Comitetul Economic si Social European
The global fertiliser crisis has reached a critical level in Europe, where farmers are facing unprecedented challenges due to record prices. The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted an opinion on its March plenary on the EU strategy on fertilisers calling for availability, affordability and sustainability.
Addressing the European Commission's report on trends and issues to watch, the EESC stressed that it could have helped much more if it had been involved in the foresight exercise from the start.
On 23 March, the European Economic and Social Committee adopted two opinions on the Commission's latest proposals to further develop the EU's Capital Markets Union. Regarding the Listing Act, the Committee recommends that the full listing documentation be published in the national languages to empower local retail investors and help the development of a national retail investment base.
EESC plenary to debate energy with commissioner Kadri Simson.
Webstreaming Agenda
The Social Progress Protocol, proposed during the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE), gives precedence to social, workers' and trade union rights when they are in conflict with economic freedoms. However, while everyone agreed that social rights and economic freedoms can co-exist, support for making the protocol primary EU law is far from unanimous, with diverging views among the social partners and in the academic community, an EESC hearing confirmed
President of the European Economic and Social Committee, Christa Schweng, highlights the requirements for Europe to become globally more competitive and sustainable.
Persistent health inequalities are a huge factor behind the twofold higher mortality rate of people with disabilities, who on average die 10 to 20 years earlier than people without a disability. At the top of the list of barriers creating such inequalities are exorbitant treatment costs, inaccessible transport and health facilities, and stigma – but also a healthcare workforce that lacks proper training on disability issues.
The EESC included a youth delegate in its UNFCCC COP delegation for the first time in 2021 and committed to repeating this experience in the years to come. The EESC youth delegate to COP has a mandate of two years and at the end of each mandate a transparent and open selection process is carried out to designate the new delegate. The new EESC youth delegate to the COP has just been selected!
The EESC's Civil Society Days 2023 ended on 3 March with a set of proposals to not only protect but also expand the EU's civic space and ensure younger generations a solid foundation where they can build a vibrant civil society.
EESC, JDE building, 1-3 March 2023
This year's Civil Society Days will shine a light on the fundamental role of civil society organisations in ensuring and safeguarding both social cohesion and resilient democracy in Europe.
