It is time to build the social pillar of the EMU within the framework of a social Europe, without which citizens' adhesion to the European project as a whole will remain at risk. The EESC recommends to launch a new European Social Action Programme with tangible measures to develop social governance and participatory ownership of the European project. The EESC would propose two new exploratory initiatives: - The issuance of European Social Bonds financed, owned, managed and supervised transparently by civil society stakeholders; - The setting-up of a European Education Network for Unemployed Workers.
Download — EESC opinion: Subcommittee - For a social dimension of the European Economic and Monetary Union
The opinion will seek to examine how trade relations with the region can best be developed by means of a first example country, which is Morocco. Trade relations with Morocco stand out as a priority because the EU currently has the closest trade links with Morocco of all the countries in the region.
The Committee is delighted of the process to update and modernise the guidelines on public aid for businesses in disadvantaged areas and calls on the Commission to make EU policies more consistent with competition policy. The Committee requests that the new guidelines on state aid for the regions give Member States a flexible cross-sectoral instrument and asks for the adoption of more flexible parameters that are better tailored to a dramatically changing economic context.
Download — EESC opinion: The Internal Market and State aid for the regions
The EESC is convinced that "good" and thus "sustainable" business management must be built on the legal structures and practices of employee involvement based on information, consultation and, where applicable, co-determination. The "sustainable company" as a business management concept entails that the "voice" of employees is respected in business decisions and a "fair relationship" between employees, management and owners. A set of tools already exists for the obligatory involvement of employee representatives at national and European level. These provisions should be consolidated and applied generally in EU law, and in particular definitions of information, consultation and participation should be standardised. A new stage in this debate is marked by the European Parliament's resolution of 15 January 2013 on minimum standards for restructuring.
Download — EESC opinion: Employee influence and participation
