Sekcja ds. Unii Gospodarczej i Walutowej oraz Spójności Gospodarczej i Społecznej (ECO) - Related Opinions

The EESC strongly believes in the importance of the next Semester cycle as a key instrument for implementing the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

However, it is still concerned about the lack of clarity in most Member States as regards their National Recovery and Resilience Plan governance systems and the distribution of responsibilities for their implementation.

The EESC would also draw attention to the need to measure progress in implementation, for which good monitoring indicators are needed; in this connection it welcomes the "Recovery and Resilience Scoreboard" initiative.

Moreover, the COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the need for a strong industrial policy to avoid dependence on other economic zones for many products and services.

The EESC wants to see real action in this respect by Member States, in terms of investment in education, infrastructure and industrial policy to raise employment and boost European industry.

The EESC underscores the potential key role of the Sustainable Finance Taxonomy Delegated Regulation in creating a clear, coherent and comprehensive framework to highlight the ambitious development of a greener economy without lock-in effects. The taxonomy should build on technical criteria that clearly define the green investments that directly contribute to Europe's climate objectives.

It is essential that efficient, easily applicable, innovative and productive tools are used, to bring about rapid and readable results, and by also preventing "greenwashing". However, the EESC poses the question as to whether the technical criteria set out in the Delegated Regulation do indeed meet the fundamental prerequisite of appearing reasonable, realistic and acceptable, and takes note of the concerns of real economy actors regarding the negative effects of the Delegated Regulation on financing possibilities and costs.