15/07/2020 30/09/2020
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) highlights the need for the social, economic and environmental impact of the coronavirus crisis to be duly taken into account in future EU territorial policies. Cohesion policy can be the driver of Europe's recovery.
22/09/2020
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has adopted the opinion Decent minimum wages across Europe following the European Parliament's request for an exploratory opinion. The request was made after the Commission announced that it was considering proposing a legal instrument to ensure that every EU worker is entitled to a minimum wage allowing a decent standard of living.
21/09/2020
Applications for the prize, which seeks to reward one project from each EU Member State and from the UK, will close on 30 September
21/09/2020
The EESC strongly condemns the continuous violations of human rights and the rule of law that have been taking place in Belarus since the presidential elections, which were neither free nor fair. The sweeping brutality and torture perpetrated against peaceful protesters, especially women and young people, and the unabated, arbitrary and unexplained arrests and detentions cannot be left unpunished.
18/09/2020
On 17 September, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) hosted its end-of-term ceremony during the last plenary session before the renewal of the institution in October. Luca Jahier, president of the EESC since April 2018, expressed his gratitude to all of the members and highlighted the important contribution of the civil society organisations represented at the EESC to the European project.
17/09/2020
This is the last plenary I have the honour to address as President of the EESC. Two and a half years ago, in April 2018, I invited you to dream with me of a re-energised Europe and to work together for a second European Renaissance! I called for a strong civic engagement for our sustainable European future.
17/09/2020
In this issue:
- The Grassroots View - Episode 9: Communication during the crisis
- 'Dessine-moi...' - series of articles
- EU gender equality strategy must not fail to address the damaging effects of the COVID-19 crisis on women
- Artificial Intelligence: EU law should set safe boundaries for high-risk applications
28/07/2020
The EESC President
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This website is dedicated to the work the EESC, its members and the civil society organisations it represents have been doing to get through the crisis and prepare for the future.
Rewarding solidarity initiatives to tackle the Covid-19 emergency and its consequences in Europe
The Civil Solidarity Prize will reward up to 29 not-for-profit initiatives carried out by natural persons, civil society organisations or private companies which aim to tackle the Covid-19 crisis and its manifold consequences.
Upcoming events
Opinions in the spotlight
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ECO/507-EESC-2020The forthcoming Presidency of the Council of the EU (Germany), aims to conclude together with the other EU Member States the new Territorial Agenda of the European Union (TAEU) together with the revision of the urban development policy based on the Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities and also to update the steps for further developing of the Urban Agenda for the EU.
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INT/898-EESC-2020Europe is embarking on a transition towards climate neutrality and digital leadership. European businesses can lead the way as we enter this new age, as they has done in the past.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are essential to Europe’s competitiveness and prosperity. Based on the new SME Strategy, the EU will support SMEs by:
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INT/909-EESC-2020The EESC believes that the Communication on Tourism and transport in 2020 and beyond should be a strategic policy tool for rethinking the EU sustainable model of tourism and transport and calls for a comprehensive package of measures.
EESC opinion: Tourism and transport in 2020 and beyond
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INT/911-EESC-2020The EESC affirms that it is time for the European Commission to propose legislation on mandatory due diligence that acknowledges responsibility based on current standards and offers a clear and secure legal framework for European businesses. It must be ensured that victims of business-related Human Rights infringements have guaranteed access to fair proceedings, courts and authorities.
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TEN/709-EESC-2020Aviation is one of the sectors most badly affected by the Corona crisis and the EU Member States are willing to assist all economic sectors in the recovery process. Nonetheless, it is unlikely that global economic activities will regain pre-Corona levels in the near future. For this reason, the EESC calls upon the Commission to develop a comprehensive road map for the recovery of the entire European aviation sector; such an action plan should include dedicated resources to support all sub-sectors and their workforce.
Carbon markets: Emergence, structuring and challenges for European industry (own-initiative opinion)
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REX/531-EESC-2020Reference:
REX/527-EESC-2020- The common foundation of any EU political engagement leading to an equal development partnership with Africa shall be based on a multidimensional approach, articulating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the respect of Universal Human Rights (UHRs) - including fundamental rights, the right to a healthy environment and the freedom to conduct a business.
- The EESC advocates promoting a decent life and good prospects, creating a middle class and supporting equal partnerships by strengthening sustainable social-liberal democratic structures in Africa.
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REX/532-EESC-2020Key points
Global supply chains (GSC) are key and complex in economic activities across the world and in global trade. Economic growth, job creation and entrepreneurship are also contested by evidence of negative implications for working conditions as well as for sustainability in some supply chains.
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ECO/514-EESC-2020The forthcoming Presidency of the Council of the EU (Germany), aims to further discuss and analyze the policy objective 1 under the Common Provisions Regulation for cohesion policy that refers to '' a smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation''. In this context, the Presidency has asked the EESC to provide an opinion on how the structural measures and cohesion policy programmes can help in this process.
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CCMI/176-EESC-2020Securing sustainable access to raw materials, including metals, industrial minerals and construction raw materials, and particularly Critical Raw Materials (CRM), is of high importance for the EU economy. However, the EU is confronted with a number of technological and environmental challenges along the entire production value chain of primary and secondary raw materials.
Work in progress