The EESC's activities during the Croatian Presidency : January-July 2020.
Date: 2020-01-16
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: Croatia, European Economic and Social Committee, Presidency of the Council of the EU, civil society

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© European Union, 2018

The EESC's activities   
during the Croatian Presidency 

January – June 2020

European Economic
and Social Committee

A word from the President

Luca Jahier, EESC President

In  the  first  half  of  2020,  Croatia  will 
hold  the  Presidency  of  the  Council 
of the European Union for the first time 
since  it  joined  the  EU.  The  Croatian  Presidency  comes 
at a time when Europe faces some of its most pressing 
challenges,  as  the  increasing  effects  of  climate  change 
loom  on  the  horizon  and  solidarity  among  Member 
States is once again under threat. Croatia finds itself with 
the  unique  responsibility  and  opportunity  to  help  the 
EU chart a new ambitious course within the first months 
of  its  new  institutional  cycle  and  a  new  “geopolitical” 
Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen.

It is encouraging to see that Croatian civil society actors 
are demanding a seat at the table for these discussions. 
Indeed,  issues  such  as  strengthening  the  rule  of  law, 
creating  a  green  economy  and  reinventing  democracy 
cannot remain the exclusive prerogative of politicians and 
policy makers. By continuing to produce and promote its 
opinions, the EESC will ensure that the voice of European 
civil  society  will  be  heard  during  this  Presidency.  We 
remain  firmly  committed  to  contributing  to  the  work 
of  the  Croatian  Presidency,  leading  together  towards  a 
Europe that strives for more. 

The EESC’s activities    
during the Croatian Presidency

I  Economic and Monetary Union, Economic 

and Social Cohesion – ECO
•  The 2020 Annual Growth Survey 
•  Economic  and  Monetary  Union:  review  of  the 

economic policy of the euro area for 2020

•  A Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 that 
credibly delivers on the political agenda of the EU
•  The  EU’s  cohesion  policy  –  what  civil  society  is 

thinking

•  The  completion  of  the  Capital  Markets  Union 
and  the  Banking  Union  –  where  are  we  with  the 
establishment  of  the  European  Deposit  Insurance 
Scheme?

I  Single Market, Production and 

Consumption – INT

•  Social  economy  as  in  important  component  

of entrepreneurship

•  Consumer policy
•  R&I with a special focus on Artificial Intelligence
•  Circular Economy

A word from the President

I  Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the 

Information Society – TEN

•  Europe’s  digital  sovereignty  based  on  safe,  secure  and 

human-centred digital solutions

•  Assessing  the  social  and  societal  dimension  of  the 

Energy Union

•  Monitoring the ongoing “Europe on the Move” initiatives
•  TEN-T corridors and projects
•  The  right  of  access  t  o  good  quality  and  affordable 
interest:  20th  principle  of  the 

services  of  general 
European Pillar of Social Rights

I  External Relations – REX
•  Civil  society’s  contribution  to  the  EU-Western  Balkans 

Summit

•  Enhancing the civil society monitoring mechanisms in free 

trade agreements

•  Engaging in the reform of the World Trade Organisation
•  Establishing a civil society platform under the EU-Armenia 

Agreement 

•  Setting up of a Domestic Advisory Group under the EU –

Japan Economic and Partnership Agreement

I  Agriculture, Rural Development and  

the Environment – NAT

•  A modern and simplified Common Agricultural Policy 
•  “Farm to Fork Strategy” 
•  European Green Deal, European Climate Law, European 
Climate  Pact,  climate  justice  and  climate  ambition 
towards COP26

•  SDGs and the EU strategy on sustainable development

I  Employment, Social Affairs  

and Citizenship – SOC
• 
Implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights
•  Greater participation of people in the labour market and 
development  of  human  capital  in  the  context  of  the 
demographic challenge

•  Lifelong learning and training at the workplace 
•  Socio-economic inclusion of migrants and refugees
•  Strengthening the rule of law and fundamental rights in 

the EU

I  Consultative Commission on  

Industrial Change – CCMI

•  EU industrial policy
•  Coal-mining regions in transition
•  The steel industry 
•  The strategic value chain of raw materials 
•  The  industrial  impact  of  the  transition  towards  the 

emerging society 5.0

A word from the Croatian Presidency

Andreja Metelko-Zgombić, State Secretary for European Affairs

As of 1 January 2020 Croatia will hold 
the  Presidency  of  the  Council  of  the 
European  Union  for  the  first  time.  The 
Croatian  Presidency  programme  will  rest  on 
four  pillars  that  will  promote  a  strong  and  prosperous 
Europe based on common values and the principles of 
equality, inclusiveness, cohesion and convergence.

The first pillar is “A Europe that develops”, where we will 
promote sustainable and inclusive growth of the Union 
that takes into consideration the specificities and needs 
of all Member States, their regions and citizens, including 
establishing  measures  to  stop  negative  demographic 
trends  as  an 
important  cross-cutting  theme.  The 
Croatian Presidency will advocate a strong single market 
and a highly competitive EU, which is also ambitious in 
tackling climate change and other global challenges.

The second pillar is “A Europe that connects”, where we 
will promote initiatives contributing to transport, energy 
and digital connectivity while addressing the challenges

 that the new technologies and digitalisation are posing 
to our societies.
“A  Europe  that  protects”  by  strengthening  security, 
both  internal  and  external,  is  at  the  heart  of  the  third 
pillar.  This  entails,  among  other  things,  working  on  a 
comprehensive  and  holistic  approach  to  migration 
issues.
Our  final  pillar,  “An  influential  Europe  “,  will  include 
the  hosting  of  an  EU-Western  Balkans  Summit  during 
our  Presidency.  Conscious  of  the  transformational 
power  of  the  enlargement  process,  we  will  strive  for  a 
continued credible and effective enlargement policy, as 
a pledge towards stability, security and further economic 
development and mutual connection on the European 
continent.
Croatia  values  highly  the  EESC’s  contribution  to  the 
consolidation  of  the  EU’s  democratic  legitimacy  and 
socio-economic development and is looking forward to 
close cooperation during the Croatian Presidency of the 
Council.

EESC Agenda

January 2020 

12 February 2020 

13 February 2020 

19-20 March 2020 

24-25 March 2020 
27 March 2020 
March-April 2020 (tbc) 

21 April 2020 
1st quarter 2020 
April-May 2020 (tbc)  

9 May 2020 
May-June 2020 (tbc) 

May-June 2020 (tbc) 

2-3 June 2020 

18 June 2020 

Spring 2020 (tbc) 

Spring 2020 

Spring 2020 

Public hearing on Taxation of the collaborative economy – Estonia 

Joint EESC-European Environmental Agency event on the State and  
Outlook of the Environment Report 2020 – Brussels

Public hearing on Financing the Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy and the  
Challenges in Financing Climate Change Adaptation (NAT/778), exploratory  
opinion at the request of the Croatian EU Presidency

Your Europe, Your Say – Brussels

Extraordinary meeting of the Diversity Europe Group (Group III) – Zagreb or Rijeka

2nd Artificial Intelligence Summit

Sustainable Development Goals - A Framework for Economic Progress and  
Prosperity of EU Member States

Conference on social innovation for refugee inclusion – Brussels

Round Table on Coal Mining Regions in Transition – Slovakia

Conference “From farm to fork”, co-organized with the World Sustainable Urban  
Food Centre (WSFC) – Valencia, Spain – (NAT/555, Temporary study group on    
sustainable food systems)

Europe day

Extraordinary meeting of the Workers’ Group (Group II) – Zagreb

SMEs are the backbone of the Single Market – Zagreb

Annual meeting of the European Migration Forum, co-organised by the EESC and  
the European Commission – Brussels

European Consumer Day – Zagreb

Empowering Women in Leadership and Entrepreneurship
Circular Economy annual event  – Brussels 
EU-Western Balkans Regional civil society conference – Zagreb

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Croatian members
of the EESC

HANŽEVAČKI Marija
Workers’ Group (Group II)
General Secretary, Independent Trade 
Unions of Croatia (NHS)

PAVIĆ-ROGOŠIĆ Lidija
Diversity Europe Group (Group III)
Director, ODRAZ – Sustainable 
Community Development

RIBIĆ Vilim
Workers’ Group (Group II)
President, MATICA – Association of 
Croatian Trade Unions; 
General Secretary, NSZVO

ŠKRABALO Marina
Diversity Europe Group (Group III)
Director, SOLIDARNA – Foundation for 
Human Rights and Solidarity 

VIDAN Toni
Diversity Europe Group (Group III)
Head, Zelena Akcija (Friends of the Earth 
Croatia)

JELIĆ  Violeta
Employers’ Group (Group I)
General Secretary, Croatian Chamber  
of Trades and Crafts (HOK)

MAJETIĆ Davor
Employers’ Group (Group I)
Director-General, Croatian Employers’ 
Association (HUP)

MARTINOVIĆ DŽAMONJA Dragica
Employers’ Group (Group I)
Director, Representative Office of the 
Croatian Chamber of Economy (HGK) 
in Brussels

MILIĆEVIĆ-PEZELJ Anica
Workers’ Group (Group II)
Executive Secretary, Union of 
Autonomous Trade Unions  
of Croatia (SSSH)

EESC opinions requested by  
the Croatian Presidency

•  Financing the transition to a low-carbon economy and the challenges in financing climate 

change adaptation

•  Demographic challenges in the EU in light of economic and development inequalities
•  Sustainable funding for lifelong learning and development of skills, in the context of  

a shortage of skilled labour

•  The effects of campaigns on participation in political decision-making
•  A single market for all

Did you know that:

pay-by-phone parking

EESC website / Site internet du CESE
www.eesc.europa.eu
•  Croatia  invented  the  tie,  the  pen,  the  electric  speedometer,  forensic  fingerprinting  and  
Facebook
www.facebook.com/EESCCulture
•  Croatia is one of the top three EU countries on the UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage
•  Croatia is home to the world’s largest Neanderthal site
Twitter
www.eesc.europa.eu/twitter
•  Croatia used to have its own alphabet, known as Glagolitic – the oldest known Slavic alphabet,  

in use between the 12th and 16th century.

YouTube
www.eesc.europa.eu/youtube

LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com/company/european-economic-and-social-committee

European Economic
and Social Committee

Rue Belliard/Belliardstraat 99
1040 Bruxelles/Brussel
BELGIQUE/BELGIË

Published by: “Visits and Publications” Unit
EESC-2019-76-EN

Rue Belliard/Belliardstraat 99
www.eesc.europa.eu
1040 Bruxelles/Brussel
BELGIQUE/BELGIË

Published by: “Visits and Publications” Unit
EESC-2019-XX-EN

© European Union, 2018

© European Union, 2019
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