EESC info

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has released the full programme of its new president, Christa Schweng, for her 2020-2023 term of office. It is now online and is available in all EU languages.

Ms Schweng's programme offers a bold vision for a stronger and more resilient post-COVID-19 Europe and envisages a powerful contribution from the EESC to Europe's recovery and participatory democracy.

Under the motto "United for the future of Europe", it places great emphasis on unity, which will be the key word of her presidency with its call to rebuild the EESC, making it more united and more effective in influencing EU policy-shaping.

It sets forth four priorities which are in line with her idea of a post-pandemic Europe that enables its citizens to thrive and live in an open and value-based society.

The first priority is an economically prosperous Europe, with an emphasis on helping Member States, companies, workers and the general public to survive and rebuild economies. The transition to a more digital and green economy should be linked to social recovery as well.

The second priority is a socially inclusive Europe which makes sure that nobody is left behind during the digital and green transitions. Safeguarding employment and income for all workers is paramount, with particular attention paid to vulnerable groups. The programme states that common EU values are not negotiable under any circumstances. The creation of a European health union is also supported as an important aspect of solidarity.

The third priority – an environmentally sustainable Europe – recognises a greener and digitalised economy as the driving force of the recovery plan for Europe. Yet for this to succeed, business needs to be considered as part of the solution and must be encouraged to take an active part in shaping the transition to a low-carbon, resource-efficient economy.

The fourth priority is making sure that the EESC plays a vital role in the Conference on the Future of Europe, an important initiative which should give Europeans a sense of ownership of their EU by enabling them to debate major EU topics, with the aim of improving the way the EU works. As a committed advocate of participatory democracy, and with members from all parts of civil society active on the ground in all Member States, the EESC has an opportunity to show its added value and act as a facilitator. (ll)

In an annual conference held entirely online on 3-4 November, the EESC voiced its determination to help make the Circular Economy Platform a real hub of the collective effort to build a circular economy in Europe.

EESC president Christa Schweng opened the event together with Commission executive vice-president Frans Timmermans, looking back on the Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform's first three years as a database of best practices and a discussion forum for practitioners, and then forward to the term now beginning under the EU's new Action Plan for the Circular Economy.

"The past three years have shown that this is the way people want to work together," she said. "The European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform, your platform, is a great example of policy and practice working hand in hand.

"So please continue to share lessons learnt and inspiring examples, whether they are consumer products designed for circular behaviour, innovative ideas for decreasing and managing waste, jewellery designed from recycled material, governments' national circular strategies or schools preparing the next generation.

"If you look around, you will see that our joint transition has started, but we will need to do much more for the EU to truly lead the global transition towards a circular economy."

Ms Schweng stressed that the circular economy will be key for the success of the European Green Deal, the EU's flagship plan for the years to come. She pointed to the circular economy's proven record in job creation (around 4 million new jobs between 2012 and 2018), at a time when job cuts are everyone's concern, and to the need to support business in making the transition while grappling with the impact of COVID-19.

EESC vice-president for communication Cillian Lohan, one of the platform's initiators and a strong believer in its potential, opened the second day of the conference, stressing that cooperation has been and must continue to be at the heart of the project:

"From the outset, this platform has been all about collaboration," said Mr Lohan. "That history – though it's very recent history – is important to remember because the spirit of a collaborative project was set immediately: this was something that we were going to achieve together, rather than in conflict or competition with each other. And the platform has gone on to work in that spirit. 

"The circular economy is a transition that is achieved by everyone, in this collaborative manner, with stakeholders at the forefront of it. Today we are looking to take the circular economy forward with all of you in the driving seat."

Over 700 people participated in this two-day event, making it one of Twitter's top trending topics in Belgium.

The European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform is a joint EESC-European Commission initiative that aims to provide a "network of networks" to support a stakeholder-driven transition. A trailblazing project, it has served as a model for similar platforms in both the EU Member States and the USA.

The outcomes of the discussions at the conference will soon be made available on the platform's website. (dm)

The specific needs of women and children striving to overcome discrimination or obstacles to their integration are not always fully taken into consideration in the integration policies of EU Member States. The EESC has put forward ways to address these shortcomings in an exploratory opinion presented at the October plenary session.

The German Presidency of the Council of the European Union asked the EESC to discuss ways to facilitate the integration of women, mothers and families with a migrant background.

This opinion was drawn up by former member Indrė Vareikytė and presented by the rapporteur-general, Ákos Topolánszky, at the plenary session on 29 October.

Mr Topolánszky warned his peers that fewer than half the Member States have enacted policies that explicitly support women and children of migrant descent who face discrimination and barriers to integration. "Isolated, they are too often victims of loneliness and violence," he said. As regards solutions, Mr Topolánszky stressed the importance of adopting integration policies in a holistic way, encompassing labour inclusion, education, health, justice and housing.

The EESC believes that migrants should be better informed about the objectives of language training and the associated benefits for their daily lives. The Committee also encourages further investigation into whether the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages could be used to streamline the migrant language training process and ensure a more tailor-made approach.

Migrant women face multiple or intersectional forms of discrimination in many areas of social life.
The EESC therefore encourages Member States to ratify the Istanbul Convention and calls for all Member States to ensure that female migrants who are victims of violence have the same access as native-born women to appropriate services, support and facilities.

As the COVID-19 crisis has disproportionately affected vulnerable communities, such as ethnic minority migrant women, the EESC strongly encourages the Commission, when developing its new initiative on integration and inclusion, to take into account the lessons learnt from this crisis across the Union and within the Member States.

In its appendix, the opinion lists a series of inspiring social projects in which migrant women and children are supported in their integration and language training. (ll/tk)

Taking into account the disastrous social and economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis, the EESC has outlined in two opinions its views on the current economic crisis and on recovery perspectives in the EU.

On the one hand, the advisory body considers the Commission's proposals for a Next Generation EU plan to be both welcome and timely. Any undue delay in approving and implementing the plan risks severely undermining the EU's economic recovery.

On the other, EESC members warn that Member States need to boost public investment and create synergies with private investment: the escape clause of the Stability and Growth Pact and maximum flexibility in State aid rules should apply at least until broad-based economic recovery has been fully established and unemployment has fallen significantly.

Overall, the EU needs a shift towards prosperity-focused and solidarity-based economic governance, as a return to austerity would dwarf any benefits from Next Generation EU.

Philip von Brockdorff, rapporteur for the opinion on the Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy 2020  said: "The EESC sees the ASGS as an opportunity for the dominant economic model to become far more resilient and sustainable, and to give equal weighting to both economic and social objectives."

Judith Vorbach, co-rapporteur of the opinion on the Recommendation for the economic policy of the euro area, stressed: "In order to minimise and avert the severe impacts of COVID-19 and climate change, the EESC recommends prosperity-focused economic governance, stepping up investment in sustainable growth, enforcing the European Pillar of Social Rights and reforming tax policies."

The two opinions, which were adopted at the October 2020 plenary, are the EESC' s contribution to the European Commission's forthcoming Autumn Semester Package and the ensuing inter-institutional discussions. Read the full news item here. (na)

On 5 and 6 November, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) held the Third Policy Learning Forum (PLF) on upskilling pathways. It brought together social partners and government and civil society representatives relevant to this area, who warned that the current pandemic might further accelerate the changes in the world of work already brought about by the digital revolution, making upskilling and reskilling ever more relevant.

Participants in the PLF therefore stressed the urgency of implementing the upskilling pathways, the legislative proposal adopted as a Council Recommendation in 2016. This forms the building block of the EU Skills Agenda, aiming to equip all Europeans with the skills required to participate in the labour market and unlock their full potential to thrive, both as individuals and as members of society.

According to research by Cedefop, 128 million adults in Europe will have to update their skills or gain new ones in order to keep or get a job that corresponds to their competences and skills levels. This is the total figure for the EU-27, Iceland, Norway and the UK, and corresponds to a staggering 46.1% of the population.

"We need to emphasise that what we are offering is a part of a survival kit, both for workers and for employers, because business will not be as usual. Strong skills are a driver for competitiveness at EU level, and also for the personal and professional fulfilment of individuals," said the president of the EESC Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship, Laurenţiu Plosceanu.

"We have to ensure that every adult has lifelong opportunities to update existing skills and acquire new ones to help them navigate uncertain times and thrive in their life and career", said Jürgen Siebel, executive director of Cedefop, adding that upskilling and reskilling systems should also take into account the needs of firms, which are an important part of the equation for achieving ambitious goals.

The third PLF took a closer look at experiences in designing and implementing Upskilling Pathways in Finland, Ireland and the Netherlands, where governments have set ambitious targets with comprehensive strategies, as well as introducing reforms in lifelong and adult learning that are already bearing fruit.

The PLF also explored the Portuguese government's programme that has managed to boost the availability of adult training in a country where, as of 2016, half of the population had not completed secondary education. (ll)

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) threw its support behind fostering effective social dialogue in EU Member States as it plays a key role in shaping economic, labour and social policies that create better living and working conditions across the EU. It is thus necessary for promoting and achieving economic sustainability.

In the opinion Social dialogue as an important pillar of economic sustainability and the resilience of economies taking into account the influence of lively public debate in the Member States, the EESC gave an overview of national social dialogue practices, examining it in the context of past crises. It also explored how the concept of social dialogue, and especially its tripartite form, which involves public authorities, can go beyond collective bargaining and how it is a key instrument for sound governance of any process of change.

The opinion was drafted at the request of the German EU Presidency by former EESC member Vladimíra Drbalová and current member Cinzia Del Rio.

Countries with well-established social dialogue mechanisms respond better and more quickly to crises, including those of global proportions like the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet the opinion found that in many countries, social dialogue remains fragmented and takes places only occasionally, or has been weakened, with the autonomy of the social partners undermined.

The opinion lists several recommendations for sound post-pandemic management in the near future, including securing active social partner involvement in designing and implementing national recovery plans and encouraging sound corporate governance based on social dialogue and collective bargaining.

However, to be effective, social dialogue must include representative and legitimate social partners as well as the governments committed to engaging in it. It is equally essential to respect social partners' autonomy and freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining.

European social dialogue is enshrined in the EU Treaties and the European social partners should exploit all of the potential that this offers them.

They should be involved in the European Semester of economic governance and especially in developing and implementing employment, social and, where relevant, economic reforms and policies.

"We need a binding consultation mechanism for social partners in the European Semester. Nowadays, bearing in mind the economic and social impact of the pandemic, it is more important than ever to involve social partners in drawing up recovery and resilience plans, including government reporting tools," Ms Del Rio said. (ll)

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has called on the European Union and the Member States to take a holistic approach to promoting diversity and inclusiveness in their societies and to step up legal and political efforts to tackle rising racism and xenophobia in Europe.

With the volume of attacks and hate speech directed at migrants and ethnic minorities on the rise, and with the current pandemic exacerbating the structural discrimination they face, the EU urgently needs to do more on this front, including by promoting diversity management.

The EESC set out its proposals on this matter in its opinion on Diversity management in the EU Member States, requested by the German EU presidency. In preparing its opinion, the EESC conducted case studies in four countries – Finland, France, Italy and Poland – representing four different parts of Europe. The results were presented in the opinion and its appendix.

The case studies revealed that migrant workers were concentrated in low-paid and precarious employment in all four countries, the most extreme situation being in Italy, followed by France, and with Poland trending in the same direction. Women of colour experience the highest rates of employment discrimination in all four countries, compared to white Europeans and men of the same ethnic groups. In all four countries, Roma remain the minority facing the highest degree of marginalisation.

The opinion was drafted by the EESC's former Polish member Adam Rogalewski and presented by Carlos Trindade, rapporteur-general, at the October plenary session.

"COVID-19 is exacerbating structural racism in Europe. Ethnic minorities and migrants not only face greater exposure to the disease but are at greater risk of associated inequalities from the economic and social fallout, and are less likely to be supported," Mr Trindade noted.

"Fighting structural racism across all institutions requires social justice for ethnic minorities and migrants," Mr Trindade stressed, adding that the EESC called on the EU and the Member States to increase their legal and political efforts to tackle racism and xenophobia.

In the opinion, the EESC argues that sound diversity management should focus on all aspects of the work and daily lives of migrants and ethnic minorities. This includes how they are treated in the workplace, their education and access to public services, their social rights and their integration into local communities. (ll)

On 9 November, the Consultative Commission on Industrial Change (CCMI) met for a remote debate on the EU steel industry. The debate,  chaired by Pietro Francesco De Lotto, the new CCMI president,  focused on the issues of overcapacity and decarbonisation in the international steel industry. The speakers addressed the challenges facing the European steel industry: the post COVID-19 recovery plan, decarbonisation of production processes, EU safeguard measures and trade.

Steel is an essential good in all developed and developing countries. The COVID-19 pandemic has raised questions about global supply chain dependence, especially when many countries are dependent on one country alone.

The overcapacity production of the Chinese steel industry is a source of concern, as China now dominates more than half of the world's market. In 2018, the United States enacted protectionist taxes so that the American economy was less dependent on Chinese materials. This measure ended up severely harming the EU market, as the USA is an important customer for steel produced in the EU.

At the same time, nations around the world are making efforts to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, and an increasing number of initiatives are being put forward to move towards a circular economy.

"We need to ensure the competitiveness of steel sectors that uphold the environmental standards necessary for this transition but that are facing competition from other regions of the world where such standards are non-existent or inadequate,'' said Mr De Lotto, as he concluded the debate. ''This also applies to standards on working conditions and labour rights."

Therefore, the EESC calls for a level playing field between European and third-country exporting producers. (tk/ks)

We now have a new section.

Each month we introduce you to our surprise guest. This will be a well-known European cultural figure who has been in the news and who will give us their take on the world: a breath of fresh air to broaden our horizons, inspire us and make us happy.

For this first piece, our surprise guest is the distinguished Belgian cartoonist Pierre Kroll of the daily newspaper Le Soir, known for the humour and unique style of his cartoons in which he gives an original and unusual perspective on European and global affairs.

In response to our request for a comment on the most burning issue of the day, Pierre Kroll kindly gave us the following cartoon. (ehp)