believes that efforts to bolster the security of R&I should never run counter to asserting the principles of academic freedom and institutional autonomy;
considers that the objective of guaranteeing secure international cooperation for R&I should never give rise to discriminatory and/or unfair practices towards R&I actors, nor should it be in conflict with labour rights and the safeguarding of working conditions for those working in the R&I sector in the EU;
stresses that digitalisation is becoming ever more important in light of the green transition. Energy, however, should remain affordable, adjustable and easy to use for consumers. This entails developing user-friendly digital tools that accommodate diverse needs and promote equal access to digital energy services. Consumers should still be able to choose prices, contracts, and customer services in a ‘pre-digital’ way.
recognises the aim of increasing the effectiveness and implementation of EWC rights to provide legal certainty by clarifying key concepts of the EWC Directive. This especially concerns the definition of transnationality, appropriate resources available to EWCs, access to justice and increasing the Member States’ commitment to provide for effective and sufficiently dissuasive sanctions for infringements of EWC rights;
is pleased by the Commission’s aims to revise the standard for a more efficient and meaningful information and consultation process by proposing additions to the subsidiary requirements, to increase the frequency of regular EWC meetings and to introduce a reasoned response by management to EWC opinions;
supports important amendments regarding the ability of EWCs and their members to fulfil their duties. This concerns in particular resources to be provided by management, the details of which have to be jointly determined in the relevant EWC agreement in connection to training, experts and legal representation and the intended clarifications on confidentiality.
welcomes the Communication while stressing the need for a more comprehensive partnership with CSOs. It calls for awareness-raising campaigns and efforts to combat the ‘ecosystems’ of hatred off- and online and recalls the responsibility of politicians to avoid language promoting division and hated;
calls on the EU to adopt a comprehensive approach and fight hate based on any protected human characteristics, to effectively implement existing strategies and initiatives promoting equality and non-discrimination and to primarily use the same approach to fighting all types of hate. It calls on the Member States to prosecute hate-based crimes, encourage reporting and train law enforcement agencies to handle such cases properly, with due respect for the victims;
regrets that the anti-hate drive on online platforms is underdeveloped in scale and impact. The role and expertise of the flaggers should be expanded to consistently cover all types of online hate biases. Media and digital literacy should be improved to ensure more effective reporting of hate crimes.
highlights the need for proper information, education and communication on vaccination, and highlights the role of school healthcare systems and parents in this endeavour;
calls for strong efforts to fight misinformation and disinformation by acquiring science-based evidence and disseminating fact-based information through different channels, including social media;
emphasises the need for gender equality in cancer prevention measures, and calls for HPV vaccinations to be proposed to all girls and boys of a certain age, for communication on the availability of HPV vaccination for boys to be stepped up, and for information on the vaccination rates of both boys and girls in various Member States to be gathered and published.
Supports the 90% emissions reduction target by 2040, emphasizing the need for enabling policies to ensure European industry competitiveness, a just transition, and cost-effective use of zero and low carbon technologies. It stresses actual emissions reductions through phasing out fossil fuels, noting the risks of over-relying on carbon removals due to uncertainties.
Calls for the European Commission to conduct scientific and economic assessments on balancing reductions and removals, focus on implementing the Fit for 55 legislation, and support businesses and households in adapting to new regulations. It highlights the need for unprecedented investment in decarbonization and tracking the growth of European cleantech exports.
Advocates for carbon-free power generation by 2040, followed by heating and cooling, and proposes an emissions reduction target for the agri-food sector. It underscores the importance of stakeholder dialogue, citizen engagement, and expanding the competitiveness check against other major economies to strengthen Europe's global competitiveness and industrial base.
highlights the need to ensure that all patients in Europe have equal access to cancer treatment. Member States should make funding for medical radiological and nuclear technologies a priority and cooperate among each other to remove regulatory barriers to radioisotopes supply.
stresses the importance of making the EU Talent Pool user-friendly and trustworthy for both workers and employers, facilitating fair labour migration by matching skills with job opportunities and recognising qualifications obtained abroad;
welcomes the recommendation that aims to simplify procedures for third-country nationals to access employment by validating skills, competencies, and qualifications, reducing administrative burdens and accommodating challenges faced during migration;
calls on the Member States to ensure public investment in schools and educational institutions so that they can provide quality and trustworthy guidance and advice on learning mobility opportunities supporting career development and lifelong learning.
recommends that the Commission issue clear and transparent guidance on how to apply the proposed conditionality package and also reiterates the importance of ensuring that the EU's focus on stability and geopolitical interests does not come at the expense of the rule of law and democracy;
asks the Commission to support candidate and potential candidate countries in evaluating both the advantages and drawbacks of early market integration, identifying those that are adversely affected and implementing customised mitigation measures;
reiterates the importance of regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations throughout the EU accession process and welcomes the focus in the Commission's proposal on developing the Common Regional Market (CRM).
• affirms that the incorporation of the CSRs in the RRPs has increased the awareness of the CSRs and improved their implementation ratio. Though a lot remains to be done to fully achieve the plans;
• stresses that the new flexibility in the revised EU economic governance framework and the medium to long-term perspective of national fiscal-structural plans could better promote necessary reforms and investments. This relies on three conditions: ensuring enough national fiscal space for adequate investment, including social investment, maximising the utilisation of all available EU funds, and strengthening the process to fully realise planned national ownership;
• advocates for stronger national ownership by a closer involvement of national parliaments, regional and local authorities, social partners and civil society, and for clearer provisions in EU and national procedures for implementing the new economic governance framework. It calls for a formal, permanent, and structured consultation process where national governments collaborate closely with authorities at all levels, alongside trade unions, employers, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders, throughout the entire cycle of the political process;
