Sociale rettigheder

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  • Vedtaget on 13/12/2023 - Bureau decision date: 25/01/2023
    Reference
    ECO/612-EESC-2023-2023-00848
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    Greece
    Plenary session number
    583
    -

    One of the main conclusions of the 8th Cohesion Report is that although cohesion and convergence among regions in the European Union has improved, there are still remaining gaps especially in less developed regions related with their territorial characteristics. EU islands, mountain areas and sparsely populated areas still face many challenges on their growth and income and disparities exist.

    In these regions, there are still a lot of gaps in terms of employment and investment, social exclusion is evident and gender disparities have not diminished.

    EESC opinion: Main challenges faced by EU islands, and mountainous and sparsely populated areas
  • Vedtaget on 25/10/2023 - Bureau decision date: 23/03/2023
    Reference
    ECO/620-EESC-2023
    Employers - GR I
    Greece
    Workers - GR II
    Spain
    Plenary session number
    582
    -

    Every year in February, the EESC adopts an opinion on Annual Sustainable Growth Survey, which the Commission usually presents at the end of November in the year before. The Committee works under tight deadlines, in anticipation of the referral, to finalise the opinion before the March Council discussion on the topic. To reinforce the Committee's impact throughout the entire European Semester, an own-initiative opinion with additional considerations is regularly produced by October taking into account the overall European Semester, which plays a central role in implementing the Recovery and Resilience Facility and is vital in current discussions about the review of the EU macro-economic governance framework.

    EESC opinion: Additional considerations on the Annual Sustainable Growth Survey 2023
  • Igangværende (updated on 28/02/2024) - Bureau decision date: 21/09/2023
    Reference
    ECO/631-EESC
    Plenary session number
    587
    -

    This opinion focuses on the reform and investment measures in the Member States, in particular those based on the Country-Specific Recommendations 2023, and their implementation, in order to assess the effectiveness of these measures and the possibilities for better targeting of proposals, improved implementation and the monitoring and involvement of organised civil society in the procedures. This opinion also looks at issues concerning the ongoing reform of the EU’s economic governance rules, the central objective of which is to strengthen public debt sustainability while promoting sustainable and inclusive growth in all Member States through reforms and investment. Moreover, the opinion continues the previous consultation exercises by examining the state of the implementation of the reforms and investments provided for in the national Recovery and Resilience Plans and which are financially supported by RRF funds.

  • Vedtaget on 20/09/2023 - Bureau decision date: 25/04/2023
    Reference
    ECO/621-EESC-2023
    Workers - GR II
    Spain
    Employers - GR I
    Czech Republic
    Plenary session number
    581
    -

    The focus of current informal discussions in the Council is on how cohesion policy can adjust to the new circumstances following the unforeseen shocks that Europe has faced in the last years without losing its long-term development goals. The Spanish Presidency refers to "Cohesion policy 2.0" in this context, which particularly means that cohesion policy needs to be transformed and become more modern and flexible. Also, it will need to take into account the RRF which will come to an end at some time.

    EESC opinion: The Recovery and Resilience Facility and cohesion policy: towards cohesion policy 2.0
  • Igangværende (updated on 06/03/2024) - Bureau decision date: 11/07/2023
    Reference
    ECO/630-EESC-2023-2023-04451
    Plenary session number
    586
    -

    At the request of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU, the EESC is drawing up this opinion to suggest recommendations on how to tackle inequalities, foster upwards social convergence and strengthen social security systems and ensure its long-term affordability, in an EU economic governance framework/European Semester defined around debt sustainability, productive investments and reforms. This opinion is also focusing on the implications of such a framework for the European Semester, and the further strengthening of the social pillar herein. Finally, the opinion also looks at ways of continuing to further develop fiscal instruments that have a stabilising role at the European level, based e.g. on the experience of SURE.

    EESC section opinion: Boosting long-term inclusive growth through reforms and investment
  • Vedtaget on 14/06/2023 - Bureau decision date: 23/01/2023
    Reference
    ECO/610-EESC-2023
    Workers - GR II
    Lithuania
    Plenary session number
    579
    -

    The movement of skilled workers out of regions already suffering from lower economic development may further undermine the growth and development potential of these regions. Such a "brain drain" from vulnerable EU regions therefore may contribute to widening territorial disparities, going against the objective of territorial cohesion set out in Article 174 TFEU. Given the cross-border impact of such developments the Commission considers that action at EU level is necessary.

    EESC opinion: Harnessing talents in EU regions
  • Vedtaget on 27/04/2023 - Bureau decision date: 27/10/2022
    Reference
    ECO/600-EESC-2022
    Plenary session number
    578
    -
    EESC opinion: The EESC's recommendations for a solid reform of the European Semester
  • Vedtaget on 26/10/2022 - Bureau decision date: 22/03/2022
    Reference
    ECO/589-EESC-2022-03044
    Workers - GR II
    Austria
    EESC opinion: Additional considerations on the Annual Sustainable Growth Survey 2022
  • Vedtaget on 20/10/2021 - Bureau decision date: 26/04/2021
    Reference
    ECO/556-EESC-2021
    Employers - GR I
    Portugal

    The EESC strongly believes in the importance of the next Semester cycle as a key instrument for implementing the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

    However, it is still concerned about the lack of clarity in most Member States as regards their National Recovery and Resilience Plan governance systems and the distribution of responsibilities for their implementation.

    The EESC would also draw attention to the need to measure progress in implementation, for which good monitoring indicators are needed; in this connection it welcomes the "Recovery and Resilience Scoreboard" initiative.

    Moreover, the COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the need for a strong industrial policy to avoid dependence on other economic zones for many products and services.

    The EESC wants to see real action in this respect by Member States, in terms of investment in education, infrastructure and industrial policy to raise employment and boost European industry.

    EESC opinion: Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy 2021 (additional opinion)
  • Vedtaget on 30/10/2019 - Bureau decision date: 14/05/2019
    Reference
    ECO/497-EESC-2019-01-01
    (Czech Republic
    EESC opinion: Euro area economic policy 2019 (additional opinion)