EESC Supports EU’s Global Gateway

EU Global Gateway

The EU’s Global Gateway initiative is the right step forward in improving connectivity with non-EU partners and like-minded developing countries.  In its relevant opinion, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) underlines that civil society representatives must be included on the board that will be set up to coordinate Global Gateway investments. It also stresses…

Promoting the Circular Economy

Matteo Borsani

In an opinion proposed by the Consultative Commission on Industrial Change (CCMI) and adopted at May’s plenary session, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) recommends that the European Commission and national governments, in consultation with all stakeholders inside the packaging industry, take the necessary steps throughout each product’s life cycle to increase the industry’s sustainability. Most…

EESC Support for REPowerEU Initiative

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)  has thrown its support behind the Commission’s “REPowerEU” initiative, stressing that energy security must be accompanied by urgent measures to protect vulnerable users, accelerate decarbonisation and diversify energy sources. Steps should also be taken to reduce demand for Russian gas which has brought about a significant increase in energy…

EESC Calls For Strengthening Schengen

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) says that with the threat of war at its doorstep, the Schengen area should be further strengthened through better police and judicial cooperation, with its internal borders kept open The war in Ukraine, which has caused an unprecedented flow of refugees to seek shelter in the EU, points to…

EESC marks #EuropeDay2022

Europe Day 2022

This year the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) will be joining forces once again with the other European institutions to mark the anniversary on 9th May of the Schuman Declaration, where the EU all began, in spite of recent tragic events writes Cillian Lohan.  The war in Ukraine has literally transformed the European agenda,…

Taxation to Finance Recovery

Krister Andersson

Taxation is a major tool for financing the recovery, as well as the digital and green transition. But the old national and international rules are no longer fit for some of the new business models used today.  In an opinion adopted during its March plenary, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) welcomed the European…

Controlling Hate Crime and Hate Speech

Hate Crime and Hate Speech

The growth of hatred, expressed both online and offline across Europe, confirms the need to address hate speech and hate crime at EU level, an EESC hearing was told. On 30 March, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held a public hearing to discuss the European Commission’s proposal to broaden the list of EU crimes…

EU Industrial Strategy

Greening EU Industrial Strategy

The EU needs to reassess the priorities of its industrial policy in light of the pandemic and the conflict on Europe’s eastern border: this is what emerged from a conference hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). The Conference, titled “A sustainable future for European industry”, was organized in cooperation with the European…

African Union-European Union Summit

African Union European Union Summit

Civil society organisations are indispensable bridge builders between the EU and Africa On the eve of the African Union (AU)-European Union (EU) Summit (17-18 February 2022), and awaiting the conclusions of the Summit, Christa Schweng, EESC President, declared:“I deeply regret that the two consultative bodies of the European Union and the African Union, the European…

EESC Proposes Social Ombudsman Network

Panos Gkofas

The EESC is urging the creation of a European network of special ombudsmen to help SMEs cope with the financial and funding issues they are experiencing, particularly as a result of the COVID crisis. The Committee also stresses that for SMEs to take up AI there needs to be the political will to support them…