In its opinion adopted at the January plenary, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) supports transport multimodality and smart shipping, pointing out that inland waterway transport is essential for the future and needs to be maintained and developed.
The current socio-economic situation in euro area countries is characterised by a high level of uncertainty, an unprecedented accumulation of public debt and the rise of inflation. Despite initial encouraging expectations for a recovery in the real economy, it seems that the process is more complicated due to the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and the appearance of new variants. During its plenary on 19 January 2022, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted an opinion on the European Commission's (EC) recommendations on the economic policy of the euro area for 2022, according to present-day reality.
The EESC is urging the creation of a European network of special ombudsmen to help SMEs cope with the financial and funding issues they are experiencing, particularly as a result of the COVID crisis. The Committee also stresses that for SMEs to take up AI there needs to be the political will to support them in the process.
Die Auszahlung von EU-Mitteln, auch aus dem Aufbaufonds, muss an die Einhaltung der Rechtsstaatlichkeit in allen Mitgliedstaaten geknüpft werden. Systematische Mängel im Bereich der Rechtsstaatlichkeit untergraben stets die Umsetzung der von der EU finanzierten Programme, und das Fehlen einer raschen und umfassenden Reaktion der EU auf dieses Problem gefährdet ihre Glaubwürdigkeit, warnt der EWSA.
Clear EU taxation rules for energy products and electricity are needed to make sure they continue to contribute to the smooth functioning of the internal market, while at the same time tackling climate- and environment-related challenges. In an opinion "Revision of the Energy Taxation Directive", adopted during its plenary on 20 January 2022, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) welcomed the objective of the European Commission (EC) to clarify and update the existing Union framework and to structure European taxation in a way that favours sustainable non-fossil energy. However, the EESC is also concerned at the possible negative socio-economic impact of some of the measures found in the EC Proposal for a Directive.
In the EU, 2022 will be the Year of Youth. Proposed by the Commission, the Year aims to promote opportunities for young people and engage them to become active citizens and actors of change. Although such an initiative is to be applauded, we must ensure it is geared towards achieving concrete and enduring outcomes for all young Europeans
Angesichts des offensiven Auftretens Chinas und Russlands ist eine erneuerte, verlässliche transatlantische Partnerschaft der Schlüssel zur Wahrung der internationalen Rechtsordnung und des Friedens. Der Europäische Wirtschafts- und Sozialausschuss (EWSA) unterstützt die Idee einer Allianz der Demokratien und bekräftigt, dass die Zivilgesellschaft bei der gemeinsamen Verteidigung universeller Werte und Rechte eine wichtige Rolle spielt.
COVID-19 has caused youth unemployment to soar in many Member States, pushing up the number of young people who neither work nor are in school or in training. National recovery plans represent a unique chance to reverse this trend and secure decent work for all young Europeans.
Die Europäische Kommission hat den Mitgesetzgebern und dem Europäischen Wirtschafts- und Sozialausschuss (EWSA) ihr neues Legislativpaket 2021 zur Bekämpfung von Geldwäsche und Terrorismusfinanzierung vorgelegt. Der EWSA unterstützt in seiner auf der Dezember-Plenartagung verabschiedeten Stellungnahme die Vorschläge voll und ganz. Er betont aber auch, dass die Maßnahmen rasch umgesetzt werden müssen und schlägt wichtige Ergänzungen vor.
More coordinated rules for digital platforms are called for in the own-initiative opinion adopted by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) at its December plenary session. In the global process of transforming industry, digitisation has taken on a fundamental strategic role. The phenomenon is rapidly expanding beyond the borders of the European Union itself.Given the scale of this market, the EESC believes that the European Union and the Member States should coordinate the implementation of appropriate rules in order to strike a balance between innovation and safeguarding the rights of digital platform workers.
