Dear readers,

Almost ten months since Russia started the war in Ukraine, missiles continue hitting Ukrainian cities every day. Recent developments, including a deadly incident on EU soil, have reminded us of the constant security threat and the consequences of war. Against this backdrop, it is clear what our common EU priorities for the coming months should be.

The first priority is continuous support to Ukraine and its people, who are faced with extreme conditions. Damage to the water network and power cuts have left millions of people across Ukraine without proper access to safe water, electricity and heat. EU support and solidarity must continue.

Secondly: EU security and democratic values. I am reassured after Sweden's announcement that the security of EU citizens and safeguarding the EU's fundamental values are two of the core issues that will shape the political direction taken by the next presidency of the Council of the European Union. We must not let our security or our values be affected as we stand by Ukraine. European unity is crucial.

The other priorities include containing an unprecedented energy crisis and speeding up the green transition. Given the gloomy economic outlook for Europe, with inflation projected to reach 9.3% in the EU at the end of the year, we need to clearly set out the right priorities, rather than doing business as usual. Ensuring a recovery and supporting businesses and people confronted with high inflation and high energy prices is of key importance for our economies and societies, as well as for our democracies.

Moreover, we cannot forget the need to strengthen the EU's competitiveness for the jobs of the future. As EU businesses struggle to find adequately skilled workers, while many of our young people cannot find a job, it is high time to start tackling the skills mismatch. When it comes to global market competitiveness, we cannot afford to waste our EU human capital.

Another global priority is combating climate change. The EESC has been very vocal, through the opinions it has issued and the events it has hosted, about making the European Green Deal also a social deal. Unfortunately, the social dimension remains underdeveloped. Social dialogue should be an integral part of the policies put in place in order to reach the 2050 climate policy targets.

Allow me to also highlight the importance of strengthening participatory democracy in Europe. With all of the challenges that lie ahead, I am deeply convinced that we will only be successful if we involve European citizens by default. The learnings and recommendations from the Conference on the Future of Europe must be followed up. The EESC is ready to play a central role as a hub for future citizen participation in Europe.

And last but not least, as we come to the end of 2022 – the Year of Youth – I want to once again thank all millennials and Generation Z for standing up for EU values and for their constant efforts in taking actions to build a better, inclusive and sustainable world. This is our common responsibility.

Christa Schweng
EESC President