AI in Europe: not all decisions can be reduced to ones and zeros, says the EESC

Staff

In two reports on draft EU legislation on artificial intelligence, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) calls for an all-out ban on social scoring in the EU and for a complaint and redress mechanism for people who have suffered harm from an AI system.

Broad participation by civil society is key to a strong recovery in Europe

Staff

A hearing organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) discussed opportunities and challenges in the implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plans in the various Member States, revealing that civil society is still far from being effectively involved in the process. There were calls for improved consultations in the upcoming implementing phase, following the shortcomings at the drafting stage

Energy transition: EU needs speed change

Staff

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) addresses the state of play of the Energy Union and the national energy and climate plans, warning that the 2050 EU energy and climate objectives can only be reached with a change of pace in the transition and that citizens must really be put at the heart of the process

EESC and European Commission join forces for a healthier and fairer Europe in the digital age

Staff

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) backs the European Commission's 2021 work programme and points out that the driving force to make Europe healthier, fairer and more prosperous must be a coordinated approach with all interinstitutional actors, capitalising on the prominent role played by organised civil society

Coronavirus response: EESC calls for swift approval of EU recovery plan

Staff

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) backs a number of Commission proposals to speed up European recovery, underlining that the involvement of civil society organisations is essential

Luca Jahier: "The EU must rise from the ashes of the #Coronacrisis"

Luca Jahier

Luca Jahier, President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC): "We have now more than ever the chance and the obligation to rise from the ashes of the Corona crisis like the Phoenix. My strong support to the European Commission and European Parliament: the EU Council cannot fail! Europe must not only be saved, it must be relaunched!" (...) "We want to be able to say, on 23 April, that the EU has been up to the challenge and has done #WhateverItTakes to save its people, relaunch its economy and show the face of a new Union, more resilient and cohesive. This will be our #rEUnaissance"

Jahier: “Now, we are either a Union or we are nothing”

Luca Jahier

“All Member States must come together, to support each other and to coordinate a concerted action. A piecemeal approach by the individual Member States is a sure recipe for disaster. If we get this wrong, we may not have another opportunity to get it right”, says Luca Jahier, President of the European Economic and Social Committee

Blockchain can have multiple applications in the social economy, but must not create a new "digital economy elite"

Staff

Originally associated with cryptocurrencies, blockchain and distributed ledger technology (DLT) are in fact very versatile and can be usefully applied to the social economy. However, it is important to regulate them properly and gear them to benefits for all, allowing everyone to participate, says the EESC in a report tabled at its July plenary

Circular Economy: time to unleash the power of consumers, urges the EESC

Staff

So far, actions to boost the development of a circular economy in Europe have centred on production, getting industries to introduce circular business models and bring circular options to the market. Now conditions are ripe for getting consumers involved, and empowering them to make sustainable purchasing choices in their daily lives, says an EESC report adopted in July

Belgian artist launches worldwide Human Rights project

Staff

In the context of the 58th Venice Biennale, internationally renowned Belgian artist Koen Vanmechelen launches a project called the Human Rights Pavilion, whose purpose is to explore the possibility of a universal concept of human rights and the role of art in its development, with the collaboration of the Global Campus of Human Rights, Fondazione Berengo and the MOUTH Foundation. The launch of the project will take place at the Fondazione Berengo ART SPACE in Murano, Venice, on 8 May. Vita International is media partner of the project