Brussels – The Liaison Group of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has elected a new co-chair. He is Piotr Sadowski, a Pole with British citizenship and almost 15 years of experience in the European civil society sector. The unit, which Sadowski will head, brings the demands of civil society organisations and networks to the European institutions. “The Liaison Group is no longer just a forum for exchange, but a space for collaboration and shared responsibility, where national and European voices shape the EESC’s dialogue with the EU institutions,” said Sadowski in his inaugural speech.
The ambition of the new co-chair is to be able to “demonstrate that civil society is an essential infrastructure. It is about resilience, imagination, and solidarity with those whose rights remain at risk, both inside and outside the EU.”
His previous experiences are particularly suitable for this purpose. Sadowski has worked extensively in the field of civil society. He was secretary general of Volonteurope, a Brussels-based European network dedicated to social justice, and also served as vice-president of the Conference of NGOs of the Council of Europe and vice-president of the Lifelong Learning Platform (Europe’s largest network of organisations active in the fields of education and training). His cornerstones are equality, dignity, and inclusion throughout Europe. Sadowki is a long-standing member of the European Socialist and Democratic Movement (S&D), a fervent supporter of progressive values and an active defender of LGBTQIA+ rights.
The new electee inherits the post from Brikena Xhomaqi, director of the Lifelong Learning Platform. Under the previous leadership, the group strengthened its role as a reliable connector between civil society organisations and EU institutions, promoting inclusive discussions and upholding the values of participatory democracy.
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
