Press summaries

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21/09/2023

Civil society support and funding in the area of fundamental rights, the rule of law and democracy

In the opinion, the EESC:

reasserts the key role played by civil society organisations (CSOs) in democracy, and regrets that EU support does not match the centrality of their role and responsibilities;

supports setting up a financial instrument specifically dedicated to CSOs working on human rights and democracy within the EU, equivalent to the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) available for extra-EU activities;

supports the establishment of a platform similar to "Protect Defenders" for human rights defenders working in EU Member States, and encourages the European Commission to set up an alert and monitoring system to deal with challenges and threats facing CSOs.

12/09/2023

EU Global Health Strategy -Better health for all in a changing world

In the opinion the EESC:

recognises the urgent need for global action to address communicable and non-communicable diseases, improving disease surillance systems, vaccination programmes, etc;
recommends enhancing investment in health to strengthen the EU's global leadership role and underlines that health considerations, including mental health, should be integrated into all areas of EU external engagement;
expresses concern about the shortage of healthcare workers and supports seeking formal EU observer status in the World Health Organization and developing robust health diplomacy;

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08/09/2023

Mid-term evaluation of the Recovery and Resilience facility

In the evaluation report, the EESC

stresses the need for better, timely, and consistent information regarding the progress of the national Recovery and Resilience Plans. This includes details like intermediary beneficiaries and final recipients, covering at least the total amount of the contract, the scope and the conclusion;
insists on addressing the slow pace of project implementation and calls on the Commission and national governments to simplify procedures, reduce bureaucracy, provide support to ensure effective and timely execution, and provide targeted assistance to SMEs;

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08/09/2023

The Recovery and Resilience Facility and cohesion policy: towards cohesion policy 2.0

In the opinion, the EESC:

affirms the enduring principle of cohesion policy, "leaving no one behind," and civil society's commitment to advancing it through a robust EU investment policy;
emphasizes the negative impact of unequal opportunities on long-term growth and competitiveness at regional, national, and EU levels. Calls for greater flexibility and diversity in cohesion policy to effectively address individual needs;
Supports SME sustainability and seeks ways to finance larger companies, especially in strategic technology, through the new STEP (Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform);

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08/09/2023

New economic governance rules fit for the future

In the opinion, the EESC:

proposes replacing the 3% deficit requirement with a 0.5% GDP reduction annually, opposing automatic debt sanctions. Recommends national governments initially control the "technical trajectory" with input from fiscal bodies before Commission involvement;
suggests distinct evaluations of deficits for green and defense investments. Expands public investment definition to include natural and human capital for green and social objectives. Proposes creating an EU fiscal capacity by 2026 to support common priorities and help Member States with non-investment-related fiscal costs in twin transitions;
emphasizes involving social partners and civil society in ongoing consultations;

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08/09/2023

A digital euro and the scope and effects of the legal tender status of banknotes and coins

In the opinion, the EESC considers that:

The digital euro's success relies on security, confidence, widespread adoption, and a clear European legal framework with exemptions for specific payees and uniform standards across Member States;
EU institutions should clearly define potential use cases and design features for the digital euro, conduct continuous research on its impact on finance and society, and foster public debate on its merits and drawbacks. This approach will help secure widespread acceptance;

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08/09/2023

Mid-term revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework

In the opinion, the EESC:

strongly calls for a swift agreement on the revision of the MFF 2021-2027, with a focus on ongoing support for Ukraine and ensuring the EU has the necessary financial resources to address its political priorities. The EESC emphasizes the significance of implementing effective monitoring mechanisms by actively involving civil society in the planning and execution of MFF programs;
finds that the changes proposed in the revision are limited, showing a lack of ambition and amounting to merely patching up the framework;

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08/09/2023

The EU Maritime Security Strategy

The EESC:

Affirms that, in terms of funding, EU maritime security needs entail increased investment by the EU Member States;
Considers EU-NATO cooperation as essential and stresses the need to enhance it through better sharing of maritime situational awareness and more effective coordination in different areas of common interest;
Calls on the EU to intensify engagement with international partners to collectively tackle shared concerns, including people smuggling and human trafficking, and the use of hybrid strategies;

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07/09/2023

Revision of EU marketing standards for agricultural products

In the opinion, the EESC:

Calls for more robust measures to support European honey producers, including stringent marketing standards, systematic testing of imported honey, and mandatory origin labelling for honey blends, detailing the percentage of each honey origin in descending order.
Suggests evaluating the impact of "no added sugars" labelling on fruit juice consumption compared to fresh fruits. Proposes requiring nectar producers to include "contains added sugars" when applicable and phasing out "with no added sugars".
Believes that increasing the fruit content in extra jams beyond 450 g/kg won't reduce sugar content but supports raising the fruit content to 400 g/kg in standard jams.

06/09/2023

The ARCTIC information report - how to ensure a peaceful, sustainable and prosperous future for a geostrategic region

The EESC:

The ARCTIC information report - how to ensure a peaceful, sustainable and prosperous future for a geostrategic region;
Believes it is in the EU's interest to ensure that the Arctic, as an important geostrategic region, does not change permanently from a low- to a high-tension area with all the inherent risks of unintentional clashes and escalation;
Believes it is in the EU's interest to ensure that the Arctic, as an important geostrategic region, does not change permanently from a low- to a high-tension area with all the inherent risks of unintentional clashes and escalation;

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