European Economic and Social Committee
Stefano Mallia takes over as the new President of the EESC Employers' Group for the first half of the 2020 to 2025 term of office following his confirmation at the EESC Employers' Group Inaugural meeting on 27 October. During his presidency, Mr Mallia will work towards ensuring that Europe and the Single Market in particular continue to provide opportunities for employers to grow and be successful.
Ms Christa Schweng is the EESC Employers' Group's new candidate for the next EESC presidency. This was the outcome of a formal election that the Employers' Group held on 14 September 2020.
After 6 months’ of absence in the EESC and not participating in the work of the Employers’ Group due to a severe neurosurgical operation, on 7 September 2020, I attended for the first time a meeting of my Group, over which I had the honour to preside over the last 7.5 years. In line with my earlier statement that any decisions on my further running for President of the EESC for the 2020-2023 term of office will be made after my discussion with members of the Employers’ Group, I have decided to resign from running for President of the EESC for the 2020-2023 term of office.
Ms Christa Schweng obtained the majority of the EESC Employers' Group preferences to become the new Employers' Group candidate for the next EESC presidency. This was shown in a survey that the Employers' Group conducted on 7 September 2020. The Employers' Group decided to hold this survey for a candidate B for the next EESC presidency for the case that the Group was required to present a new candidate for the post. Mr Jacek Krawczyk stepped down as EESC presidential candidate.
In reference to previous and recent publications in Politico, Onet and Gazeta Wyborcza I would like to state the following:
The EESC Employers' Group welcomes the agreement on the EU recovery package. Through the "Next Generation EU" instrument, EUR 750 billion will support struggling EU economies. Having called for a swift agreement in several publications, the deal is seen as timely and crucial by the Employers' Group. What is needed now is fast and targeted implementation of the measures. Only in this way can businesses support the EU in fighting the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
The list of new work appointments for July 2020 and the most recent list of ongoing EESC work are available for download in the attachments below.
The EESC Employers' Group called on the heads of state and government for a quick and ambitious agreement on the recovery budget. Stressing the need for a fast decision on measures that will re-start the European economy became even more important after the slow progress in discussions at the European Council on 19 June.
Never before in history have the citizens of the European Union had to face such unprecedented uncertainty. The COVID-19 crisis has brought into sharp relief the fragility of our way of life and of the assumptions our societies and economies are based on. While the battle to flatten the curve appears to be producing certain results, the other battle – to save the European economy – seems to be even more challenging.
A growing number of European companies have already changed their mind-sets and, over and above the strictly business aspects, are now taking environmental and social aspects into consideration as well in their daily operations. To make the transition to a green economy a success, the EU needs to provide a level playing field for its companies, boosting competitiveness and investment. These are some of the conclusions of the conference on Business for Climate Neutral Europe – making the most of the SDGs and the Green Deal on 9 March in Split, Croatia.
