The EESC considers that the EU's underlying objectives for the renewed EU-Pacific development Partnership are ambitious, but believes that the implementing arrangements, which mainly concern environmental protection and biodiversity conservation in the region, are not clear. Synergies are needed with other organisations to address the impact of climate change, which has a cross-cutting impact on national and multilateral policies as well as social and economic repercussions. Issues associated with the impact of climate change should be incorporated in the area's comprehensive environmental policies and ensure coherent behaviour and actions. To this end, the active involvement of all local stakeholders is necessary.
Download — Towards a renewed EU-Pacific development Partnership
The EU needs to enhance the growth part of its overall strategy. This must be based on combining what the Member States can do at national level with action at EU level, anchoring these efforts in the Europe 2020 strategy and in our new governance structures.
Download — EUR/004 - Action for stability, growth and jobs
The present opinion seeks to assess the Rio+20 conference in the light of the EESC's proposals and to identify prospects for follow-up measures. The EESC was heavily involved in the preparations for the 2012 UN conference on sustainable development (Rio+20). The success of this conference will become clear solely by means of follow-up measures at local level. The additional opinion aims to take stock of the conference and to set priorities for the future.
Download — EESC Opinion: Rio+20 - Current situation and future prospects (additional opinion)
The purpose of this own-initiative opinion is to examine the potential social advantages (the public goods produced by the farming sector which will benefit society and the economy) and eventual constraints hampering its realisation. The opinion looks also into existing regulatory frameworks within which these initiatives take place.
This is the second Commission's Communication and the second EESC opinion on this subject. Although the EESC is generally supportive of the action plan, it stresses the need for more emphasis on building up the capacity of EU manufacturing companies which satisfy the market pull for new technologies. The opinion draws attention to essential background factors which jeopardise the efficiency of the action plan, for example scarcity of venture capital, lagging state aid modernisation and unclear governance of the project.
The EESC welcomes this legislative proposal which ensures the effective resolution of failing financial institutions within the EU, and supports the introduction of harmonised rules regarding intra-group financial support. The Committee also stresses that the Central Banks, including the ECB, have to be involved in the assessment of the recovery and resolution plans, while remaining independent. Professional advice of consumer organisations, trade union representatives, etc., should also be sought. The Committee encourages a greater degree of certainty for the institutions by introducing explicit and more clearly defined rules. The opinion demands more clearly defined rules for the Special Manager (SM) as a highly intrusive early intervention measure, and points out the need for additional clarifications regarding both the bail-in tool and the Resolution Authorities (RAs).
Download — Recovery and resolution of credit institutions
