News

Brussels, 14 November 2015

In the name of all my colleagues, members of the European Economic and Social Committee, who represent before the European Institutions all the major employer, trade union and citizen-based organisations in the European Union, I would like to express our indignation and outrage on the cowardly and barbaric attacks which have been committed in Paris this night.

Our thoughts are with the victims, their families and friends, the French people and their institutions with whom we express our complete solidarity.

Social dumping in the road transport sector and problems with cross-border infrastructure were the main topics at the transport conference held by the European Economic and Social Committee and the Economic and Social Council of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg on 11 and 12 November. The conference was attended by François Bausch, Luxembourg's Minister for Sustainable Development and Infrastructure; Melanie Schultz van Haegen, Dutch Minister for Infrastructure and the Environment and MEP Jutta Steinruck from the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs.

EESC member Carmelo Cedrone takes part in an international conference in the US

On 2-3 November 2015, a conference to discuss the relations between the Eurozone and the Americas was held at the University of Texas at Austin. The conference brought together representatives of several universities in Europe, North and South America, the European Parliament, the US Senate, etc. They addressed very interesting questions, in particular the problem of debtor-creditor relationships in the modern world, the Eurozone matters, its economic and political governance, etc. The EESC was represented by Carmelo Cedrone, vice-president of the ECO section.

Fostering international trade is beneficial for companies, consumers and employees. In 15 years' time, 90% of global demand will come from outside the EU. Therefore, establishing a simple and predictable trade policy should be a priority for the EU as one of the main factors in boosting growth and creating new jobs. The participants at the conference on the Role of international trade in the reindustrialisation of Europe discussed the future of EU trade policy, the role of FTAs and how to revive European industry through trade and investment. The conference took place in Milan on 26 October and was organised by the EESC Employers' Group, together with Confcommercio and AICE (Italian Association of Foreign Trade).