CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE GREEN DEAL: THE ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITEE (EESC)

This thesis investigates the perspectives of European civil society, particularly through the lens of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), on the European Green Deal. Through the analysis of a selection of EESC opinions and ETUC reports it shows the alignment between civil society's views and the European Green Deal’s policy measures, focusing on how it addresses social sustainability and the topic of the jut transition. The findings show that while both institutions express strong support for the European Green Deal’s overarching sustainability goals, they also criticize its shortcomings in addressing social dimensions, lack of sufficient fundings, and absent engagement of trade unions and social groups. And the thesis highlights this strong alignment between civil society’s critiques and recommendations of the European Green Deal. Indeed, both the EESC and ETUC emphasize the importance of better integrating social justice into the strategies of the European Green Deal. Overall, the thesis shows that European civil society believes in the potential of a Green and Social Deal to bridge gaps in the current policy framework, emphasizing the strong need for policies that balance environmental objectives with social justice.