Download — advies EESC: Regenerative agriculture as a target towards enhancing sustainable food production, supporting climate and biodiversity objectives
reaffirms its unwavering commitment to gender equality and women’s rights as fundamental pillars of democracy, social justice and inclusive growth and stands firmly alongside all the players striving to advance equality for all women and girls, in all their diversity;
endorses the Declaration of principles for a gender-equal society, which aligns closely with the values and priorities repeatedly expressed in EESC opinions;
recognises that the implementation of these principles requires coordinated and sustained action to which it is committed;
stands ready to contribute actively to the realisation of this roadmap and to work with the European institutions and Member States, to transform these principles into practice.
EESC opinion NAT/946 Phasing out fossil fuel subsidies while ensuring European competitiveness, mitigating the cost-of-living crisis, and promoting a just transition was adopted at the EESC Plenary: 29-30 April 2025.
Download — advies EESC: Phasing out fossil fuel subsidies while ensuring European competitiveness, mitigating the cost-of-living crisis, and promoting a just transition
This own-initiative opinion constitutes the contribution of the ECO section to the 2025 EESC transversal own-initiative opinion package on the cost-of-living crisis, looking at specific economic policy measures that can help make the European economy future-proof.
In this opinion, the EESC presents its view on the impact of new technologies and AI both in terms of facilitating the inclusion of people with disabilities but also as potential cause of discrimination. Among its recommendations:
Persons with disabilities should be included throughout the process of designing, developing, assessing and implementing new technologies and AI-based applications. This involvement is key to mitigating potential discriminatory risks.
Member States and the EU should carry out an evaluation of existing AI applications to assess their inclusivity in critical fields, including employment and recruitment.
Goods and services that apply new technologies and AI‑based solutions should comply with EU accessibility standards.
Download — advies EESC: Including persons with disabilities in the development of new technologies and AI – possibilities, challenges, risks and opportunities
Download — advies EESC: Amendment of the Common Markets Organisation (CMO) Regulation on rules on contracts, producer organisations and cooperation between farmers
In this Opinion, the EESC welcomes the EU's focus on civil preparedness and stresses the need for a culture of resilience across all levels of society. It highlights civil society's specific role in crisis response and stresses that preparedness initiatives must aim to a just and sustainable peace, addressing the root causes of conflict and fostering equality and social progress. The EESC calls for full integration of civil society into preparedness efforts, increased investment in its capacities, clear role definitions, stronger democratic safeguards, and easier cross-border cooperation.
