The EESC agrees with the proposal in the final report of the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE, May 2022) and the resolution of the EP (9 June 2022), to add a social progress protocol (SPP) to the Treaties. This would help ensure that fundamental social rights are effectively protected in the event of conflict with economic freedoms. The EESC considers the SPP to be essential in order to strengthen the autonomy of the social partners, linking, on the one hand, the proper functioning of the single market and economic freedoms, including fair competition between the Member States and, on the other hand, respect and promotion of collective social rights. A SPP will enable the EU to be a leader when it comes to economic growth, the well-being of its citizens, and robust and sustainable businesses.
Download — Parecer do CESE: Social Progress Protocol
The EESC underlines the importance of having accurate, up-to-date data in order to monitor and evaluate the impact of policies on youth and to define good practices which address young people. It believes that the EU Youth Dialogue should be strengthened, involve bodies representing young people meaningfully throughout the policymaking process and take into account the new ways in which young people engage, debate and mobilise. More support should be dedicated to building the capacity of the social partners, particularly among young members, with a view to social dialogue and collective bargaining.
This opinion welcomes the Spanish Presidency's initiative of setting the goal to eliminate HIV related stigma and discrimination in Europe by 2030. It underlines that, in order to overcome stigma, discrimination and stereotypes, it essential to promote awareness-raising, training and information actions, involving organised civil society, youth and student organisations. The opinion also recommends a more ambitious new target for all countries to be achieved by 2030, improving coverage levels to as high as 95% for testing, treatment and virological suppression. Finally, it calls for new and innovative strategies to improve early diagnosis and make more people aware of their infection by expanding diversified and user-friendly approaches to more widely available HIV testing.
Download — Parecer do CESE: Measures to fight stigma against HIV
The EESC emphasises that the designing of proposals for new sources of own revenues should be done in context of the budgetary pressures faced by Member States following the pandemic and the ongoing international tensions. This has become all the more important in the current higher interest rate environment. The EESC also emphasises that the second set of own resources measures should be in line with the proportionality and social fairness principles. An EU-wide tax on digital transactions could be potentially considered to increase own resources in case the agreed rules of the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework are not respected by other major trading partners.
Download — Parecer do CESE: Second set of new own resources
The objective of the initiative is to ensure the digitalisation of EU company law. In particular, the initiative will aim at enhancing transparency through increased availability of company information at EU level. It should enable the cross-border use of authentic and trustworthy data about companies, also through the application of the once-only principle, and make the existing rules and procedures fit for the digital age.
Download — Parecer do CESE: Company law / use of digital tools and processes
The EESC asserts that businesses and workers must have proper channels for participating in efforts to support environmental protection and combat climate change. While respecting the role of national industrial relations systems and the autonomy of the social partners, the EESC considers that issues related to the green transition could be a stronger focus of collective bargaining at the appropriate levels. It highlights collective bargaining as a key tool that can help companies and workers face the challenges of the climate crisis, including the derived costs for companies.
Download — Parecer do CESE: Green collective bargaining
