport  costs 
and circumventing customs controls. 
Though heavily based on estimates 
and approximations, the figures are 
alarming: for the EU, the OECD reck-
ons that up to 5% or EUR 85 billion 
of imported goods are counterfeit or 
pirated, causing the loss of roughly 
800 000 jobs and around EUR 14.3 bil-
lion in annual tax revenues.

Industries and brand owners also need 
to  seek  partnerships  with  internet 
site  providers,  content  producers, 
electronic  payment  operators, 
adver tisers  and  internet  domain 
registers: together, they will be able 
to generate rapid adjustments in the 
face of sudden market changes.

The  EESC  believes  the  EU  and  its 
Member  States  should  no  longer 
ignore  this  phenomenon,  and  calls 
on  them  to  support  affected  SMEs 

The 3 000 free zones located in 135 dif-
ferent countries – with the Tanger Med 

free zone in Morocco only 15 km away 
from the EU – need special attention, as 
they are often used to exchange, docu-
ment and re-label container contents.

The EESC calls for a new EU framework 
for 2018-2021, with a fully financed and 
coordinated action plan to strengthen 
anti-counterfeiting legislation and ini-
l
tiatives at EU level. (sma)

Michel Barnier at the EESC: “There 
is no cherry-picking on Brexit”

“Brexit  means  uncertainty”,  said 
Michel Barnier at the outset of the 
debate with EESC members on 6 July, 
“uncertainty  for  citizens,  businesses 
and jobs”. He stressed his task was 
to negotiate on the basis of what the 
UK put on the table, which included 
no  free  movement  for  EU  citizens, 
full autonomy of laws, no role for the 
European  Court  of  Justice  and  the 
autonomy to sign free trade agree-
ments, which would involve leaving 
the  customs  union  and  the  single 
market.

But  there  was  also  one  certainty, 
he  said,  namely  that  the  UK  would 
become a third country, and that:
l The basic freedoms - free move-
ment of people, goods and capi-
tal – were indivisible;

l There was no option for sector-by-
sector participation in the Single 
Market; and

l The EU would retain its independ-
ence  in  setting  economic  and 
social rules and standards that all 
third parties must respect.

The UK and the EU needed to be aware 
that Brexit had a cost and it was the 
task of the negotiating team to keep 
this cost as low as possible, said Mr 
Barnier.

EESC members voiced their concerns 
on consumer rights, social rights and 
trade policy. Irish and Northern Irish 
members raised the issue of the Good 
Friday Agreement, which had mainly 
been achieved with the help of the EU.

Mr Barnier stressed that the EU wanted 
a fair, balanced deal, and that failure 
to reach any deal would be the worst 
possible outcome, as it would mean 
reverting to the distant past, with trade 
relations with the UK being governed 
by WTO rules, making products more 
expensive.

All agreed that, although Brexit was 
important and securing a good deal 
was in the interests of both the EU27 
and the UK, the most important thing 
was  the  future  of  Europe.  “We have 
to make people aware of the countless 

www.eesc.europa.eu

Michel Barnier, EU Chief Negotiator for 
Brexit, with EESC President Georges Dassis

advantages of EU membership. Brexit 
has shown very clearly that a lot of peo-
ple are not aware of the fact that these 
advantages come from being a member 
of the EU. In the UK, many people are 
beginning to wake up to this fact. Now 
it is up to European stakeholders to make 
the EU27 stronger and more cohesive. 
The EESC is ready to be a key partner in 
this process”, concluded EESC President 
l
Georges Dassis. (sma)

 
EESC contribution to the European 
Commission’s 2018 work 
programme

Rural funding: Keep it simple, 
but make it better

Europe’s  rural  regions  vary  within  and 
between Member States. It is important to 
be aware of these differences and ensure that 
rural programmes take them into account. In 
its own-initiative opinion entitled From the 
Cork 2.0 declaration to concrete action, the 
EESC calls for more targeted funding to help 
rural areas develop.

Rural development is a horizontal issue and can-
not be shouldered by the European Agricultural 
Fund for Rural Development alone. The EESC calls 
for a more cohesive policy as well as an increase 
in the share of all ESI funds allocated to rural 
development in order to reduce disparities and 
territorial imbalances.

The EESC believes that rural proofing of policy 
decisions  should  be  mandatory  and  that 
simplification at all levels is a matter of urgency. 
The Committee backs the Cork 2.0 Declaration as 
it offers strong support for an EU rural policy.

Sustainable agriculture and rural development 
need innovative solutions. There is great potential 
for climate-smart solutions and a more circular 
and bio-based economy. Generating solar, wind, 
hydro and bio-energy would not only help the 
climate, but also bring sustainable income for 
people in rural areas.

EESC calls on EU 
to recognise SME 
diversity in legislation
SMEs are the backbone of the European econ-
omy and have a huge potential to contribute to 
its development. Acknowledging that, the EESC is 
actively pushing EU institutions and Member States 
to develop strong SME support policies.

In an opinion approved at its July plenary (rappor-
teur: Milena Angelova, Employers’ Group – BG), 
the EESC expressed concern over inefficiencies in 
the formulation and implementation of SME poli-
cies which are hampering their effectiveness, and 
called on the Commission to address them.

The EESC praised the efforts to put SMEs at the 
heart of economic policies over the last decade, but 
stressed that EU policies are too broadly targeted 
and do not recognise the diversity of SMEs.

Opinion rapporteur Sofia Björnsson 
(Various Interests Group – SE) during the debate

If young people are to remain in rural areas and 
businesses to thrive, quality broadband coverage 
is essential. Where market forces are not enough, 
EU funding should be used to help broadband 
reach remote communities.

Farmland and forests make up 85% of the EU’s 
land area and provide a diverse landscape which 
can  help  generate  economic  activities  other 
than agriculture, particularly in the tourism and 
recreation industries.

Agriculture is also the main driver in the transi-
tion to sustainable food systems. Promoting local 
consumption shortens the supply chain and thus 
l
helps our environment. (sma)

Opinion rapporteur Milena Angelova  
(Employers’ Group – BG) at the July plenary

to their diversity, sectoral dynamics and specific 
features.

Small and micro companies are often unaware of 
existing support mechanisms. There is also a wide 
communication gap between policy-makers and 
SMEs, which should be urgently addressed.

As an active advocate of European SMEs, the EESC 
has already adopted a number of opinions on how 
these  support  policies  should  be  framed,  such 
as those on the review of the Small Business Act 
(2011), access to finance, the COSME programme, 
SMEs and global opportunities (2012), and smart 
l
regulation (2013). (mq)

Creating  a  positive  narrative  for  the  EU, 
strengthening  its  economic  foundations, 
fostering its social dimension, facilitating the 
transition towards a low-carbon and circular 
economy and empowering and involving civil 
society: these are the main messages of the 
EESC’s contribution to the European Commis-
sion’s 2018 Work Programme.

In this contribution to the 2018 Work Programme, 
adopted  on  5  July,  the  EESC  called  on  the 
European Commission (EC) to adopt sustainable 
development  as  an  overarching  approach  to 
its work, with reference to the three “pillars” of 
sustainability:  i)  strengthening  the  economic 
foundations  of  Europe;  ii)  fostering  its  social 
dimension;  and  iii)  facilitating  the  transition 
towards a low-carbon and circular economy.

The EESC made detailed recommendations for 
action structured around 6 priority policy areas:
l further development of the single market;

l promotion of entrepreneurship, innovation 

and industrial development;

l the EU’s social dimension;
l public  finances  focused  on  sustain-
able growth, innovation, employment and 
cohesion;

l protection  for  Europeans  against  security 

threats; and

l the development of structured civil dialogue.

On 12 July, the EESC President Georges Dassis 
met  the  EC’s  First  Vice-President,  Frans 
Timmermans, to present the document to him. 
Mr Dassis underlined the focus on sustainable 
development as a result of a strong link between 
the economy, employment, people’s welfare and 
the environment.

During this meeting, Mr Dassis raised the issue of 
the EESC’s appropriate participation in the multi-
stakeholder platform on sustainable develop-
ment goals being set up by the Commission. 
l
(mm)

EU SME policies should explore the specific needs 
of microenterprises, family and “traditional” busi-
nesses, social enterprises, the liberal professions, self-
employed people, and so on, which frequently have 
very different legal forms and ways of operation.

Robotisation of transport must aim at 
creating value added for society

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The digitalisation and robotisation of 
transport generate countless benefits, but 
also raise social concerns which must be 
addressed by EU policy-makers – first and 
foremost, threats to citizens’ privacy and 
job losses. This is the EESC’s message in 
a ground-breaking own-initiative opinion 
by  rapporteur  Tellervo  Kylä-Harakka-
Ruonala (Employers’ Group – FI) adopted 
at its July plenary.

Better accessibility, greater efficiency, improved 
traffic  safety  and  reduced  emissions  are  just 
some of the benefits of the digitalisation and 
robotisation  of  transport.  As  this  incremental 
revolution unfolds, however, its potential threats 
are  also  becoming  apparent.  It  is  vital  for  EU 
policy-makers to address these concerns if society 
is to make the most of it.

Safety, security and privacy appear to be citizens’ 
main concerns with regard to digital transport. In 
the future, transport will be entirely data-driven 
and  it  is  essential  to  ensure  data  protection. 
Increasing  cybersecurity  and  tackling  liability 
issues are also key to allaying public fears.

2

The impact on the labour market and the nature of 
work is another major public concern. Unmanned 
transport and the increasing use of robotics in 
terminal operations will involve job losses. But while 
robots steal jobs, they will also create new ones, 
particularly in communication technologies, digital 
services, electronics and robotics. Physical work and 
routine tasks will diminish, while problem-solving 
and creative tasks will play an ever greater role. It 
is therefore vital to address the skills gap and adapt 
education systems to respond to the demand for 
l
new skills. (dm)

In addition, the EESC called on the EC to assess 
whether the current definition of SMEs corresponds 

THE EESC FROM THE INSIDE OUT

2016 Annual Activity Report

The brochure The EESC from the inside out — 
Annual Activity Report 2016 has just been pub-
lished. This is the version of the 2016 Annual 
Activity Report designed for the general public.

It features charts and other graphics illustrat-
ing the workings of the EESC and is available in 
six language versions: English, French, German, 
Spanish, Italian and Polish. Hard copies can be 
ordered by contacting the EESC at: http://www.
eesc.europa.eu/en/general-contact-form

The brochure and full text of the report are avail-
able at the following addresses:

Brochure:  http://www.eesc.europa.eu/sites/
default/files/resources/docs/qe-02-17-705-en-
n.pdf

Full  text  (in  English  only): http://www.eesc.
europa.eu/sites/default/files/resources/docs/
l
aar2016.pdf (jp)

 
The EU needs to tackle the issue of 
ship-breaking

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Europe has the capacity and technical know-
how to repair and maintain vessels and oil and 
gas rigs. There is a strong business case for Europe 
to maintain and expand a specialised off–shore 
recycling industry. Now it is the Commission that 
needs to equip the Ship Recycling Regulation (SRR) 
with teeth by introducing a financial instrument 
to encourage recycling in EU-approved facilities.

proposed by the EESC, and now backed by the 
three Green MEPs, provides for a specific fee for 
each ship, held in escrow by a major financial 
institution. The capital would be created by ship 
owners who, every time one of their vessels called 
at an EU port, would pay the appropriate charge 
to the fund linked to that specific vessel to finance 
its safe and sustainable recycling.

Two events organised by the EESC and Green 
MEPs Margrete Auken (DK), Pascal Durand (FR) 
and Bart Staes (BE) at the end of June highlighted 
the need for the European Commission to take 
urgent action.

While the EU’s 2013 SRR bans “beaching” (ship-
breaking on beaches) and lays down rules for the 
safe and sustainable recycling of European ships and 
floating oil and gas rigs, it fails in its purpose, in that 
international maritime law facilitates flag swapping.

Representatives of the recycling industry and EU 
ports have confirmed that they have the know-
how to dismantle vessels according to EU laws and 
are willing to invest and create sustainable jobs 
in the EU. However, European ship owners have 
expressed strong reservations, arguing that the 
IMO’s Hong Kong Convention has set adequate 
standards to eliminate the abuses demonstrated 
by participants. This is in spite of clear evidence 
that HKC-certified ‘yards’ are not meeting even 
the lowest level of compliance required.

In a 2016 opinion by rapporteur Martin Siecker 
(Workers’ Group – NL) and co-rapporteur Richard 
Adams (CCMI delegate – UK), the EESC advocated 
a financial incentive under the SRR to effectively 
stop ship owners from swapping a ship’s flag to 
that of a non-EU state. The financial instrument 

Beaching in South Asia is the most dangerous job 
in the world, according to the ILO. Over the last 
30 years the great majority of decommissioned 
vessels have been dismantled there, with unpro-
tected workers stripping them down in the inter-
tidal zone, causing environmental havoc. (sma)l

EESC calls for long-term action plan 
for social economy by 2018

The  EESC’s  2nd  European  Day  of  Social 
Economy Enterprises (SEEs) saw over 130 social 
economy representatives call on policy-makers 
to scale up their efforts to enable the develop-
ment of the social economy.

l 6zero1 (Luxembourg) is a social economy 
e n t e r p r i s e  
i n c u b a t o r   s u p p o r t i n g 
entrepreneurs through training, funding 
and advice to develop economically viable 
activities.

In  his  opening  speech,  EESC  Vice-President 
Michael Smyth called for a long-term roadmap 
for the social economy as part of the Commission’s 
work programme for 2018.

The event introduced four case studies of inno-
vative European social start-ups:
l PermaFunghi (Brussels), an urban project to 
produce mushrooms from coffee grounds 
while creating sustainable jobs for low-skilled 
people.

l Solidarity Salt (Greece) aims to empower 
refugee  women  and  develop  the  local 
economy. Gourmet sea salt is extracted from 
Greek salinas and packed in handmade bags.
l HopHopFood (Paris) aims to create solidarity 
areas  for  people  in  situations  of  food 
vulnerability while reducing waste, using 
a digital platform.

These success stories inspired workshops which:
l stressed the need to protect SEEs by creating 
a level playing field and putting an end to 
abuse of mainstream enterprises (workshop 
on new economic models).

l asked for better EU migration policies to 
facilitate early access to the labour market 
and involve the media in sharing positive 
stories (workshop on migrant integration).
l called for a project at EU and local level to 
disseminate  good  practices  of  pro-bono 
activities for the social economy by involv-
ing  companies  (workshop  on  territorial 
cohesion).

The Committee has been working on the social 
economy for more than 10 years, and has created 
synergies with EU institutions to promote this 
l
agenda. (mr)

2017 CIVIL SOCIETY DAYS

On 26 and 27 June, the 
EESC hosted its 2017 Civil 
Society  Days.  This  major 
gathering of Civil Society 
Organisations (CSOs) from 
across  Europe  provided 
strong civil society input 
into the debate launched 
by the Commission with its 
White Paper on the Future 
of Europe.  A  forceful  call 
was made for new political 
impetus  to  relaunch  the 
EU  on  the  basis  of  our 
fundamental  values  and 
also to express a clear commitment by CSOs to 
forge  ahead  in  this  domain. A  number  of key 
demands and commitments from civil society 
(see  http://bit.ly/2vWVffV)  were  adopted  and 
presented  to  the  EU  decision-making  institu-
tions on four challenging topics: populism, the 
technological revolution and its impact on work 
and democracy, the empowerment of civil society 
organisations, and social and territorial cohesion.

In  his  opening  speech,  the  EESC  president, 
Georges  Dassis,  called  on  civil  society 

Federica Mogherini and Georges Dassis at the Civil Society Days

organisations to play a leading role in these critical 
times, and drew attention to the rise in populism.

Federica Mogherini, EU High Representative for 
foreign affairs and security policy, stressed the 
importance of participatory democracy. She dwelt 
on civil society’s role in the migration crisis and sug-
gested the EESC draw up an opinion on the cost of 
non-migration: “Because my impression is that sec-
tors of our economies would collapse the day after, if 
all migrants disappeared from one day to the next”, 
she said. Her idea was immediately taken up by the 
l
EESC President, Georges Dassis. (mr)

Future of Europe debate: EESC calls for 
a common sense of purpose

When deciding on its future path, the EU 
should seek a common sense of purpose, 
echoing  the  sentiment  that  inspired  its 
founding fathers and that has been a hall-
mark of all its major achievements.

In its resolution on the Commission’s White 
Paper on the Future of the EU, the EESC said it 
did not believe that this common sense of purpose 
could be achieved by choosing between the five 
scenarios put forward. The Commission should 
instead look for answers by studying examples 
from the EU’s 60 years of existence.

Adopted at the EESC’s July plenary, the resolution 
arose out of a request made by Commission Pres-
ident Jean-Claude Juncker in April and was the 
EESC’s first contribution to the EU-wide debate 
on the future of Europe. The Committee also held 
national debates with civil society representatives 
in 27 Member States. Their conclusions will feed 
into an opinion on this subject later this year.

The Committee said that the EU needed com-
prehensive strategies and a cohesive approach. 
A genuine debate about the future should also 
focus on better sharing of political power across 
the board. The traditional distinction between the 
national and European levels should disappear.

The EESC is aware that differentiated integration 
may sometimes be necessary and that enhanced 
cooperation between some Member States in 
specific areas could help overcome obstacles or 
foster positive dynamics in the EU integration 
process; however, it strongly insists on the need 
to promote convergence within the Union and to 
avoid fragmentation and division.

The EESC has proposed that the European Parlia-
ment play a central role in determining the EU’s 
future direction, with help from national parlia-
ments. The Committee advocates deeper integra-
tion, gradual steps towards political union with 
a strong social dimension, deepening EMU, and 
l
more cohesive governance. (ll)

Turkey: call for the state of emergency 
to be lifted as soon as possible

Ongoing negotiations on enlargement, visa 
liberalisation and customs union can only progress 
in an atmosphere of respect for civil liberties, EU 
and Turkey organisations say.

At  the  opening  session  of  36th  meeting  of  the 
EU-Turkey  Joint  Consultative  Committee  (JCC), 
EESC  President  Georges  Dassis  welcomed  the 
Turkish Minister of European Affairs, Ömer Çelik, 
saying that: “Despite the existing tensions, dialogue 
is absolutely essential especially in difficult times like 
these” and stating his concerns about the current 
situation in Turkey. “The EESC expresses its solidarity 
and full support for the organisations of Turkish civil 
society which defend democracy. We hope we will 

once again see a Turkey that is totally democratic”, 
concluded Mr. Dassis. Ömer Çelik stated: “We are 
committed to the EU process, and our objective is to 
become a full member - any other form of cooperation 
does not interest us”. While reiterating its strong 
condemnation of the coup attempt, the JCC stressed 
that the right to fair trial and due process should 
be respected and that all measures taken should 
further strengthen democracy, civil rights and social 
cohesion, respecting universal fundamental rights, 
the independence of the judiciary and the rule of 
law. It also expressed great concern at the arrests 
and mass dismissals of public servants. The JCC 
brings together representatives of organised civil 
l
society from the EU and Turkey. (ks)

3

 
Smart solutions 
for sustainable 
and inclusive 
societies

by the EESC’s Various 
Interests Group

In the framework of the Estonian EU 
presidency, the EESC’s Various Interests 
Group  organised  an  extraordinary 
meeting in Tallinn, the capital of Esto-
nia, on 12 September 2017.

The conference Smart solutions for 
sustainable and inclusive societies 
focused  on  promoting  e-services, 
e-government,  urban  development 
and e-solutions. It examined their role 
in boosting innovation and creating 
a sustainable and inclusive EU – a key 
component  of  the  current  Estonian 
presidency’s work programme.

The event was attended by over 100 
local  civil  society  stakeholders  and 
experts. The conference was opened 
by Luca Jahier, President of the Various 

Indrek Saar (Minister of Culture, Estonia), Arnold Rüütel (former President of Estonia), 
Luca Jahier (President of the Various Interests Group, EESC)

Interests Group, and key-note speeches 
were given by Indrek Saar, Estonian 
Minister of Culture, and Arnold Rüütel, 
former President of Estonia.

The  conference  was  divided  into 
two parallel workshops, which gave 
the  opportunity  to  focus  on  smart 
technologies serving balanced social 
development on one hand and smart 
solutions for sustainable agriculture on 
the other.

Workshop 1 focused on:
l the  development  of  e-health 

services

l e-solutions and assistive technolo-
gies for disadvantaged groups
l the benefits of inclusive societies

Workshop 2 focused on:
l innovation  and  sustainability  in 

the farming sector

l the EESC perspective on sustain-
able farming and innovation
l simple e-solutions for smart farm-
l

ing. (cl)

IN SHORT

EESC Vice-President Gonçalo Lobo Xavier on jury for European 
Volunteering Capital 2019

Gonçalo  Lobo  Xavier,  the  EESC 
Vice-President for Communication, 
has  –  for  the  second  consecutive 
year – been invited to be on the jury 
that will choose the European Vol-
unteering Capital 2019. On 30 June, 
three  candidates  were  shortlisted: 

Augsburg (Germany), Cascais (Por-
tugal)  and  Košice  (Slovakia).  The 
ultimate winner will be announced 
on 1 or 2 December 2017. For more 
information,  visit  http://www.cev.
be/european-volunteering-capi-
tal-2019/.

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Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum

The EESC has participated for the 
third  time  in  the  Deutsche  Welle 
Global  Media  Forum  (GMF).  The 
event focused on Identity and Diver-
sity and took place in Bonn from 19 to 

21 June. EESC members participated 
in  different  panels  and  brought  in 
civil society’s point of view, reaching 
around 600 journalists and 1500 other 
participants.

Screening of Cérbh é Colombanus

On 20 September 2017 at 18:30 in 
VMA 3, the last film screened in con-
junction  with  the  60th  anniversary 
of the signing of the Treaty of Rome 
will be a BBC production focusing on 
St.  Columbanus,  a  6th-century  Irish 
missionary who mapped out Europe 
before  Europe  existed  by  travelling 

from  country  to  country  to  found 
monasteries. The former President of 
Ireland, Mary McAleese, has travelled 
through Ireland, France, Austria, Swit-
zerland and Italy and discovered that 
openness to diversity has many things 
to teach Europe, which is often divided 
at present.

Digital revolution affects work 
organisation and skills needs and 
requires companies to adapt
by the EESC’s Employers’ 
Group

The  study  explores  the  impact  of 
digitalisation on employment, enter-
prises and labour relations in terms of 
creation, transformation or destruction 
of  jobs,  employees’  and  employ-
ers’ altered roles and changes in the 
organisation of work.

The labour market of the future 
will look for workers with digital 
and entrepreneurial skills and will 
also seek creativity. As a result of 
digitalisation,  work  organisation 
is characterised by increased flex-
ibility, affecting when, where and 
how tasks are performed. These are 
just some of the key conclusions of 
a recently published study entitled 
Impact of digitalisation and the on-
demand economy on labour markets 
and the consequences for employ-
ment and industrial relations.

Unlike many other studies previously 
conducted  in  this  field,  which  have 
mostly examined the perspective of 
employees or workers who offer their 
labour on online platforms, this study 
places  particular  emphasis  on  the 
aspects relevant to employers, sectors 
and businesses of all sizes.

The study was drawn up for the Euro-
pean Economic and Social Committee 
upon request by the Employers’ Group 

by a research team from the Centre for 
European Policy Studies (CEPS). The 
document is available for download 
l
here. (lj)

Good food label to EESC canteen

Against radicalism and terrorism, 
let us defend our democratic values
by the EESC’s Workers’ Group
This  is  why  European  society  must 
provide a common, united response. 
Political parties, trade unions, businesses 
and civil society organisations need to 
speak with a single voice in the face 
of this tragedy, explicitly stating that 
attacks and threats do not frighten us 
and will not succeed in destroying our 
democratic system and coexistence.

The recent terrorist attacks in Brus-
sels, Paris, Turku and Barcelona, which 
resulted in the death of a large number 
of people and serious injuries to many 
more, have shown us once again that 
Europe continues to be the target of acts 
of violence and barbarity.

murders to attack migrants and refugees, 
encouraging xenophobia and racism.

These terrorists seek to directly challenge 
our democratic system, our freedoms 
and our peaceful coexistence, as well as 
our values of respect for diversity.

At  the  same  time,  we  also  need  to 
distance  ourselves  from  those  who 
look to exploit this situation for political 
purposes  and  who  seek  to  use  these 

Let  us  be  united  in  defending  our 
democratic  values,  against  radical-
ism and terrorism which we strongly 
condemn.

The  joint  EESC-COR  canteen  has 
recently been awarded the Good Food 
label by the Brussels environmental 
agency  for  the  quality  of  the  food 
it  serves  as  well  as  its  careful 
management  of  food  waste.  The 
Bruxelles Environnement newsletter 

has  published  an  interview  with 
Silvia Staffa, in charge of the EESC’s 
environmental and catering services, 
and Catherine Van Ranst, responsible 
for sustainable food projects at the 
CoR, which can be read here: http://
bit.ly/2uF7YFl

The EESC’s trainees from the 2017 
spring session were given the chance 
to present the outcome of their report 
on The EU in the media and social 
media: A youth perspective to the 
EESC’s July plenary. The report aims 
to deliver recommendations to EESC 
members and EU institutions on how 
the EU could improve its media and 
social media strategy to better reach 
young generations.

EESC info in 23 languages: http://www.eesc.europa.eu/activities/press/eescinfo/index_en.asp

Editor:
Eleonora Di Nicolantonio (acting editor-in-chief)
Daniela Marangoni (dm, editor)

Coordination:
Katerina Serifi (ks)

Contributors to this issue:
Chloé Lahousse (cl)
Daniela Marangoni (dm)
Francisco Soriano (fs)
Jonna Pedersen (jp)
Katerina Serifi (ks)
Laura Lui (ll)
Leszek Jarosz (lj)
Margarida Reis (mre)
Milen Minchev (mm)
Mireia Quingles (mq)
Silvia M. Aumair (sma)

Edition closed on 28 August 2017

Address:
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Tel. (+32 2) 546.94.76
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Email: eescinfo@eesc.europa.eu
Internet: http://www.eesc.europa.eu/

EESC info is published nine times a year during EESC plenary sessions.
Printed versions of EESC info in German, English and French are available free-of-charge from the 
European Economic and Social Committee Press Office.
EESC info is also available in 23 languages in PDF format on the Committee’s web site:
URL: http://www.eesc.europa.eu/?i=portal.en.eesc-info
EESC info is not an official record of the EESC’s proceedings; for this, please refer to the Official 
Journal of the European Union or to the Committee’s other publications.
Reproduction permitted if EESC info is mentioned as the source and a copy is sent to the editor.
Print run: 6500 copies.
Next issue: October 2017
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