The CESE aims to integrate long-term and short-term perspectives in its new program

The Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) wants to combine long-term and short-term opinions in the work program to be carried out until the presidential election, which will be presented at the beginning of September, its new president Claire Thoury indicated on Wednesday, July 1.

"Our objective is to deliver to the President-elect, the appointed government and Parliament, between May and June 2027, the input of organized civil society on the major themes and challenges we have identified," explained Ms. Thoury, elected in May to head this third chamber of the French Parliament, with an advisory role, representing civil society.

On September 8, the "solemn opening of the CESE, the first since its creation" in 1946, should allow "the institutional character of this assembly and the announcement of our work program," explained Claire Thoury, emphasizing its role "as an advisor to the public authorities."

Wednesday's meeting of leaders of organizations represented at the CESE (trade unions, employers' organizations, associations or environmental protection bodies) brought to light, as "points of convergence", issues of dignity at work, "access to essentials", youth, democratic trust, housing but also public finances.

"Organized civil society has a lot to say about the public debate right now," insisted the president of the CESE, whose usefulness and cost had been called into question a year ago by the Finance Committee of the National Assembly and the Court of Auditors.

"Yes, we are the chamber of long-term thinking, and we will continue to be so, because there are crises that are part of a long-term strategy," but "our responsibility is to be able to do both: long-term and short-term thinking," continued the president of the CESE, who will dedicate her annual report, published in the fall, to the subject of demography.

In the meantime, the CESE will issue its opinion on the "comprehensive" bill against sexist and sexual violence between July 15 and 17, after having been consulted, in parallel with the Council of State, by the President of the National Assembly.

Claire Thoury said that this opinion should allow civil society to have a position "on the feasibility, implementation, and construction of concrete solutions" of this law.