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

Opinion
Adopted on 20/10/2021
Reference: 
CCMI/180-EESC-2021-02384
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)

Downloads: 

Agenda - Hearing on Glass in Europe - CCMI/180

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

Opinion
Adopted on 20/10/2021
Reference: 
INT/944-EESC-2021-02922-00-00-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

New approach for a sustainable blue economy in the EU

Opinion
Adopted on 22/09/2021
Reference: 
NAT/817-EESC-2021
Referral: 
COM(2021) 240 final
Rapporteur: 
Simo TIAINEN (Diversity Europe - GR III / Finland)

L'initiative de la Commission vise à transformer l'Economie Bleue selon les axes de décarbonisation, de pollution zéro, de circularité et de biodiversité du Pacte vert européen.

EESC opinion: New approach for a sustainable blue economy in the EU

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

Opinion
Adopted on 07/07/2021
Reference: 
SOC/679-EESC-2021
Referral: 
COM(2021) 102 final COM(2021) 102 final
Rapporteur: 
Cristian PÎRVULESCU (Diversity Europe - GR III/Romania), Carlos Manuel TRINDADE (Workers - GR II/Portugal) (Diversity Europe - GR III / Romania)

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

Europe's beating cancer plan

Opinion
Adopted on 09/06/2021
Reference: 
SOC/677-EESC-2021
Referral: 
COM(2021) 44 final COM(2021) 44 final
Rapporteur: 
Małgorzata Anna BOGUSZ (Diversity Europe - GR III / Poland)
Co-rapporteur: 
Milena ANGELOVA (Employers - GR I/Bulgaria)

In this opinion the EESC:

  • Welcomes Europe's Beating Cancer Plan as a milestone in the fight against cancer and calls for a concrete roadmap for its implementation, with performance indicators, realistic timeframes and close involvement of Social Partners (SP) and Civil Society Organisations (CSO).
  • Considers important that the EU and Member States ensure  the availability of igh-quality, accessible healthcare infrastructure and effective support systems for patients' physical and mental well-being.
  • Asks for the negative consequences caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in accessing to health services to be urgently addressed, recognising as well the supportive role SP and CSO can play in this area. 

EESC opinion: Europe's beating cancer plan

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