The European Union and its Member States must stand united to protect their sovereignty. The EESC firmly believes that if Europe is to maintain its leading role in the world, it needs a strong, competitive industrial base. The EESC recognises the crucial importance of shifting to a carbon-neutral economy and of reversing the current curve of biodiversity collapse. Without a green industrial strategy as a cornerstone of the Green Deal, the EU will never succeed in reaching a carbon-neutral economy within one generation. The new industrial strategy must ensure the right balance between supporting European businesses, respecting our 2050 climate neutrality objective and providing consumers with incentives to shift consumption to sustainable goods and services .
Circular Economy
The transition to a Circular Economy is high on the EESC agenda as a solution to fight the climate crisis and protect our planet. It is a great opportunity for civil society as it can help to:
- increase the competitiveness of European industry;
- promote sustainable economic growth;
- generate new jobs.
The 'take-make-waste' model of production and consumption that still dominates our economy today is not only culminating in wasted resources, but also undermining the fight against climate change. Unlike the linear economy, a Circular Economy is a regenerative and restorative design that focuses on economic value creation and retention, tackling global environmental challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution while yielding economic benefits.
The good news is that the circular transition is already happening on the ground. Stakeholders from civil society including businesses, trade unions, academia and knowledge communities, youth organisations as well as NGOs and other interest groups are creating and implementing many circular initiatives at local and regional level. Catalysing circular solutions and leadership from relevant stakeholders is Europe's best opportunity to accelerate the transition to a Circular Economy.
As such, the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform, a joint initiative of the EESC and the European Commission, is a platform established in 2017 to bring together the Circular Economy community in Europe. The stakeholder-driven platform supports Europe's transition towards a Circular Economy by fostering dialogue, sharing knowledge and exchanging best practices.
Displaying 11 - 20 of 73
Pages
Opinion
Adopted on 15/07/2020
Reference:
INT/897-EESC-2020Referral:
COM(2020) 102 final Rapporteur:
Mihai IVAŞCU (Romania)
Co-rapporteur:
Opinion
Adopted on 30/10/2019
Reference:
NAT/775-EESC-2019-02306Referral:
COM(2019) 190 final Rapporteur:
Opinion
Adopted on 26/09/2019
Reference:
NAT/764-EESC-2019-02078-00-00Rapporteur:
Opinion
Adopted on 17/07/2019
Reference:
TEN/695-EESC-2019-01938Rapporteur:
The EESC takes note of the Fourth Report on the State of the Energy Union (SEU), supports the objectives of the Energy Union and welcomes the emphasis on the engagement and mobilisation of EU society to take full ownership of the Energy Union.
Opinion
Adopted on 19/09/2018
Reference:
INT/863-EESC-2018-02860-00-00-AC-TRARapporteur:
Raymond HENCKS (Luxembourg)
The majority of road accidents are down to human error alone, so a comprehensive approach to road safety is needed. It should cover driver behaviour, the working conditions and skills of professional drivers, and infrastructure.
Opinion
Adopted on 11/07/2018
Reference:
NAT/722-EESC-2018-00464Referral:
COM(2018) 29 final Rapporteur:
Co-rapporteur:
Tellervo KYLÄ-HARAKKA-RUONALA (Finland)
The circular economy monitoring framework draws upon and complements the existing Resource Efficiency Scoreboard and Raw Materials Scoreboard, which were developed in recent years by the Commission.
Opinion
Adopted on 23/05/2018
Reference:
NAT/721-EESC-2018-00536Referral:
COM(2018) 28 final COM(2018) 28 final COM(2018) 33 final 2018/0012 CODCOM(2018) 33 final 2018/0012 CODRapporteur:
Antonello PEZZINI (Italy)
This EESC opinion covers both the Communication on A European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy (COM(2018) 28 final) and the proposal for a Directive on Port Reception Facilities (COM(2018) 33 final), as this initiative also contributes to the objective of reducing the leakage of plastics into the environment
Opinion
Adopted on 18/10/2017
Reference:
SC/48-EESC-2017-01690-00-00-AC-TRARapporteur:
Anne CHASSAGNETTE (France)
Co-rapporteur:
Carlos TRIAS PINTÓ (Spain)
This Committee opinion, prepared in response to the commission's request, has taken stock of the views of European stakeholders on how EU policies and regulatory action can use sustainable economic models to transition successfully towards economic modernisation by reconciling economic prosperity and efficiency, social inclusion and environmental responsibility.
Opinion
Adopted on 05/07/2017
Reference:
NAT/707-EESC-2017Referral:
COM(2017) 38 final 2017/0013 CODRapporteur:
Brian CURTIS (United Kingdom)
RoHS 2 addresses the waste hierarchy’s highest priority, waste prevention. Waste prevention includes measures that reduce the content of harmful substances in materials and products. Decreasing the amount of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic waste benefits the management of such waste as a result.
Opinion
Adopted on 05/07/2017
Reference:
NAT/706-EESC-2017-00719-00-00-AC-TRAReferral:
COM(2017) 34 final Rapporteur:
Co-rapporteur:
Antonello PEZZINI (Italy)
The objective of the Communication on the role of waste-to-energy in the circular economy is to ensure that the recovery of energy from waste in the EU is consistent with the objectives pursued in the Circular Economy Action Plan.