Agenda & documents

EESC to debate revision of Multiannual Financial Framework with commissioner Johannes Hahn 

PLENARY SESSION: 20-21 September 2023 - 20 September, 14.30 to 18.30; 21 September, 9.00 am to 12.00 

Highlights of the European Economic and Social Committee's September plenary: 

The EESC will host the following debates: 

  • 20 Sep, 15.00 hrs: "Mid-term revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework", with budget commissioner Johannes Hahn, and MEP Margarida Marques, vice-chair of the committee on Budgets 
  • 20 Sep, 17.00 hrs: European Citizens' Initiative "Fur Free Europe'', with Elise Fleury, ECI organiser, campaign lead, Eurogroup for Animals, and MEP Tilly Metz, Vice-Chair of the subcommittee on Public Health  
  • 21 Sep, 11.30 hrs: "Support for civil society in the area of fundamental rights in member states and enlargement countries" with Gabriella Civico, President of Civil Society Europe 

Watch the plenary session

Key reports to be put to the vote:  

Hot issues: Water  

The EESC proposes a Blue Deal for Europe 

  • Water Politics: between desertification and securitisation - Time for Blue Diplomacy (REX/570, rapporteur Ioannis VARDAKASTANIS -Civil Society Organisations, EL; co-rapporteur Milena ANGELOVA - Employers, BG) 

In this opinion, the EESC calls on the EU to double up its efforts on blue diplomacy and streamline it in its foreign, trade and development policies. The Committee proposes paying special attention to blue diplomacy in sub-Saharan Africa. More 

Social 

  • Employment guidelines (SOC/777, rapporteur Carlos Manuel TRINDADE – Workers, PT)    

 In the opinion, the EESC welcomes the proposal for a Council Decision on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States, which are crucial for reducing social and economic disparities within and between Member States. It warns that high levels of inflation and high interest rates can spell danger for the implementation of these guidelines across Europe. The EESC also reiterates its concerns about the possible consequences of reinstating fiscal rules in 2024, ending the suspension of recent years. More  

  • Civil society support and funding in the area of FRRL and democracy (SOC/762, rapporteur Cristian PÎRVULESCU – Civil Society Organisations, RO; co-rapporteur Ozlem YILDIRIM – Workers, FR) 

The EESC finds it unacceptable and more than concerning that the EU budget has so few resources dedicated to support for civil society organisations (CSOs). It proposes that this should to be immediately addressed, such as by setting up a financial instrument specifically dedicated to EU-based CSOs working on human rights and democracy. Apart from the lack of adequate financial resources, the EESC also draws attention to the pressing need to address the stressful work environment and precarity in the CSO sector active in the area of democracy, rule of law and fundamental rights. More 

  • Multiannual strategic policy for European integrated border management (SOC/772, rapporteur Cristian PÎRVULESCU - Civil Society Organisations, RO; co-rapporteur José Antonio MORENO DÍAZ – Workers, ES) 

At the request of the Spanish EU presidency, the EESC has reviewed the 2017 Commission communication on completing the banking union and looked into the recent proposals on adjusting and strengthening the EU bank crisis management and deposit insurance (CMDI) framework. Overall, the EESC supports the proposals to improve crisis management and deposit protection, but flags up the need for speed, flexibility, transparency and proportionality in addressing banking crises. More 

Economy 

  • Mid-term revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework (ECO/625, rapporteurs Elena-Alexandra CALISTRU - Civil Society Organisations, RO; Konstantinos DIAMANTOUROS – Employers, EL; Stefano PALMIERI – Workers, IT) 

The EESC has presented comprehensive recommendations for the mid-term assessment of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027), calling for sufficient financial resources for key priorities such as support for Ukraine and critical EU objectives like the green and digital transitions, migration management, healthcare, social rights and economic recovery. The implementation of programmes needs to be closely monitored with civil society organisations' involvement in both design and execution. However, the EESC finds the proposed changes too limited and incremental, and recommends long-term strategies, including the establishment of a sustainable fiscal framework, allocating more administrative resources and taking proactive measures to address unforeseen challenges. More 

  • Towards cohesion policy 2.0 (ECO/621, rapporteur Maria del Carmen BARRERA CHAMORRO – Workers, ES; co-rapporteur David SVENTEK – Employers, CZ) 

At the request of the Spanish presidency of the EU, the EESC shows a path for the EU's future cohesion policy. With challenges such as post-pandemic recovery, climate change and digital transformation, the Committee suggests shaping a "Cohesion Policy 2.0" that is more adaptable, socially focused, and responsive to the needs of people and regions. The should stick to the core principle of cohesion policy: "leaving no one behind.". The EESC also highlights the need to tackle disparities in growth and competitiveness. Additionally, the EESC proposes safeguarding SMEs while finding ways to finance larger companies, especially in strategic tech, like the new STEP (Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform) initiative. More 

  • New economic governance rules fit for the future (ECO/622, rapporteur Javier DOZ ORRIT – Workers, ES; co-rapporteur Luca JAHIER (Civil Society Organisations,IT)  

The EESC provides comprehensive recommendations on the proposed changes to the EU's economic governance framework. While endorsing the goals of simplification and transparency, the EESC calls for more adaptable deficit reduction measures tailored to individual Member States. The Committee advises against imposing automatic sanctions based solely on debt ratios and advocates a nuanced, two-stage approach to fiscal planning. In addition, public investment in green initiatives and defense should not be included in measures of public deficit, while an EU fiscal capacity should be established by 2026. Employers, trade unions and civil society organisations should be consulted, together with regional authorities and national parliaments to enhance democratic accountability within the EU's economic governance framework. More 

  • Mid-term evaluation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (ECO/607, rapporteur Elena-Alexandra CALISTRU – Civil Society Organisations, RO); co-rapporteur Javier DOZ ORRIT  - Workers, ES)  

The report assesses the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the EU’s main instrument to mitigate the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, halfway through its implementation. In particular, the EESC examines its effectiveness and relevance as seen by civil society organisations and undertakes to determine the added value of civil society involvement. The evaluation will also cover later developments, such as the REPowerEU initiative. The results of the EESC's evaluation will feed into the Commission's evaluation, the completion of which is scheduled for Q1 2024. 

Farming 

  • Revision of EU marketing standards for agricultural products (NAT/884, rapporteur Kerli ATS – Civil Society Organisations, ET)  

The EESC reiterates its unwavering commitment to healthy and sustainable diets and voices support for the European Commission's proposal to revise the honey directive by introducing mandatory origin labelling to increase transparency for consumers. However, the EESC regrets the lack of ambition in advancing additional measures to fight against fraud in honey and urges the adoption of more ambitious measures to protect European honey producers, enforce rigorous marketing standards and conduct systematic testing and traceability checks on honey imported into the EU. More 

Industry and consumers 

  • For a resilient, sustainable and responsible European Union supply chain of critical raw materials (INT/1021, rapporteur Cinzia DEL RIO - Workers, IT) 

The EESC believes that in the current geo-political context, the EU's main priority is to secure the most essential raw materials needed to support the greening and digitalisation of Europe's industry. Ideally this should go hand in hand with respect for social and environmental standards throughout the value chains. The EU should recognise that voluntary, non-binding measures are not enough to address such complex challenges given the current international context and social and environmental imperatives. Non compliance with international rules and standards should be binding and involve trade-related sanctions, first and foremost when it comes to illicit trade in resources.More 

The EU in the world 

  • The ARCTIC information report - how to ensure a peaceful, sustainable and prosperous future for a geostrategic region (REX/568, rapporteur Anders LADEFOGED-Employers, DK; co-rapporteur Christian MOOS - Civil Society Organisations, DE) 

In the information report, the EESC focuses on the demographic, environmental and socio-economic impacts that climate change and the transformation of the Arctic have on the livelihoods of the region's inhabitants and on the local economy. More 

  • EU Global Health Strategy -Better health for all in a changing world (REX/573, rapporteurs Paulo BARROS VALE - Employers, PT; Danko RELIĆ -Civil Society Organisations, HR; Carlos Manuel TRINDADE - Workers', PT) 

The EESC opinion covers the three priorities of the dtrategy: delivering better health and well-being to people throughout life; strengthening health systems, and advancing universal health coverage together with preventing and combatting health threats, including pandemics. More