The EU stands at a critical crossroads in AI development. While U.S. companies dominate the generative AI (GenAI) market—capturing 80% of global private investment—China is advancing rapidly. To identify what is needed to ensure Europe remains competitive, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has published a new study in collaboration with the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS).

Prepared under the umbrella of the EESC’s Section for the Single Market, Production and Consumption (INT) and regularly discussed at the EESC's Digital Single Market Observatory, the study explores the key opportunities, challenges and policy measures needed to augment Europe’s AI landscape.

Key Recommendations for the EU:

• Boost AI investment & computing power – Europe must increase investment in AI infrastructure to foster innovation.
• Focus on three high-potential sectors – AI can drive growth in the car industry, clean energy and education.
• Promote open-source AI – Encouraging open AI models will enhance accessibility and competition.
• Better integrate R&D efforts across the EU.

Empowering Civil Society in AI Governance
The study highlights the importance of civil society organisations (CSOs) in shaping AI policies and governance. To enhance inclusivity and ethical AI adoption, the report recommends:

• AI literacy programmes – Training and social dialogue initiatives to empower workers and the public.
• "Social by Design" approach – Ensuring AI development is human-centred and aligned with society's needs.
• Increased funding for CSOs – Supporting non-profits that bridge the gap between AI technology and public understanding.
• Ethical AI adoption – Prioritising trustworthy AI systems that align with European values.

Harnessing the EESC’s Potential in AI Policy
The EESC is well-positioned to facilitate structured CSO involvement in AI policy. The study recommends advocating open-source AI and promoting ethical innovation through public procurement and funding schemes, with the EESC serving as a central hub to collaborate with CSOs and open-source communities and raising awareness about AI´s impact on society.

The study also introduces a unified AI glossary to establish a common language, ensuring effective communication among policy-makers, developers and users—crucial for responsible development, governance and deployment of AI across sectors.

This study will be shared with key EU institutions and is expected to feed into future AI policies. Read the full report here. (vk)

European farmers face mounting crises, from extreme weather to market instability and unfair competition. The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) warns that current EU policies fail to protect farmers and calls for urgent reforms to secure incomes, strengthen bargaining power and ensure sustainable agriculture.

In an opinion requested by the Polish EU Presidency, the EESC called for a more resilient agricultural system, with farmers at its core.

'Farming is a noble profession with two key objectives: produce top quality safe food to feed the people and maintain and enhance the environment. All we ask for in return is an honest day's pay for an honest day's work and respect and a fair price for the food we provide,' said Joe Healy, one of the three rapporteurs of the opinion.

The common agricultural policy (CAP) is ill-equipped to handle today's challenges, according to the EESC. The financial tools it recommends to support farmers include public insurance for natural disasters, counter-cyclical aid and direct payments. Mutual funds, already used in some EU states, could provide an additional safety net, funded collectively by farmers, industry, regional governments and the EU.

With the CAP set for review after 2027, the EESC advocated restoring its budget to at least 0.5% of EU GDP. Stricter trade regulations are needed to ensure that imported products meet EU environmental and labour standards.

Another key concern is below-cost selling, a practice that puts farmers under extreme financial pressure. The EESC is urging EU policy-makers to seriously consider banning below-cost purchases to prevent large retailers from squeezing farmers out of business, using Spain's food chain laws as a model.

To improve transparency and farmers' market power, the EESC proposed an EU digital centre to monitor prices, costs and profits. It also advocated collective price negotiations and increased support for cooperatives and producer organisations. There is a need for greater economic independence and competitiveness across EU agriculture.

While climate goals are essential, farmers cannot bear the costs alone. A sustainability fund could help them transition to greener practices. The opinion warned of the risk of carbon leakage, where strict EU rules put local farmers at a disadvantage compared to non-EU competitors.

The EESC highlighted the importance of investment in rural development, innovation and simpler CAP rules. With farmers under increasing pressure, the urgency is clear: EU leaders must act before more farms disappear. (ks)

By the EESC Civil Society Organisations’ Group

The EESC must be involved from the outset in the European Commission’s initiatives to step up engagement with civil society. The EESC’s upcoming study on Mapping civil dialogue practices in the EU institutions can provide valuable input, according to the EESC’s Civil Society Organisations’ Group.

Following the start of the EU’s new political cycle, and the announcement of an EU strategy to support, protect and empower civil society for the third quarter of 2025 in the Commission Work Programme, the Civil Society Organisations’ Group held a conference to highlight key actions needed for the 2024-2029 term. The event on 3 March was attended by around 100 representatives from national and European civil society organisations (CSOs) and citizens.

Séamus Boland, the President of the Civil Society Organisations’ Group, said that CSOs have a role to play in ensuring that policy-making is informed and responsive to people’s needs. He reiterated the Group’s and the Committee’s call for the EESC to be involved in the Civil Society Platform planned by the Commission.

‘The EESC, with its experience and the platform it provides, must be involved from the outset in the European Commission’s initiatives to step up engagement with civil society. The EESC must take part in the governance and be a key part of the initiative on the creation of a Civil Society Platform,’ Mr Boland maintained.

He argued that structured, regular, transparent and inclusive civil dialogue should be built on existing structures and bring together all relevant stakeholders. Consequently, the European institutions should create a working group on civil dialogue, facilitated by the EESC.

‘A working group on civil dialogue could create a blueprint for a more enabling environment for civil society organisations in the policy-shaping process,’ Mr Boland said.  This could be a first step towards more structured civil dialogue and tackle the following questions: who is consulted, on which topics, along which timelines, with what outcomes?

The proposed working group could furthermore draw on the EESC’s upcoming study of existing dialogue practices, entitled Mapping civil dialogue practices in the EU institutions.

The study was commissioned by the EESC at the request of the Civil Society Organisations’ Group. Results are expected to be available as of July 2025. The study undertakes a comprehensive mapping of civil dialogue practices within the EU institutions: which processes of involving CSOs are currently being organised and using what kind of methodology? Knowledge on existing practices should inform and support the work towards more structured civil dialogue in the new legislative cycle. The preliminary findings of the study were already presented at the conference by Berta Mizsei from the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS).

The conference also highlighted that the financial health of CSOs is a precondition for dialogue and connecting policy-makers with the needs of people. Their financial stability and independence must be guaranteed.

The conclusions and recommendations of the conference are available on the EESC website.

By the EESC Workers' Group

Defence and social expenditure should go hand in hand—the welfare state must not be sacrificed to boost defence spending. A strong welfare state remains a key tool in stopping far-right parties in their aspirations to replicate Kremlin-style autocracies in the EU.

As the fourth year of war in Ukraine begins, many voices are calling for increased defence expenditure, particularly after the political changes in the US. The protection of European countries no longer seems guaranteed. This has already broken many taboos, not only regarding discussions on military matters at EU level but also on increased indebtedness.

However, some of these voices have also framed it as a zero-sum trade-off with the welfare state—as if the strength of the US military were due to the country's lack of proper social protection, or as if our weakened armies were a result of pensions and social security.

From the Workers’ Group, we want to highlight two issues:

• The EU as a whole is the second-largest military spender in the world. While in some cases common or additional expenditure may be needed, what is truly necessary is coordination and joint projects to ensure strategic autonomy. We need to defend ourselves, not compete globally with the US.
• A well-functioning welfare state, along with efforts to combat poverty and inequality, is a key tool in preventing a far-right takeover in many Member States. These far-right parties, which are on the rise, have little appetite for democracy, are openly hostile to most of our values, aspire to replicate the Kremlin’s autocracy in our Member States and, if in power, will ensure that no coordinated defense policy can emerge.

Therefore, Member States must view defence and social investment as mutually reinforcing, each making the other possible.

More than 800 participants from citizens’ organisations and stakeholders across Europe, including youth organisations, NGOs and journalists, joined the Civil Society Week, held by the European Economic and Social Committee from 17-20 March 2025. The opening session signalled the protection of the civic space through legal action, reaffirming the key role of civil societies: hold power accountable, build bridges, support social resilience and give a voice to those who are too often ignored.

The theme of the 2025 edition of Civil Society Week was Strengthening cohesion and participation in polarised societies. With its three major initiatives, namely the Liaison Group panels, the European Citizens’ Initiative and the Civil Society Prize, the event aimed to:

• address the growing polarisation that has been fuelled in recent years by the impact of the financial crisis, climate change and growing income inequality;
• highlight the key role that civil society can play in this context;
• gather civil society’s solutions and demands for EU policy-makers in order to help depolarise Europe by strengthening societal cohesion and democratic participation in key areas for society.

In his opening speech, EESC president Oliver Röpke stressed: ‘Civil society must rise to the challenge. Participation, dialogue and solidarity are not just ideals – they are the foundation of a resilient and united Europe. As we gather for Civil Society Week, let us reaffirm our commitment to inclusion and active citizenship. A strong democracy depends not just on institutions, but on the engagement of all its people.’

Albena Azmanova, Professor of Political and Social Science at City St George’s, University of London, talked in her keynote address about the growing economic insecurity faced by the majority of people – what she called an 'epidemic of precarity’. She explained why civil society holds the key to a breakthrough in times of massive insecurity.

‘Massive economic insecurity has drained most people of the will to fight. Civil society has the will to fight. Civil society activists are driven by a sense of purpose defined by a specific grievance. They are the visible legs and arms of democracy,’ she said.

As Younous Omarjee, Vice-President of the European Parliament, put it ‘We need civil society as a glue between citizens, in this context of rising individualism, and as a rampart against the far-right ideas that are spreading.’

The crucial role of NGOs in social resilience and their support for vulnerable and remote groups was raised by Adriana Porowska, Minister for Civil Society, from the Polish EU Presidency, who also shared the Polish experience with civil society ensuring national resilience.

Brikena Xhomaqi, co-chair of the EESC Liaison Group with European civil society networks, stressed that unity in diversity, the EU’s proud mantra, is cultivated at the grassroots level. However, Ms Xhomaqi mentioned that civil society organisations and NGOs are under attack, with their funding and role coming into question. ‘Without resources, civil society organisations cannot function. We need the institutions to protect civil society; we need legal protection for the civic space to keep our society together and united in diversity.’

The 2025 edition of Your Europe, Your Say! (YEYS), the European Economic and Social Committee's (EESC) annual youth event, took place on 13 and 14 March under the theme 'Giving youth a voice', focusing on the role of young people in collectively shaping a resilient future. 

This year's event brought together nearly 100 young people from across the EU, the EU's nine candidate countries, and the UK. The participants represented youth organisations, national youth councils and secondary schools, highlighting the concerns of a wide range of groups. While many are experienced youth advocates, for others, this event marked an important first step in engaging with participatory democracy in their communities and beyond.

During several workshops, young people, guided by facilitators, identified the most pressing issues they believed political actors should address. These issues ranged from the fight against corruption to developing a coherent climate strategy and ensuring equal rights for all. As corruption erodes trust in institutions and weakens democracy, it is imperative to support investigative journalism and to improve transparency in the use of taxpayers' money.

'We must ensure accountability. We cannot afford to be bystanders because the cost of inaction is too high. We must fight it and win it,' one YEYSer said.

Young people also expressed the need for common goals in the fight against climate change, highlighting the need 'to enshrine an existence free from the adverse effects of climate change.' They called for a values-based curriculum design, which would positively impact online behavior and mitigate disinformation. The YEYS participants also advocated equal rights, treatment and opportunities, in addition to inclusion for everyone in all spaces. Regarding the lack of youth representation in political decision-making processes, they stressed that a democracy requires all voices to be heard.

The one-and-a-half-day event culminated in the closing youth plenary, where a committed and engaged crowd presented their recommendations to EESC president Oliver Röpke and EU youth coordinator Biliana Sirakova. Following a vote, YEYSers ranked five focus points in order of importance.

(1) Fighting corruption through transparency and youth participation.

(2) Active citizenship: from classroom to community.

(3) IN for equality.

(4) Youth deserves a seat.

(5) Developing a coherent climate change strategy.

President Röpke stressed that these recommendations could shape the EESC's advisory work, highlighting gender equality as a key priority for the Committee. Ms Sirakova noted that these recommendations would also help inform the work of the EU. (cpwb)

Expanding across borders in the EU means navigating a maze of conflicting VAT rules and paperwork, driving up costs. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face disproportionate compliance burdens, making it harder to scale up and compete. The EESC calls for urgent reforms in two opinions adopted during its February plenary, building on the Letta and Draghi reports. Proposals include harmonised financial regulations, AI-driven reporting and a coordinated industrial policy.

‘The single market is the backbone of European economic prosperity, yet it remains incomplete in key sectors such as finance, energy and digital services,’ said EESC president Oliver Röpke. ‘Today’s debate highlights the urgent need for reforms to remove barriers and strengthen the services sector, ensuring a level playing field for businesses across the EU.’

Maria Luís Albuquerque, Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union, backed this call: ‘My vision for the Savings and Investment Union is to create wealth for our citizens and growth for our companies by bringing them together in a safe, competitive, well-regulated and well-supervised environment.’

The EESC’s opinions have identified two critical challenges to competitiveness: fragmentation in the single market, highlighted in the Letta and Draghi reports and excessive bureaucracy that particularly burdens SMEs. Both of these factors stifle innovation and economic growth.

What’s the problem?

Businesses across Europe are overwhelmed by complex and overlapping regulations. This wastes time and money, slows down the Green Deal and restricts access to financing for mid-sized companies. It results in frustrated businesses, higher consumer costs and weaker economic growth.

Beyond regulatory burdens, Europe faces deeper structural challenges that undermine its competitiveness. Slow progress in completing the single market, disparities in digital and energy infrastructure and a lack of coordinated industrial policy are limiting the EU’s ability to compete globally. While other economic blocs move swiftly to attract investment and foster innovation, Europe risks falling behind.

How can it be fixed?

Strengthening competitiveness requires a comprehensive approach, which includes removing barriers in key sectors like finance and energy, accelerating digital transformation and ensuring that SMEs can scale up and compete on a level playing field.

The EESC opinions propose:

• Simplifying regulations without lowering environmental and social standards.
• Creating a single AI-powered platform to streamline reporting for SMEs and mid-sized companies, making compliance faster and easier.
• Harmonising rules across sectors to cut down on repetitive paperwork.
• Standardising financial regulations across Member States with a coordinated EU industrial policy.
• Reforming the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) for a fairer, less burdensome system. (gb)

On 6 March, the EESC hosted a debate on the European Commission’s Clean Industrial Deal, just days ahead of the Council’s 12 March discussions. Policymakers, industry leaders and civil society examined whether the plan can truly support Europe’s clean-tech sector, energy-intensive industries and strategic autonomy.

With geopolitical instability and shifting transatlantic relations, Europe’s need for strategic autonomy is more urgent than ever. The Clean Industrial Deal aims to accelerate decarbonisation and circularity, while boosting industrial competitiveness, starting from lowering energy prices. Questions remain over its feasibility and funding.

‘The question is not to choose between strategic autonomy, competitiveness or the twin transition. All industrial sectors are concerned and must adapt, at their own pace but with clear commitments,’ said Pietro de Lotto, President of the EESC's Consultative Commission on Industrial Change (CCMI), framing the challenge as a balancing act.

The Commission has emphasised the geopolitical necessity of becoming energy-independent from Russia, but Europe’s industrial decline is a growing concern. Industrial output and foreign direct investment inflows have both dropped significantly in the past two years.

Funding will be a major challenge. Achieving the plan’s objectives requires cooperation between EU institutions, Member States and industry. While the European Investment Bank has pledged €500 million in counter-guarantees and €1.5 billion to improve energy grids, national governments must mobilise additional resources.

The social impact of the transition is also a key issue, particularly in energy-intensive industries that have seen significant job losses. Civil society representatives questioned whether reducing energy taxes, a key proposal of the Deal, could come at the expense of education and healthcare funding.

Despite the optimism surrounding the Clean Industrial Deal’s long-term goals, experts raised concerns about its ability to address short-term challenges. Speed and simplification are crucial, as high energy costs and regulatory barriers could slow down progress. Fragmented national policies remain a challenge, and the Clean Industrial Deal risks missing a crucial opportunity to align industrial policy across Europe.

Technological neutrality is also a concern, with debate over the right balance of renewables, hydrogen and biofuels. While the focus on renewables is welcomed, strong commitments to energy efficiency are needed. Renewables have already saved European consumers €100 billion between 2021 and 2023, a success the EU should build on. (jh)

As we mark the third anniversary of Russia's brutal and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine - an attack not just on a sovereign nation but on fundamental values of democracy, human dignity and the rules-based international order - we stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people, EESC president Oliver Röpke said in a statement issued at the EESC plenary session in February.

Since the first day of this invasion, we have stood by Ukraine – not just symbolically, but with concrete action. Today, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty, democracy and European future. We call on the EU to sustain and strengthen its political, economic, humanitarian and military support.

The Ukrainian people have demonstrated extraordinary courage and resilience in defending their country and the principles that bind us together as Europeans. Since the first day of this invasion, the EESC, its members and the European civil society it represents have stood by Ukraine - not only symbolically but with concrete action.

At a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty, recent statements by U.S. representatives questioning NATO’s collective defence commitment are deeply alarming. Europe cannot afford to be complacent.

Ukraine is fighting not just for its survival but for the security of the entire European continent.

The EESC urges EU leaders to seize this moment to bolster European security and defence capabilities, redefine strategic autonomy, defend multilateralism and deepen cooperation with the United Nations, while forging stronger global partnerships with democratic allies beyond Europe.

Europe must act now.

Indecision is not an option. Autocrats and aggressors thrive on hesitation.

Democracies must stand united and firm.

The EESC calls on the EU to reinforce its strategic autonomy, defending both democracy and fundamental rights, and standing resolutely with Ukraine. The time for strategic geopolitical action by the EU is now.

You can read the full statement here. (at)

The EESC flagship Civil Society Prize highlights the outstanding contribution of civil society to maintaining and strengthening European identity and citizenship. Each year, the prize takes a different theme of pressing societal importance related to the work of the EESC.

On 20 March, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) honoured three civil society organisations from Slovakia, Belgium and France, for their groundbreaking projects that tackle rising levels of harmful polarisation across the European Union.

The prize money of EUR 32 000 was shared among the three front-runners.

The EESC awarded the top prize of EUR 14 000 to the Slovak Debate Association for The Critical Thinking Olympiad, a pioneering initiative that builds resilience to misinformation among Slovak youth. The project runs a student competition across three age groups, in which students take on real-world media challenges and assess content for its trustworthiness.

The two runners-up each received EUR 9 000.

France's Reporters d'Espoirs placed second with their Prix Européen Jeunes Reporters d’Espoirs, a French-language training scheme for solutions journalism.

The third prize went to FEC Diversité asbl in Belgium for their project "ESCAPE GAME EXTREME DROITE pour se désintoxiquer", an immersive game that counters far-right ideologies.

About the 15th EESC Civil Society Prize

The 15th EESC Civil Society Prize highlighted non-profit projects led by individuals, private companies and civil society organisations that helped combat harmful polarisation across the European Union.

In recent years, Europe has been struck by multiple crises, from Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, rising energy prices and costs of living, and the continued economic and social aftermath from the COVID-19 pandemic. Such crises can erode trust in public institutions, and breed harmful polarisation throughout society.

While polarisation can be part of an open, pluralistic society, rising populism and negative polarisation represent significant challenges for European democracies. Europe also faces a continued fracturing of the traditional media landscape, rising misinformation and attacks on media freedom, all of which pose further threats to democratic values.

This year’s winners were selected from a strong and diverse range of over 50 entries from 15 Member States. The winning projects were chosen for their extraordinary creativity, enthusiasm and dedication in combating harmful polarisation in European society.

'Organised civil society plays a fundamental role in safeguarding European democracy, as has been proven yet again by this year’s remarkable and wide-ranging projects' said EESC Vice-President for Communication Aurel Laurenţiu Plosceanu.