The aim of the opinion is to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of both conventional and organic farming in order to identify the policy levers that are most effective and most likely to attain food sufficiency in EU Member States, while ensuring the transition to more sustainable food systems.
Information memo: Sustainable food in the EU during the crisis on the basis of the new CAP: the contribution of conventional and organic farming to ensuring sustainable food sufficiency in EU Member States
In 2021 the European Commission announced the revision of the Council Directive 2011/64/EU on the excise rules for tobacco. In the inception impact assessment, the EC stated that there are areas of weakness and ambiguity in the current legal arrangements which give rise to market distortions, legal uncertainty and can also hinder the detection and prevention of fraud. The review will ensure that the rules remain fit for the purpose and improve the proper functioning of the internal market, and a high level of health protection. The policy changes focus on:
Ongoing (updated on 27/02/2024) - Bureau decision date: 18/01/2024
The EESC is expected to contribute to the mid-term evaluation of the Digital Europe Programme by assessing its implementation in selected key capacity areas through the analysis of national stakeholders' contributions and the application of the 3 main criteria: effectiveness, relevance, inclusion of civil society and its added value.
Ongoing (updated on 14/02/2024) - Bureau decision date: 30/11/2023
In March 2024, the European Commission will launch a Water Resilience Initiative, as announced by President von der Leyen in her 2023 State of the Union Speech. CCMI will work on an opinion as a follow-up to the EESC call for an EU Blue Deal. This will contribute to feed the public debate about achieving water resilience, in particular ahead of the European Elections and will also provide input to the next Commission mandate.
Ongoing (updated on 07/02/2024) - Bureau decision date: 24/10/2023
Climate change is a matter of urgency and demands a green shift in our economies. To achieve the EU's climate targets, a profound modernisation of the capital stock is needed. This entails a massive expansion of public investments. The need for an EU-level investment fund to finance the green transition is also a matter of economic strength and sustainable competitiveness. One central element of closing the financing gap is an investment friendly reform of the EU fiscal rules. While the reform process is still ongoing and is supposed to be finished by the end of this legislature, it is already clear that the fiscal space for public investments at national level will not significantly increase with the reform.
