European Economic and Social Committee

Tuesday 26 May  

Action plan against cyberbullying
The European Economic and Social Committee is organising a public hearing focusing on the European Commission’s Action Plan against Cyberbullying. The event will bring together key institutional actors, civil society organisations, social partners and experts to exchange views on effective prevention and response measures. The discussions will contribute to the preparation of the EESC Opinion, with a particular focus on youth-related challenges in the digital environment.

Thursday 28 May 

Boosting the role of the EIB and national promotional banks for growth and industrial policy
The European Economic and Social Committee is holding a public hearing on how the European Investment Bank and national promotional banks can better support EU growth and industrial policy. These institutions play a key role in financing EU companies, including SMEs and start-ups. As the EU seeks to mobilise significant investment to fund strategic projects and close its investment gap, the discussion will explore how to prevent innovative firms from seeking opportunities in other jurisdictions. The hearing will bring together policymakers and civil society stakeholders to examine how public banks can further support EU industrial policy, innovation, the scaling-up of businesses, and overall economic growth.

Friday 29 May 

EU–Western Balkans Civil Society High‑Level Conference
The European Economic and Social Committee will organise a High-Level Civil Society Conference in Vienna (ÖGB), bringing together EU and Western Balkans stakeholders to discuss the role of civil society in advancing EU enlargement, strengthening democratic resilience, and supporting socio-economic convergence in the region. Key themes will include trust, democracy and civil society in the enlargement process; enlargement and European security; the role of civil society in the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans; and reform momentum in the context of the future Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The conference will highlight the essential contribution of organised civil society to sustaining reforms and reinforcing the European perspective of the Western Balkans. Participants will adopt conclusions to be addressed to national authorities and European Union institutions.

More information about EESC events can be found here.
The agendas of the different EESC meetings can be found here.

Committee of the Regions 

Tuesday 26 May  

The transformation of the European defence industry – the perspective of entrepreneurs from the Podlasie region
This meeting, organised in Białystok, is part of the European Committee of the Regions EU Local Dialogues initiative, which aims to bring the European Union closer to citizens by fostering direct exchanges between businesses, local and regional authorities, and EU institutions. The discussion will focus on the role of businesses—particularly SMEs—in the transformation of the defence sector, with emphasis on innovation, supply chains and regulatory challenges. It will provide an opportunity to gather local perspectives, identify barriers and opportunities for sector development, and ensure that the voice of the Podlasie region is reflected in EU policymaking. Expected outcomes include input for the Committee of the Regions’ opinion, increased awareness among entrepreneurs of relevant EU policies, and strengthened cooperation between local and European levels.

High-level conference of the Automotive Regions Alliance
The High-Level Conference of the Automotive Regions Alliance will take place in Bilbao, bringing together representatives from Europe’s automotive regions, EU institutions and key stakeholders from the automotive sector. The event will serve as a key platform to discuss the recently published Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) and its implications for the automotive industry, in particular regarding the European preference approach and local-content requirements. Discussions will focus on the role of regions in strengthening European automotive value chains, safeguarding industrial competitiveness and supporting a resilient and balanced transition of the sector.

Wednesday 27 May

High-level conference of the Automotive Regions Alliance
The High-Level Conference of the Automotive Regions Alliance will take place in Bilbao, bringing together representatives from Europe’s automotive regions, EU institutions and key stakeholders from the automotive sector. The event will serve as a key platform to discuss the recently published Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) and its implications for the automotive industry, in particular regarding the European preference approach and local-content requirements. Discussions will focus on the role of regions in strengthening European automotive value chains, safeguarding industrial competitiveness and supporting a resilient and balanced transition of the sector.

Strengthening regional strategic autonomy & preparedness through foresight: approaches, experiences & lessons learned
This interactive side event, jointly organised by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the European Committee of the Regions and EURADA, will take place in Maastricht, as part of the OECD Global Forum on Local Development. The session will explore how strategic foresight and anticipatory governance can strengthen regional strategic autonomy by placing preparedness at the centre of regional policymaking. Drawing on experiences from regions such as Emilia-Romagna and Helsinki-Uusimaa, as well as regional development agencies in Andalucía and Limburg, the discussion will highlight how foresight is being translated into concrete preparedness measures. This includes strengthening regional innovation systems, improving inter-institutional coordination and multi-level governance, integrating risk assessment into planning, and operationalising strategic autonomy through actionable policy tools.

Thursday 28 May 

Mobilising new financial approaches for equitable health and wellbeing
This high-level event, hosted by the European Committee of the Regions, will explore how to finance prevention and health promotion in a sustainable and equitable way. European health systems are facing growing pressures linked to ageing populations, workforce shortages, rising costs, and the long-term impacts of COVID-19. As chronic diseases account for the majority of healthcare spending, investing in prevention has become increasingly essential. The discussion will draw on the results of the Horizon Europe-funded Invest4Health project, which has developed and tested innovative financing models through the concept of Smart Capacitating Investment. The event will focus on how these approaches can be scaled up and integrated into health systems, combining financial and non-financial resources and strengthening cross-sector cooperation. Bringing together policymakers, investors, researchers and practitioners, the event aims to support the transition from project outcomes to real-world implementation, fostering more equitable and sustainable health systems.

More information about Committee of the Regions events can be found here. The agendas of the different Committee of the Regions meetings can be found here.