The EESC stresses that the success of the Union of skills depends on effective and cooperative governance, adequate financing, and inclusive representation of social partners, national authorities and other stakeholders, including civil society organisations, teachers and learners. This opinion points at the importance of tailored support for SMEs and for women and disadvantaged individuals. It calls for improving the quality, inclusiveness, attractiveness, effectiveness and accessibility of vocational education and training and adult learning, and to make Europe more attractive to global talent. It asks that recommendations on education and skills be fully integrated into the European Semester process.
In this opinion, the EESC presents its recommendations on the proposed EU Anti-Poverty Strategy. It explores the initiatives that social partners and civil society could undertake to better adapt policy frameworks for combating poverty, and how they can effectively address its root causes to decisively reduce poverty levels and ensure a sustained downward trend.
Pietro Vittorio BARBIERI (Civil Society Organisations - GR III/Italy), Peter SCHMIDT (Workers - GR II/Germany), Christa SCHWENG (Employers - GR I/Austria)
Plenary session number
598
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The EESC recalls the importance of civil society for democratic societies, and calls for a strengthening of in civil dialogue and civic participation at European level, including of the EESC's own role. It calls for a the adoption of an interinstitutional agreement on civil dialogue to ensure consistent civil dialogue practices across EU institutions, and proposes launching a pilot project for a civil society platform, which should among others monitor civil dialogue through an annual scoreboard and host an annual event on civil dialogue.
Download — EESC opinion: EU strategy to support, protect and empower civil society
Europe has decided to launch the construction of gigafactories to produce batteries at high volumes to reindustrialize our continent and enhance our strategic autonomy. Yet, these projects focus on lithium batteries and to a great extent neglect the emerging technology of sodium batteries.
Sodium is present everywhere in Europe at a low cost, and desalinisation projects linked to an EU Blue Deal would increase this availability. The potential of a sodium battery manufacturing sector is therefore extremely interesting from both a competitive and sustainability point of view.
Ongoing (updated on 18/07/2025) - Bureau decision date: 30/11/2023
The European Commission published a long-awaited European Water Resilience Strategy in June 2025. The strategy aims to restore and protect the water cycle, build a water-smart economy and safeguard access to clean water for all.
Ongoing (updated on 17/07/2025) - Bureau decision date: 25/02/2025
Download — EESC section opinion: Towards 2030 – Assessment of key environmental actions to be included in the annex to the 8th Environmental Action Programme to better anchor environmental policy in society
The EESC considers that the Commission proposal on the topic of the EU wine policy comes at a crucial time for the wine sector and the Committee will therefore carry out a detailed analysis of the proposal and draft an opinion aimed at assisting the EU institutions and all stakeholders.
Clean technologies are projected to continue expanding in turnover, investments and jobs. Thanks to ambitious climate targets, the EU is a global leader in high-value inventions and was an early mover in developing a cleantech production base. However, it has lost technological leadership in several sectors and its manufacturing base is eroding.
Download — EESC section opinion: Building blocks for strengthening Europe’s manufacturing base in cleantech
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 — EESC section opinion: Water resilience and the twin transition: Industrial approaches addressing the relationship between water, digitalisation and decarbonisation
Download — EESC section opinion: Boosting sustainable growth and quality jobs in Euromed: promoting entrepreneurship and tapping the potential of women and young people
