European Green Deal

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On 11 December 2019, the European Commission launched the European Green Deal reinforcing the EU’s commitment to tackling climate and environmental-related challenges that is this generation’s defining task. The objective of the European Green Deal is to transform the EU into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy, ensuring:

  • no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050;
  • economic growth decoupled from resource use;
  • no person and no place left behind.

To deliver the European Green Deal, the EU is carrying out a comprehensive package of initiatives, including policy and legislative proposals and the development and modernisation of financing instruments.

The EESC has been calling for a "Green and Social Deal", stressing the close link between the Green Deal and social justice. It is essential to hear the voice of all stakeholders in order to foster the sustainable and competitive companies of tomorrow in a healthy environment.

The European Green Deal placed a strong emphasis on investment and the financing of the green and sustainable transition. The Green Deal is Europe’s lifeline out of the COVID-19 pandemic. One third of the 1.8 trillion euro investments from the NextGenerationEU Recovery Plan, and the EU’s seven-year budget finances the European Green Deal. This boost in funding opportunities aims to turn the crisis into a transformational opportunity for the future of Europe.

The EESC plays a crucial role in monitoring the implementation of the European Green Deal initiatives and actions. The EESC prepares opinions and organises activities (see side menu on the left of this page) to ensure the EU institutions take into account the views of organised civil society and the Green Deal initiatives are coherent with the economic, social and civic circumstances on the ground.

Due to the transversal and all-encompassing nature, the European Green Deal is covered by all EESC Sections and CCMI.

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  • Adopted on 20/10/2021 - Bureau decision date: 25/03/2021

    Towards a holistic strategy on sustainable rural/urban development (own-initiative opinion)

    Reference
    NAT/820-EESC-2021
    Rapporteur
    Josep PUXEU ROCAMORA
    Employers - GR I
    Spain
    Co-rapporteur
    Piroska KÁLLAY
    Workers - GR II
    Hungary
    EESC opinion: Towards a holistic strategy on sustainable rural/urban development (own-initiative opinion)
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  • Adopted on 20/10/2021 - Bureau decision date: 25/03/2021

    Glass in Europe at a crossroads: delivering a greener, energy-efficient industry, while enhancing competitiveness and maintaining quality jobs (own-initiative opinion)

    Reference
    CCMI/180-EESC-2021-01-01-02384
    Rapporteur
    Aurel Laurenţiu PLOSCEANU
    Employers - GR I
    Romania
    Co-rapporteur
    Gerald KREUZER
    (Austria

    The EU is the world's biggest producer of glass with a market share of around one third of total world production. The industry is known for the quality of its products, its capacity for technological innovation and its skilled labour force. The glass industries comprise five sectors covering different glass products, applications and markets: containers, flat glass, glass fibre, special glasses and domestic glass.

    EESC opinion: Glass in Europe at a crossroads: delivering a greener, energy-efficient industry, while enhancing competitiveness and maintaining quality jobs (own-initiative opinion)
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    HEARING in the framework of the EESC study group CCMI/180 - Glass in Europe
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  • Adopted on 20/10/2021 - Bureau decision date: 25/03/2021

    Reconciling ambitious sustainable and social objectives with an enabling environment for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises

    Reference
    INT/944-EESC-2021-01-01-02922-00-00-AC-TRA
    Rapporteur
    Bruno CHOIX
    Employers - GR I
    France

    Micro enterprises and SMEs (MSME) in all fields need good conditions to survive the health and economic crisis and unlock their potential so that they can grow and create jobs. This opinion examines alternatives to address the administrative ("paper tax") burden on MSMEs, particularly in view of current transparency and disclosure measures to achieve the EU's social and environmental objectives.

    EESC opinion: Reconciling ambitious sustainable and social objectives with an enabling environment for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises
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  • Adopted on 20/10/2021 - Bureau decision date: 23/03/2021

    ReFuelEU Aviation

    Reference
    TEN/744-EESC-2021
    Referral
    COM(2021) 561 final 2021/0205 COD
    COM(2021) 561 final 2021/0205 COD
    Rapporteur
    Thomas KROPP
    Employers - GR I
    Germany
    EESC opinion: ReFuelEU Aviation
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  • Adopted on 22/09/2021 - Bureau decision date: 23/02/2021

    Strategic Guidelines for the sustainable development of EU aquaculture

    Reference
    NAT/816-EESC-2021
    Referral
    COM(2021) 236 final
    COM(2021) 236 final
    Rapporteur
    Anastasis YIAPANIS
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    Cyprus
    EESC opinion: Strategic Guidelines for the sustainable development of EU aquaculture
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  • Adopted on 22/09/2021 - Bureau decision date: 23/02/2021

    Action Plan for the development of EU organic production

    Reference
    NAT/818-EESC-2021
    Referral
    COM(2021) 141 final
    COM(2021) 141 final
    Rapporteur
    Andreas THURNER
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    Austria
    EESC opinion: Action Plan for the development of EU organic production
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  • Adopted on 22/09/2021 - Bureau decision date: 23/02/2021

    New approach for a sustainable blue economy in the EU

    Reference
    NAT/817-EESC-2021
    Referral
    COM(2021) 240 final
    Rapporteur
    Simo TIAINEN
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    Finland
    EESC opinion: New approach for a sustainable blue economy in the EU
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  • Adopted on 07/07/2021 - Bureau decision date: 25/03/2021

    Intermodal transport and multimodal logistics – making modes complementary in greening transport (own-initiative opinion)

    Reference
    TEN/747-EESC-2021-01-01
    Rapporteur
    Stefan BACK
    (Sweden
    EESC opinion: Intermodal transport and multimodal logistics – making modes complementary in greening transport (own-initiative opinion)
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  • Adopted on 07/07/2021 - Bureau decision date: 23/02/2021

    Action plan on the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights

    Reference
    SOC/679-EESC-2021
    Referral
    COM(2021) 102 final
    COM(2021) 102 final
    Rapporteur
    Cristian PÎRVULESCU (Civil Society Organisations - GR III/Romania), Carlos Manuel TRINDADE (Workers - GR II/Portugal)

    In this opinion, the EESC underlines that the Action Plan on the European Pillar of Social Rights should be based on concreteness and tangibility, with actions that are measurable and accompanied by monitoring frameworks jointly agreed among relevant stakeholders and encompassing the social, environmental, and economic criteria. The EESC acknowledges the diversity and the common basis of social models across the EU. Competitiveness and higher productivity based on skills and knowledge are a sound recipe for maintaining the well-being of European societies. The EESC further believes that greater efforts can be made at EU and Member State level in the area of combating poverty, in line with the first Sustainable Development Goal under the UN 2030 Agenda.

    EESC opinion: Action plan on the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights
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  • Adopted on 07/07/2021 - Bureau decision date: 26/01/2021

    New EU strategy on adaptation to climate change

    Reference
    NAT/815-EESC-2021
    Referral
    COM(2021) 82 final
    Rapporteur
    Dimitris DIMITRIADIS
    Employers - GR I
    Greece
    Co-rapporteur
    Kęstutis KUPŠYS
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    Lithuania
    EESC opinion: New EU strategy on adaptation to climate change
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    New EU strategy on adaptation to climate change
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