Europski gospodarski i socijalni odbor
Water is a vital but an increasingly scarce resource. As the global population grows, so does the demand for water. The problem is global, but also concerns our continent: in summer 2022 Europe saw the most severe droughts in 500 years. Almost two thirds of European citizens consider water quality and/or quantity in their country to be a serious problem. Climate change will further affect the availability, quality and quantity of water. …
On 9 June 2023, the European Economic and Social Committee is hosting a hearing in conjunction with its opinion on "Advertising through influencers and its impact on consumers", which was requested by the upcoming Spanish presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The 30th anniversary of the Single Market has sparked a debate on its competitiveness, particularly in light of the US Inflation Reduction Act.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS: TIME FOR A BLUE DEAL
#Food #WATER #Energy
On 27 and 28 February 2023, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the European Commission will host the 2023 European Circular Economy Stakeholder Conference in hybrid mode. The sixth Conference will bring together Europe's biggest circular economy stakeholders to focus on the role of the circular economy in driving sustainable recovery, open strategic autonomy and resilience.
On 27 February 2023, a high-level hearing on water policies and challenges, entitled Time for a Blue Deal, will take place at the EESC. The hearing sets the scene for the EESC's cross-cutting work on water in 2023.
The hearing will focus on the most pressing water-related challenges now and in the years to come, and on what is the state of play regarding existing policies and actions. The discussions of the hearing will feed into the content of a package of own-initiative opinions on this thematic.
The hearing will deal with the topic of next year Strategic Foresight Report, as indicated at the end of this year report ("The next annual Strategic Foresight Report will focus on the key upcoming challenges and opportunities that Europe will face in the decades to come, providing strategic insights relevant for strengthening the global role of the EU."), so to offer to the Commission a timely and proactive input aimed to make the all process more participatory and open.
The hearing will focus on the economic and social aspects that could reinforce the role of the EU and notably on what strategic decisions need to be made to ensure a socially and economically sustainable Europe with a stronger role in the world in the coming decades.
More specifically, the hearing will discuss:
Originally focused on matters of security and defence, open strategic autonomy has expanded to encompass a wide range of policies from geopolitics, trade and economics (i.e. critical raw materials and supply chains) to technology, environment and climate, social and governance. However, the Member States still do not agree to what levels of ambition should strategic autonomy be pursued or how would the concept of strategic autonomy be defined. In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis and then with the war in Ukraine, all seem to agree that the EU should develop more capabilities to increase self-sufficiency.
Since 1999, the EESC has been organising the European Consumer Day where consumers gather to influence the EU debate.
The topic of this year was "Empowering consumers for a more sustainable world". The objective was to reflect on how to give consumers the information they need and how to help them make the best choices when purchasing a product.
Round tables focused on topics such as tech for good, the right to reparability, the functional economy, consumption and health.
The event held both in Brussels and online. It gathered high level speakers and representatives of EU institutions, national governments and civil society organisations.
This hearing will focus on topical questions such as the possible avenues to help MSMEs be well informed and prepared to grasp the opportunities of the transition to climate neutrality, coupling it with the possibilities offered by the digitalisation and hedging the current geopolitical risks. It will also take into consideration the challenges faced by the Belgian companies and the opportunities offered to them if they successfully adjust to the climate neutral and digitalised world.
