Opinions

The Communication on 8^th Report presents the main changes in territorial disparities over the past decade and how policies have affected these disparities. It highlights the potential of the green and digital transitions as new drivers of EU growth, but argues that without appropriate policy action new economic, social and territorial disparities may appear. It also launches a reflection on how cohesion policy should evolve to respond to these challenges and in particular how to ensure that place-based, multilevel and partnership led approaches continue to improve cohesion, while building on synergies and mainstreaming cohesion objectives into other policies and instruments.

EESC will present its views on this report stressing the important role that civil society plays and that local policies need local strategies, drawn up with local partners.

Every year in February, the EESC adopts an opinion on the Annual Sustainable Growth Survey (ASGS), which the Commission usually presents at the end of November the year before. The Committee present a opinion before the March Council discussion on the topic. To reinforce the Committee's impact throughout the entire annual semester cycle, an additional opinion is regularly produced by October taking into account the overall annual Semester process and Recovery and Resilience Facility developments and providing a timely input for the next cycle.