Dear colleagues, friends and representatives of civil society,
The world we live in today is neither better nor worse
than in past eras of history, but it is clear that the progress humanity has
made is somehow stagnating, if not deteriorating, in some areas. Old wounds
remain unhealed, conflicts continue to break out, and the political class seems
increasingly unable to deliver meaningful change. From Palestine to Ukraine, we
see the powerful consolidating their grip and rewriting the rules in their
favour. It is telling that in Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s 2025
State of the Union address, she chose to open with a defence of Europe’s
competitiveness: ‘Europe will always remain open. We like competition. But we
will always protect our industry from unfair competition.’ This fixation on
competition and markets, while our social fabric frays, reveals the deeper
malaise: when prosperity is reduced to an economic race, rights and justice
risk being treated as expendable. Europe must be bolder than that.
The most troubling aspect is our collective hesitation:
we watch events unfold like a thriller on a cinema screen – aware of the stakes
but unsure how to act. At the same time, a global disinformation war is
shaking the very foundations of democracy and somehow affecting our engagement
with social causes, polarising societies even further. Manipulated narratives
blur the line between fact and fiction, making it harder for people to
make informed choices, defend their rights and hold leaders accountable.
Years of European peace and prosperity, once considered
a given, are being threatened. We must resist the temptation to sacrifice our
values and fundamental rights in the name of economic gains. To fall into that
trap would be to betray the very foundations on which Europe was built.
In these times of instability, uncertainty and erosion
of rights, only one force can stand as a counterweight, and that’s civil
society. But those of us involved in civil society must remain united,
resilient and strong, for it is the last line of defence for democracy and
human dignity. We are often the first to be attacked, targeted with fabricated
scandals and delegitimisation campaigns designed to distract from the real
injustices of our time. This is precisely why the Liaison Group, as the only
institutionalised civil dialogue we have at EU level, must be strengthened,
ensuring that the EESC truly serves as the home of civil society, where no
voice is left unheard.
As my term comes to an end, and with my successor to be
elected in October, I extend my best wishes. I leave this position with mixed
feelings: hopeful that my fellow civil society leaders will do a great job, and
reassured that I will remain by their side representing my home organisation,
the Lifelong Learning Platform. Yet, I cannot hide a certain bitterness,
wondering if we will ever truly be taken seriously, not only regarded as ‘nice to
have’ when things go well, but acknowledged as an essential force in shaping
Europe’s future.
My last call goes to my fellow civil society colleagues
to continue strengthening cooperation, guided not by personal egos but by our
shared mission: to shape policies that serve the people, those who have found
and still believe in civil society. Do not let others distract, undermine and
control us. A big thank you to all of you who have trusted me in this role, the
secretariat for being by my side in this journey, and my fellow EESC colleagues
for always being open to discussions and solutions.
You have my gratitude and continued commitment.
News from the CSO members of the Liaison Group
News from the EESC
