Opinions

  • Adottati on 14/02/2024 - Bureau decision date: 11/07/2023
    Referenza
    SOC/782-EESC-2023
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    Italy
    Workers - GR II
    Belgium
    Plenary session number
    585
    -

    The EESC calls for a strategy for civil dialogue, resulting in an action plan, and potentially an interinstitutional agreement for improved civil dialogue. It advocates for making Article 11 TEU effective by strengthening actors in the different EU institutions dealing with civil dialogue and create an annual civil dialogue scoreboard tracing the EU's engagement with civil society, and an accreditation mechanism for CSOs. It reiterates that the EESC should be at the centre of civil society consultation and civil dialogue and calls for a stronger role for the Committee in participatory democracy, including being a potential hub for citizen panels.

    EESC opinion: Strengthening civil dialogue and participatory democracy in the EU: a path forward
  • Adottati on 14/02/2024 - Bureau decision date: 11/07/2023
    Referenza
    SOC/781-EESC-2023
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    Poland
    Workers - GR II
    Spain
    Plenary session number
    585
    -

    In this opinion, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) highlights the challenges hindering efficient cross-border access to social security services, including bureaucratic complexity and uneven progress in digitalisation across Member States. While supportive of the European Commission's efforts to simplify processes and enhance digitalisation, the EESC emphasises the need for accelerated progress and urges developing comprehensive action plans considering diverse stakeholder needs. Recognising the overall need for digitalisation, the EESC stresses the importance of inclusive solutions for digitally excluded individuals as well as robust IT systems to ensure data protection and cybersecurity. Additionally, the EESC calls for the finalisation of the revision of Regulation 883/2004 to address obstacles to free movement more effectively.

    EESC opinion: Digitalisation in social security
  • Adottati on 14/02/2024 - Bureau decision date: 26/04/2023
    Referenza
    TEN/812-EESC-2023
    Workers - GR II
    France
    Plenary session number
    585
    -
    EESC opinion: Revision of the Combined Transport Directive 92/106/EEC
  • Adottati on 14/02/2024 - Bureau decision date: 25/01/2023
    Referenza
    CCMI/213-EESC-2023
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    Cyprus
    (Germany
    Plenary session number
    585
    -

    The European Union has close to 182 million hectares of forests covering 43% of its land area and these forest areas are one of Europe's most important renewable resources. EU forests are exceptionally diverse, with a large variety of forest types, characteristics and ownership structures. They provide multiple benefits for society and the economy whilst being a major source of biodiversity.

    EESC opinion: Towards a comprehensive strategy for the EU wood industry
  • Adottati on 14/02/2024 - Bureau decision date: 23/01/2023
    Referenza
    NAT/894-EESC-2023
    Employers - GR I
    Hungary
    Workers - GR II
    Spain
    Plenary session number
    585
    -

    Microplastics are persistent, very mobile, and hard to remove from nature. Microplastics are widespread in the world and in the human body, and a cause of growing concerns. Plastic pellets are found in water and soil, including agricultural lands, and harm ecosystems and biodiversity. Plastic pellets are the one of the largest sources of unintentional microplastic pollution.

    For the first time, the European Commission proposes measures to prevent microplastic pollution from the unintentional release of plastic pellets.

    EESC opinion: Preventing plastic pellet losses to reduce microplastics pollution
  • Adottati on 14/02/2024 - Bureau decision date: 25/01/2023
    Referenza
    ECO/613-EESC-2023-00860
    Employers - GR I
    Sweden
    Plenary session number
    585
    -
    EESC opinion: Taxation of cross-border teleworkers globally and the impact on the EU
  • Adottati on 17/01/2024 - Bureau decision date: 12/12/2023
    Referenza
    NAT/923-EESC-2024
    Plenary session number
    584
    -
    EESC opinion: Targets for fixing fishing opportunities
  • Adottati on 17/01/2024 - Bureau decision date: 12/12/2023
    Referenza
    INT/1052-EESC-2023
    Plenary session number
    584
    -
    EESC opinion: Combating online child sexual abuse
  • Adottati on 17/01/2024 - Bureau decision date: 24/10/2023
    Referenza
    ECO/633-EESC-2023-04821
    Employers - GR I
    Greece
    Plenary session number
    584
    -
    EESC opinion: Euro area economic policy 2024
  • Adottati on 17/01/2024 - Bureau decision date: 19/09/2023
    Referenza
    ECO/632-EESC-2023-2023-04262
    Employers - GR I
    Latvia
    Plenary session number
    584
    -

    The EC proposes establishing a Head Office Tax system for micro, small and medium sized enterprises (HOT), and amending Directive 2011/16/EU. The objective of the proposal is to give small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating cross-border through permanent establishments (PE) the option to interact with only one tax administration – that of the Head Office – instead of having to comply with multiple tax systems.

    EESC opinion: Establishing a Head Office Tax system for SMEs (HOT)