EESC to discuss the next Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034 with Commissioner Piotr Serafin at December plenary

3-4 December 2025

European Parliament, Paul-Henri Spaak building (Grand hemicycle – PHSHEM), 1047 Brussels

Web stream click here

AGENDA

Debates

Wednesday 3 December 2025 at 15:00

Cooperatives building a better world: the contribution of the EESC to the International Year of Cooperatives

with Jeroen Douglas, Director-General at the International Cooperative Alliance, Carlien van Empel, Director of the ILO Office for the European Union and the Benelux countries, Amal Chevreau, Head of Unit, Social Economy and Innovation at the Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities (remotely) and Dr Joachim Schwerin, Principal Economist, Responsible Business Conduct Unit within the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) of the European Commission

linked to CCMI/242 - Industrial Cooperatives: a tool for the challenge of inclusive and sustainable competitiveness

Wednesday 3 December 2025 at 16:30

The next multiannual financial framework (MFF)

with Piotr Serafin, European Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration, Carla Tavares, Member of the European Parliament and Professor Enrico Giovannini, former Italian Minister, currently Scientific Director of ASviS (remotely)

Thursday 4 December 2025 at 10:00

Thirty COPs later and a decade after the Paris Agreement: assessing global climate action and opportunities for civil society

with Elisa Morgera, UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change and Human Rights, Ivone Kaizeler, Deputy Head of Multilateral Affairs Unit within the Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) of the European Commission and Samira Ben Ali, EESC Youth Delegate to COP (remotely)

Opinions in the spotlight

SPACE

EU Space Act (TEN/835, rapporteur: Angelo Pagliara (IT-II))

The Committee addresses EU space law and the European Commission's initiative launched in June 2025, the EU Space Act, which aims to ensure safety, resilience and environmental sustainability, while boosting the competitiveness of the EU space sector. Against this backdrop, the EESC calls for strengthening EU's public and private investment in space to at least 0.2% of GDP by 2030 and recommends reinforcing the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) in the next Multiannual Financial Framework 2028–2034. More

ENERGY

Nuclear Illustrative Programme (TEN/856, rapporteur: Dumitru Fornea (RO-II), co-rapporteur: Alena Mastantuono (CZ-I))

Safety is a key concern to Europe’s civil society and this is why the EESC has been working in particular on nuclear safety and radioactive waste management. In the opinion, the EESC says that dialogue with civil society is pivotal in building trust, ownership and societal acceptance and calls for enhanced regulatory cooperation among Member States, recommending taking into account the role played by nuclear energy in stabilising the grid. More

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

A predictable and common European way forward for Ukrainians in the EU (REX/608, rapporteur: Mateusz Szymański (PL-II), co-rapporteur: Krzysztof Balon (PL-III))

In this opinion, the EESC presents a series of recommendations for the EU to move from emergency measures to a sustainable, inclusive and coordinated approach for Ukrainians in the EU. More

The European Union's strategic approach to the Black Sea region (REX/609, rapporteur: Milena Angelova (BG-I))

This opinion provides a critical assessment of the EU’s current and proposed strategies for the Black Sea region, emphasising the need for a more ambitious, coordinated and well-funded approach that addresses security, economic, social and environmental challenges. More

Global Europe (Multiannual Financial Framework proposal) (REX/611, rapporteur: Mateusz Szymański (PL-II), co-rapporteur: Luca Jahier (IT-III))

The Committee deals with the proposed regulation establishing “Global Europe" which has been budgeted at EUR 200.3 billion and underlines the need for stronger civil society involvement, transparency, social and environmental safeguards, and a coherent approach across all EU external actions. More

ECONOMY

Implementation of EU macro-regional strategies - 5th report (ECO/675, rapporteur: Stefano Palmieri (IT-II))

The EESC urges the EU to reinforce macro-regional strategies with clearer funding, stronger governance and greater involvement of local and civil society actors. It says these strategies have proved vital in recent crises and support cooperation across the Baltic, Danube, Adriatic-Ionian and Alpine regions. While progress is visible, political commitment and resources remain uneven. The EESC calls for a stronger social dimension, better administrative capacity and alignment with the next EU budget. It also supports creating a Mediterranean strategy and exploring new approaches for the Atlantic and Carpathian regions. More

SOCIAL AFFAIRS

Labour rights for journalists and media professionals as a safeguard for independence and truthful information (SOC/828, rapporteur: José Antonio Moreno Díaz (ES-II), co-rapporteur: Christian Moos (DE-III))

The EESC urges the EU to improve working conditions for journalists, ensuring fair pay, social protection, and safeguards against harassment and job insecurity. It calls for robust enforcement of media freedom laws, support for public service media, and action on AI and disinformation. The EESC stresses that secure, independent journalism is vital for democracy and calls for targeted investment and stronger social dialogue. More

AgoraEU and Justice programmes (SOC/843, rapporteur: Ionuţ Sibian (RO-III))

The Committee welcomes the proposed AgoraEU and Justice programmes, urging the EU to strengthen civil society, democratic participation, and victims’ rights. It calls for operating grants, fairer funding, and structured civil dialogue to empower organisations and ensure effective, inclusive access to EU values and justice. The EESC stresses the need for clear rules, national co-investment, and safeguards for beneficiaries. More

ENVIRONMENT

Revision of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (NAT/962, rapporteur: Florian Marin (RO-II))

The EESC addresses the management of natural and man-made disaster risk and recommends more ambition not only on response capacities but also on reduction and prevention. On this note, an efficient and integrated Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) must include a comprehensive framework for risk reduction policies across the EU. The EESC also underlines that it is important to reduce administrative burdens, eliminating overlaps, upgrading inadequate data and support systems, and increasing trained human resources, while ensuring high-quality working conditions. More

INTERNAL MARKET

Single Market Strategy (INT/1094, rapporteurs: Emilie Prouzet (FR-I), Angelo Pagliara (IT-II), Giuseppe Guerini (IT-III))

The EESC fully supports the priorities identified by the Commission's proposal to make the single market more effective: fewer barriers, a new approach to boosting European services, and more focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). According to the Committee, the single market is one of the main achievements of the European integration process, which ensures prosperity and solidarity for EU citizens, but it needs to be further strengthened and consolidated through concrete actions. More

INDUSTRY

Industrial cooperatives: a tool for the challenge of inclusive and sustainable competitiveness (CCMI/242, rapporteur: Giuseppe Guerini (IT-III), co-rapporteur: Michal Pintér (SK-I))

The Committee highlights the role of industrial cooperatives in strengthening Europe’s competitiveness while promoting inclusivity, worker participation and strong local roots. With 2025 marked as the International Year of Cooperatives, it calls for better financial incentives and an improved EU legislative framework to help expand this model, support strategic autonomy and maintain industrial capacity in the EU. More

Facilitating the potential of permanent materials in EU circular economy (CCMI/246, rapporteur: Andrea Mone (IT-II), co-rapporteur: Michal Pintér (SK-I))

The EESC stresses the importance of permanent materials such as aluminium and steel, which can be endlessly recycled without losing quality, as a cornerstone of a competitive and climate-neutral EU economy. It calls for policies that unlock their full potential in the upcoming Circular Economy Act and Water Resilience Strategy, helping drive decarbonisation, innovation and strategic autonomy while strengthening the EU’s resource efficiency. More

For more information, please contact:

EESC Press Unit

E-mail: press@eesc.europa.eu

Tel: + 32 2 546 9793

@EESC_PRESS