The EESC emphasises that peace must remain a core EU priority and cautions against focusing solely on military threats while overlooking other serious risks to human life. It stresses the importance of diplomacy for conflict resolution and crisis prevention wherever possible.The EESC supports a comprehensive, inclusive European defence strategy that supplements military readiness with civil preparedness. It endorses the European Commission’s Joint white Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030 and calls for a coordinated EU approach that treats defence, peace and security as shared public goods, underpinned by strong legal, institutional and financial frameworks with democratic oversight.
Download — advies EESC: Defence-related investments in the EU budget
The European Economic and Social Committee emphasizes the urgent need for climate action to prevent the worst impacts of climate change from affecting societies and, ultimately, the EU population, and views the European Climate Law as a key instrument in achieving this goal. CO2 levels emitted into the atmosphere have continued to rise globally, with a new peak being reached in 2023. The EESC is convinced that the greatest support for climate policy will be established if the overall aim is to achieve the highest greenhouse gas emissions reduction at the lowest socio-economic costs.
Download — advies EESC: European Climate Law amendment
The opinion examines the role of start-ups and scale-ups in the EU economy, by taking into account the related Strategy adopted by the European Commission.
Download — advies EESC: European start-ups and scale-ups
Download — advies EESC: How apprenticeships and dual learning schemes can bolster the skills that businesses need in order to face the challenges of the green and digital transitions
This opinion intends to discuss the relationship between water resilience, digitalisation and the green transition. It aims to propose recommendations to address the different challenges involving water, digitalisation and decarbonisation from an industrial perspective.
Download — advies EESC: Water resilience and the twin transition: Industrial approaches addressing the relationship between water, digitalisation and decarbonisation
