Statement by President Luca Jahier on the situation in the Middle East and Libya

The EESC considers that there is an urgent need for calm and peaceful solutions of all conflicts and sensitive situations worldwide and particularly in the region. We urge for a de-escalation of spiralling violence. The European Union must speak with one voice on all aspects of foreign policy given many crisis unfolding in the immediate EU neighbourhood, including the migration and refugee crisis, are interrelated.

We have a special guest today among the journalists who have accepted our invitation to be present in the last plenary session of 2019. His name is Andrew Caruana Galizia, son of Daphne Caruana Galizia, the Maltese journalist who was assassinated on 16 October 2017 because she was investigating and exposing cases of corruption at the highest levels of government.

Today, I can only praise the new #VDLcommission for delivering even before the end of its first 100 days what it has promised just a few months ago: the Green Deal. The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), the House of the European civil society, has sought for the past years to achieve a fully-fledged sustainable development in line with the UN 2030 Agenda.

Culture and sustainable development go hand-in-hand. Culture is a powerful catalyst for the much-needed paradigm shift in thinking development beyond economic growth - for a future that is equitable, inclusive, peaceful, and environmentally sustainable.

Culture has an enormous untapped potential for becoming a unifying and mobilising instrument for Europe and the world, bringing hope, new positive narratives and a possible second Renaissance.

The business sector has the innovation, tools and expertise to make the shift to climate neutrality, happen. What it needs now is a political leadership and regulatory certainty. It is of key importance to send clear and timely signals to businesses, especially SMEs for them to be able to adapt their strategies while remaining competitive on the markets. 

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is deeply disappointed about EU leaders’ decision to further postpone opening accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania at the European Council of 17-18 October, due to the lack of unanimity between the Members States.

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), the EU body representing European civil society, firmly condemns Turkey's military operation in North-East Syria. As representatives of civil society, we are deeply concerned about the humanitarian costs of this intervention and urge the Turkish government to stop all military action immediately.

Following the proposal on the Irish backstop made by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently transmitted to Jean Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, the EESC President Luca Jahier and the Chair of the Brexit Follow-up Group Stefano Mallia have issued a joint declaration.

I want to congratulate the elected President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, for having built a strong College in such a short time. Mrs von der Leyen stood by her commitments to finalise a gender-balanced list of proposed Commissioners with strong credentials. ...