Social integration, climate goals, and democratic progress at the heart of the EESC's September plenary

Practical information

European Parliament - Józef Antall building – JAN4Q2 –Anna Lindh room

18 September, 3 p.m. -> 7:00 p.m. | 19 September, 9.00 a.m. -> 1 p.m.

Watch the plenary session - Agenda

Debates

• Wednesday 18 September 2024, 3.00 p.m. -> Promoting the social integration of persons with disabilities and persons with changed working capacity, with Ádám Kósa, State Secretary for Disability Policy at the Hungary's Ministry of the Interior and Nadia Hadad, Board member and Head of the Social Policy Committee, European Disability Forum, linked to the adoption of opinion SOC/807 on the Social integration of persons with disabilities and persons with changed working capacity
• Wednesday 18 September 2024, 4.00 p.m. -> Charting the EU’s democratic progress: a resolution for the next legislative mandate, with Brikena Xhomaqi, co-chair of the EESC Liaison Group and President of the Ad Hoc Group on the EESC Resolution, Véronique Willems, Secretary-General, SME United, Claes-Mikael Stahl, Deputy Secretary General of the European Trade Union Confederation (remotely), Jessica Machacova, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator at the European Anti-Poverty Network, Lotte Prins, President of the Dutch National Youth Council, YEYS representative and the rapporteurs of the resolution on Charting the EU’s democratic progress: a resolution for the next legislative mandate: Christa Schweng, Cinzia Del Rio and Ioannis Vardakastanis
• Thursday 19 September 2024, 9.00 a.m. -> Rule of law and fundamental rights in the EU, with Joachim Herrmann, Deputy Head of the Cabinet of Didier Reynders, European Commissioner for Justice, Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary General of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), Jerzy Pomianowski, Executive Director of the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) and Alexandrina Najmowicz, Secretary-General of the European Civic Forum
• Thursday 19 September 2024, 11.00 a.m. -> 2040 climate target, with Kurt Vandenberghe, Director-General of the European Commission Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA), Professor Ottmar Edenhofer, Chair of the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change (remotely) and Teppo Säkkinen, rapporteur of the 2040 climate target opinion

Main files

ECONOMY & FINANCE

An EU investment fund for economic resilience and sustainable competitiveness (ECO/642, rapporteur: Dominika Biegon (DE-GRII))

The EU Single Market faces challenges in achieving sustainable competitiveness, especially with the urgent need for a green shift. While private investments are crucial, public funding is needed for strategic sectors like energy and infrastructure. The EESC proposes an EU investment fund to close the funding gap, support key projects, and improve investment conditions, ensuring the green transition creates jobs and is widely accepted. More

TRANSPORT & ENERGY

Hydrogen – infrastructure, development needs, financing, use and limits (TEN/831, rapporteur: Thomas Kattnig (AT-GRII))

The EESC says that green hydrogen is an important building block of the energy transition towards renewable energy sources and points out that its infrastructure, financing and remit have to be carefully planned. The rapid roll-out of green hydrogen must consider social standards, including fair and safe working conditions, and compliance with labour, social and trade union rights. More

EMPLOYMENT, SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND CITIZENSHIP

Promoting the social integration of persons with disabilities and persons with changed working capacity (SOC/807, rapporteur: Pietro Vittorio Barbieri (IT-GRIII))

The EESC is concerned about the fact that persons with disabilities continue to be excluded from the labour market and believes solutions such as sheltered employment contribute to this exclusion. It urges Member States to promote policies and measures that strengthen access to the open labour market for persons with disabilities. More

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

Paving the way to EU accession for the Western Balkans (REX/591, rapporteur: Andrej Zorko (SL-GRII))

Upon the request of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union to issue an exploratory opinion on the EU accession for the Western Balkans, the EESC underlines the benefits of the future EU enlargement to the region and the EU itself from a holistic point of view. It calls for a gradual, credible and merit-based accession process, which would strengthen the EU and the region both politically and socio-economically. More

Deforestation of the Amazon rainforest – impact on climate change and the global environment; consequences for companies, workers and population

(REX/586, rapporteur: John COMER (IE-GRIII))

The opinion will look at the link between the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest and climate change, and examine how the policies promoting sustainable economic growth and trade between the European Union and Mercosur can be a factor for a positive change, empowering the citizen. More

INTERNAL MARKET

How to recalibrate the Green Deal that it fits for purpose (INT/1065, rapporteur: Alena Mastantuono (CZ-GRI))

With the Green Deal now entering the phase of implementation, it is a critical moment to assess its performance and measure progress achieved so far. The EESC is of the view that the existing assessments have been inconsistent and patchy, particularly with regard to obligations, measures and sector-specific targets, which should all be mapped by the European Commission to address overlaps and administrative burdens. The EESC should be given the role of independent monitor of Green Deal implementation. More

ENVIRONMENT

A comprehensive strategy for biodiversity at COP16: bringing all sectors together for a common goal (NAT/926, rapporteur: Arnaud Schwartz (FR-GRIII))

The EESC highlights the urgent need to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss by rethinking our relationship with nature and protecting ecosystems essential to human survival and the economy. Over 50% of global GDP and 40% of jobs depend on nature. To effectively tackle this crisis, the EESC advocates for inclusive, multi-stakeholder governance, enhanced citizen participation, and the creation of an office to promote long-term, systemic policies focused on wellbeing and biodiversity beyond GDP measures. More

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