Euroopa Majandus- ja Sotsiaalkomitee
The COVID-19 crisis has severely hit SMEs across Europe, many of which risk being swept out of business in its wake. While the impact of the crisis depends on the sector in which the SME operate and on the restrictions and financial support of the Member State, COVID19 continues to pose uncertainty to all. There is a clear risk that many SMEs lost due to this pandemic will be lost for good.
The Employers' Group of the European Economic and Social Committee takes note of the encouraging economic projections released yesterday by the European Commission in the Winter forecast and welcomes today's signing ceremony of the EU's Recovery and Resilience Facility, which lies at the heart of the EU’s recovery plan.
The list of new work appointments for January 2021 and the most recent list of ongoing EESC work are available for download in the attachments below.
The Employers’ group of the European Economic and Social Committee expresses serious concerns with the difficulties linked to the EU vaccine rollout programme and calls for a change of tone and action, comparable to the one we have seen in 2020 at the onset of the pandemic.
With a sigh of relief, the European Union welcomes Joe Biden as the new US president. The Trump administration systematically tried to undermine EU unity[1], contrary to established US policy since World War II. Europe now looks forward to a fresh start. Mr Biden knows Europe well. He sees the EU as a stable US ally and values European unity.
[1] Anthony Luzzatto Gardner, Stars with stripes; the essential partnership between the European Union and the United States, Palgrave Macmillan, 2020.
Statement by Employers’ Group President Stefano Mallia
EU employers welcome the Brexit deal agreed on Christmas eve and warmly congratulate the European Commission negotiating team, masterly led by Michel Barnier. But as businesses are trying to make sense of the 1,200-page trade treaty they call for a period of adaptation to face the steep learning curve.
The list of new work appointments for December 2020 and the most recent list of ongoing EESC work are available for download in the attachments below.
On 10 December, EU leaders gave their final green light to the EU’s unprecedented budget deal to overcome the worst recession in a century. In total, up to €1.8 trillion will be spent by 2027 to boost the bloc’s economy in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic whilst also making it more sustainable and digital, partly thanks to the €750 billion recovery fund.
The Employers’ Group of the European Economic and Social Committee held a webinar on ‘De-carbonisation and digitalisation in the context of globalisation’, in the frame of the German EU Presidency on 9 December 2020 and produced a set of recommendations for the policy debate.
The triple challenge of de-carbonisation, digitalisation and globalisation is seen as a herculean task, but companies are ready to take up the challenge.
The Employers’ Group of the European Economic and Social Committee voiced its disagreement on the exploratory opinion INT/913 Industrial transition towards a green and digital European economy: regulatory requirements and the role of social partners and civil society, requested by the Employment and Social Affairs Committee of the European Parliament.
