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15/04/2020
Covid-19 response: The EESC calls for strengthened solidarity to help the most deprived

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) gave its backing to the Commission's proposal to amend the regulation governing the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) in a bid to ensure that Europe's most vulnerable citizens remain supported during the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a position paper adopted on 15 April, the EESC says it is in favour of introducing specific measures aimed at protecting the most deprived from the disease and at ensuring that FEAD assistance still reaches them despite the crisis.

15/04/2020
COVID-19 response: Fisheries and aquaculture among worst hit sectors, EESC calls for urgent rescue

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has adopted a position paper calling for additional measures to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the fisheries and aquaculture sector. This crisis is having a striking impact on EU fisheries, as the major fish sales channels have been closed: sales outlets, markets, shops, restaurants and hotels. As demand abruptly dropped, the price of the fish fell to half or less of the value at which it was traded before. The activities in this sector are now loss-making as a result. In this position paper, the EESC welcomes the Commission's proposal to amend the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Regulation and the Common Market Organisation (CMO) Regulation and appreciates the speed of its response.

15/04/2020
Covid-19 response: EESC backs proposal to ease burden on medical equipment to help Member States fighting the disease

The EESC has endorsed the European Commission’s proposal to postpone by a full year the implementation of several provisions of the new regulation on medical devices (Regulation (EU) 2017/745 of 5 April 2017) which were to come into effect in May 2020.

The move is intended to ease the regulatory burden on Member States grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic, which is putting a huge strain on their resources.

The proposal also allows EU-wide exceptions to the normal conformity assessment procedures for specific devices in order to address potential shortages of vitally important medical equipment such as Europe is experiencing at the moment.

15/04/2020
COVID-19 response: EESC calls for EU recovery plan in line with EU's priorities

The EESC welcomes the proposal to provide exceptional flexibility for the use of the European Structural and Investment Funds in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, and calls for it to be adopted swiftly with the greatest possible flexibility. All possible administrative burdens should be eliminated, and social partners and relevant civil society organisations more actively involved, in order to ensure effective crisis management. To overcome the socio-economic effects of the pandemic, the European Commission should propose an EU recovery plan commensurate with needs and in line with the EU's priorities. This plan should make use of all the programmes under a revised MFF 2021-2027, new innovative financial tools and investments.

15/04/2020
No lockdown for fundamental rights during the COVID-19 crisis!

The response to the COVID-19 crisis has had a negative impact on a number of fundamental rights. The unavoidable lockdowns have restricted our freedom of movement and cross-border travel. Freedom of association and assembly have been cut, so have privacy rights through data tracking systems. What has been put in place as a temporary measure cannot be instrumentalised to revert decades-long fights for freedoms and equality.  We must get out of this crisis with our democracies – and our European Union – intact.

Diritti fondamentali e diritti dei cittadini
08/04/2020
Serbia's accession to the EU – civil society representatives claim a bigger role

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and Serbia held the 10th meeting of their Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) in Brussels on 10 March, adopting a joint declaration by majority on 31 March. JCC members called on the EU institutions to take better account of civil society's role and to strengthen its involvement in monitoring Serbia's accession process and holding authorities to account.

Relazioni esterne
06/04/2020
La risposta dell'UE alla pandemia di COVID-19 e la necessità di una solidarietà senza precedenti tra gli Stati membri

Per un piano europeo di ripresa economica urgente e globale 

La crisi della pandemia di COVID-19 rappresenta innanzitutto un'emergenza sul piano della salute umana, in secondo luogo essa costituisce una grave minaccia economica e sociale e, in terzo luogo, può presentare una sfida per le istituzioni democratiche.

Di fronte a questa crisi che è una delle peggiori della sua storia l'UE deve ispirarsi al principio secondo cui si considera una comunità che condivide un destino comune. Il CESE ricorda che seguendo questo principio è possibile adottare e coordinare misure comuni e misure solidali per contrastare gli effetti negativi sul piano sanitario, economico e sociale della crisi indotta dalla pandemia di COVID-19.

26/03/2020
Declaration by EESC President Luca Jahier and External Relations Section President Dilyana Slavova on the decision of the European Council to open accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has strongly supported the enlargement of the European Union to the six Western Balkans countries provided they fulfil all the necessary criteria for membership. In the aftermath of the Council's non-decision to open accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia in October 2019, we have reacted swiftly by adopting, on 31 October, a Resolution expressing our profound disappointment by the lack of unanimity from the Member States. The EESC has since been committed to working closely and intensively with the civil society in the Western Balkans to support and reassure them that their place is in the European Union.

Relazioni esterne
26/03/2020
Coronavirus response: The EESC welcomes the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative but calls for a larger European investment plan

The European Economic and Social Committee backs up the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative of the European Commission. The initiative is aimed at promoting investment in the healthcare systems of the European Member States and other sectors of their economies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. To this end, the EU would mobilise cash reserves, i.e. unspent pre-financing for EU funds, and provide financial support.

Occupazione
IMPRESE
MERCATO UNICO
Affari sociali
26/03/2020
Coronavirus response: Commission proposal on use of European Union Solidarity Fund does not go far enough, says the EESC

On 25 March 2020, the European Economic and Social Committee adopted a generally favourable position on the European Commission's proposal to amend the Council Regulation on the European Union Solidarity Fund in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The proposed regulation aims to provide financial assistance to Member States and countries negotiating their accession to the European Union that are seriously affected by major public health emergencies, such as the current pandemic.

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