The euro ranks second in the world as a reserve currency and as a currency used for fixed income securities issues and international trade transactions. However, its use internationally has yet to return to levels before the financial crisis, and its future role in the international monetary system is tied to the economic prospects of the euro area.
Organised civil society tables proposals for regaining citizens' support for European integration and achieving sustainable economic growth and social progress in the EU
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has adopted at its March plenary session an opinion on the Joint Communication "Connecting Europe and Asia – Building blocks for an EU Strategy", issued by the European Commission and the EU High Representative in September 2018. The EESC considers it to be a seriously missed opportunity, with many significant strategic gaps, little ambition and no real depth of vision offered as to the development of EU's relationship and connectivity with Asia.
Endocrine disruptors are substances of particular concern; in order to minimise or better avoid any risks, the use of these substances must be embedded in coherent and harmonised EU legislation.
The European Union urgently needs a new, ambitious and clear strategy for its future. Cohesion policy must be an integral part of it. New provisions for cohesion policy post-2020 must provide for sufficient means and guarantee improved policy efficiency and visibility, urges the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in an exploratory opinion on the future of cohesion policy, requested by the Romanian Council Presidency.
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) throws its support behind the action plan presented by the Commission and the EU High Representative to counter disinformation and points out that a coordinated response, with an active role played by civil society, is essential.
Education and a level playing field in FTAs are conditions for further progress
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the Industry4Europe coalition held a high-level roundtable on EU Industrial Policy on 7 March in Brussels.
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) hosted a debate in response to the Commission's initiative on the social agenda in air transport. EESC members and stakeholders of the aviation sector came together at the March meeting of the Section for Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society (TEN) to assess its implications from the perspective of civil society.
More than 350 circular economy stakeholders from across Europe shared their success stories and the challenges they face during the second day of the Circular Economy Stakeholder Conference, hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee on 7 March 2019.
Opening the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Conference at the European Commission on 6 March, EESC President Luca Jahier said the Circular Economy Platform and the ambitious initiatives emerging from it are again proof that Europe is at its best when it works together, when it pools the skills and know-how of its different stakeholders - EU institutions, organized civil society and European citizens.
