As the COVID-19 pandemic hits societies and economies, bringing a global and unprecedented public health and social crisis, civil society organisations (CSOs) are responding by providing frontline help and defending the rights of people across the world. At the same time, CSOs have faced themselves profound impacts that may harm their capacities to continue playing their central roles in delivering services, advocating for rights and protecting the most fragile, while safeguarding participatory democracy and civic debate in the near future.
This brochure presents the EESC's opinions, position papers, resolutions and statements calling for the necessary measures to be taken at EU level, or commenting on those that have already been put forward, in order to tackle the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. We pushed for a reconstruction and recovery plan that lives up to this unprecedented challenge.
This publication is the result of 43 testimonies collected from EESC members across the 27 EU Member States between April and September 2020.
They devoted their time and their pens to give readers the chance to discover their world of emotions during the difficult time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Luca Jahier, EESC President, and Stefano Palmieri, President of the ECO section of the EESC
Organisation
European Economic and Social Committee
After five days of tough negotiations, the EU has reached a deal to bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic. This is an unprecedented decision for volume, content and key elements of innovation. Europe, today, is stronger than ever.
Nevertheless, the needed extra-mile came at a sour price. For the first time, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) has decreased, also in real terms. The governance of the Resilience and Recovery Facility is all but consistent, with the European Parliament cut off, and the rebates increased, despite the UK's departure.
The EESC suggests taking the opportunity of the Covid-19 crisis to build a new societal model, making our economies greener, fairer and more resilient to future shocks.
The EESC suggests taking the opportunity of the Covid-19 crisis to build a new societal model, making our economies greener, fairer and more resilient to future shocks.
The corona crisis is a huge human and societal tragedy for Europeans and for people throughout the world. Tackling its diverse impacts requires a series of measures, from coping with the emergency stage and proceeding via recovery and rebuilding towards long-term success and stability. Businesses that manage to recover well and succeed are key to the recovery of the EU economy as a whole.
“The EU must be guided by the principle of being considered a community of common destiny.” Resolution based on the work of the Subcommittee on post-COVID-19 recovery and reconstruction, adopted by the European Economic and Social Committee on 11 June 2020
Resolution : EESC proposals for post-COVID-19 crisis reconstruction and recovery:
The corona crisis is changing the global economy daily, with the results still being uncertain. The crisis has hit all sectors, from services to industries and agriculture. The most serious problems have been encountered by SMEs and micro-entrepreneurs who have had their businesses disappear and are in a very critical situation.
To limit the economic and social damage caused by this critical situation, a series of measures is needed, extending from coping with the emergency stage towards recovery and rebuilding.
