Société civile

Eurolat Meeting with Civil Society in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 2023 © European Parliament (2023)

Eurolat meetings with civil society

The EuroLat Assembly attaches great importance to excellent relations with civil society, which the Members consider to be oxygen for democracy. To this aim, the EuroLat rules of procedure stipulate in Article 4 (§3) that a European vice-president (or member) and a Latin American vice-president (or member) shall be responsible for relations with civil society in each region. The vice-presidents are in charge of maintaining a permanent contact with NGOs, trade unions and business organisations. The EuroLat meeting with civil society has become a highlight in the framework of the meetings of the EuroLat Assembly, which take place twice a year. The encounters with civil society are open to all 150 members of the EuroLat Assembly.

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) plays a special role in the meetings. In accordance with Article 6 (§ 1) of the rules of procedure, the EESC enjoys a permanent observer status at the meetings with civil society and, as such, has a right to speak in accordance with the procedures laid down by the Presidency of the Assembly (§ 2). Additionally, "other representatives of civil society who so wish, and the Executive Bureau so authorises, may also attend the plenary sessions of the Assembly, the meetings of its standing committees and other parliamentary meetings as observers" (Article 6 (§3)).

In times, where we observe a shrinking space for civil society worldwide, the unwavering support of EuroLat Members for its cause is of crucial importance for the defence of democratic values. EuroLat member discuss with the representatives of civil society a wide range of topics, among them the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on civil society, LGBTI rights, the role of civil society in the monitoring of trade agreements, environmental topics such as transgenic cultures and shale gas extraction, and, last but not least, migration and human rights.