25/02/2020
At its plenary session on 20 February, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) welcomed the instigators of the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) “Eat Original. Unmask Your Food”, which calls on the European Commission to impose mandatory origin labelling for all food products in order to prevent fraud and guarantee consumers' right to information.
20/02/2020
This is not a battle of numbers, but a battle of visions. The vision of the new Commission "A union that Strives for more" and the new Strategic agenda that EU leaders set in Sibiu, reasserted during the European Councils of July and December 2019, must be fulfilled by coherent decisions with the new MFF.
20/02/2020
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) throws its support behind the 2020 Commission work programme, underlining that civil society can make a valuable contribution to placing sustainable development at the core of people's personal and shared responsibility.
20/02/2020
I am deeply shocked by the attack that killed 11 people in a shooting in the German city of Hanau last night. This is yet another tragedy, whose xenophobic nature, if confirmed, is unacceptable in a fully democratic Europe.
It is with great emotion and compassion for the victims and their families that I express our sincerest condolences and our strong solidarity with the German authorities.
20/02/2020
On 19 February, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held a debate with the International Labour Organization (ILO) on the future of work and the European Pillar of Social Rights, with the purpose of exploring further avenues for cooperation and stepping up efforts to make the rapidly changing world of work fair, decent and inclusive for the generations to come.
19/02/2020
- European Green Deal must lead to more economic prosperity and convergence
- Sustainable growth must be a top priority
- Measures to close the investment gap are essential
19/02/2020
- Brexit: The EESC pays tribute to its British members: "Ceci n'est qu'un au revoir, mes amis"
- End the Cage Age
- The priorities of Croatia’s EU presidency command our support
- Green future: Europe has to show the way and lead by example
17/02/2020
The EESC President
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ECI Day is an annual conference that has organised by the EESC and its civil society partners since 2012, the year in which the first ECI Regulation 211/2011 was published. The 2020 (ninth) edition will be marked by a major development, which is the entry into force of the new Regulation introducing substantial improvements and simplifications to the ECI procedure. However, the conference will go beyond the text of...
Climate change is on everyone's mind, and young people all over the globe are mobilising to save the planet. The European Economic and Social Committee is joining the movement and is asking the young participants at YEYS for the best way forward in protecting our planet.
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Opinions in the spotlight
Reference:
ECO/503-EESC-2019-04990The EESC is concerned to note the euro area's economic downturn and the gradual end to a fall in unemployment, wedded to the persistent higher incidence of risk factors affecting economic performance. It is the European Green Deal that the EESC sees as the backbone of the future EU and euro-area economic configuration – the potential start of a fundamental change and a turning point. If managed successfully, it could move Europe up a gear economically and socially; if not, its failure could fatally jeopardise the integrity of the EU.
Reference:
ECO/502-EESC-2019The EESC welcomes the approach taken by the annual growth strategy for 2020, based on the four key pillars that are the environment, productivity, stability and fairness and also welcomes the inclusion of the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. It also welcomes the fact that social rights are highlighted in the 2020 growth strategy and hopes that special attention will be given to the gender issue.
Reference:
NAT/765-EESC-2019The EESC is currently drafting an opinion that aims to define what "the sustainable economy we need" should look like by exploring new economic models, investment decisions vis-à-vis technological advances as well as novel indicators for growth and competitiveness.
Reference:
ECO/494-EESC-2019Taxation policies are fundamental for the SDGs as they determine the economic environment in which investment, employment, and innovation take place while providing the government with revenues for financing public spending. Businesses are global drivers of productivity, inclusive economic growth, job creation, investment and innovation. Private sector expertise holds the keys to unlocking many of the challenges linked to sustainable development. Tax bases should be as broad as possible allowing tax rates to be as non-distortive as possible.
Work in progress