On 5 February 2025, the European Commission released its Communication on a “Comprehensive Toolbox for Safe and Sustainable E-Commerce.” The EESC opinion will build on this proposal to develop concrete measures that ensure fair competition with third-country online platforms.
EESC Call for fair competition with regard to third country platforms
The European Economic and Social Committee emphasizes the urgent need for climate action to prevent the worst impacts of climate change from affecting societies and, ultimately, the EU population, and views the European Climate Law as a key instrument in achieving this goal. CO2 levels emitted into the atmosphere have continued to rise globally, with a new peak being reached in 2023. The EESC is convinced that the greatest support for climate policy will be established if the overall aim is to achieve the highest greenhouse gas emissions reduction at the lowest socio-economic costs.
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The EESC assesses how the EU’s sustainable finance framework can be made more robust and fit for purpose given its importance for the EU’s economic, social and climate objectives. The EESC affirms that simplification should not come at the cost of ambition. While administrative streamlining is needed, the focus should be on how requirements can be implemented more effectively, not on weakening standards. The EU’s regulatory strength and predictability are important competitive advantages that should be preserved amid growing geopolitical and economic uncertainty.
The opinion examines the role of start-ups and scale-ups in the EU economy, by taking into account the related Strategy adopted by the European Commission.
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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 — Parecer do CESE: Water resilience and the twin transitions: Industrial approaches addressing the relationship between water, digitalisation and decarbonisation
The EESC opinion looks into how industry practices influence public health and contribute to the rise of non-communicable diseases, aiming to identify barriers to effective policies and propose stronger preventive measures.
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 — Information report: Social media and AI algorithms: ensuring the right to accurate information and the visibility of high-quality content across Europe, especially about Eastern and Central Europe
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.
Tatjana BABRAUSKIENĖ (LT-II); Mariya MINCHEVA (BG-I); Justyna Kalina OCHĘDZAN (PL-III)
Plenary session number
598
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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.
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.
Download — Parecer do CESE: 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
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.
