Nature-based biodegradable materials could become a key pillar of Europe’s circular economy, helping to reduce pollution, decrease dependence on fossil resources and support rural industries. To unlock their potential, the European Union needs a clear and coherent regulatory framework, according to a European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) opinion adopted at its last plenary.

In its own-initiative opinion, A comprehensive strategy for nature-based biodegradable materials to foster circularity and resource efficiency, strengthen the agri-food sector and scale-up the EU bioeconomy, the EESC calls on the EU to use the forthcoming Circular Economy Act and Bioeconomy Strategy to turn sustainability ambitions into concrete action.

Rapporteur Stoyan Tchoukanov stressed that innovative nature-based biodegradable materials can help tackle pollution, including microplastics, while creating new opportunities for farmers, fishers and rural and coastal communities.

‘To make this work, we need clear, coherent and enabling regulatory frameworks that actively support sustainable solutions. If we get this right, we can scale up innovation, attract investment, and position Europe as a global leader,’ Mr Tchoukanov said.

The EESC believes that biological and technical cycles should complement each other and that EU policies should better support innovation while ensuring genuine environmental benefits. Agricultural, forestry and fishery residues should be used more effectively, and regulatory approaches should move beyond a narrow focus on technical recycling systems towards a lifecycle-based framework that recognises different circular pathways.

The EESC also highlights the importance of applying the waste hierarchy established in the Waste Framework Directive and prioritising prevention, reuse and material efficiency. It supports a technology-neutral approach that delivers the best environmental outcomes while recognising the contribution of both biological and technical cycles.

By creating the right conditions for sustainable solutions, the EU can strengthen the bioeconomy, support local communities and reinforce its position as a global leader in circularity. (ks)

The European citizens’ initiative (ECI) Stop Destroying Videogames calls for measures to stop publishers from remotely disabling video games that consumers have already purchased

On 19 May, the European Economic and Social Committee’s (EESC) Section for the Single Market, Production and Consumption held a debate on the ECI Stop Destroying Videogames which places pressure on the EU institutions to address consumer rights in digital gaming.

Submitted to the European Commission on 26 January this year, the ECI gathered 1.3 million verified signatures, reflecting the widespread popularity of video games across the EU. According to recent figures, some 130 million Europeans play video games, representing 29% of the population.

The ECI calls for measures to stop game publishers from remotely disabling video games that consumers have already purchased. Currently, this can often happen at any time and without justification, leaving buyers unable to play the game and not entitled to any compensation. There is also no right to repair applicable to video games.

‘If designed responsibly, most games that connect to the internet can operate indefinitely without publisher support. Major publishers in the video game industry ignore consumer rights and spoil the market for both consumers and good faith actors. We, EU citizens, are asking the European Commission to address this critical consumer issue,’ said Pavel Zálešák, organiser of the ECI and deputy director of the NGO Stop Killing Games, at the EESC debate.

Participants in the EESC debate said that the current EU legislation and consumer agencies were poorly equipped to protect customers from the ‘killing’ of video games. 

Moreover, the licence agreements required to run a game often bypass many existing consumer protections. ‘When a game is functional, it should not cease to function as a result of deliberate and avoidable decisions,’ stressed Alberto Hidalgo Cerezo, ECI signatory and law professor at CEU San Pablo University in Spain.

He gave examples such as planned digital obsolescence or products rendered unusable although technically viable – ‘consumers are defenceless’.

Wytze Koppelman, curator at the Netherlands Institute for Sound & Vision, one of the world’s largest media archives collecting digital media before it disappears, said games must remain functional if they are to be preserved for research, education and future access. 

Representatives of the European Commission said the Commission would consider whether the requested measure is proportionate and whether the objectives of the initiative could be addressed, at least partly, through better enforcement or adaptation of existing rules. 

To be considered by the Commission, an ECI – a tool that allows EU citizens to propose legislation – must collect at least one million signatures and reach minimum signature thresholds in at least seven EU countries. (ll)

Youth entrepreneurship is not only a response to labour market challenges but also a strategic tool for strengthening Europe’s competitiveness and innovation capacity.

At its April 2026 plenary session, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted an exploratory opinion on EU competitiveness and youth entrepreneurship, requested by the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU. The opinion highlights the role of young entrepreneurs in driving innovation, fostering sustainable growth and supporting the long-term renewal of Europe’s SMEs.

To unlock the potential of youth entrepreneurship, the Committee calls for a comprehensive approach that enables young people to transform entrepreneurial ambitions into sustainable businesses.

The opinion identifies several persistent barriers faced by young entrepreneurs, including limited access to finance, regulatory complexity and skills gaps. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated action at EU, national and local level, combining financial support, education, mentoring and regulatory simplification.

Rapporteur Giuseppe Guerini emphasised the importance of entrepreneurship as a driver of competitiveness and renewal: 'Support for youth entrepreneurship is a strategic tool for strengthening the EU's competitiveness and innovation capacity, which may also prove decisive in addressing the challenge of generational renewal in many SMEs.'

The EESC considers youth entrepreneurship a key lever for boosting innovation, tackling productivity challenges and supporting demographic renewal in Europe's business landscape. However, it underlines that entrepreneurship should be a genuine choice rather than a substitute for decent employment opportunities. Young people should have access to adequate support, realistic expectations and alternative career pathways.

Access to finance remains a major obstacle. The Committee therefore calls for stronger support for alternative financing instruments and financial tools tailored to the needs of youth-led businesses, particularly innovative start-ups, social enterprises and cooperatives. At the same time, funding should be complemented by mentoring, coaching, business incubation programmes and evaluation tools that help young entrepreneurs develop resilient and sustainable projects.

The opinion also highlights the importance of fostering an entrepreneurial mindset from an early age. The EESC recommends integrating entrepreneurship education into different levels of education and training, including vocational and dual-learning systems. Financial literacy, digital skills and knowledge related to artificial intelligence are identified as increasingly important for future entrepreneurs.

To encourage business creation, the Committee calls for further efforts to reduce administrative burdens and simplify regulations at all levels of governance. It also stresses the value of business networks and entrepreneurial ecosystems, which can provide access to markets, partners, investors and good practices.

Finally, the EESC underlines that competitiveness and social inclusion must go hand in hand. Support measures should promote equal opportunities for women, people with disabilities and other underrepresented groups, while recognising failure as a learning experience and safeguarding the right to a second chance. (lm)

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has held a high-level debate underlining that culture is not a luxury, but a strategic asset for democracy, social cohesion and Europe’s economic resilience. Speakers stressed the need for greater political recognition and sustained investment to turn goals into action.

During its April plenary session, the EESC hosted the Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn Micallef, who highlighted the strategic aims behind the Culture Compass and welcomed the EESC’s contribution.

The debate brought together Nela Riehl, Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education (CULT); Tanja Hristova, vice-chair of the Committee of the Regions’ SEDEC commission and rapporteur for the Culture Compass; and Lars Ebert, Secretary-General of Culture Action Europe.

EESC President Séamus Boland stressed that culture must remain at the heart of EU action even in times of geopolitical uncertainty. He said that culture embodies European values, safeguards freedom and underpins a resilient democratic project.

Commissioner Micallef noted that the cultural sector generates EUR 200 billion in profit and supports eight million jobs, while also holding Europe together in ways that go beyond economic impact. He drew attention to the structural vulnerabilities faced by many cultural and creative workers, who often operate under precarious conditions without stable income or full access to social protection. The Culture Compass aims to address these challenges through measures on artistic freedom, working conditions and access to culture.

Speakers agreed that culture should no longer be treated as a secondary sector but embedded across EU policy frameworks as a strategic driver of Europe’s future, identity and global influence.

A key focus of the discussion was how to translate the Culture Compass into concrete action. The EESC opinion calls for strong, cross-cutting financial support in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034), ensuring that cultural objectives are reflected in areas such as competitiveness, skills, research, cohesion and external action.

Through the debate and the adoption of its opinion, the EESC confirmed its role as a key partner in implementing the Culture Compass. Rapporteur Luca Jahier said: 'The Culture Compass sends out a strong political message: culture is not a peripheral part of the European project but sits right at its heart. Culture is a key tool for defending and strengthening democracy, countering populist and authoritarian narratives and increasing preparedness, sustainable development, social cohesion and a sense of belonging.'

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) placed fundamental rights, dignity and equality at the centre of its April plenary session, holding a high-level debate on advancing LGBTIQ+ rights and banning conversion practices. The debate was followed by the adoption of two opinions calling for stronger enforcement of the EU’s LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy 2026-2030 and a comprehensive EU-wide ban on conversion practices.

Setting the tone, EESC President Séamus Boland firmly rejected any justification for such practices: ‘These so-called conversion practices or therapies are not only harmful, they are a profound violation of human dignity and fundamental rights. Let us be absolutely clear: there is nothing to fix or cure.’

The debate brought together representatives from EU institutions, civil society and international organisations. Caleb Stocco from the European Association Against Conversion Therapy highlighted the lasting harm caused by these practices and called for decisive EU action. From the European Commission, Francesco Zoia Bolzonello outlined efforts to advance equality through the LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy 2026-2030, stressing the importance of EU leadership in the face of a growing backlash.

International perspectives reinforced the urgent need for action. Béatrice Fresko-Rolfo from the Council of Europe and UN Independent Expert Graeme Reid both emphasised that banning conversion practices was a matter of fundamental human rights and dignity.

Participants pointed to persistent inequalities across Member States, including discrimination, hate speech and barriers to healthcare, housing and employment. The recent Court of Justice of the EU ruling in Commission v Hungary was cited as reaffirming the EU’s obligation to protect LGBTIQ+ rights and uphold fundamental freedoms.

The two EESC opinions adopted translate these concerns into concrete recommendations. Regarding conversion practices, the EESC calls for a comprehensive, legally binding EU-wide ban covering both minors and adults, including effective penalties and support for survivors. On the Equality Strategy, it urges stronger monitoring, binding benchmarks linked to EU funding and decisive action to counter the anti-LGBTIQ+ backlash.

The EESC, as the voice of organised civil society, reaffirmed its commitment to advancing equality and ensuring that all people in Europe can live freely and safely, without fear of discrimination. (lm)

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted its opinion on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034 in January 2026, delivering a clear message to the EU institutions: Europe’s strategic, social and geopolitical ambitions require a stronger and better-designed long-term budget. Read the interview with Luca Jahier, the EESC rapporteur from the Committee's Civil Society Organisations' Group.

By the Civil Society Organisations' Group

What are the main findings and recommendations of this opinion?

The EESC’s first key finding concerns the overall volume of the MFF. While acknowledging the European Commission’s proposed nominal increase, the Committee stresses that, once inflation and the repayment of NextGenerationEU debt are taken into account, real resources would remain largely unchanged. This falls short of what is needed to close persistent investment gaps in strategic autonomy, competitiveness, social cohesion, climate action, security and defence. Drawing on recent institutional reports, the EESC calls for a substantial increase in real resources relative to gross national income and for stronger EU-level investment in European public goods, which cannot be delivered effectively by Member States alone.

A second major concern relates to the structure and governance of EU funding. The EESC strongly opposes the proposed reductions to cohesion policy and the Common Agricultural Policy, underlining their proven contribution to economic, social and territorial convergence. It also raises serious reservations about the planned merger of several major policy areas into a single National and Regional Partnership Plan, as is currently proposed, warning that this risks excessive centralisation and weaker stakeholder involvement. The Committee therefore calls for a reinforced partnership principle, mandatory participation mechanisms, adequate support for capacity-building and safeguards where effective involvement is lacking.

The opinion also addresses revenues, competitiveness and democratic resilience. While welcoming the introduction of new EU own resources, the EESC calls for greater ambition and closer alignment with EU policy objectives. It supports EU emissions trading system ETS- and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism CBAM-based revenues, subject to transitional support for energy-intensive sectors, but expresses strong reservations about the proposed Corporate Resource for Europe, recommending instead the reintroduction of a digital services tax. 

On competitiveness, the Committee stresses that this must go hand-in-hand with social fairness, equal access to funding and substantial investment in research, innovation, skills and infrastructure. Adequate financing for civil society and media programmes is highlighted as essential democratic infrastructure.

Finally, the EESC welcomes the reinforced Global Europe pillar, stressing that increased funding for external action must support strategic autonomy, enlargement and neighbourhood stability, while strengthening the Global Gateway as a coherent instrument for multilateral engagement.

After the adoption of this opinion, what will you do to promote it?

Following the adoption of the opinion, the EESC will actively promote its recommendations through dialogue with the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council and key stakeholders, ensuring that organised civil society contributes meaningfully to the negotiations on the EU’s next long-term budget.

Watch the video statement by the rapporteur Luca Jahier.

As discussions on the European Commission’s 2027 Work Programme gather pace, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has underlined the need for a competitiveness agenda that delivers both economic strength and social progress. 

By the EESC Workers’ Group

‘Europe’s competitiveness cannot be built at the expense of workers. The digital, green and energy transitions must be fair transitions, based on quality jobs, skills, social dialogue, equal opportunities and strong workers’ rights’, the EESC states in its contribution to the 2027 Work Programme.

The EESC argues that Europe’s resilience and sustainable growth depend on a strong industrial base, innovation, investment and a deeper single market. At the same time, it stresses that people must remain at the heart of Europe’s transformation, with quality jobs, social dialogue and workers’ rights forming essential pillars of future policy.

The Committee calls for the European Pillar of Social Rights to be implemented in full and supports measures to strengthen fair labour mobility, digital workers’ rights, skills development and social conditionality in EU funding and public procurement. It also highlights the importance of the forthcoming Quality Jobs Act, stronger protection against risks linked to algorithmic management, and greater investment in vocational education and training. 

Alongside social priorities, the EESC advocates a modern industrial policy focused on affordable energy, secure supply chains, critical raw materials and strategic infrastructure. It also calls for adequate resources in the next multiannual financial framework (MFF), ensuring that competitiveness, cohesion, social progress and the green transition receive balanced support. 

The Committee further emphasises that tackling poverty, improving access to housing and essential services, as well as strengthening health, care and mental well-being are crucial to Europe’s democratic resilience. According to the EESC, sustainable prosperity will only be achieved if economic growth goes hand in hand with social inclusion and a better quality of life for all Europeans.

The MFF remains a key tool to support EU priorities, especially at a time when Europe’s investment needs are growing.  While the majority of funds will come from mobilising private investment, public resources will also be crucial.  

By Konstantinos Diamantouros, EESC Employers' Group member

Against this backdrop, the MFF proposal marks an important step forward. First, it places a stronger emphasis on competitiveness, especially through the creation of the European Competitiveness Fund and the reinforcement of Horizon Europe, which can help position industry, research and innovation at the heart of EU growth. Second, the expansion of the Connecting Europe Facility has the potential to enhance transport and energy networks and contribute to lowering energy costs.

In addition, the performance-based approach for national and regional plans is welcomed, provided that the ‘reforms for investments’ logic is aligned with cohesion policy objectives and does not introduce macroeconomic conditionality. On external action, the increase in funding for Global Europe is also a positive step, as it can strengthen the EU’s global role, diversify value chains and enhance security.

At the same time, there are areas of concern. As outlined in the EESC opinion on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034, we oppose the idea of merging cohesion policy, ESF+, agriculture, fisheries, migration and security into a single fund, as this risks creating competition between priorities which could undermine the long-term planning needed for the seven year period of the MFF. We therefore call instead for a clearer structure, with predictable funding for each policy area.

The proposed Corporate Resource for Europe (CORE) as a new EU own resource also raises concerns: first, because further taxation may run counter to the EU’s competitiveness agenda; and second, because it is a levy based on turnover rather than profit.

Overall, the proposal moves in the right direction, but the final budget must safeguard cohesion, involve social partners, avoid harmful conditionality and ensure fair financing that supports competitiveness.