European Economic and Social Committee
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:
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.
The Sustainable Development Observatory of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) will host an online conference with the aim to assess the future development of photovoltaic systems and wind power plants and discuss how to build up the European renewable industry to avoid creating new dependencies.
The Workers' Group is organizing an extraordinary meeting in Prague focusing on the programme and priorities of the Czech EU Presidency and on the role of the social dialogue within the green transition.
While the EU is increasing its ambitions under the "Fit for 55" package, Europe's coal regions in transition are facing unprecedented structural change, exacerbated by the major energy crisis resulting from Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the damage caused by the COVID -19 pandemic.
In view of the upcoming Stockholm+50 conference and with the European Green Deal in mind, this event will explore ways of accelerating action for a better future on a healthy planet.
While Europe and its societies are still in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic and with the Conference on the Future of Europe in its closing stages, the EESC will be holding its annual Civil Society Days in March 2022.
The study reviews recent analyses to understand the green or circular skills of the future which have been identified thus far in sectoral and EU-wide research. Moreover, it examines EU Initiatives on skills development for circularity, by highlighting some limitations of these instruments and making suggestions for improvement.
EESC Employers’ Group priorities
Approach and priority areas of the Civil Society Organisations' Group for 2023
Conclusions of the 23rd edition of European Consumer Day 2022 - 17 November 2022
This study identifies key barriers to accelerating the renovation rate in the residential building sector and to implementing the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS). It provides a summary of, and recommendations for, overcoming these obstacles.
