European Economic and Social Committee

90 million people in the EU face poverty. We must act together to end poverty by 2050. We are working with the European Commission to implement the first-ever EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, putting civil society and people with lived experience at its heart. We signed a Memorandum of Understanding to turn ambition into action. Together, we can break the cycle of poverty.

The housing crisis affects us all. Modern methods of construction (MMC) can help reduce costs, shorten build times and lower carbon emissions, making it possible to deliver more homes, more efficiently. To make the most of this potential, innovation needs to go hand in hand with quality, skills and the protection of workers and consumers. Key priorities include: 👉 investing in factories for prefabricated homes; 👉 establishing common quality standards and certification; 👉 helping SMEs adopt digital tools and technologies; 👉 supporting public housing programmes that use MMC; 👉 identifying skills gaps and addressing labour shortages.

Is your initiative changing lives? Our 16th Civil Society Prize is looking for inspiring initiatives that are helping to combat poverty across the EU. The prize main characteristics: 💶 €30,000 prize fund; 🌍 open to eligible non-profit initiatives in the EU; 📅 apply by 6 November 2026, 10:00 CET. Your impact deserves to be recognised. Apply now and help inspire change across Europe: https://lnkd.in/gZRjcdjz #CivilSocietyPrize

Our October #EESCPlenary is just around the corner, and with a special event on the agenda! 🇪🇺 On 21-22 October, our members will gather to debate the challenges and opportunities ahead, bringing the voices of employers, workers and organised civil society into EU policymaking. On the agenda: 🤝 the single market, competitiveness and the Digital Fairness Act; ⚖️ inclusive democratic participation and disability rights; 🤖 AI, digital cloud sovereignty, and more. But it does not stop here! Don't miss our flagship conference on 22 October: 'Eradicating Poverty by 2050: fulfilling our collective responsibility', with the European Commission's Vice-President Roxana Minzatu, EAPN - European Anti Poverty Network, AGE Platform Europe, Eurofund, and UNICEF PPR Europe. Find out more 👉 link.europa.eu/r7mWv4 #EUCivilSociety

Our September #EESCPlenary is fast approaching! 🇪🇺 On 23-24 September, our members will gather to exchange views, discuss key challenges, and bring EU employers, workers and organised civil society's voices into policymaking. On the agenda: 📄 opinions on the Single Market Strategy, financial literacy, intergenerational fairness, cyberbullying and social farming; 🗣️ debates with Valdis Dombrovskis, European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, Implementation and Simplification, and with Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms; 💼 the EU Organic Awards and sustainable EU agriculture, with Christophe Hansen, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food. Find out more information here → https://lnkd.in/guHTgapR #EUCivilSociety

Your health coverage can follow you across borders… and all thanks to the European Health Insurance Card! 🇪🇺 Since 2004, the card has helped EU citizens access medically necessary healthcare when travelling abroad. It has you covered: 👉 under the same conditions and costs as locals; 👉 in all EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom; 👉 simply by presenting the card when needed. Do not leave home without it: apply by contacting your health insurance provider and enjoy your holidays worry-free! More information: europa.eu/!mWbv9J #EHIC