During the meeting, the representative of the European External Action Service (EEAS) presented information about the EU relations and cooperation with Central America. Based on the Second Annual Report, the Commission representative provided information about the implementation of the trade pillar of the Association Agreement, changes in trade flows and work of joint bodies established by the Agreement. The EU Advisory Group discussed also preparations for the next meeting with Central America under the Trade and Sustainable Development Title, as well as the ways to better communicate its activities to the Central American partners and other relevant stakeholders.
On 25 February 2016, the EESC's TEN Section project delegation carried out a study visit in Eindhoven to gain first-hand knowledge of some of the extremely interesting smart city projects that have been set up in the city.
The delegation learned about the "Living Lab Stratumseind" and "Triangulum" projects.
EESC's public hearing on the European Citizens Initiative in the context of the ongoing review process. Questions to be tackled: policy areas covered by the ECI and the validation process; the current political limits to participatory democracy on a European level; the role of the EU institutions and Member States in the process and a better defined support.
Charlemagne building (European Commission), room S3 - 1040 Brussels
Belgium
514e Plenary Session, with the following debates :
Debate on upholding the achievements made under the Schengen agreement, on Wednesday 17 February at 2.30 p.m., with Martin Schulz, president of the European Parliament (tbc), Eva PAUNOVA, member of the European Parliament, Vice-president of the European Movement, Markus Beyrer, director general of BusinessEurope, Luca Visentini, general secretary of ETUC, Allan Päll, secretary general of the European Youth Forum, and Conny Reuter, co-chair of the Liaison group with European civil society organisations and networks.
Debate on the 2016 Annual Growth Survey, on Wednesday 17 February at 5.30 p.m., with Maria João Rodrigues, member of the European Parliament, S&D group vice-chair responsible for economic and social policies, in conjunction with the adoption of opinion SC/042
Presentation of the Dutch presidency of the Council of the EU, on Thursday 18 February at 10 a.m., with Jetta Klijnsma, State Secretary at the Dutch Ministry for Social Affairs and Employment
Debate on the rights of humankind, on Thursday 18 February at 11.30 a.m., with Corinne Lepage, former French environment minister.
The European Commission released in December 2015 the new version of the circular economy package. Its aim is to help the European economy move from linear to circular, more resource-efficient patterns, by ensuring that less resources are extracted from our natural environment and less waste is produced at the end of the product lifecycle. The package focuses on better design of products, improved waste management and recycling performance of EU Member States and the growth and job creation potential of the circular economy. It includes an Action Plan with a specific timeline up until 2017 on production aspects as well as a series of modifications to the waste legislation.
Representatives of the European and Georgian Domestic Advisory Groups (DAGs), set up under the Trade and Sustainable Development Chapter of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Georgia, held their first joint meeting in Tbilisi on 26 January 2016. The participants expressed their commitment to fulfil the mandate foreseen in the Trade and Sustainable Development Chapter of the Association Agreement, namely to monitor the implementation of the Chapter and to provide advice to the Parties to the Agreement.
• Review of the Luxembourg presidency of the Council of the EU, on Wednesday 9 December at 5 p.m., with the participation of Nicolas Schmit, Luxembourg's Minister for Labour, Employment and the Social and Solidarity Economy
• Presentation of the European Commission's 2016 Work Programme and debate on the European Agenda on Migration, in conjunction with the adoption of opinions on migration (REX/452, REX/457, SOC/525 and SOC/526), on 10 Dec. at 10 a.m., with Frans Timmermans, First vice-president of the European Commission
The President referred to the shortcomings of the ECI legislation and the problems encountered by organisers in the first years. He announced that the EESC was offering organisers of registered ECIs the opportunity to have the text presenting their ECI translated, thus addressing one of the most pressing problems for new ECIs and presented the European Passport to Active Citizenship.
An active civil society was a means of ensuring active participation. The objective would be to make the ECI efficient and practical, eliminate the technical obstacles and improve communication.The ECI should remain in the mainstream of EU policies to unblock the process of European integration...
