Recommendations and conclusions:
- The Committee hopes that any overall conclusion of the Doha round at the WTO will facilitate trade in environmental goods and services by a substantial reduction in tariff and non-tariff barriers. The EU must lead by example by facilitating the transfer of "green" technologies in its bilateral and regional trade agreements.
- With regard to transport, the EESC supports the adoption of global UNFCCC objectives to cut air transport emissions by 10% and maritime emissions by 20%. The decision to share reduction efforts will also affect the transport sector, since air transport will be gradually included in the Emissions Trading System (ETS) from 2012.
In the framework of this opinion a hearing (The European shipbuilding industry - dealing with the current crisis) was organized in Vigo, Spain on 1st December 2009.
Download — The European shipbuilding industry dealing with the current crisis
Farmers are under great pressure from markets – often through low or strongly fluctuating prices – to adapt by specialising and rationalising their businesses. These processes could lead to a problematic regional concentration and to the abandoning of farming in disadvantaged regions.
At its plenary session on 16 July 2009 the European Economic and Social Committee, acting under Rule 29(2) of its Rules of Procedure, decided to draw up an own-initiative opinion on Transport policy in the Western Balkans. The Section for External Relations, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 4 March 2010. The rapporteur was Mr Zoltvány. At its 461st plenary session, held on 17 and 18 March 2010 (meeting of 17 March), the European Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 132 votes to 2, with 4 abstentions.
Download — Transport policy in the Western Balkans
