At an Enlargement Forum hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), civil society representatives from candidate countries commended the Committee’s Enlargement Candidate Members initiative as a vital tool for shaping their countries’ European integration process and bolstering public support for EU accession.
Supports the ETS as a key instrument of the Green Deal, but stresses that its impact on jobs, regional economies and sectoral competitiveness must be properly assessed.
Warns of unintended consequences, including cost shifts impacting corporations and employment in other sectors too, investment risks and potential relocations, especially in the maritime and port sectors.
Calls for improvements to the impact assessments of ETS design, including better economic modelling, ex post impact assessments, and a stronger focus on global coordination, notably through the IMO for shipping.
The European institutions should jointly develop unified guidelines for civil dialogue. An interinstitutional agreement could help, for example by assigning different roles and objectives to the different institutions based on their competences. The European institutions must also address capacity issues that hinder civil society organisations and institutions from engaging in dialogue.
Stresses the urgent need for targeted EU action to reduce disparities in financial literacy across Member States and population groups.
Calls for financial education to start at an early age and be included in school curricula, while also supporting lifelong learning and skills for entrepreneurs.
Warns against the rise in financial fraud and calls for greater public awareness, regulatory action, and investment in cybersecurity.
Highlights the positive role of trade unions in boosting productivity through collective bargaining, workplace innovation, and inclusive decision-making models such as co-management and works councils.
Calls for stronger collaboration between unions, employers and governments to promote training, reduce absenteeism, support fair digital transitions, and improve workplace environments.
Urges investment in human capital and SMEs and supports the involvement of trade unions in setting sector-specific productivity benchmarks that reflect long-term, sustainable business performance.
