agrees with the need to align cohesion policy with pressing EU priorities such as competitiveness, defence, energy transition and water resilience. It welcomes the introduction of financial incentives and more flexible funding conditions to support these goals.
stresses that the overarching goal of cohesion policy—to reduce regional disparities—must remain central. It warns against disproportionately benefiting Member States with lower absorption rates and calls for equal access to incentives like 100% EU financing and extended eligibility.
sees the review as a preview of the next MFF and calls for greater use of financial instruments, long-term revenue reform, and a stronger territorial dimension to ensure strategic investments also contribute to regional convergence and EU unity.
Calls for structured consultation process to be established at European level and meaningful involvement of civil society and social partners in economic policymaking, aiming to boost legitimacy, trust, and ownership across the EU.
Insists that Member States must implement Country-Specific Recommendations more effectively and speed up the implementation of Recovery and Resilience Plans, with better planning, coordination, transparency, and administrative capacity.
Urges coordinated public and private investment, Strategic Investment Fund to boost the EU's financing capacity and stresses the need to rapidly increase a massive mobilization of private savings through the completion of the Capital Markets Union and to increase the EIB’s financial capacity.
Calls for more transparent and structured consultation processes, including formalised procedures, early and meaningful involvement, adequate resources and training, and mechanisms to ensure that feedback results in tangible outcomes.
Shares key lessons from the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), stressing the importance of reducing administrative burdens, streamlining procedures, strengthening the role and the involvement of civil society and social partners, and enhancing coordination, planning, and monitoring.
Stresses the urgent need to address delays in Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) implementation through better planning, resource allocation, and simplified administrative processes. Recommendations include cutting unnecessary paperwork, embracing digital tools, and investing in training to boost project management capacity.
a substantial increase in the size of the next MFF in real terms to meet the EU’s growing challenges. It also recommends revising the inflation adjustment mechanism to preserve the MFF's real value and reshaping the budget into a strategic investment tool that can deliver European public goods and long-term priorities.
a simplification of current funding rules and a streamlining of overlapping programmes to reduce bureaucracy. It advocates for a shift towards performance- and impact-based funding, better monitoring, and improved access to EU funds for local-level actors, civil society, and businesses.
reinforcing investment in areas of clear European interest—such as defence, innovation, infrastructure, and social cohesion—through tools like joint borrowing and co-financing mechanisms. It also calls for the creation of a ‘Democracy Shield’ to protect democratic values and support civil society, independent media, and the rule of law across the EU and in candidate countries.
highlights that respecting and enforcing fundamental rights and the rule of law are crucial for mutual trust between Member States. For investment and trade within the internal market to function properly, all economic operators must follow the law and trust that public authorities will do the same. This respect for the rule of law is essential for economic activity and makes a location more appealing to businesses. Protectionist measures that favour domestic companies over those from other EU countries violate the principle of equal treatment;
calls for the addition of a fifth pillar to the European Commission’s Rule of Law Report to better reflect the economic aspects of the rule of law;
recommends improving existing tools for addressing internal market infringements and using more EU pilot procedures. It stresses that a strong and independent judiciary, well-resourced public services, and bodies for monitoring and reporting legal breaches are essential for ensuring effective legal protection and upholding the rule of law.
finds it regrettable that the cost of living in Europe is being fuelled by persisting dysfunctionalities in the European Single Market, and believes that more decisive action by the European Commission is needed to protect it;
calls on the European Union to urgently tackle persistent barriers that decrease competition and affect the cost of living, such as territorial supply constraints;
encourages Member States to avoid unnecessary regulatory complexities, that could weaken essential social and labour protections;
urges the Commission to ensure that Member States respect their notification obligations (e.g. under TRIS), speed up proceedings against national rules which infringe EU law and consider temporary measures against clear violations of EU rules to prevent harm while checking if national rules comply with EU law.
The rising cost of living has impacted competitiveness and social costs. Services of general interest (SGIs) can ensure access to essential services for a decent life and can mitigate the impact of inflation and crises due to their non-profit-driven spirit.
The EESC advocates greater scope for long-term investment in social infrastructure and emphasizes the importance of public investment in accessible and affordable housing.
Reducing fossil fuel subsidies can provide short-term support for vulnerable households and more durable solutions for decarbonised electricity and heating systems, renovations and access to affordable SGIs.
urges the European Commission to accelerate negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement, ensuring a Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) chapter with a structural role for civil society;
proposes to deepen security and defence ties, including joint Research & Development, space and dual-use projects, with a focus on SMEs;
recommends strengthening maritime security cooperation in the Western Indian Ocean;
suggests boosting cultural and academic exchanges, particularly university and student programmes;
advocates for enhanced collaboration in infrastructure, deep-water ports, airports, and energy connectivity;
encourages advancing cooperation within the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), with the EESC preparing a dedicated opinion on its prospects.
