The opinion will examine the impact of regulatory interventions on value chains, identify key challenges, and propose a new approach to ensure effective and balanced policymaking.
Download — advies EESC: Looking to the future of EU-UK relations: 2026 Review of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) from a civil society perspective
As emphasised in the Letta and Draghi reports, the two main challenges of EU R&I policy are: i) reversing the declining productivity of the EU economy and closing the competitiveness gap with other global scientific and economic powers; and ii) reducing the fragmentation of the European research area to allow for the free circulation of scientific knowledge, research and innovation referred as the ‘fifth freedom’ in the Letta report.
In early 2026, the Commission is expected to publish the European Research Area Act (ERA Act). EESC’s input through this own-initiative opinion (OIO) is intended to shape the ERA Act, ensuring that it supports a vibrant ecosystem for innovation and digital transformation, and aligns with these strategic visions.
Europe’s energy system is increasingly unbalanced due to intermittent renewable sources like wind and solar, often relying on fossil fuels for stability. Achieving balance is key for energy reliability, climate goals, economic growth, and technological innovation. This opinion explores how Member States can integrate renewables while ensuring system stability and advancing decarbonisation, focusing on managing intermittent energy effectively.
