Egészség

In this opinion, the EESC presents its view on the impact of new technologies and AI both in terms of facilitating the inclusion of people with disabilities but also as potential cause of discrimination. Among its recommendations:

• Persons with disabilities should be included throughout the process of designing, developing, assessing and implementing new technologies and AI-based applications. This involvement is key to mitigating potential discriminatory risks.

• Member States and the EU should carry out an evaluation of existing AI applications to assess their inclusivity in critical fields, including employment and recruitment.

• Goods and services that apply new technologies and AI‑based solutions should comply with EU accessibility standards.

The opinion focuses on the importance of a human-centric approach in addressing occupational safety and health (OSH) challenges in an increasingly digitalised work environment. It stresses that new technologies can both enhance and introduce workplace hazards, necessitating a proactive regulatory framework. The opinion underlines the need for OSH training, particularly when AI-driven systems and digital tools are introduced, ensuring that workers have the necessary skills to navigate evolving work environments safely. It calls for transparent AI deployment to prevent bias and discrimination and encourages social partners to actively engage in shaping AI regulation through collective agreements. Furthermore, the opinion demands that the European Commission provide resources for social partners, enabling them to address digitalisation challenges effectively while maintaining social cohesion and worker rights in a rapidly changing labour market.

In this opinion, the EESC is calling on the Commission to launch  a comprehensive European Action Plan on Rare Diseases (APRD) with SMART targets that can be achieved by 2030 to enable the diagnosis of rare disease patients within one year. Such plan should be accompanied by the allocation of  appropriate budgetary resources and identify  common and measurable goals to help define and implement national plans and strategies for RD, encourage Member States and continue cooperation at EU level.

In this opinion, the EESC is calling for a European flagship initiative for health, based on the principles of universality, quality, accessibility, solidarity and inclusivity. The strategic pillars of this roadmap are outlined, and a more institutionalised involvement of civil society in defining, evaluating and monitoring health priorities is asked.

In this opinion, the EESC is calling for additional measures both at EU and national level, to better protect informal carers and recognise their important contribution to society. These measures include setting up a Platform for the exchange of best practices, the provision of high-quality, accessible community-based services to alleviate their charge, respite services and flexible working conditions to avoid that they have to quit their job to attend their family members.

In order to improve the fight against drug trafficking and organised crime in the EU, the EESC recommends that Member States provide their customs administrations and police forces with adequate human and technical resources, decent pay, working conditions and continued training. The opinion highlights that trade unions representing police and customs officials should be involved to better identify human resources and equipment needs. The EESC advocates better cross-border law enforcement coordination between police and customs authorities, and better cooperation between law enforcement and judicial authorities as well as fiscal authorities in order to combat organised crime as effectively as possible. The opinion also underlines that combating the abuse of drugs necessitates a differentiated, whole-of-society approach, remarking that drug use should be tackled more by means of preventive and accompanying measures and less through repression.