Adopted on 18/09/2025 - Bureau decision date: 23/01/2025
Reference
CCMI/247-EESC-2025
Workers - GR II
France
Employers - GR I
Slovakia
Plenary session number
599
-

This opinion intends to discuss the relationship between water resilience, digitalisation and the green transition. It aims to propose recommendations to address the different challenges involving water, digitalisation and decarbonisation from an industrial perspective.

  • Fact sheet CCMI/247
Download — EESC opinion: Water resilience and the twin transitions: Industrial approaches addressing the relationship between water, digitalisation and decarbonisation
Adopted on 03/12/2025 - Bureau decision date: 23/01/2025
Reference
CCMI/246-EESC-2025
Workers - GR II
Italy
Employers - GR I
Slovakia
Plenary session number
601
-
  • Record of proceedings CCMI/246
  • Fact sheet CCMI/246
Download — EESC opinion: Facilitating the potential of permanent materials in EU circular economy
Adopted on 18/09/2025 - Bureau decision date: 21/01/2025
Reference
CCMI/245-EESC-2025
Civil Society Organisations - GR III
Cyprus
Employers - GR I
Slovakia
Plenary session number
599
-
Download — EESC opinion: EU Steel and Metals Action Plan
Adopted on 16/07/2025 - Bureau decision date: 23/01/2025
Reference
INT/1082-EESC-2025-00527-00-00-AC-TRA
Employers - GR I
Austria
Workers - GR II
Italy
Plenary session number
598
-

As emphasised in the Letta and Draghi reports, the two main challenges of EU R&I policy are: i) reversing the declining productivity of the EU economy and closing the competitiveness gap with other global scientific and economic powers; and ii) reducing the fragmentation of the European research area to allow for the free circulation of scientific knowledge, research and innovation referred as the ‘fifth freedom’ in the Letta report.

In early 2026, the Commission is expected to publish the European Research Area Act (ERA Act). EESC’s input through this own-initiative opinion (OIO) is intended to shape the ERA Act, ensuring that it supports a vibrant ecosystem for innovation and digital transformation, and aligns with these strategic visions.

  • Record of Proceedings INT/1082
Download — EESC opinion: The ERA Act: unlocking the fifth freedom
Adopted on 18/09/2025 - Bureau decision date: 23/01/2025
Reference
INT/1081-EESC-2025-00634-00-00-AC-TRA
Workers - GR II
Italy
Plenary session number
599
-

As a result of the ongoing conflicts and growing geopolitical crisis, the EU has been intensifying its focus on defence over the last two years.

  • Record of Proceedings INT/1081
Download — EESC opinion: A challenge for the Single Market: a European defence policy well balanced with the needs of citizens
Adopted on 18/09/2025 - Bureau decision date: 23/01/2025
Reference
INT/1080-EESC-2025-00420-00-00-AC-TRA
Civil Society Organisations - GR III
Belgium
Workers - GR II
France
Plenary session number
599
-

The EESC opinion looks into how industry practices influence public health and contribute to the rise of non-communicable diseases, aiming to identify barriers to effective policies and propose stronger preventive measures.

  • Record of Proceedings INT/1080
Download — EESC opinion: Commercial determinants of health

Minutes of the 224th meeting of the REX Section of 15 January 2025

Download — EESC-2025-00047-00-00-PV-TRA — (Minutes)