European Economic and Social Committee
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In the year marking the 30th anniversary of the Single Market, restoring EU competitiveness and completing the Single Market are finally at the centre of the EU agenda. For years, the completion of the Single Market has remained a well-meant intention on paper, but now it is high time to finally turn intentions into actions. And companies are called upon to play a key role in shaping this path towards deepening the Single Market.
At a time of increasing geopolitical rivalry and the steady erosion of the multilateral rules-based trading system, EU’s competitiveness has taken centre stage in the EU agenda.
Employer representatives from 27 countries are in Luleå to discuss the conditions for the green transition, sustainable growth and the EU's new competitiveness agenda on 19–20 June.
The cultural and creative sectors were one of the industries hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, using digital tools, creativity and innovation, artists where able to stay in contact with their audiences, to share content and to bring concerts into living-rooms. New forms of content have emerged, some of them showing the artist recording in their own home and creating a more personal relationship compared with the previous stage-audience separation. Digitalisation has also brought music to people who would otherwise not necessarily have attended a venue, e.g. a classical concert to marginalised or vulnerable groups.
While the EU is increasing its ambitions under the "Fit for 55" package, Europe's coal regions in transition are facing unprecedented structural change, exacerbated by the major energy crisis resulting from Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the damage caused by the COVID -19 pandemic.
How and who should prepare a plan for the reconstruction of the battered Ukrainian economy? What should be in the plan? Is there an understanding of who can provide the funds for the implementation of this Plan, and how much is needed? What is the possible impact of stopping gas import from Russia? What is the impact of the war on the food value chain? The EESC Employers' Group will discuss these questions with Mr Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the Office of the Ukrainian President and Ukrainian business representatives.
While Europe and its societies are still in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic and with the Conference on the Future of Europe in its closing stages, the EESC will be holding its annual Civil Society Days in March 2022.
Emmanuel Macron introduced the French presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) by launching the idea of a new growth model. This new model should make it possible to create employment, reconcile economic development and climate ambition, respond to digital challenges and rely on a redesigned European financial framework.
As we emerge from the pandemic, we are invited to actively play a leading role in co-shaping a new vision for the EU. What is certain is that Europe’s future is closely linked to the future of its industry: strong ambitions require strong and innovative companies that have the means to meet the needs of the digital and green transitions while boosting EU competitiveness.
To deliver on the European Green Deal, the European Commission will have to rethink policies in a variety of fields, not least in the agri-food sector. The initiatives linked to agri-food promotion, the renewal of the CAP and the "Farm to the fork" strategy will transform our current reality to achieve a more socially sustainable, environmentally friendly and healthy food production. To make this socio-economic transition a success, it is essential to involve all stakeholders in the reorganization of the European food markets.
The EESC Employers' Group believes that we should provide entrepreneurs with the adequate conditions so that they can thrive and create innovative and decent jobs in a recovering economy. The EESC Employers' Group can play a critical role in creating an enabling and encouraging business environment also for the agri-food sector that meets the challenges and seizes the opportunities of sustainable development.
