Европейски икономически и социален комитет
The health, economic and social crisis of COVID-19 has intensified the severity of the affordable housing crisis that Member States have been facing for years, particularly for homeless people, overcrowded households, residents of working class neighbourhoods and seasonal workers and immigrants – victims of housing conditions that have directly affected the infection rate in society. Although housing policy remains the competence of the Member States, the shortage of decent and affordable housing in the European Union requires a European action plan on housing that includes a comprehensive set of measures, which are easy for people to understand, to help Member States, regions and cities in Europe to sustainably boost the supply of social and affordable housing and effectively combat homelessness.
The COVID-19 pandemic is having a considerable negative impact on the motorcycle industry including through the disruption of production sites and a drop in demand. The European Union must support manufacturers by allowing more flexibility in complying with the deadlines imposed by emission standards in relation to end-of-series vehicles.
The aim of this opinion is to promote European legislation on circular public procurement, through convergence between the main purpose of the contract and environmental protection, greater attention to small and micro-enterprises, local production and the protection of social rights. This can be achieved by looking for and favouring solutions with a lower impact on the environment throughout their lifespan.
The purpose of the opinion is to examine the extent to which existing EU company law currently serves as an "expedient" for the politically-desirable Green Deal and which gaps still need to be closed, in particular regarding corporate social responsibility obligations. The opinion will aim at following-up on the European Commission's initiative on due diligence and broadening the debate on sustainable corporate governance interlinking the social, environmental and economic dimensions.
The purpose of the own-initiative opinion is to contribute to the further development of the Better Regulation agenda and, as part of it, the Fit-For-Future Platform (the envisaged successor of the REFIT Platform) as foresight is to be integrated in the EU policy-making.
This Own Initiative opinion aims to define the special impacts of AI on liberal professional services, the changes of professional profiles and the resultant adaptation requirements in regard to (professional) regulation, professional conduct, professional qualification and training, (financial) supporting measures, infrastructure etc.
The partial paradigm shift inspired by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has already impacted economies, businesses and consumers. The time has come to scale up, using the common sustainable practices already being implemented as a basis for taking these sustainable practices to the next level.