A small step forward for human rights

*Valentina Pavarotti

Today ends the week of negotiations at the UN in Geneva for the Binding Treaty on Business and Human Rights, an instrument that could protect the rights and the environment of many communities around the world.

Cultural projects: Italy in the lead

Staff

The European Economic and Social Committee has received 150 applications from 27 EU Member States for its Civil Society Prize 2018, that this year focuses on culture. Italy, that has presented 24 projects, is in the first place for number of applications sent, followed by Germany and Belgium, both on 13, nearly half of the Italian applications, and by Greece, with 11 applications.

Social Enterprise World Forum underway

Staff

SEWF 2018 returns to Edinburgh, where it began 10 years ago. From the 12th to the 14th of September over 1000 delegates coming from tens of countries around the world will gather to share insights and learn from the example of Scotland, that has a vibrant social enterprise scene

Luca Jahier, the new president of the EESC, vows to revive civic engagement for a sustainable Europe

Staff

Elected as 32nd president of the European Economic and Social Committee, the EU body representing organised civil society, in his inaugural speech Mr Jahier invited all participants to dream with him of a re-energised Europe and to work together for a second European Renaissance.

The reform of the European Citizens’ Initiative is underway

Cristina Barbetta

The European Economic and Social Committee has organised in its headquarters in Brussels the 7th ECI Day to shed light on the new European Commission’s reform proposal and to make the European Citizens’ Initiative a more efficient instrument of dialogue between the EU and its citizens

Future of Europe: Towards a European Education Area by 2025

Staff

With the debate on the future of Europe in full swing, the European Commission is setting out its vision for how we can create a European Education Area by 2025.

Financing of civil society is essential for democracy

Staff

The EU institution should promote a positive image of civil society organisations, preserve their independence and ensure they are properly funded, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) says.

France, circular economy helping the most needy

Cristina Barbetta

The Agence du Don en Nature (Adn) collects new non-food unsold products from enterprises and it redistributes them to the most needy thanks to a network of more than 750 local associations in France. Every year the Adn contributes to help 850.000 people in need and redistributes every week more than 600.000 euros of new products

Money from the ECB invested into gambling, oil and weapons

Marco Dotti

Everybody talks about it. But what is Quantitative Easing? And where does the money go? Corporate Europe Observatory has made a list of the beneficiaries of the European Central Bank’s corporate bond purchasing scheme. The results are disturbing, unless you think that oil, fancy cars, motorways, champagne, and gambling are a good place to put public money...

Change Please, when the homeless become baristas

Cristina Barbetta

The entrepreneur Cemal Ezel and The Big Issue, the world's most widely circulated street newspaper sold by homeless people, have launched a social enterprise helping the homeless, training them as baristas.