COFACE: Breakfast byte
webinar on inclusive education for students with disabilities, 24 June
2026 This webinar from
9.30 to 11.00 CET will shine the spotlight on the Belgian COFACE Disability
member, Ouders voor Inclusie (Parents for Inclusion). Through their
advocacy and practical tools, they are helping to empower parents in Flanders
to ensure that their children with disabilities are fully included in education
and society. This webinar will also welcome a representative from the EU agency
for special needs and inclusive education (EASNIE) to share their reflections
from a European perspective. See full programme and registrations here.
Volonteurope: Brussels Hackathon, 26-28 June
2026 Volonteurope and the Global Shapers
Brussels Hub are organising the first Social Hackathon, as part of the Hacktive Youth Project at the Commons Hub Brussels. The hackathon will bring together
around 60 young people aged 20-29, based in Brussels or elsewhere in Belgium,
to work on social inequalities in the city, with tracks on affordable housing,
decent work, mental wellbeing and climate action. Participants will work in
teams, choose a challenge, shape an idea and pitch it, and the winning team
joins the final social hackathon in Egypt. Applications will be open until 24
June here. The selection call can be found here. EVBB Policy Camp: Beyond
the Bubble – VET, AI & the Future of EU Funding, Thessaloniki,
29 June-3 July 2026 This EVBB Policy Camp
will bring together VET leaders, policymakers, CEDEFOP, the ETF and
practitioners from across Europe. The event will focus on the role of AI in
education, the next multiannual financial framework (MFF), and the future of EU
funding in vocational education and training. Participants will explore how
policy becomes practice through hands-on discussions on AI-assisted proposals,
evolving VET systems, and cross-sector cooperation. Save the date and stay updated with the EVBB for further information.
SEE: High-level event: The
Multiannual Financial Framework and Social Economy at the European Parliament, Brussels, 30 June 2026 The European
Parliament Intergroup on the Social Economy and Services of General Interest
will host the event MFF & Social Economy, which will take place on
30 June 2026 from 15:30 to 17:00 at the European Parliament. This
high-level event will explore what the next EU budget (MFF) could mean for the
social economy and for EU funding instruments that support inclusive and
sustainable development across Europe. The deadline to register is the 22nd of June (until 12 pm).
LLLP: From evidence to
action: STRIDE resources to help education stakeholders navigate learning
inequalities The STRIDE project has published four major reports, each addressing a different dimension
of educational inequality and highlighting the role of systemic reforms and
early intervention. Read and download the reports here.
Image © 2026 STRIDE project
Eurochild: GUIDE
| Policy recommendations to strengthen guardianship systems for unaccompanied
children Eurochild and Guide
projects partners release a package
of recommendations on how to better support
guardians, which includes one comprehensive EU-level report and
specific national recommendations for Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Poland, and
Slovakia. Available in English and the respective national languages.
Eurochild releases its 2025 Digital Annual Report What did Europe’s leading child rights
network achieve in 2025? Eurochild engaged members, allies and policymakers over 6,700 times, reaching
23,000+ people through social media, and sharing evidence-based recommendations
from 84 members in 36 countries. It also regranted €1.3 million to 48
organisations in nine countries, while advancing child rights through policy
advocacy, emergency response efforts, and the launch of the NOVA Children’s
Council on digital rights.
EASPD: BENEFITS Green Book
offers a European-level appraisal and evaluation framework specifically for
social services Social services
transform lives every day, but their impact is not always visible or measured.
The BENEFITS project’s European Green Book provides social services, local
authorities and policy makers with essential tools to evaluate the impact of
their work and plan for future delivery needs. Read it here.SEE: The Next EU Multiannual Financial Framework:
What’s in it for the Social Economy? The next multiannual
financial framework (MFF), the EU’s long-term budget, is currently under
negotiation between the European institutions. What will be decided will have a
significant impact on the future of the social economy, in terms of available
funding, ease of access to financing, and the participation of social economy
actors in the different governing bodies that shape the EU budget allocation. Read our position paper here. SEE: Social Economy Europe
analyses the SEAP mid-term review Social Economy Europe
has published its reaction paper to the European Commission’s Mid-Term Review
of the Social Economy Action Plan (SEAP). Find the full paper and its summary here. UEF: The European Federal
Manifesto: A Declaration of Independence and Sovereignty Adopted by the UEF European
Congress, the European Federal Manifesto outlines a comprehensive vision for a sovereign and democratic European
federation. The document calls for Europe to take responsibility for its own
security, democracy and prosperity through deeper political integration. Image © Union of European Federalists UEF: Action Committee for
the United States of Europe Calls for a More Integrated Europe: ‘We Need a
Union Within the Union’ The Action Committee
for the United States of Europe has issued a declaration calling for a more integrated and politically united
Europe capable of acting effectively in an increasingly challenging
geopolitical environment. The text was published as an op-ed in El País
(Spain), Le Nouvel Obs (France) and Focus Europe (Italy), contributing to the
ongoing debate on European sovereignty, democratic governance and the future of
European integration. Image © Union of European Federalists CEV: Announcement of the EVCapital 2028 candidates CEV (Centre for European Volunteering) is happy to
announce the 2028 European Volunteering Capital candidates: Lleida (ES), Odder
(DK), Pilsen (CZ) and Reggio Emilia (IT). An EESC representative will be part
of the panel for this competition, which recognises municipalities showing
excellence in volunteering support and serving as a source of inspiration for
others. Find out more about the 2028 EVCapital here. UIPI: Have your say in
the survey To own or not to own? How young Europeans view property The International
Union of Property Owners (UIPI) has launched a survey to find out more about
how young Europeans perceive property ownership today. As housing has become a
key EU priority, with institutions increasingly seeking to address
affordability and long-term sustainability, effective policymaking requires a
better understanding of how different generations experience the market,
particularly young Europeans, who are among those most affected by current
challenges. To this end, UIPI is inviting people under 35 years old to take
part in a 5-minute anonymous survey exploring the aspirations and motivations of young
people when it comes to owning property and the barriers they face. ACE: ACE–UIA joint
statement on architectural design competitions: a key policy tool combining
qualitative and economic advantages On the occasion of
the ACE x ARCH-E Conference on Architectural Design Competitions held in
Brussels, the Architects’ Council of Europe (ACE) and the International Union
of Architects (UIA) issued a joint statement reaffirming the critical role of architectural design
competitions (ADCs) in shaping a high-quality built environment. “Architectural
design competitions are not simply a procurement tool; they are a cornerstone
of architectural culture and a guarantee of quality in the built environment.
By upholding fair, transparent and accessible processes, we enable architects
to respond creatively and responsibly to society’s needs, delivering solutions
that are both innovative and durable”, stated Daniel Fügenschuh, ACE
President. Volonteurope: SPHERE+
Consortium meets with stakeholders in Brussels The SPHERE+
initiative is dedicated to tackling LGBTIQ+ hate speech political and public
environments. Whether you’re a public official, civil society member, educator
or simply someone who wants to learn more, this space is for you. The project,
of which Volonteurope is a partner, offers a database of practical resources,
training tools, and insights to help build respectful, inclusive public
discourse. Funded by the European Union and led by partners across six
countries, SPHERE+ promotes cooperation, understanding, and lasting change. Together, the project
helps to create safer, more equal communities, one conversation at a time. For
more information and resources, including our Baseline Report on Combating
LGBTIQ+ Hate Speech, visit https://sphereproject.eu/. Image © SPHERE + Project Consortium |
News from the CSO members of the Liaison Group
News from the EESC
