Growing resource use is driving the triple planetary crisis, pushing the EU beyond planetary boundaries and leaving many Member States off track for the 2030 circular material use target. Demand-side measures and ambitious primary material reduction policies are essential to reverse this trend and strengthen the EU’s strategic autonomy.
This exploratory opinion will feed into the work of the European Commission during the preparations of the Circular Economy Act.
In response to the successful European Citizens' Initiative, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has adopted an own-initiative opinion calling on the European Commission to introduce a legally binding EU-wide ban on conversion practices by including such practices as 'EU crimes' and recognising them as hate crimes. The EESC strongly condemns any practices aimed at changing, suppressing or erasing a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression, considering them incompatible with human dignity and in breach of the prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment. The EESC calls for a comprehensive and precisely defined ban covering both children and adults, all public and private actors, and the advertisement of such practices. It recommends that the prohibition explicitly includes sex characteristics, in order to protect intersex individuals from non-consensual and non-therapeutic interventions.
Download — EESRK skyriaus nuomonė: Ban on conversion practices in the European Union
The Commission presents a proposal to enhance the control of drug precursors, the chemical substances that are used by both legitimate industries and in the production of illicit drugs. As Europe’s drug market evolves, the proposal strengthens authorities to respond to emerging drugs and production processes.
This initiative aims to simplify EU legislation on medical devices and diagnostics to enhance competitiveness, foster innovation and ensure proportionate, cost-effective safety requirements while maintaining high levels of patient protection and public health.
