Shifting priorities towards post-COVID sustainable reconstruction and recovery

BACKGROUND

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) intends to conclude a service contract for a study on "Shifting priorities towards post-COVID sustainable reconstruction and recovery". Mainly, the study should:

• Examine if and where the responses to the crisis by national/local authorities intend to go beyond a short-term approach and adopted the principles of a wellbeing economy/SDG implementation;
• Provide examples of how communities, including in rural areas, citizens, organisations of the social partners and of civil society contributed to plans for reforming of the economy and society and to leaving no one behind, in particular looking at sectors and groups relevant to the NAT Section;
• Look at targeted responses to the COVID-19 crisis by national governments as well as by CSOs and citizens, and draw parallels to the responses necessary to address the climate crisis, in order to provide recommendations on how the EU can prepare to deal with the climate crisis the world is facing.

The post-COVID recovery is an opportunity to rebuild the economy on new foundations, with the wellbeing of people and planet at its core.

Restructuring and improvement of EU's economy and society will have to be based on the key principles: protecting human and social rights, democratic values and the rule of law, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), creating a circular economy and achieving climate neutrality in the EU by 2050.

The study should provide conclusions of its findings and propose policy recommendations at EU and national level.

Desk research of primary (law, case law, etc.) and secondary sources (reports, articles, statistical reports) is expected, together with the possibility of developing other data collection methods such as expert consultations, expert groups, interviews, or surveys.

The study should cover either the 27 EU member states, or a representative sample of them, at least 5 selected with duly justified criteria. The timeframe should be focused on the current state of affairs and last available data.

INDICATIVE CALENDAR

1. Launch of the invitation to tender: September-October 2020.
2. Contract award: 4th quarter 2020.
3. The final study is expected within 6 months following the signature of the contract.
4. Deadline for offers: approximately 4^th quarter 2020.