The EESC welcomes the renewed EU action plan and the comprehensive approach it proposes. It considers it essential to combat migrant smuggling by means of a "whole-of-route" approach, including by improving judicial and police cooperation and cooperation and dialogue with neighbouring countries in the fight against smuggling networks. Safeguarding external borders is a priority for the European Union, but these must always be protected with respect for human rights and the inviolability of public international law. The EESC points out that protecting people and providing medical care and solidarity aid should not be criminalised and treated in the same way as smuggling networks.
Download — Γνωμοδότηση της ΕΟΚΕ: Migrant smuggling
The EESC believes that any phenomenon of antisemitism is incompatible with European values and norms, as it leads to violations of the law and to exclusion, which is a threat not only to the communities concerned and Jewish life, but also to Europe's heritage and present, and to a democratic European future. The Committee broadly supports the establishment of the Strategy and the fact that it was preceded by a broad consultation process in 2021. It strongly supports that the Strategy is not only about combating antisemitism, but also about fostering Jewish life. It firmly believes that antisemitism is not only a violation of the law affecting European Jews, but is also a test of the European idea, European coexistence, the rule of law, fundamental rights and democracy. The EESC believes that all Member States have a fundamental obligation to ensure that their citizens have the freedom to hold religious beliefs and practice their religions without fear.
Download — Γνωμοδότηση της ΕΟΚΕ: EU strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life
Semiconductor chips are the essential building blocks of digital and digitised products. From smartphones and cars, through critical applications and infrastructures for healthcare, energy, mobility, communications and industrial automation, chips are central to the modern digital economy. They determine performance characteristics of digital systems, among them security and energy-efficiency – essential to the EU’s digital and green transitions. They are also crucial to key digital technologies of the future, including artificial intelligence (AI), 5G and edge computing, as set out in the EU’s 2030 Digital Decade. Put simply, there is no “digital” without chips.
Εγκριθείσα on 23/02/2022 - Bureau decision date: 21/09/2021
On 16 July 2021 the Commission adopted its proposal for a Council Recommendation on ‘A Pact for Research and Innovation in Europe' to support the implementation of national European Research Area (ERA) policies.
Download — Γνωμοδότηση της ΕΟΚΕ: Pact for Research and Innovation in Europe
This "Chapeau Communication" gives an overview of the different proposals of the 'Fit for 55' package as well as their linkages and explains the toolbox of policy measures chosen in order to attain an overall balance between fairness, emission reductions and competitiveness.
Download — Γνωμοδότηση της ΕΟΚΕ: 'Fit for 55': delivering the EU's 2030 Climate Target on the way to climate neutrality
Waste transport can involve hazardous materials that are harmful to human health and the environment. The EU therefore has rules in place on waste shipments (Regulation 1013/2006) and the Commission intends to review the EU rules on waste shipments.
Download — Γνωμοδότηση της ΕΟΚΕ: Waste shipments – revision of EU rules
The EESC considers the five missions as high priorities for the EU and highlights that the competitiveness of Europe's industry is very important for their achievement.
At the same time, the EESC underlines the importance of considering the impact on EU citizens and encourages the Commission to strongly link activities to social policies and the European Pillar of Social Rights, taking in particular into account the special needs of elderly and vulnerable EU citizens.
The EESC strongly supports the idea of empowering 150 climate benchmark regions throughout Europe and therefore strongly recommends increasing the portion of the EU regional budgets earmarked for R&D from the current figure of 5% to a minimum of 10%.
The EESC considers following five additional challenges and missions to also be very important for Europe:
Download — Γνωμοδότηση της ΕΟΚΕ: European missions
This follow-up opinion intends to contribute to a coherent set of long term EESC proposals aimed at the full recovery of EU tourism and transport. The opinion will focus on how to best manage crises in the tourism industrial ecosystem and on the lessons learnt from such crises. After several waves of the COVID pandemic, it is of utmost importance to rethink the tourism ecosystem in more sustainable terms and adopt relevant policy solutions, as well as a comprehensive package of measures.
Download — Γνωμοδότηση της ΕΟΚΕ: Tourism and transport / Follow-up
