560th Plenary session 27 - 28 April 2021 - Related Opinions

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Digital Services Act

Adopted on 27/04/2021
Reference: 
INT/929-EESC-2021
Referral: 
COM(2020) 825 final 2020/0361 COD
Rapporteur: 
Gonçalo LOBO XAVIER (Employers - GR I / Portugal)

The landscape of digital services is significantly different today from 20 years ago, when the eCommerce Directive was adopted. Online intermediaries have become vital players in the digital transformation. Online platforms in particular have created significant benefits for consumers and innovation, but at the same time, they can be used as a vehicle for disseminating illegal content, or selling illegal goods or services online.

EESC opinion: Digital Services Act

Building a European Health Union

Adopted on 27/04/2021
Reference: 
SOC/665-EESC-2020
Referral: 
COM(2020) 724 final COM(2020) 725 final 2020/0321 CODCOM(2020) 726 final 2020/0320 CODCOM(2020) 727 final 2020/0322 CODCOM(2020) 727 final 2020/0322 COD
Rapporteur: 
Ioannis VARDAKASTANIS (Greece)

The opinion, presenting EESC's position on the four proposals of the Health package published by the European  Commission in November 2020, supports and welcomes these initiatives but draws the attention on some elements.

  • The EU and Member States should ensure that everyone has equal access to quality, well staffed, well equipped health and social services. This is particularly important in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic which has deepened existing inequalities.
  • Special attention in future EU policies should be given to healthcare workers and the need to improve working conditions, including pay, recruitment and retention, as well as their health and safety.
  • The new EU health package should be combined with the roll-out of the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR), particularly its principles 12, 16, 17 and 18 and the Action Plan on the EPSR. It should also be part of achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.

EESC opinion: Building a European Health Union

Vocational training: the effectiveness of systems to anticipate and match skills and labour market needs and the role of social partners and different stakeholders

Adopted on 27/04/2021
Reference: 
SOC/661-EESC-2020
Rapporteur: 
Jean-Michel POTTIER (Employers - GR I / France)

The EESC stresses the crucial importance of having effective training systems and the ability to anticipate skills needs at a time of profound upheavals due to the COVID-19 crisis. The EESC considers the social partners to be effective players in designing and managing training systems. They are very well placed to measure the skills needs of the labour market and must systematically play a major role in the development of qualifications and their content.

The EESC recommends drawing up national strategic agreements on vocational training and guidance, on the basis of negotiations between the authorities and the social partners, involving vocational education and training stakeholders.

EESC opinion: Vocational training: the effectiveness of systems to anticipate and match skills and labour market needs and the role of social partners and different stakeholders

How to promote, based on education and training, from a lifelong learning perspective, the skills needed for Europe to establish a more just, more cohesive, more sustainable, more digital and more resilient society

Adopted on 27/04/2021
Reference: 
SOC/663-EESC-2020
Rapporteur: 
Tatjana BABRAUSKIENĖ (Workers - GR II / Lithuania)

The EESC recommends, in order to achieve high-quality and inclusive education and training and lifelong learning for all, establishing achievable long-term goals and a constant monitoring system within the European Education Area (EEA) for each Member State. The teaching of key competences, including social sensitivity, empathy, intercultural dialogue and citizenship skills, should be applied across the whole education and training process. This opinion also points at the importance of taking a holistic approach to the implementation of recent EU initiatives on education, vocational education and training, skills, youth education and digital skills. The EESC calls on Member States to ensure effective support for those facing difficulties in accessing quality and inclusive adult education and training, via targeted funding for those in need, such as the unemployed, non-standard workers, the low-skilled and people with disabilities.

EESC opinion: How to promote, based on education and training, from a lifelong learning perspective, the skills needed for Europe to establish a more just, more cohesive, more sustainable, more digital and more resilient society

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