The EU and the African continent share interests and concerns: a sustainable and inclusive economic recovery, the green transition and the access to energy, the digital transformation, human development, peace and good governance or even migration and mobility. That’s why a frank and ongoing dialogue between civil society stakeholders from both sides is so important. In this episode of The Grassroots View, we have invited some of their representatives to tell us their stories.

Dimitris Dimitriadis, President of the external relations section of the EESC, explains how the Committee maintains close relations with its African counterparts and how it helps promoting European values to the world. He also talks about the growing influence of China and Russia on the African continent, and how important it is that the EU doesn't lose its presence there.

Ben Fox, Editor at EURACTIV and Africa Confidential, helps us understanding the state of civil society across Africa. He also explains how the EU can compete with other players and where its added value is.

Rose Omamo represents the metal workers in Kenya, and is the first woman to lead the union in its history. She describes how Kenyan civil society acts as the watchdog to the government and what the opportunities are for both sides of a collaboration with the European civil society.

18. Europe and Africa: a common response to common challenges

In this edition of The Grassroots View we look at gender equality. Women make up slightly more than half the population of Europe and there’s no doubt that, in the years since the Union was founded, their position in society relative to men has been transformed. But what is the state of gender equality in the EU now? What challenges remain and, in particular, what role can gender equality play in Europe's road to economic recovery? 

Joining us to provide their perspectives are Chiara Corazza, who sits on the G7's Gender Equality Advisory Council and is Private Sector Representative for France within the G20 EMPOWER Alliance, Maria Nikolopoulou, President of the Ad Hoc Equality Group at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Agata Araszkiewicz, one of the leaders of the feminist group "Elles sans Frontières", and Loubna Azghoud a gender equality expert with a particular interest in the digital economy.

23. Gender equality and the future of Europe: where are we at?

The Grassroots View is a new podcast series launched by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). It explores the hot topics everyone seems to be debating these days, but does so from a civil society perspective, bringing testimonies from stakeholders on the ground and accounts from the EESC members who represent their interests in Brussels.

18. Europe and Africa: a common response to common challenges

The Grassroots View

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