While the recovery after COVID-19 crisis is a top priority, the EESC stresses that this should not steer the EU away from its medium and long-term objectives, as outlined in the European Green Deal, 2020 Sustainable Growth Strategy, and the European Pillar for Social Rights. There is a need for a resilient, technology-driven European economy that is defined by the protection of the environment. The EESC underlines that strategies aimed at enhanced economic sustainability need to be developed around productivity, but they cannot be allowed to happen at the expense of workers' rights and social development. The EESC advocates for re-thinking supply chains, underlines that social aspects should be emphasised, start-ups should be encouraged and that the cornerstone of sustainable economic growth in the EU should be the creation and development of a truly circular economy. Open dialogue with social partners and civil society remains key to setting the economic direction.
Investment Plan for Europe: stock-taking and next steps - Related Opinions
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9
Adopted on 15/07/2020
Reference:
ECO/513-EESC-2020Rapporteur:
Adopted on 15/07/2020
Reference:
ECO/528-EESC-2020-02866-00-00-AC-TRAReferral:
COM(2020) 403 final 2020/0108 CODCOM(2020) 403 final 2020/0108 CODCOM(2020) 403 final 2020/0108 CODCOM(2020) 403 final 2020/0108 CODCOM(2020) 403 final 2020/0108 CODCOM(2020) 403 final 2020/0108 CODCOM(2020) 404 final 2020/0106 CODGeneral Rapporteur:
Adopted on 10/06/2020
Reference:
ECO/505-EESC-2020-2020-00463-00-00-TRAReferral:
COM(2020) 21 final Rapporteur:
Carlos TRIAS PINTÓ (Spain)
Co-rapporteur:
Petr ZAHRADNÍK (Czech Republic)
The coronavirus outbreak will have a deep and negative impact on the achievement of the SDGs and the objectives of the European Green Deal. For this reason, the EESC insists on the need to face this urgent threat as soon as possible and focus our recovery efforts without undue delay on the SDGs and the Green Deal. The Sustainable Europe Investment Plan (SEIP) is the first comprehensive policy measure to fulfil very ambitious targets of carbon neutrality until 2050 in line with the EU Green Deal. While saluting the Green Deal's ambitions, the EESC regrets the lack of consistency with the budgetary allocation within the next Multiannual Financial Framework and also expresses its doubts about the effectiveness of climate mainstreaming in all EU programmes and calls on the Member States to involve civil society organisations in pushing for climate-proof EU spending.
Adopted on 30/10/2019
Reference:
ECO/498-EESC-2019Referral:
COM(2018) 770 final Rapporteur:
Anne DEMELENNE (Belgium)
This additional opinion complements and updates the proposals made in the yearly EESC AGS opinion. The EESC welcomes country-specific recommendations focus on investment and underlines that special attention must be paid to productive investments and investment in social infrastructure to prioritise sustainable growth. Next year's cycle should contain more CSRs to combat the existential threat of climate change. Investment would also be needed to enable the implementation of the social pillar to prevent an increase of social, economic, and environmental inequality. Taxation should favour this type of investment.
Adopted on 17/10/2018
Reference:
ECO/474-EESC-2018-3065Referral:
COM(2018) 439 final 2018/0229 CODCOM(2018) 439 final 2018/0229 CODCOM(2018) 439 final 2018/0229 CODCOM(2018) 439 final 2018/0229 CODCOM(2018) 439 final 2018/0229 CODRapporteur:
Petr ZAHRADNÍK (Czech Republic)
The EESC welcomes the fact that the package of regulations on the future multiannual financial framework includes the InvestEU proposal to strengthen investment activity in the EU, including long-term investment projects that are of high public interest, while also respecting the sustainable development criteria. In order to guarantee that this programme operates successfully, the Committee underlines the importance of the involvement of civil society organisations and social and economic partners. The EESC appreciates the European Commission's efforts to create an umbrella financial instrument by the InvestEU programme that will result in unified management, enhanced transparency and potential for synergies. The EESC appreciates the fact that, in addition to promoting sustainable infrastructure, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and research and innovation, the InvestEU programme also focuses on social investment and skills.
Adopted on 19/10/2017
Reference:
ECO/438-EESC-2017-02879-00-00-ac-traRapporteur:
David CROUGHAN (Ireland)
This opinion is part of a wider package of four EESC opinions on the future of the European economy (Deepening of the Economic and Monetary Union and Euro area economic policy, Capital Markets Union and The future of EU finances). The package of opinions underscores the need for a common sense of purpose in the Union governance, which goes far beyond technical approaches and measures, and is first and foremost a matter of political will and a common perspective. Against this background the Committee advocates the exploration of tools to improve economic governance in the EMU, for instance by creating a permanent Euro Finance Minister, while ensuring full democratic accountability. Bundling competences would enhance coherence of EMU policies.
Adopted on 19/10/2017
Reference:
ECO/437-EESC-2017-03251-00-00-ac-traReferral:
COM(2017) 292 final Rapporteur:
Daniel MAREELS (Belgium)
This opinion is part of a wider package of four EESC opinions on the future of the European economy (Deepening of the Economic and Monetary Union and Euro area economic policy, Capital Markets Union and The future of EU finances). The package of opinions underscores the need for a common sense of purpose in the Union governance, which goes far beyond technical approaches and measures, and is first and foremost a matter of political will and a common perspective. The EESC is strongly in favour of the Capital Markets Union (CMU) and finds it absolutely necessary that the CMU becomes a reality in all EU Member States and calls for the political will at European level and in the Member States to make all necessary efforts and to establish all of the relevant conditions required.
Adopted on 14/12/2016
Reference:
ECO/416-EESC-2016-05518-00-02-ac-traRapporteur:
Alberto MAZZOLA (Italy)
The EESC strongly endorses the Commission's initiative to extend the duration and increase the financing of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) and welcomes the positive results of the first year and considers the SME "investment window" a success. The Committee recommend that EFSI 2.0 should aim for ever greater involvement of private capital; stresses the importance of keeping a market-driven emphasis, reinforcing the additionality of the EFSI and calls for a more balanced geographically coverage across the EU. The EESC also recommends bolstering the European Investment Advisory Hub (EIAH) and the reinforcement of the social dimension of EFSI deployment. It is also in favour of using the EFSI to nurture the development of a shared industrial and dual technology base in the European defence sector. Finally, in the view of the Committee it is important to raise the visibility of EFSI funding.
Adopted on 19/03/2015
Reference:
ECO/374-EESC-2014-07287-00-03-ac-traRapporteur:
Plenary session:
506 -
Mar 18, 2015 Mar 19, 2015
The EESC welcomes the Investment Plan for Europe as a step in the right direction, which however faces serious questions about the Plan's size and timescale, the high degree of leverage expected and the potential flow of suitable projects. The Plan proposes that contributions to the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) from Member States will not be included in budget deficit calculations and this is to be welcomed, but it begs the question as to why ongoing strategic public infrastructure expenditures are not treated in the same way. Strategic public investment which underpins present and future economic development should be incentivised by a more benign European fiscal framework.
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