Rare diseases impact 8% of the EU population, or 36 million Europeans. With 7 000 rare diseases, most of which are chronic, disabling or life-threatening, the health and quality of life for those affected are severely compromised. Worse yet, up to 95% of these diseases lack specific treatments, and the available therapies come at exorbitant costs.

The significant decline in the habit of repairing, with only 35% of consumers choosing to repair their products, has led to substantial consequences for the environment, resulting in 7 million tons of electric and electronic waste and a marked decrease in repair-related employment in the EU.

Over half of European adults are overweight or obese, leading to severe health issues such as heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers. At the same time, our food systems drive environmental damage — from global warming and deforestation to biodiversity loss and pollution. Power imbalances and overproduction in the food supply chain push prices down, squeeze farmers’ incomes and add to the already significant food waste, with EU consumers discarding nearly a quarter of their food purchases.

Young people are the most under-represented age group in the European Parliament, with only 6% of MEPs younger than 35, according to figures from the European Youth Forum. The EESC is determined to change that. Including young perspectives in EU decisions is not just desirable, it is essential for creating policies that truly represent the future of Europe.