Download — Stellungnahme des Ausschusses: Conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction – ratification of BBNJ Agreement
Download — Stellungnahme des Ausschusses: The role of services of general interest (SGI) for competitiveness, social cohesion and democracy in the European Union
The opinion examines how regulatory simplification and the integration of digital tools in law-making can enhance the legislative process. It looks into how innovative, technology-driven solutions can reduce administrative burdens and foster a more business-friendly environment across Europe.
Download — Stellungnahme des Ausschusses: Regulatory simplification – the use of digital tools in better law-making
The opinion will examine the impact of regulatory interventions on value chains, identify key challenges, and propose a new approach to ensure effective and balanced policymaking.
Download — Stellungnahme des Ausschusses: How to consider value chains in policymaking
Download — Stellungnahme des Ausschusses: Looking to the future of EU-UK relations: 2026 Review of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) from a civil society perspective
In this own-initiative opinion, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is addressing the growing disparities in healthcare access across the EU. These inequalities, exacerbated by inflation and the cost-of-living crisis, disproportionately affect vulnerable groups such as low-income households, people with disabilities, children, and older people. The opinion calls for urgent action to ensure equitable access to healthcare and long-term care, in line with the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR), and proposes concrete policy recommendations to strengthen healthcare systems and reduce barriers to care.
Download — Stellungnahme des Ausschusses: Tackling inequalities in people's access to healthcare
As emphasised in the Letta and Draghi reports, the two main challenges of EU R&I policy are: i) reversing the declining productivity of the EU economy and closing the competitiveness gap with other global scientific and economic powers; and ii) reducing the fragmentation of the European research area to allow for the free circulation of scientific knowledge, research and innovation referred as the ‘fifth freedom’ in the Letta report.
In early 2026, the Commission is expected to publish the European Research Area Act (ERA Act). EESC’s input through this own-initiative opinion (OIO) is intended to shape the ERA Act, ensuring that it supports a vibrant ecosystem for innovation and digital transformation, and aligns with these strategic visions.
Download — Stellungnahme des Ausschusses: The ERA Act: unlocking the fifth freedom
In the current context of multiple crises, in addition to digital challenges, urges the EU institutions and Member States to act on the EESC’s proposals on social and civil dialogue to engage individual citizens in democracy in general. It proposes to work closely with the Commission in the creation, governance and regular operation of a civil society platform and to act as a hub and custodian for public and organised civil society participation, and recalls that the Conference on the Future of Europe explicitly calls for the EESC’s institutional role to be enhanced and for it to be empowered as a facilitator of participatory democracy activities, such as structured dialogue with civil society.
Download — Stellungnahme des Ausschusses: Good practice for EU civil dialogue in the light of participatory processes
Europe’s energy system is increasingly unbalanced due to intermittent renewable sources like wind and solar, often relying on fossil fuels for stability. Achieving balance is key for energy reliability, climate goals, economic growth, and technological innovation. This opinion explores how Member States can integrate renewables while ensuring system stability and advancing decarbonisation, focusing on managing intermittent energy effectively.
Download — Stellungnahme des Ausschusses: Towards a balanced European energy system
In this opinion, the EESC is presenting several recommendations to mitigate the effects of the cost-of -living crisis. These include:
investment in people and the economy, fair taxation, quality and affordable public services and targeted support for the most vulnerable;
short- and long-term industrial policy and efforts to boost competitiveness;
stronger use of social dialogue, collective bargaining, and civil dialogue to address labour market challenges;
wage and minimum wage increase as way of protection;
more investments in education as a powerful preventive tool against exclusion, marginalisation, and inequality
Download — Stellungnahme des Ausschusses: How to address the loss of purchasing power and the risk of rising inequalities, exclusion and marginalization
The legislative proposal, subject of this opinion, aims at amending Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 by postponing of two years the deadline set in article 48 for the fulfilment of due diligence obligations by economic operators.
Download — Stellungnahme des Ausschusses: Battery due diligence policies
reaffirms its unwavering commitment to gender equality and women’s rights as fundamental pillars of democracy, social justice and inclusive growth and stands firmly alongside all the players striving to advance equality for all women and girls, in all their diversity;
endorses the Declaration of principles for a gender-equal society, which aligns closely with the values and priorities repeatedly expressed in EESC opinions;
recognises that the implementation of these principles requires coordinated and sustained action to which it is committed;
stands ready to contribute actively to the realisation of this roadmap and to work with the European institutions and Member States, to transform these principles into practice.
Download — Stellungnahme des Ausschusses: A Roadmap for Women's Rights - Supporting the Declaration of Principles for a Gender-Equal Society
