The EESC has weighed in on the EU's proposal to regulate environmental, social and governance (ESG) ratings. In an opinion adopted in October 2023, the Committee emphasises the need for quality standards to combat greenwashing and advocates the mandatory inclusion of the principle of double materiality.

The definitions of "ESG ratings" and "ESG rating providers" need to be refined to exclude certain non-commercial activities from the regulation's scope. The EESC also recommends establishing an EU sustainability agency.

ESG ratings guide investments toward sustainable practices, aiding the shift to a climate-neutral economy. Krzysztof Balon, EESC rapporteur, welcomes the Commission's proposal, emphasising "the need for rigorous standards, transparency and conflict prevention to foster trust in financial markets and achieve a climate-neutral economy".

To ensure quality and combat greenwashing, the EESC proposes an authorisation process and organisational requirements for ESG rating providers. They suggest a "double materiality" standard, mandating companies to report on sustainability's impact on their business and society/environment. "This aims to enhance information reliability through regulated competition among providers", says EESC co-rapporteur Andrea Mone.

Additionally, the EESC suggests refining "ESG ratings" and excluding non-commercial evaluations by certain groups from regulation. The Committee advocates establishing an EU sustainability agency to fill market gaps by rating SMEs, service providers and social economy enterprises. This agency would restore public confidence in financial markets and facilitate dispute resolution, a priority for the EESC. (tk)

The conference on #ReskillEU – new jobs for energy and transport in Europe, co-hosted by the TEN section and the European Commission's DG Research and Innovation in Brussels on 8 November 2023, sent a clear message: the EU must have a structured and efficient plan to develop the critical skills that are needed, if the energy and transport transitions are to happen.

Clean energy and transport urgently need new skills, knowledge and capacities, and the EU's pathway towards net zero emissions by 2050 can only be successful if it goes hand in hand with a workforce equipped with the right skillset.

Referring to the importance of "new skills and knowledge for a smooth green and digital transition in the transport and energy sector," EESC president Oliver Röpke said: "A focus on the green and digital transition must not overlook the human element in achieving these goals. We need to make sure that all members of society are part of this transition."

To ensure that workers are equipped with the required "new" skills, the EU must act now, in line with the objectives set in the European Skills Agenda for 2025 and against the background of the European Year of Skills 2023.

The EU renewables sector currently needs over 1.2 million skilled workers and – according to the International Renewable Energy Agency – these figures are expected to increase annually until 2050.

The same goes for transport, which employs over 15 million people in the EU. Transport is a sector that is undergoing rapid transformation and being shaped a great deal by automation, electrification and greening technologies.

"When we look at the energy and transport sectors in Europe, the magnitude of the skills challenge becomes strikingly clear," pointed out Baiba Miltoviča, the TEN section president. "We must ensure that the development of knowledge and skills is at the forefront of our efforts. This entails a commitment to continuous learning, retraining and upskilling to meet the evolving demands." (mp)

At its conference in Bilbao on 10-11 October 2023, the EESC issued a strong plea urging the European Union to launch a European action plan to fight rare diseases.

The main goal is to step up cooperation between national health systems to provide better diagnoses, treatment and care to patients with rare diseases.

Rare diseases pose a serious problem across all EU Member States;  the nascent European Health Union could play a key role in tackling them.

In practice, rare diseases are actually less rare than we might think. The figures are alarming: currently, there are over 7 000 rare diseases affecting 8% of the EU's population, approximately 36 million people.

Organised by the Section for Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society (TEN), the conference brought together 50 speakers, 45 EESC members, the European Commission's Director General for Health and Food Safety, 3 Members of the European Parliament and around 550 participants from all over Europe.

"The European Health Union we are building must protect and care for every citizen. We have a duty to support people living with rare diseases and their families. Our efforts will continue to make a difference to all those in need," said Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety.

"The fact is that "rare diseases" are not rare at all. It is a pan-European challenge that requires a pan-European solution," echoed Oliver Röpke, EESC president, while Baiba Miltoviča, TEN section president, added: "We need a European action plan to allow patients with rare diseases to be treated in the most suitable EU Member State: they deserve the best care, no matter where it is available in Europe." (mp)

COP28 provides a crucial juncture for nations to reaffirm and beef up their commitments to combat climate change. The Paris Agreement, established during COP21, set the stage for collective efforts to limit global temperature rise. In COP28, countries have the chance to revisit and strengthen their climate targets, ensuring that they align with the latest scientific assessments and the ever-increasing urgency of the climate crisis.

The COP28 conference convenes from 30 November to 12 December 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The EESC is actively participating in the annual negotiations.

At COP28, the first Global Stocktake of the implementation of the Paris Agreement will conclude. Each stocktake is a two-year process, carried out every five years, to assess the world's collective progress towards achieving its climate goals. The first Global Stocktake is at the mid-point of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its SDGs, including Goal 13 (climate action). 

In a letter to parties sent in July 2023, the presidency announced that COP 28 will focus on four paradigm shifts:

• Fast-tracking the energy transition and slashing emissions before 2030;
• Transforming climate finance by delivering on old promises and setting the framework for a new deal on finance;
• Putting nature, people, lives and livelihoods at the heart of climate action; and
• Mobilising for the most inclusive COP ever.

The EESC will be part of the EU delegation and will count on the participation of  EESC President, Oliver Röpke, the six members of the Ad Hoc Group on COP, Peter Schmidt,  Isabel Caño Aguilar, Josep Puxeu Rocamora, Antje Sabine Gerstein,  Neža Repanšek  and Arnaud Schwartz plus the EESC youth delegate to the UNFCCC Diandra NÍ Bhuachalla. (ks)

In a world striving for sustainable progress, it is evident that significant challenges loom large halfway through the timeline of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In its opinion adopted in the October plenary, the EESC stresses the need for the European Union to adopt an integrated and comprehensive strategy with ambitious, long-term goals and plans.

A recent UN report reveals alarming trends, indicating that only 12% of around 140 SDG targets are on track globally. The EESC urges for a lasting political commitment from the EU involving early stakeholder engagement and sufficient resources. The committee stresses that SDGs should remain a commitment beyond 2030.

The EESC underscores the importance of a long-term political commitment from the Commission, extending beyond the current term of office. This commitment should include early stakeholder involvement, representation from other institutions and adequate resources to ensure inclusive civil society organisation participation. The EESC firmly believes that the SDGs must remain a long-term commitment, even beyond 2030.

Maria Nikolopoulou, the rapporteur of the opinion said: "We urge the Commission to keep SDG implementation high on the political agenda, even beyond 2030, and put the means to prepare an EU overarching strategy for the next mandate into place".

To accelerate progress, the EESC recommends shifting from a siloed to a holistic approach, simplifying policies for sustainable development. Engaging diverse sectors, including civil society, public and private sectors, academia, and youth and women's organisations, is crucial. The EESC advocates for a structured civil society dialogue involving companies, trade unions and organisations on the ground.

"SDGs are still perfectly relevant today. We should continue to work on them together", said co-rapporteur Antje Gerstein. (ks)

The EESC held its 9th Western Balkans Civil Society Forum on 19-20 October 2023, signalling a renewed momentum for the region to join the EU, in view of the current geopolitical situation, and a clear commitment by EU leaders to the enlargement policy.

Representatives of civil society organisations (CSOs) stressed the need for greater support and safeguarding of civic space to facilitate the essential socio-economic reforms required for EU integration.

The forum was organised in cooperation with the European Commission, the European Training Foundation, the Regional Cooperation Council and the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Opening the forum, EESC president Oliver Röpke said: "The EESC has been an integral part in the EU's enlargement process and I am proud to see that we are taking our support a step further. Only a few weeks ago, the EESC took a historic decision to open our doors to the EU candidate countries by appointing enlargement candidate members".

Vice-President of the European Commission for Democracy and Demography, Dubravka Šuica said: "I would like to say to the countries of the Western Balkans that our present and our future are intimately connected. I welcome the EESC's initiative on enlargement candidate members to include them in your advisory work. The EESC is the first of the European Union bodies to do this".

The speakers, who came from various CSOs and NGOs across all countries in the Western Balkans, mentioned the challenges that civil society organisations are facing, such as sporadic consultations, notable decline in cooperation with governments and limited involvement in the monitoring and implementation process of the European policies.

The forum discussed the state of the education system, youth policy and skills development in the Western Balkans, including adult education, lifelong learning and vocational education and training.

The third session was dedicated to civil society's contribution to the implementation of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans.

The Declaration adopted will be a step towards the EU-Western Balkans Summit in December. (at)

On 26 October, the European Economic and Social Committee unveiled its plan for a comprehensive EU water strategy. The EESC is leading the way as the first European institution to take concrete steps to address the water crisis. Its proposals include: water consumption labels, a Blue Transition Fund, water conditionality in EU fund and a dedicated EU Commissioner for water.

The cost of inaction on water is estimated to be up to five times higher than taking action, putting businesses at a significant financial disadvantage. Europe has a unique opportunity to turn water challenges into opportunities for technological development, societal progress and business growth. However, the current fragmented approach is inadequate in addressing water scarcity, pollution, and climate change.

EESC President Oliver Röpke presented a political declaration with a set of principles and concrete actions to make the Blue Deal a reality. "Water is THE priority", Röpke said, "We need to learn from the mistakes that have been made with climate, energy and critical raw materials, and adopt a standalone water strategy that's on an equal footing with the EU Green Deal."

Member of the European Parliament, Pernille Weiss, endorsed the call for action, highlighting the necessity of true water resilience in the EU. Virginijus Sinkevičius, European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, commended the EESC's water initiative, placing freshwater management in the European spotlight.

The EESC aims to intensify pressure on EU institutions and Member States for an integrated water strategy ahead of the European Commission's Water Resilience initiative in 2024. It will also work on additional opinions examining specific aspects of the Blue Deal.

Mariana Mazzucato, co-chair of the Global Commission on the Economics of Water, warned that neglecting the water crisis hinders progress on climate change and Sustainable Development Goals. UN Special Rapporteur Pedro Arrojo-Agudo emphasised water as a common good, requiring democratic governance based on sustainability and human rights.

The Committee stresses the EU's role in addressing the global water crisis, with plans to advocate for international action on water-related issues at COP28 in December. (gb)

A new report from the Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law (FRRL) Group of the EESC highlights the growing challenges civil society organisations face in Europe. The report was unveiled on 7 November during the FRRL Group's conference on the current state of the rule of law and its impact on civic space.

The fourth annual EESC conference on fundamental rights and the rule of law examined the emerging trends and challenges, and civil society's indispensable role in overseeing and upholding the rule of law based on the FRRL Group report and on the European Commission's 2023 Rule of Law Report.

President Oliver Röpke emphasised the centrality of defending freedom, democracy and human rights, and proposed the establishment of a Civil Society Forum on Fundamental Rights and the Rule of Law. European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, mentioned the vital role of civil society in upholding the rule of law, calling for its protection, support and empowerment.

The Commission's 4th Rule of Law Report was adopted in July 2023. Like the 2022 report, it contains country-specific recommendations for each Member State. This year's report also assesses the progress made in implementing recommendations from the previous year, roughly two-thirds of which have been fully or partially addressed, according to the Commission.

During the conference, the EESC FRRL Group released its report based on country visits to Greece, Finland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden in 2022. The report reveals that no Member State is exempt from challenges, and identifies trends and pressing threats to fundamental rights and the rule of law in Europe. These challenges include obstacles encountered by civil society organisations in securing funding, evolving socioeconomic changes in the media sector and persistent issues related to the speed of justice – all of which are evident across various European countries.

Paul Soete, President of the FRRL Group, calls for stronger support at national and EU levels to safeguard civic space and democracy as a whole. (gb)

EESC members Peter Schmidt, Andreas Thurner, Piroska Kállay and Maurizio Reale attended the 51st plenary of the United Nations Committee on World Food Security (CFS) in Rome. World food security is a critical global concern that transcends borders, impacting the well-being of billions of people and the stability of nations. As the global population continues to grow, and climate change poses unprecedented challenges to agriculture, ensuring food security has become an urgent priority.

The EESC called for a European Food Policy Council to ensure a participatory approach to policy making and urged participants to take the necessary measures to control food speculation. (ks)

The long-awaited updating of EU pharma legislation offers potential benefits for Europeans, but should give more consideration to strategic autonomy

The proposed revamp of the EU regulation on the pharmaceuticals sector is welcome, says the EESC, but it should put greater emphasis on broader social and geopolitical concerns in addition to ensuring that the industry remains competitive and attracts investment.

"We need to achieve strategic autonomy and for that we need security of supply. Administrative and financial incentives have to be developed," says Martin Schaffenrath, rapporteur for the EESC opinion on the Commission's proposal. "We need investment in this sector. We need sustainable support for this area. And we need to bring back production."

The pharmaceutical industry is a key economic player in the EU, employing 840 000 people directly and three times as many indirectly. In 2021, the industry invested EUR 41 billion in research and innovation. The opinion makes it clear that supporting the sector as a high-tech cornerstone of the EU economy should be at the heart of the Union's long-term approach.

To reduce dependence on third countries, the EESC supports incentives for EU drug manufacturers and advocates relocating production from non-EU nations. It also proposes the establishment of a European contingency reserve of medicines of strategic importance. Stressing equitable strategic autonomy, the EESC recommends expanding joint EU medicine purchases, citing the successful COVID-19 vaccine procurement example.

Focusing on the social importance of regulatory revision, the opinion proposes a special EU-level fund for rare diseases, ensuring treatment access for all European patients and mitigating healthcare disparities among Member States, especially when statutory health insurance falls short of covering entire treatment costs. (dm)

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) need more effective, better structured support to transition to sustainable business practices

In an own-initiative opinion, the EESC focuses on the concept of modern business responsibility, the role of MSMEs in promoting its principles and the need for lawmakers to create an enabling environment for MSMEs to fully embrace those principles.

The EESC defines modern business responsibility as a proactive, voluntary approach encompassing economic, social, and environmental sustainability, surpassing legal obligations. The opinion highlights challenges that MSMEs face in their efforts to adopt these practices. To address this, the EESC recommends establishing MSME alliances, fostering skills and competences crucial for this transition. Collaboration between employers' organisations, trade unions, professional chambers, associations and civil society is essential to collectively tackle these challenges.

Emphasising a broad and pragmatic approach, the EESC recognises the diverse nature of MSMEs and rejects a one-size-fits-all solution. Rapporteurs Ferre Wyckmans and Milena Angelova stress the need for proactive thinking, requiring support from social partners and policymakers.

The EESC advocates for a supportive policy framework that avoids complexity, ensuring that resources concentrate on grassroots-level business responsibility. The opinion recommends developing practical tools such as checklists, templates and calculators, and alternative-scenario analyses that MSMEs can use to develop their operations in line with modern business responsibility, and to report on their commitments and achievements.

Rapporteur Rudolf Kolbe insists on integrating responsibility into all business processes, extending the concept to self-employed workers, and emphasises continuous professional development.

The committee makes it clear that the concept of business responsibility also evolves with time, ensuring the proactive and forward-looking management of long-term digital, green and demographic developments while strengthening resilience during crises. (dm)

The EESC hosted a conference in Brussels on 8 November, focusing on the social dimension within the National Recovery and Resilience Plans (NRRPs) funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the EU's largest financial instrument.

The RRF aims to promote social cohesion and mitigate the pandemic's social impact. However, shortcomings in the NRRPs persist, including uneven investment in social programmes across Member States, inadequate consultation with social partners and a weak gender dimension.

EESC President, Oliver Röpke, emphasised the need for new measures to address imbalances in EU-funded social programmes, particularly in housing, training and education. Evelyn Regner, Vice-President of the European Parliament, highlighted the uneven social dimension in NRRPs, stressing the effectiveness of the milestones mechanism in countries with strong social partner involvement.

Nicolas Schmit, EU Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, called for unallocated RRF funds to be considered for investment in housing, noting that while the RRF has increased the capacity for social investment in the EU, Member States face housing problems that need urgent attention.

Participants in the conference criticised the inadequacy of gender provisions in the RRF, falling short of EU commitments to gender equality. While acknowledging ongoing projects in some Member States that could enhance gender equality in the long term, the debate underscored the need for a more robust and comprehensive approach to address the social and gender dimensions in the NRRPs.

The conference addressed various aspects of these plans, including social cohesion and the youth dimension, with a particular focus on educational measures in NRRP programmes aimed at young people. Participants underscored the need for more comprehensive strategies to facilitate the transition from education to the workplace, and emphasised the importance of providing young people with a platform to actively engage in decisions that shape their future. (ll)

Despite many recent breakthroughs, and the fact that the EU gender equality index reached record levels this year, much still needs to be done for women to achieve equal rights with men in many domains.

On 25 October, the EESC held a debate on gender equality as part of European Gender Equality Week – an annual event organised by the Parliament aimed at highlighting the EU's continuous efforts to put women at the centre of legislation.

Although progress is being made, it is far from satisfactory. In 2023, the EU gender equality index registered the highest annual increase ever, bringing the EU score to 70.2 points, as reported this week by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE).

Vice President of the European Parliament, Evelyn Regner, pointed out the continued segregation in the labour market, with women concentrated in lower-paying sectors and men in higher-paying ones. She stressed the urgency of tackling gender inequalities, especially in equal job opportunities. Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, highlighted the EU's efforts over the last four years to protect women's rights, including proposed legislation on pay discrimination and women's representation on company boards.

EESC President, Oliver Röpke, reaffirmed the Committee's commitment to mainstreaming gender equality across all policy work, and encouraged female leadership within the EESC. The EESC will once again take part in European Gender Equality Week, and organise debates on the impact of the climate crisis on gender equality, violence against women and gender inequality in access to financial markets. (ll)

The impact of disinformation on the 2024 European Parliament elections and ways to ensure civil society plays a more effective role in promoting those elections, with a strong focus on young people: these were the main topics discussed at the seminar "European Elections 2024: Why vote?", organised by the EESC in Bratislava on 23-24 November.

The event was hosted by the European Labour Authority and held in partnership with the Slovak Economic and Social Council and with the support of the Liaison Office of the European Parliament in Bratislava. It brought together more than 130 people: EESC members, communication and press officers from civil society organisations, journalists and representatives of economic and social councils from seven Member States.

Discussions spanning over two days revealed that Europeans need to know how EU decisions affect their lives if campaigns to boost voter turnout are to have any real effect. Messages need to be tailored to each EU country and barriers preventing young people from entering politics need to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

To encourage voters to turn out in force, it is crucial to effectively combat disinformation and to encourage strong and clear communication about what is at stake, making voters feel the commitment of politicians who will represent them in the EU.

Opening the seminar, EESC president Oliver Ropke said: "If we want the 2024 elections to be successful, then all of us – the EU institutions, the media, communication specialists – need to work together to raise awareness in order to fight disinformation and, most importantly, to bring Europe closer to its people.  Above all, they need to know that these elections are about them."

Mr Röpke and the EESC delegation also visited the Jan Kuciak Investigative centre and paid tribute to journalist Jan Kuciak who was murdered in 2018 for exposing high-level corruption in his country. (ll)

The European Economic and Social Committee held a screening of the film “Until the last drop,” about the growing freshwater crisis, in the presence of Polish film director Ewa Ewart. The screening, was part of a series of EESC events on the topic of water, culminating in the conference “Call for an EU Blue Deal”, where the Committee unveiled its water strategy for the EU.

"Water is life, let us protect and care for it. No water, no life on this planet", said Ewa Ewart introducing the screening of her documentary on water on 24 October in Brussels.

The event was opened by EESC President Oliver Röpke, with the participation of Vice President Laurențiu Plosceanu and member Pietro De Lotto, who spearheaded the EESC Blue Deal Initiative. Over 100 guests attended the screeening, including EESC members, EU representatives and journalists.

Ewa Ewart's films deal with difficult issues and dangerous subjects. She has depicted stories on the borderline between life and death. Her films talk of people and wars. "Until the last drop" is also about war, she says: "It tells the story of a different war, the stupidest of all. It is a story about the war man declared on water – a source of life – in the name of progress. And the hope we can find where we are concentrating on our rivers – the primary source of fresh, clean water we need to exist. Every day, more and more people are becoming aware that we do not have much time before it is too late to change how we manage water – our most precious resource". (ehp)

To celebrate its 65th anniversary, the EESC will organise a debate, hosting distinguished guest speakers and high-level representatives.

The debate "EESC@65: Empowering Civil Society, Defending Democracy" will take place on Wednesday 13 December 2023, during the EESC's plenary session at 17:30 and can be followed via web stream on the EESC's official website.