The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) acknowledges persistent trends towards institutionalisation & stresses the urgent need for a legally binding directive that translates Article 19 on legal capacity of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) into concrete measures. Additionally, the EESC advocates for mandatory national de-institutionalisation strategies, developed in collaboration with disabled people’s organisations (DPOs), with allocated budgets, deadlines, and measurable targets. The EESC also urges the integration of de-institutionalisation into the EU’s affordable housing plan, ensuring accessibility requirements in all EU-funded housing projects & the development of national accessible housing strategies. Stronger coordination between ESF+, ERDF, & InvestEU is essential to expand community-based supported housing solutions.
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Download — stanovisko EHSV: Social inclusion and independent living for persons with disabilities through high quality and specialized social services
The EESC regrets, that the Commission has once again refrained from presenting the Annual Sustainable Growth Survey (ASGS) and stresses that sustainable economic growth is a necessary condition for Europe to meet its multiple commitments, welcomes the European Macroeconomic Report, which provides a deep dive into the underlying structural challenges facing the EU and the new recommendation on human capital, which is a crucial element in filling the EU technological gap, also taking into account the EU demographic challenge. The Committee reiterates its call for more robust commonfiscal capacity, supported by targeted issuances of joint debt, to help fill this growing gap in public investment, and for permanent macroeconomic stabilisation instruments to address shocks.
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Download — stanovisko EHSV: 2026 European Semester – Autumn Package
The EESC calls for the establishment of a dedicated Union strategy for islands (Islands Pact), supported by a specific legislative framework (Islands Act). That framework should be accompanied by a formal strategy and provide for the effective implementation of an ‘insularity clause’, with a view to systematically integrating the specific needs and constraints of islands into Union policies on cohesion, transport, energy, state aid, the environment and maritime affairs.
In line with the European Commission President’s political guidelines, the initiative will aim to boost new industrial uses of AI and improve public services’ delivery, fostering innovation and competitiveness.
In this opinion, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) outlines its recommendations regarding the proposed regulation for the Erasmus+ program spanning 2028 to 2034. The recommendations include the following: • Establish a clear distinction between Youth, Education and Training, and Sport. • Ensure transparent budget allocation between Youth and Vocational Education and Training (VET). • Implement measures to safeguard youth participation and support the Solidarity Corps. • Develop strategies to enhance inclusion across the program. • Strengthen initiatives to improve skills, thereby facilitating better outcomes in the labor market.
