The Grassroots View

With the 2024 European elections around the corner, the Grassroots View is looking at the hopes and concerns of three groups whose voices are often neglected by policymakers: people with disabilities, senior citizens and young people. We checked in with Milan Šveřepa, president of Inclusion Europe, to see if anything had changed on the accessibility front since 2019, when millions of Europeans were barred from voting due to intellectual disabilities or were prevented from going to the polls simply because the polling stations could not accommodate their physical disability. We asked youth activist and influencer Nina Skočak whether she thought the voting age should be lowered to 16 and what was at stake for young people in this election. We wanted to hear from Heidrun Mollenkopf, the president of AGE Platform, which advocates for senior citizens, about whether older people felt included in election debates or rather dismissed and written off by politicians. And we asked the EESC’s vice-president for communication, Laurențiu Plosceanu, what the EESC does to keep amplifying the voices of civil society, making sure that the more vulnerable do not get side-lined or marginalised. Enjoy our podcast, use your vote and speak up for yourself, shape up the Europe you want!

Welcome to this episode of The Grassroots View, where we explore the complexities of economic governance and the challenges facing the European economic landscape. With our guests, we delve into fundamental questions about Europe's economic strategy, and the necessity of consensus amid political divisions. First, we hear from Luca Jahier, former EESC president and current president of the European Semester Group, who sheds light on the urgent need for reform in response to the pandemic and geopolitical shifts. Next, Margarida Marques, MEP from the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, shares insights into the European Parliament's efforts to introduce flexibility into the current framework, emphasizing the importance of policies that prioritize citizens. Finally, Maria Demertzis, Senior Fellow at Bruegel, and Maria Tadeo, a Brussels-based correspondent, dissect the adequacy of recent reforms in addressing the critical needs of today's tumultuous era. How much consensus is there on economic governance among EU members? What hard choices need to be made? And what will the public make of it all in this crucial election year? Join us as we navigate the tough decisions Europe faces in adapting its economy to the demands of the 21st century.

Welcome back to the Grassroots View! In this episode, we're tackling the urgent issue of homelessness across the European Union. Despite Europe's relative wealth, the challenge of ensuring safe and decent housing for all citizens persists, prompting crucial reflections on the EU's core values of social justice, solidarity, and inclusivity. Today, we're joined by key voices in the fight against homelessness: Frederik Spinnewijn from the European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless (FEANTSA), Nóra Teller from the Metropolitan Research Institute, and María del Carmen Barrera Chamorro from the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). Frederik sheds light on FEANTSA's multifaceted approach, emphasizing mutual learning and innovative solutions like Housing First. Nóra provides valuable insights into the stark realities of homelessness in Europe, highlighting successful strategies from countries like Finland, Austria, and Denmark. María outlines the importance of collaborative efforts through platforms like the European Platform for Combating Homelessness and calls for concrete actions at the EU level.

Welcome to the Grassroots View, where we delve into the dynamics of EU enlargement, shedding light on the Western Balkans as we near the twentieth anniversary of the Union's most significant expansion. In this episode, we're joined by Oliver Röpke, President of the EESC; Alexandra Voudouri, journalist and foreign policy analyst; Biljana Spasovska from the Balkan Civil Society Development Network; and Danuta Hübner, former Polish Minister of European Affairs and MEP. Together, we explore the European Parliament's role, 'enlargement fatigue,' and alternative pathways to EU membership. We talk about press freedom, citizen sentiment, civil society, and the region's perception of the EU, and President Röpke explains the EESC's decision to appoint candidate members from enlargement countries.

Welcome to the Grassroots View, the podcast of the European Economic and Social Committee. In this episode, we deep dive into the upcoming COP 28 in Dubai, where the world converges to address the pressing issue of climate change. Joining us are insightful voices: climate journalist Anna Gumbau, EESC Youth Delegate Diandra Ní Bhuachalla, Sustainable Public Affairs founder and CEO Willem Vriesendorp, and Jule Könneke from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. We start with Anna Gumbau's perspective on the controversial choice of Dubai as the venue, diving into the challenges journalists face in covering such critical events. Diandra Na Bhuachalla sheds light on the urgency of youth voices in climate debates and shares hopes for a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty. Willem Vriesendorp emphasizes the need for businesses to lead in sustainability, while Jule Könneke explores the security dimensions of climate policy and the role of civil society.

In this episode of the Grassroots View, the podcast from the European Economic and Social Committee, we dive deep into the Green Deal Industrial Plan, a crucial aspect of the EU's path to a net-zero carbon future. We explore the challenges of decarbonizing energy-hungry industries, Europe's competition with the United States, the importance of securing critical raw materials, and the delicate balance between economic priorities and environmental values. Join our panel of experts: Emanuele Bonini, a Brussels-based journalist for EU News and La Stampa, Sandra Parthie, chair of the Internal Market section at the European Economic and Social Committee, and David Kleimann, a visiting fellow at the think-tank Bruegel. They share insights into the implications of the Green Deal Industrial Plan, Europe's response to global challenges, and the possibility of a European Sovereignty Fund.

Join us to talk about the pressing challenges posed by scarce water resources, pollution, aging infrastructure, climate change, as well as a fragmented approach to water policies at EU level. In this episode of The Grassroots View we've invited POLITICO's sustainability reporter Antonia Zimmerman, award-winning documentary filmmaker Ewa Ewart, Thessaly University Professor and Vice-President at Water Europe Chrysi Laspidou, and EESC's Consultative Commission on Industrial Change President Pietro de Lotto.

Digital innovation has the power to transform our industries, our societies, our lives. It can also be a threat if not properly regulated. In this edition of The Grassroots View we take stock of the state of digital transformation in Europe. Where does the EU stand compared to the rest of the world? What are the challenges and opportunities ahead? How can Europe secure and hold a competitive position, while safeguarding the rights and welfare of its citizens? We’ll be exploring the issues and looking for answers with Tanya O'Carroll, expert on Technology & Human Rights. With Jennifer Baker, Brussels-based journalist specializing in technology, politics and digital legislation. And with Gonçalo Lobo Xavier, EESC employers’ group member representing the Portuguese Business Confederation, Franca Salis-Madinier, EESC Vice president of the workers group and of the Digital Transition and Single Market Observatory, and Giuseppe Guerini, EESC civil society group member and President of the European confederation of industrial and service cooperatives.

In this edition of The Grassroots View we explore the continuing migration crisis in Europe. The recent stand-off between Italy and France, both refusing to allow the Ocean Viking to dock to transfer informal migrants it had rescued off the coast of Libya to land, has highlighted the issue. So where is European migration policy actually right now? What has become of the call, heard often since the big Syrian refugee crisis of 2015, for European solidarity? How can it come to this, that vulnerable migrants are caught in a legal no man’s land? We’ll be exploring the issues and looking for answers with José Antonio Moreno Díaz, member of the European Economic and Social Committee’s Workers’ Group. With Louise Guillaumat, Deputy Operations Manager of SOS Méditerranée, the NGO that operates the Ocean Viking. And with Tomas Miglierina, Brussels-based correspondent for the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, with specialist knowledge of migration.

In this edition of The Grassroots View we look at gender equality. Women make up slightly more than half the population of Europe and there’s no doubt that, in the years since the Union was founded, their position in society relative to men has been transformed. But what is the state of gender equality in the EU now? What challenges remain and, in particular, what role can gender equality play in Europe's road to economic recovery? Joining us to provide their perspectives are Chiara Corazza, who sits on the G7's Gender Equality Advisory Council and is Private Sector Representative for France within the G20 EMPOWER Alliance, Maria Nikolopoulou, President of the Ad Hoc Equality Group at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Agata Araszkiewicz, one of the leaders of the feminist group "Elles sans Frontières", and Loubna Azghoud a gender equality expert with a particular interest in the digital economy.

In this episode of The Grassroots View we talk about the 2022 Conference of the Parties to the Paris Climate Agreement, or COP27. Negotiators from the 196 signatory states will meet in November in Egypt to discuss progress towards tackling the urgent issue of global warming. What are the expectations and concerns for COP27? What would a successful conference look like? Will the energy crisis slow down Europe's green transition? What is the role of organised civil society, and does it receive enough attention in the negotiations? Does the media coverage of climate change issues evolve? What does climate justice really mean? Joining us to provide their perspectives are Adelaide Charlier, a Belgian climate change and human rights campaigner; Frederic Simon, a French journalist, energy and environment editor at EURACTIV; and Luisa Neubauer, a German climate justice and human rights campaigner. Ahead of the summit, the European Economic and Social Committee adopted a resolution entitled Jointly tackling an existential threat: social partners and civil society for implementation of ambitious climate action. The resolution, which contains 40 recommendations, will be presented to COP27 by the six members of the Committee who authored it – one of whom, Sandra Parthie, is among our guests for this edition of The Grassroots View.

In this episode, we explore organic farming, organic production, and organic eating, through the lens of the first EU Organic Awards. These were awarded in September 2022 to eight European organisations excelling all along the organic food chain: from Best Organic Farm and Region, to best Organic SME and Restaurant. What are the prospects for reaching the EU target of 25% of agricultural land under organic cultivation by 2030? Does organic food contribute to food security and food affordability in times of energy and price crisis? If so, how? These are some of the questions we tackle with our guests. Peter Schmidt, EESC member and President of the Agricultural, Rural Development and Environment section (NAT), explains how the committee, representing between 80 and 90 million Europeans, can bring huge awareness around the idea of the value of food. He also tells us why it is crucial for the common future to switch over to food that's locally produced, transported and served up. Alexander Wugk is Head Chef at Lilla Bjers in Sweden, winners of the Best organic restaurant award. He says that he puts organic before what he wants to do as a chef, and tells us how this award helps the organisation to know that what they believe in is right. He also talks about the challenge for conventional farmers to transition to organic production, even more now in times of crisis, and how these need to be addressed at a bigger level. Michel Pâque, Manager at Ferme à l'Arbre de Liège in Belgium, and winner of the Best organic food retailer award, gives us an optimistic view on the state of organic agriculture. He thinks that organic farming has become credible and concrete, with these EU awards as an example. He also explains how their business model works, and what their main current challenges are. Jörg Daunke is the co-founder of J. Kinski in Germany, winners of the Best organic SME award. He hopes that this award can generate more attention for their cause. If larger bodies like the EU find organic food important, then it means that it really is. He tells us about their business model and how they try to waste as little as they can when creating their products. Eddy Wax, Reporter for POLITICO Europe, and specialist in agricultural affairs. Eddy says that there's still positivity and optimism around the organic sector, even with the war in Ukraine going on and the global crisis. The sector's rapid expansion in the last 20 years will probably slow down a little bit though. He also shines a light on the central debate in agricultural policy that's existed for decades: How do you balance the needs of being more sustainable with being more productive? He finally gives us the main challenges that organic farming is going to be facing in the coming years.

What is the impact of the energy crisis on our daily lives? Since Russia has invaded Ukraine, there is a new political reality on the continent. Up to 1 in 4 households in the EU cannot afford to adequately heat, cool or light their homes, and prices continue to rise. Where do we go from here and what does it all mean in particular for the poorest in society? This is what we talk about in this episode of The Grassroots View. Alena Mastantuono, EESC Member representing the Czech Chamber of Commerce, explains how energy is being used as a weapon. She also mentions REPowerEU and shows how the Commission's plan can be improved. Mastantuono finally gives the EESC's short-term priorities and provides us with a few thoughts on the future European energy landscape. Thomas Dorget is Managing Director of Confrontations Europe, a Paris-based think tank. He characterises the energy crisis as an ascending trend that started before the COVID-19 pandemic. Taking a historical approach, he explains how, at an individual level as well, we will eventually have to change the way we use resources. Sabrina Iannazzone, analyst at the European Anti-Poverty Network, tackles the question of what the energy crisis means for those with the lowest income. She also talks about the importance of climate activism and describes two levels of short-term policy priorities. Sonja van Renssen is Editor in Chief at Energy Monitor. She explains how climate and energy have been for a long time considered as separate tracks. As a journalist, she also gives her views on the impact of the energy crisis on common people. Van Renssen ends up painting a possible picture of the energy landscape in ten years' time.

The long-awaited accession process of the Western Balkan countries to the EU is on the EU agenda. This episode of the "Grassroots view" is focusing on EU enlargement, discussing the principle of gradual and progressive integration and the perspective of the region to integrate in the EU family. What are the similarities and differences between the first great enlargement of the EU to 10 new countries in 2004 and the membership process for the Western Balkan countries? What is the attitude of the civil society in these countries to EU integration? Will the EU's increased focus on Ukraine affect the decision to negotiate with the Western Balkans? All these questions will be answered by our guests, often witnesses of the EU negotiation process, such as Ionut Sibian, EESC member and president of the Western Balkans follow-up Committee, whose country Romania joined the EU in 2007 or Jaroslaw Pietras, a former senior European Union and Polish government official, engaged in the Polish EU accession process. Dafina Peci, secretary-general of the National Youth Congress of Albania shared with us Albanian civil society hopes for joining the European family. Two journalists, Camille-Cerise Gessant from Agence Europe and Erisa Zykaj, an EU correspondent for Western Balkans media in Brussels, give a journalistic view of relations between the EU and the Western Balkan countries queuing up to become members of the EU.

The EU and the African continent share interests and concerns: a sustainable and inclusive economic recovery, the green transition and the access to energy, the digital transformation, human development, peace and good governance or even migration and mobility. That’s why a frank and ongoing dialogue between civil society stakeholders from both sides is so important. In this episode of The Grassroots View, we have invited some of their representatives to tell us their stories. Dimitris Dimitriadis, President of the external relations section of the EESC, explains how the Committee maintains close relations with its African counterparts and how it helps promoting European values to the world. He also talks about the growing influence of China and Russia on the African continent, and how important it is that the EU doesn't lose its presence there. Ben Fox, Editor at EURACTIV and Africa Confidential, helps us understanding the state of civil society across Africa. He also explains how the EU can compete with other players and where its added value is. Rose Omamo represents the metal workers in Kenya, and is the first woman to lead the union in its history. She describes how Kenyan civil society acts as the watchdog to the government and what the opportunities are for both sides of a collaboration with the European civil society.

Since February 24, 2022, Ukraine has been facing Russian invasion. In addition to the military and financial aid that arrives from all over the world, European and Ukrainian civil societies are working hand in hand to help the populations in distress. In this episode of The Grassroots View, we invited some of their representatives to tell us their stories. Elena Calistru, member of the European Economic and Social Committee, explains how and why many Romanian citizens help fleeing Ukrainian refugees find shelter and food. She also talks about the role of the EESC which, by using the power of its network, manages to quickly set up mechanisms to help the weakest. Marta Barandiy, founder of the NGO Promote Ukraine, based in Brussels and Kyiv, gives us a Ukrainian perspective on the situation. She tells us how her work changed when the war broke out, how the role of civil society is crucial, and how the Ukrainian people will never give up in the face of an invader. Finally, Bartosz Wieliński, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Gazeta Wyborcza, tells about the impact of the war in Poland and how the Polish people adopt a new view on the phenomenon of refugees. For example, he explains how the school system welcomes and helps young Ukrainians.