This week on Just the Chats, European Movement Ireland’s outgoing CEO Noelle O’Connell is joined by Séamus Boland, President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), to discuss the evolving role of civil society in Europe. Drawing on his lifelong involvement in Irish and European civil society, Séamus reflects on how Ireland’s early experience of EU membership shaped rural communities and his own career, and explains the role of the EESC within the EU policymaking process.
The conversation explores the pressures facing civic space across the EU, the ambitions of the new EU Civil Society Strategy, and how civil society organisations can better influence decision-making, particularly in the context of the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework. From funding and stakeholder engagement to housing, cost of living and trust between citizens and the EU, this episode offers timely insights into the challenges and opportunities ahead for civil society in Europe.
Music credit:
Ailbhe Crowley
Champion by Telecasted. YouTube Audio Library.
Recorded: 17/12/2025
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