emphasises the necessity for the EU to reduce import dependencies, especially for critical goods like pharmaceuticals and semiconductors, and to diversify supply chains by fostering multiple international partnerships;
highlights the urgent need for targeted investments in strategic industries and infrastructure to strengthen economic resilience and bridge productivity gaps among European producers. Such investments should be part of a well-coordinated, comprehensive and adequately financed industrial policy;
recommends expanding trade agreements, particularly with reliable partners in the Global South, and advocates for regulatory efficiency improvements to streamline complex EU frameworks while maintaining high standards;
calls for enhanced financial and technical support mechanisms for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to diversify their suppliers, adopt sustainable business models, and effectively navigate regulatory complexities.
To improve urban mobility and reduce its environmental impact, we must develop Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs). The EESC calls on Member States to develop national programmes to assist local and regional authorities with development and implementation of SUMPs through guidance, capacity building and funding, and on the Commission to support the continuation and expansion of CIVINETs
considers energy affordability, carbon neutrality and energy security to be the core objectives of a balanced energy system.
emphasises the need to maintain baseload generation and a diverse clean energy mix to balance supply and demand, including intermittent and constant production, controllable and non-controllable sources and regional energy differences.
Remarks that a meaningful EU-ASEAN partnership, grounded in principled cooperation and respect for each other’s policy approaches, serves as a stabilising force in an increasingly volatile global environment;
Explains that EU-ASEAN relations follow an established rhythm of annual meetings and working groups, including a joint committee that feeds into higher-level ministerial dialogues and industrial cooperation via specialised forums;
Believes that Civil society plays a pivotal role in fostering interregional cooperation, particularly in advancing participatory political processes and supporting region-to-region consolidation efforts.
agrees with the need to align cohesion policy with pressing EU priorities such as competitiveness, defence, energy transition and water resilience. It welcomes the introduction of financial incentives and more flexible funding conditions to support these goals.
stresses that the overarching goal of cohesion policy—to reduce regional disparities—must remain central. It warns against disproportionately benefiting Member States with lower absorption rates and calls for equal access to incentives like 100% EU financing and extended eligibility.
sees the review as a preview of the next MFF and calls for greater use of financial instruments, long-term revenue reform, and a stronger territorial dimension to ensure strategic investments also contribute to regional convergence and EU unity.
Calls for structured consultation process to be established at European level and meaningful involvement of civil society and social partners in economic policymaking, aiming to boost legitimacy, trust, and ownership across the EU.
Insists that Member States must implement Country-Specific Recommendations more effectively and speed up the implementation of Recovery and Resilience Plans, with better planning, coordination, transparency, and administrative capacity.
Urges coordinated public and private investment, Strategic Investment Fund to boost the EU's financing capacity and stresses the need to rapidly increase a massive mobilization of private savings through the completion of the Capital Markets Union and to increase the EIB’s financial capacity.
Calls for more transparent and structured consultation processes, including formalised procedures, early and meaningful involvement, adequate resources and training, and mechanisms to ensure that feedback results in tangible outcomes.
Shares key lessons from the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), stressing the importance of reducing administrative burdens, streamlining procedures, strengthening the role and the involvement of civil society and social partners, and enhancing coordination, planning, and monitoring.
Stresses the urgent need to address delays in Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) implementation through better planning, resource allocation, and simplified administrative processes. Recommendations include cutting unnecessary paperwork, embracing digital tools, and investing in training to boost project management capacity.
a substantial increase in the size of the next MFF in real terms to meet the EU’s growing challenges. It also recommends revising the inflation adjustment mechanism to preserve the MFF's real value and reshaping the budget into a strategic investment tool that can deliver European public goods and long-term priorities.
a simplification of current funding rules and a streamlining of overlapping programmes to reduce bureaucracy. It advocates for a shift towards performance- and impact-based funding, better monitoring, and improved access to EU funds for local-level actors, civil society, and businesses.
reinforcing investment in areas of clear European interest—such as defence, innovation, infrastructure, and social cohesion—through tools like joint borrowing and co-financing mechanisms. It also calls for the creation of a ‘Democracy Shield’ to protect democratic values and support civil society, independent media, and the rule of law across the EU and in candidate countries.
