Opinions and other works with Workers' Group members as rapporteur/co-rapporteur/rapporteur-general

This ex-post evaluation includes the EESC’s contribution to the ex-post evaluation carried out by the European Commission on the implementation of the Asylum Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) 2014-2020. The EESC has specially focused on asylum procedures, reception systems and labour market integration of third country nationals.

The evaluation focuses on collecting and analysing the views of organisations representing social partners, organized civil society, international institutions, public authorities at national, regional and local levels and academic institutions on how the AMIF has been implemented in selected EU Member States. The five countries selected were Greece, Italy, Belgium, France, and Sweden, so as to cover countries of first arrival, transit and destination.

The opinion focuses on the importance of a human-centric approach in addressing occupational safety and health (OSH) challenges in an increasingly digitalised work environment. It stresses that new technologies can both enhance and introduce workplace hazards, necessitating a proactive regulatory framework. The opinion underlines the need for OSH training, particularly when AI-driven systems and digital tools are introduced, ensuring that workers have the necessary skills to navigate evolving work environments safely. It calls for transparent AI deployment to prevent bias and discrimination and encourages social partners to actively engage in shaping AI regulation through collective agreements. Furthermore, the opinion demands that the European Commission provide resources for social partners, enabling them to address digitalisation challenges effectively while maintaining social cohesion and worker rights in a rapidly changing labour market.

This own-initiative opinion stresses that any kind of violence against women is a violation of women’s human rights. The EESC believes Directive 2024/1385/EU on combating violence against women and domestic violence should address all forms of violence against women and calls for sexual violence and rape to be included as a form of violence and criminalised based on the absence of consent. Highlights that any kind of violence against women is a significant public and clinical health concern, while stressing the multiple and intersectional discrimination suffered by women with disabilities.

The opinion expresses the views of the EU organized civil society on the priorities to the sixty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW69). It calls for an increased pace of progress on gender equality, be more vocal about the shrinking space for civil society and block any backlash against women’s rights. Some challenges to be addressed include attracting more women to politics, addressing violence against women, ensuring a gender-equal just transition, closing the gender digital gap and the unpaid care responsibilities and ensuring women stay in the labour market.