European Economic and Social Committee

Tuesday 30 June  

Annual European Semester Group Conference 2026
The European Economic and Social Committee’s European Semester Group will hold its annual conference on 30 June 2026, entitled “European Semester 2026: Driving competitiveness, sustainable growth and social resilience in a strategic budgetary framework”. The event will take place in a context of major economic and social challenges for the EU, including geopolitical shocks, technological change, environmental transformation and demographic shifts. Discussions will focus on strengthening the European Semester as a key instrument for coordinated economic action, competitiveness and social resilience. The conference will also address the role of the Semester in supporting sustainable growth, reinforcing economic governance and improving coordination between reforms and investment.

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

Committee of the Regions 

Monday 29 June

Preparing Locally for EU Accession-Impact Assessments, Reform Agendas and Local Readiness in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Moldova and Ukraine
The European Committee of the Regions will host a seminar in Brussels on the role of local and regional governments in preparing for EU accession. The event will focus on how local authorities contribute to key policy areas such as public services, planning, the environment, social cohesion and recovery efforts. It will also examine how they are involved in the implementation of EU rules and reforms, and where their role can be further strengthened. Insights will be shared from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, North Macedonia and Ukraine, linking these experiences to the broader EU enlargement discussion. The seminar will also address how EU funding can better support local involvement in reform processes, both in the current period and beyond 2027. It aims to encourage exchange between local, regional and national representatives and promote stronger cooperation in the EU accession process.

365 Times Europe
The European Committee of the Regions will host the exhibition “365 Times Europe” in Brussels as a multi-day event, documenting an extraordinary year-long journey across 22 European countries. The exhibition is based on the experience of Anna Rastello and Riccardo Carnovalini, who in 2018 walked 11,275 km from the Italian-French Alps to Trieste over the course of 365 days. During their journey, they collected extensive written notes and over 10,000 photographs, forming the basis of an intimate portrait of Europe. The exhibition presents landscapes, towns and cities across Europe, as well as stories from the people they met along the way. It reflects on shared experiences across the continent during a period of uncertainty and aims to highlight a vision of Europe shaped by connection, dialogue and peace.

Tuesday 30 June 

EU’s eastern regions bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine
The CoR will host a hybrid stakeholder consultation in Brussels, focusing on EU regions bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. Participants are invited to provide views and feedback on the impact of the current geopolitical situation on these regions, including the definition and scope of eastern regions, and the extent to which war-related effects and hybrid threats extend beyond immediate border areas. The discussion will also address the role of eastern regions as “frontline regions”, focusing on long-term economic, social and security impacts, as well as regional resilience and best practices. The consultation will also explore territorial cooperation, responses to hybrid threats, and the development of new forms of interregional cooperation, including with Ukraine. Finally, discussions will cover strategic infrastructure and connectivity, including transport, energy, digital and dual-use infrastructure, as well as broader questions on multi-level governance and the future of cohesion policy after 2027.

Thursday 02 July 

8th meeting of the Better Regulation and Active Subsidiarity Steering Group
The Better Regulation and Active Subsidiarity Steering Group (BRASS-G) will hold its 8th meeting in Brussels. The meeting will focus on the CoR better regulation strategy and the operationalisation of its related tools. Members will exchange views on the role of local and regional authorities in the EU better regulation agenda, in particular in light of the European Commission’s recent communication on better regulation and enforcement. They will also review ongoing activities related to better regulation tools and discuss recent EU developments.

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.