Greenhouse gas emissions from aviation activities are increasing significantly. In the absence of further measures, CO2 emissions from international aviation are estimated to almost quadruple by 2050 compared to 2010.
Download — advies EESC: Emissions trading scheme on aviation activities
In the context of the revision of the founding regulations of the three agencies EUROFOUND, CEDEFOP and EU-OSHA, the Committee expresses its views on general principles governing these bodies and puts forward specific comments for each agency. The EESC warmly welcomes the fact that the balanced, tripartite structure of the management board is to be maintained. The Committee considers that tripartism is the expression of an inclusive approach, which respects the importance of the role of the social partners in seeking joint solutions. The EESC believes that the overall objectives of the three agencies should be uniformly and more comprehensively defined as to "support the needs of all EU institutions and bodies, Member States and Social Partners".
In the opinion on "Inclusive Islands" drawn up at the request of the Maltese Presidency of the EU, the EESC identifies permanent solutions for islands to address their structural difficulties. Europe's islands are home to over 21 million people. They account for approximately 4% of the EU-28's total population. There is therefore an urgent need for the adoption of an integrated policy framework to address the economic, social and territorial cohesion issues faced by European islands. The EESC calls for a greater effort to be undertaken by the EU to recognise the uniqueness of the challenges facing islands.
Download — advies EESC: Islands in the EU: from structural handicap to inclusive territory (exploratory opinion requested by the Maltese presidency)
The EESC is committed to open and fair trade and recognises its value as a driver of growth and jobs. Therefore, the EESC calls for a level playing field between European and third country exporting producers, and for effective trade defence instruments. The EESC supports the Commission's proposal that the dumping margin should be calculated not using the standard methodology, but on the basis of benchmarks that take account of significantly distorted production and sale costs. The EESC points out that in its 2016 opinion on preserving sustainable jobs and growth in the steel industry, it already called for the standard methodology not to be used in anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations into Chinese imports as long as the country failed to meet the EU's five criteria for market economy status. The EESC welcomes the Commission's intention of using specific criteria to determine whether there are significant distortions in the market situation.
The EESC welcomes the Commission proposal for a Council Directive to improve double taxation dispute resolution mechanisms in the EU. Double taxation is one of the biggest tax obstacles to the Single Market. There is an urgent need for mechanisms ensuring that cases of double taxation are resolved more quickly and more decisively when they arise between Member States. Therefore it is urgent to implement this proposal.
Press cut - Faster EU solution for double taxation disputes
The opinion welcomes the revision of the Blue Card, since it makes the card more attractive as a way of entering the EU.
However, the Committee considers that Commission's proposal to replace parallel national schemes with a single EU-wide scheme goes too far, and prefers that Member States maintain their own routes for admitting highly qualified workers alongside the EU Blue Card.
The opinion agrees with the measures to facilitate granting of the card, but expresses scepticism about the application of lower salary thresholds.
Finally the opinion recalls that equal opportunities and non-discrimination must be guaranteed in the employing of third-county nationals and that close involvement of national and European social partners is needed in this field.
Download — advies EESC: Towards a coherent EU labour immigration policy with regard to the EU Blue Card
