Opinions

  • Usvojeno on 17/07/2025 - Bureau decision date: 25/02/2025
    Referentni dokument
    NAT/951-EESC-2025
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    Germany
    Plenary session number
    598
    -
    Download — Mišljenje EGSO-a: Towards 2030 – Assessment of key environmental actions to be included in the annex to the 8th Environmental Action Programme to better anchor environmental policy in society
  • Usvojeno on 17/07/2025 - Bureau decision date: 29/01/2025
    Referentni dokument
    SOC/829-EESC-2025
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    Poland
    Workers - GR II
    Austria
    Plenary session number
    598
    -

    In this opinion, the EESC presents its recommendations on the proposed EU Anti-Poverty Strategy. It explores the initiatives that social partners and civil society  could undertake to better adapt policy frameworks for combating poverty, and how they can effectively address its root causes to decisively reduce poverty levels and ensure a sustained downward trend.

    Download — Mišljenje EGSO-a: EU Anti-poverty Strategy
    • Record of Proceedings SOC/829
  • Usvojeno on 17/07/2025 - Bureau decision date: 21/01/2025
    Referentni dokument
    REX/603-EESC-2025
    Employers - GR I
    Poland
    Workers - GR II
    Portugal
    Plenary session number
    598
    -
    Download — Mišljenje EGSO-a: Joint white paper for European Defence Readiness 2030
    • Record of Proceedings REX/603
  • Usvojeno on 17/07/2025 - Bureau decision date: 23/01/2025
    Referentni dokument
    REX/599-EESC-2025
    Employers - GR I
    Greece
    Workers - GR II
    Germany
    Plenary session number
    598
    -
    Download — Mišljenje EGSO-a: Addressing the interdependence between peace and climate change: need for renewed global diplomacy
    • Record of Proceedings REX/599
  • Usvojeno on 17/07/2025 - Bureau decision date: 23/01/2025
    Referentni dokument
    REX/598-EESC-2025
    Plenary session number
    598
    -
    Download — Mišljenje EGSO-a: The importance of institutionalising civil and social dialogue in EU candidate and partner countries
  • Usvojeno on 17/07/2025 - Bureau decision date: 23/01/2025
    Referentni dokument
    ECO/663-EESC-2025
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    Romania
    Workers - GR II
    Spain
    Plenary session number
    598
    -
    Download — Mišljenje EGSO-a: Affordable Housing: Cohesion policy, Urban agenda and civil society
    • Record of Proceedings ECO/663
    • Follow-up from the Commission ECO/663
  • Usvojeno on 17/07/2025 - Bureau decision date: 05/12/2024
    Referentni dokument
    ECO/660-EESC-2025-00091
    Plenary session number
    598
    -
    Download — Mišljenje EGSO-a: Recommendations of organised civil society to address the cost-of-living crisis
    • Record of Proceedings ECO/660
  • Usvojeno on 16/07/2025 - Bureau decision date: 28/04/2025
    Referentni dokument
    NAT/959-EESC-2025
    Plenary session number
    598
    -
    Download — Mišljenje EGSO-a: Conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction – ratification of BBNJ Agreement
    • Record of Proceedings NAT/959
  • Usvojeno on 16/07/2025 - Bureau decision date: 25/03/2025
    Referentni dokument
    CCMI/249-EESC-2025
    Employers - GR I
    Portugal
    (Belgium
    Plenary session number
    598
    -
    Download — Mišljenje EGSO-a: Automotive industry action plan
    • Record of Proceedings CCMI/249
  • Usvojeno on 16/07/2025 - Bureau decision date: 27/02/2025
    Referentni dokument
    TEN/851-EESC-2025
    Workers - GR II
    Austria
    Plenary session number
    598
    -
    Download — Mišljenje EGSO-a: The role of services of general interest (SGI) for competitiveness, social cohesion and democracy in the European Union
    • Record of Proceedings TEN/851
  • Usvojeno on 16/07/2025 - Bureau decision date: 27/02/2025
    Referentni dokument
    ECO/671-EESC-2025-01434
    Employers - GR I
    Sweden
    Plenary session number
    598
    -
    Download — Mišljenje EGSO-a: Economic Impact of the Implementation of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS)
    • Record of Proceedings ECO/671
  • Usvojeno on 16/07/2025 - Bureau decision date: 27/02/2025
    Referentni dokument
    ECO/666-EESC-2025-00863
    Workers - GR II
    Malta
    Plenary session number
    598
    -
    Download — Mišljenje EGSO-a: The role of trade unions in improving productivity
    • Record of Proceedings ECO/666
    • Follow-up from the Commission ECO/666
  • Usvojeno on 16/07/2025 - Bureau decision date: 25/02/2025
    Referentni dokument
    ECO/670-EESC-2025-01045
    Workers - GR II
    Romania
    Plenary session number
    598
    -
    Download — Mišljenje EGSO-a: Communication on a Savings and Investments Union
    • Record of Proceedings ECO/670
  • Usvojeno on 16/07/2025 - Bureau decision date: 25/02/2025
    Referentni dokument
    INT/1088-EESC-2025-01017-00-00-AC-TRA
    Employers - GR I
    Czech Republic
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    Poland
    Plenary session number
    598
    -

    The opinion examines how regulatory simplification and the integration of digital tools in law-making can enhance the legislative process. It looks into how innovative, technology-driven solutions can reduce administrative burdens and foster a more business-friendly environment across Europe.

    Download — Mišljenje EGSO-a: Regulatory simplification – the use of digital tools in better law-making
    • Record of Proceedings INT/1088
  • Usvojeno on 16/07/2025 - Bureau decision date: 25/02/2025
    Referentni dokument
    INT/1087-EESC-2025-00994-00-00-AC-TRA
    Workers - GR II
    Italy
    Employers - GR I
    Portugal
    Plenary session number
    598
    -

    The opinion will examine the impact of regulatory interventions on value chains, identify key challenges, and propose a new approach to ensure effective and balanced policymaking.

    Download — Mišljenje EGSO-a: How to consider value chains in policymaking
    • Record of Proceedings INT/1087
  • Usvojeno on 16/07/2025 - Bureau decision date: 23/01/2025
    Referentni dokument
    REX/600-EESC-2025
    Workers - GR II
    Germany
    Employers - GR I
    Ireland
    Plenary session number
    598
    -
    Download — Mišljenje EGSO-a: Looking to the future of EU-UK relations: 2026 Review of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) from a civil society perspective
    • Annex to REX/600 own-initiative opinion
    • Record of Proceedings REX/600
  • Usvojeno on 16/07/2025 - Bureau decision date: 21/01/2025
    Referentni dokument
    NAT/950-EESC-2025
    Plenary session number
    598
    -
    Download — Mišljenje EGSO-a: Amendment to regulations concerning international fisheries (NAFO, SPRFMO, IOTC, WCPFC, IATTC and ICCAT)
    • Record of Proceedings NAT/950
  • Usvojeno on 16/07/2025 - Bureau decision date: 23/01/2025
    Referentni dokument
    SOC/825-EESC-2025
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    Italy
    Plenary session number
    598
    -

    In this own-initiative opinion, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is  addressing the growing disparities in healthcare access across the EU. These inequalities, exacerbated by inflation and the cost-of-living crisis, disproportionately affect vulnerable groups such as low-income households, people with disabilities, children, and older people. The opinion calls for urgent action to ensure equitable access to healthcare and long-term care, in line with the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR), and proposes concrete policy recommendations to strengthen healthcare systems and reduce barriers to care.

    Download — Mišljenje EGSO-a: Tackling inequalities in people's access to healthcare
  • Usvojeno on 16/07/2025 - Bureau decision date: 23/01/2025
    Referentni dokument
    INT/1082-EESC-2025-00527-00-00-AC-TRA
    Employers - GR I
    Austria
    Workers - GR II
    Italy
    Plenary session number
    598
    -

    As emphasised in the Letta and Draghi reports, the two main challenges of EU R&I policy are: i) reversing the declining productivity of the EU economy and closing the competitiveness gap with other global scientific and economic powers; and ii) reducing the fragmentation of the European research area to allow for the free circulation of scientific knowledge, research and innovation referred as the ‘fifth freedom’ in the Letta report.

    In early 2026, the Commission is expected to publish the European Research Area Act (ERA Act). EESC’s input through this own-initiative opinion (OIO) is intended to shape the ERA Act, ensuring that it supports a vibrant ecosystem for innovation and digital transformation, and aligns with these strategic visions.

    Download — Mišljenje EGSO-a: The ERA Act: unlocking the fifth freedom
    • Record of Proceedings INT/1082
  • Usvojeno on 16/07/2025 - Bureau decision date: 21/01/2025
    Referentni dokument
    CCMI/243-EESC-2025
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    Italy
    (Sweden
    Plenary session number
    598
    -

    Key points

    The EESC:

    Download — Mišljenje EGSO-a: Security Action for Europe (SAFE) through the reinforcement of the European defence industry instrument
    • Record of Proceedings CCMI/243
  • Usvojeno on 16/07/2025 - Bureau decision date: 19/09/2024
    Referentni dokument
    SOC/820-EESC-2024
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    France
    Plenary session number
    598
    -

    In the current context of multiple crises, in addition to digital challenges, urges the EU institutions and Member States to act on the EESC’s proposals on social and civil dialogue to engage individual citizens in democracy in general. It proposes to work closely with the Commission in the creation, governance and regular operation of a civil society platform and to act as a hub and custodian for public and organised civil society participation, and recalls that the Conference on the Future of Europe explicitly calls for the EESC’s institutional role to be enhanced and for it to be empowered as a facilitator of participatory democracy activities, such as structured dialogue with civil society.

    Download — Mišljenje EGSO-a: Good practice for EU civil dialogue in the light of participatory processes
    • Record of Proceedings SOC/820
  • Usvojeno on 19/06/2025 - Bureau decision date: 28/04/2025
    Referentni dokument
    SOC/838-EESC-2025
    Workers - GR II
    Lithuania
    Plenary session number
    597
    -
    Download — Mišljenje EGSO-a: Support to workers affected by imminent job displacement in enterprises undergoing restructuring
    • Follow-up from the Commission SOC/838
  • Usvojeno on 19/06/2025 - Bureau decision date: 23/01/2025
    Referentni dokument
    TEN/849-EESC-2025
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    Croatia
    Workers - GR II
    Poland
    Plenary session number
    597
    -
    Download — Mišljenje EGSO-a: Planning sustainable urban mobility in the EU
    • Record of Proceedings TEN/849
    • Follow-up from the Commission TEN/849
  • Usvojeno on 19/06/2025 - Bureau decision date: 23/01/2025
    Referentni dokument
    TEN/847-EESC-2025
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    Hungary
    Workers - GR II
    France
    Plenary session number
    597
    -

    Europe’s energy system is increasingly unbalanced due to intermittent renewable sources like wind and solar, often relying on fossil fuels for stability. Achieving balance is key for energy reliability, climate goals, economic growth, and technological innovation. This opinion explores how Member States can integrate renewables while ensuring system stability and advancing decarbonisation, focusing on managing intermittent energy effectively.

    Download — Mišljenje EGSO-a: Towards a balanced European energy system
    • Record of proceedings TEN/847
  • Usvojeno on 19/06/2025 - Bureau decision date: 05/12/2024
    Referentni dokument
    REX/596-EESC-2025
    Employers - GR I
    Greece
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    Cyprus
    Plenary session number
    597
    -
    Download — Mišljenje EGSO-a: Fragmentation of supply chains and impact on the cost of living
    • Record of proceedings REX/596