From Monday March 2nd to Thursday March 5th 2026, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) will bring together the main European civil society organisations from across Europe to discuss, debate and contribute to shaping the future of democracy and building resilience in Europe.
ELEN is pleased to take part in this key European gathering and to contribute to a co-organised session on Thursday 5th March entitled “Whose resilience? Intergenerational fairness, gender and minoritized language communities” along with NGOs Generation Climate Europe, VolontEurop, and Youth at the EESC. It will explore how citizens build Europe’s resilience with a focus on European endangered languages.
ELEN Secretary-General Davyth Hicks will discuss the current situation for European endangered and minoritized languages, the obligation of the EU to act to protect them under Article 2 of the Lisbon Treaty, and the ELEN proposal for a new European strategic framework for minoritized languages. He will be joined on the panel by UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, Nicolas Levrat, whose recent End-of-Mission statement after his official visit to the EU institutions was highly critical on the failings of the EU to protect its minoritised and endangered languages.
UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, Nicolas Levrat, and ELEN Secretary-General, Davyth Hicks.
Throughout the week the ELEN team will also be present with an information stand, offering an opportunity to exchange ideas, discuss ongoing initiatives, and explore new possibilities for cooperation with other civil society organisations, institutions and decision-makers.
The event will be webstreamed here.