Newsletter Liaison Group - September 2026

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Liaison Group with European civil society organisations and networks 09-2026

1. Editorial

2. News from the CSO Members of the Liaison Group

3. News from the EESC

4. EESC Plenary Session

5. Civil dialogue in the EU and European Citizens' Initiatives

6. Citizens' Engagement Platform

7. Link to our members' newsletters

Editorial

Dear Members of the Liaison Group,

I hope you all enjoyed a restful summer break! Autumn began with the State of the Union address. I will not summarise President von der Leyen's speech of 16 September – you have all followed it; I would rather treat it as raw material. Preparedness, artificial intelligence, climate adaptation, the Care Deal and a Congress of Europe – all to be shaped and delivered in the months ahead. On every one, there is a civil society voice that nobody else will provide, and making it heard is precisely what this Group exists to do.

A first test comes on 29–30 September, when the Parliamentary Democracy Forum in the European Parliament devotes a session to the EU Strategy for Civil Society – our President Séamus Boland will speak about embedding civil society in democratic decision-making. Not a courtesy, but recognition that democracy is a whole-of-society enterprise – I hope many of you will be there.

What does embedding civil society in democratic decision-making mean in practice? Not consultation on request, but structured engagement by default. Civil society is not simply another stakeholder to be heard when convenient: it is the connective tissue between citizens and institutions – CSOs through which people act together, and the delivery arm of much of what the State of the Union address promised, from preparedness and digital inclusion to climate adaptation and care. Policies designed without that connective tissue arrive on the doorsteps of people they have never met. This is why civil dialogue is so important, and why the EU Strategy for Civil Society matters so much: it offers an opportunity to move from episodic consultation to genuine co-creation, and from dialogue as an event to dialogue as a method.

A whole-of-society democracy also asks something of civil society itself: to speak with a collective voice, to bring the lived experience of the communities we represent, and to be in the room from the outset – not only when institutions seek legitimacy for decisions already taken. From the debates on the future of the EU budget to the broader reflection on the direction of our democratic model as the anniversary of the Treaty of Rome approaches, civil society has earned its place in these conversations. Our task is to ensure that place becomes impossible to take away.

A State of the Union address to answer, a democracy to build together – I look forward to both.

With warm regards,

Piotr SADOWSKI

Co-chair of the Liaison Group

News from the CSO members of the Liaison Group

UIPI: Unlocking the future of condominium renovation in Europe, Brussels, 29 September 2026

Join Condominium Renovation Day 2026 on 29 September in Brussels and discover practical ways to accelerate condominium renovation across Europe. The event will bring together policymakers, housing professionals, financial institutions, property owners’ representatives and industry experts to discuss the legal, technical and financial solutions needed to overcome key renovation barriers. Through successful case studies, innovative financing approaches and practical tools, participants will explore how to turn renovation challenges into concrete opportunities. It will also offer a valuable space to exchange ideas, build partnerships and help shape the future of sustainable condominium renovation.

Image © UIPI

EASPD: International conference ‘Building an Architecture of Inclusion’, 5-7 October 2026

Join the European Association of Service Providers for persons with Disabilities (EASPD) in Brussels from 5-7 October for their international conference ‘Building an Architecture of Inclusion’. The three-day event will feature high-level panel discussions, expert workshops and study visits, showcasing practical examples of inclusive policies and services in action. Discover how we can build more inclusive communities where people with disabilities have the same choices and opportunities as everybody else. Find out more and register via the conference website.

Image © EASPD, 2026

AGE: The Climate We Speak Project: Register for our final event - 14 October 2026

Join the final event of The Climate We Speak, an Erasmus+ project exploring constructive and inclusive approaches to climate communication with and among older people, for which AGE Platform Europe is a partner. Hosted by MEP Idoia Mendia at the European Parliament InfoHub, the event will examine how we can recognise older people as active contributors to climate action, strengthen participation and dialogue across generations, and connect climate ambition with social justice and collective action. Register here.

ALDA: Join ‘Transcending Barriers: Building inclusive workplaces’, the Forum for Local Youth Impact in Valongo, Portugal on 15 and 16 October 2026

Join us for FLY!, the Forum for Local Youth Impact, organised by ALDA and the Municipality of Valongo, on 15 and 16 October 2026! The event will bring together key youth stakeholders to discuss the future of youth participation and democratic engagement in Europe, with a focus on EU youth policies, the future of Erasmus+, and the role of local authorities and civil society in empowering young people. Seats are limited – register now and secure your spot!

Image © ALDA

Cooperatives Europe: 20th anniversary – What’s the next chapter towards economic democracy? Brussels, Belgium, 15-16 October 2026

To mark its 20th anniversary, Cooperatives Europe is holding a two-day conference in Brussels on 15 and 16 October 2026 at the European Economic and Social Committee (VMA building). While the first day will celebrate 20 years of achievements with the #CoopAnniversaryAwards, the second day will host a policy dialogue exploring the concept of ‘economic democracy’ and its relevance for Europe’s future. Practitioners, EU decision-makers and cooperative leaders will examine how greater economic democracy can contribute to a more competitive, resilient and inclusive Europe, while empowering citizens and territories to play a greater role in shaping economic outcomes. Registration is open until 1 October. Find the registration link and the agenda here.

ECAS: From Idea to European Action – Over Coffee & Croissants: European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) Workshop, 21 October 2026

What would you change about Europe if you had one million people behind you? Join ECAS in Brussels on 21 October for a hands-on workshop to discover how the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) can turn your idea into European action. Develop your own initiative, build a campaign strategy and pitch it in a real-life ECI simulation – no prior knowledge required. Coffee and croissants included. Register for the workshop.

Image © ECAS

EPA: International conference "Education in a super-diverse, digital, multilingual society", Berlin, Germany, 13-14 November 2026

The European Parents’ Association (EPA) invites members and educational stakeholders to Berlin from 13 to 14 November 2026 for its General Assembly and international conference. Under the theme Education in a super-diverse, digital, multilingual society, the event will feature immersive school visits, expert keynotes and engaging workshops. Participants will explore practical strategies for community engagement, digital parenting, migration, inclusion, and family well-being across Europe. The registration form and more information can be found here.

Image © European Parents' Association – International Conference 2025 at the EESC (partnership)

EVBB Annual Conference: Europe’s VET Strategy in Action, Paris, France, 18–20 November 2026

The EVBB Annual Conference 2026 will bring together VET (Vocational Education and Training) leaders, policymakers, businesses, education and training providers, and international partners in Paris under the theme ‘Europe’s VET Strategy in Action: Skills, Business and Global Partnerships’. The three-day programme will combine policy discussions, practical exchanges and visits to VET institutions, with participants having the opportunity to meet representatives of national governments and a wide range of European institutions and organisations. The conference will also offer specific opportunities for networking and building new partnerships through the EVBB networking gala. Find out more and register.

Image © EVBB

LLLP: Save the date for ‘The future of traineeships in Europe’ conference, Brussels 4 December 2026

On 4 December, the DETAS project will bring education stakeholders from across Europe to explore the future of Erasmus+ traineeships and showcase the project’s achievements during LLLWeek 2026. Check the event and save the date!

Eurochild: How to support unaccompanied children in migration?

A new report from Eurochild’s GUIDE project, which aims to strengthen protection for unaccompanied children across Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Poland and Slovakia, features key lessons on what guardians need in order to do their job well, what continues to stand in their way, and what can be done to strengthen support for unaccompanied children.

Image © copyleft (stock photo)

ACE: Cities, architects and housing providers unite for affordable, climate-resilient housing

The Architects’ Council of Europe (ACE), Housing Europe, EUROCITIES, UN-Habitat and the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction have adopted a joint statement calling for affordable and climate-resilient housing for all. Presented on 11 June 2026 at the New European Bauhaus Festival, the statement highlights the essential role of cooperation between cities, architects and public, cooperative and social housing providers. It sets out a shared commitment to creating resilient neighbourhoods while ensuring that the transition protects vulnerable communities and leaves no one behind. Read the joint statement here.

Image © ACE

UEF: In Ventotene, a new declaration adopted on building a United States of Europe

On 30 August 2026, a declaration was adopted on the Italian island of Ventotene entitled It is time to build the United States of Europe. An initiative of the Third Jean Monnet Action Committee for the United States of Europe, and drawing on the legacy of Altiero Spinelli and Jean Monnet, the declaration calls for stronger European sovereignty, moves to overcome the requirement for unanimity in strategic areas and more effective common foreign, security and defence policies. The initiative has also entered the wider European public debate through the publication of the declaration as an opinion article in El País and Le Soir, helping bring the federalist proposal beyond institutional and activist circles.

Image © UEF

UEF: Eleven governments recognise the veto problem: moving towards Federal Europe is the answer

The Union of European Federalists and the Spinelli Group have welcomed an initiative by eleven EU Member States aimed at preventing national vetoes paralysing the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. The UEF and the Spinelli Group are calling for the immediate use of existing Treaty provisions allowing decisions without unanimity, while stressing that procedural solutions alone cannot overcome the structural limitations of the current system. They are therefore calling for a coalition of willing Member States to advance towards a sovereign and democratic Europe and to support Treaty reform abolishing national vetoes in foreign policy and other strategic areas.

Image © UEF

News from the EESC

European Public Diplomacy Days 2026, 29 September – 2 October 2026

The European Public Diplomacy Days (EPDD) will bring together various different European Union (EU) institutions working on public diplomacy and international people-to-people initiatives. The idea is to share best practice and exchanging ideas. Besides the EU institutions, there will be contributions from civil society, networks of regions and cities, cultural projects, academics and other practitioners from across the world. Read more here.

Youth Policy Dialogue on COP31, Brussels, 1 October 2026

As the EU prepares its participation in the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), scheduled to take place in Antalya, Türkiye, in November 2026, the European Commission and the EESC, in cooperation with the European Youth Forum and Generation Climate Europe, will organise the Youth Policy Dialogue on COP31. Hosted by the European Commissioner for Climate, Net-Zero and Clean Growth, Wopke Hoekstra, the dialogue will bring together youth organisations and youth representatives from across Europe. It will provide a space for a structured exchange on key climate policy priorities for young people towards the EU positions in the run-up to COP31. Read more here. Do you have a question? Contact us!

National and regional partnership plans in focus: the civil society perspective, 12 October 2026

The policy debate brings together stakeholders to assess how National and Regional and Partnership Plans will work in practice. In a workshop setting connected to the EESC, participants from civil society, social partners and institutions will exchange perspectives on transparency, inclusiveness and impact. The discussion aims to highlight gaps, share best practices and strengthen the role of organised civil society in shaping and monitoring the implementation of NRPPs in the EU. Read more here.

The EESC at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity - COP17, Yerevan/Armenia, 19-30 October 2026

As in previous years, the EESC will actively participate in COP17 to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Under the theme “Taking Action for Nature”, COP17 will be the second biodiversity COP since the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and the first one to include a Global Review of the Framework implementation. This will mark an important milestone in assessing global progress and actions towards the achievement of the GBF biodiversity targets. Read more here.

EESC Plenary Session, 23-24 September 2026

The following debates took place:

Better regulation, with Valdis Dombrovskis, European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity; Implementation and Simplification, linked to the adoption of the INT/1129 opinion on the Communication on a simpler, clearer and better enforced EU rulebook
Modernising cohesion policy: the way forward, with Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Cohesion and Reforms, linked to the adoption of the NAT/982 opinion on A rural proofing tool to unlock the full potential of rural areas and communities through better rural-centred EU policymaking for a fair and sustainable EU
Presentation of the priorities of the French Economic, Social and Environmental Council, with Claire Thoury, President of the French Economic, Social and Environmental Council
The EU Organic Awards as a showcase of innovative and sustainable EU agriculture supporting food security, viable rural communities, social inclusion, and climate and biodiversity objectives, with Christophe Hansen, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, linked to the adoption of the NAT/983 opinion on Social farming as a tool for innovation in agriculture

Recording of the Plenary Session | EESC

Amongst others the following resolution and opinions were adopted:

Resolution on the EESC contribution to the EU’s priorities at the 71st session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UN CSW71) (SOC/871)
The public services sector in the EU adapted to new challenges (SOC/863)
Action plan against cyberbullying ‘Safer online, stronger together’ (SOC/869)
Strategy on Intergenerational Fairness (SOC/868)
Farm Sustainability Data Network (codification) (NAT/1003)
A rural proofing tool to unlock the full potential of rural areas and communities through better rural-centred EU policymaking for a fair and sustainable EU (NAT/982)
Enlargement and EU climate policy – Achieving the EU climate targets in a larger union (NAT/984)
Social farming as a tool for innovation in agriculture (NAT/983)
Authorisation of mobile satellite services (TEN/893)
Making housing affordable – Increasing modern methods of construction and lowering costs (TEN/889)
Cloud and AI Development Act (INT/1126)
Making civil society a driving force in the understanding and implementation of the Single Market Strategy (INT/1131)
The role of civil society in improving financial literacy (ECO/699)

The EESC opinions adopted can be consulted here.

Civil dialogue in the EU and European Citizens' Initiatives

Taking the European Citizens’ Initiative beyond Brussels

On 15 September, the International Day of Democracy, the EESC’s Group on the European Citizens’ Initiative, supported by local partners, brought the ECI closer to citizens with a debate in Sofia on The European Citizens’ Initiative – state of play in Bulgaria. Bulgarian stakeholders shared their experiences, views and ideas on how to increase awareness and use of this participatory democracy tool. Following the first discussion in this series with Croatian stakeholders in Zagreb, this second local event further broadened the conversation beyond Brussels on citizen participation.

Four new initiatives registered over the summer

In July, the Commission registered four new European citizens’ initiatives: Introduction of Unconditional Basic Income (UBI) throughout the EU, All On Board - For your right to citizenship without borders, Right to Housing! Now and Forever and Stop Killing The Internet: No Digital ID & No Age Verification. While the initiatives on affordable housing and digital identity are already collecting signatures, those on UBI and EU citizenship rights will open for signature collection within six months. Check the ECI website to explore all initiatives and follow their progress.

Image © Shutterstock / Mahmudul Hassan

Registration refused for two proposed initiatives

Registration was refused for the proposed European citizens’ initiative Save Europe Act because it was found to be contrary to EU values. This marked the first time an initiative was refused registration on these grounds. Registration was also refused for the proposed initiative entitled L'Europa è pronta al Primo Contatto? Preparare l'umanità al possibile incontro extraumano because it was considered manifestly frivolous under Regulation (EU) 2019/788.

Image © Shutterstock.com / N Universe

Next step for the initiative: verifying 1.3 million signatures

On 15 July, the organisers of the European Citizens´ Initiative entitled Demand the full suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement in view of Israel’s violations of human rights closed signature collection six months ahead of the deadline. One week later, they submitted 1.3 million signatures to the relevant national authorities for verification. See what happens next.

Image © ECI "Demand the full suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement in view of Israel’s violations of human rights"

EU steps up follow-up to End the Cage Age

The EU Strategy on Livestock, adopted on 7 July, places animal welfare at the heart of sustainable livestock production. As part of the follow-up to the European citizens’ initiative End the Cage Age, the Commission plans to propose targeted revisions of the animal welfare rules for laying hens and broilers by the end of 2026 and for pigs in 2027, focusing on phasing out cages and introducing WTO-compliant equivalent import requirements. Read more about the follow-up to End the Cage Age.

Image © ECI "End the CageAge"

ECI Forum Webinar: Make the most of social media and influencers for your European Citizens’ Initiative

Join the one-hour webinar on the Role of influencers and social media strategies in ECIs on 6 October 2026 to learn how to identify the right influencers, engage supporters and maintain momentum throughout signature collection. Communication experts and experienced ECI organisers will share practical tips on designing an effective digital campaign and measuring its impact. Register now and boost your campaign!

Image © Shutterstock / PeopleImages

Survey: Help shape the future of the European Citizens’ Initiative

The European Commission is inviting EU citizens and civil society organisations to share their experiences of and views on the European Citizens’ Initiative. Whether you have signed an initiative or considered launching one, your feedback will help shape the next review of the ECI. Take part in the survey by the end of 2026 and make your voice heard.

Image © Shutterstock / Andrey_Popov

Democracy International: Citizen Voices for the Future of Participation – Share Your Experiences

Democracy International is conducting a survey to gather citizens’ experiences of democratic participation and their familiarity with the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI). The survey takes less than five minutes to complete and will help identify how the ECI could be further improved and made more accessible and impactful for citizens. We invite you to share your experiences and help shape the future of participatory democracy at European level.

Image © Democracy International e.V.

Citizens' Engagement Platform

European Commission: "Have Your Say"

As part of its "Better Regulation" agenda, the Commission is consulting a broad range of organisations, and the general public, with such outreach tools as "Have Your Say". In actively collecting and analysing online feedback, the Commission ensures that EU initiatives are responsive and proportional to current challenges – such as the consultations on:

See all currently open consultations here.

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