The aim of the opinion is to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of both conventional and organic farming in order to identify the policy levers that are most effective and most likely to attain food sufficiency in EU Member States, while ensuring the transition to more sustainable food systems.
In response to the successful European Citizens' Initiative, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has adopted an own-initiative opinion calling on the European Commission to introduce a legally binding EU-wide ban on conversion practices by including such practices as 'EU crimes' and recognising them as hate crimes. The EESC strongly condemns any practices aimed at changing, suppressing or erasing a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression, considering them incompatible with human dignity and in breach of the prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment. The EESC calls for a comprehensive and precisely defined ban covering both children and adults, all public and private actors, and the advertisement of such practices. It recommends that the prohibition explicitly includes sex characteristics, in order to protect intersex individuals from non-consensual and non-therapeutic interventions.
The opinion assesses the revision of the GBER to evaluate its practical functioning and propose ways to simplify, broaden and clarify the EU State aid framework.
The opinion contributes to the revision of the EU standardisation framework by underlining its strategic importance and advocating for an inclusive, competitive and socially balanced system.
The EESC welcomes the Proposal for a Regulation for the Digital Networks Act (DNA). Strategic analyses, including the Letta, Draghi and Niinistö reports, and the Commission Communication ‘A Competitiveness Compass for the EU’ also make the point that a cutting edge digital network infrastructure is critical for the future competitiveness of the EU economy, security and social welfare. The availability of high-quality, reliable and secure connectivity for end users and for key economic sectors is a must. Connectivity is not just access. It is about real-time data exchange, vital for the EU to be able to achieve its broader digital goals and for supporting a truly connected, prosperous society.
The EESC welcomes the 2025 Strategic Foresight Report: Resilience 2.0, while underlining that future reports should also address radical disruptions. The EESC is uniquely placed to detect weak signals and underlying trends in strategic foresight and therefore its foresight-driven viewpoint should continuously feed into the Commission’s policy cycle. The EESC also calls for common, verifiable EU-wide metrics for socio-economic and institutional resilience. In this regard, the EESC is of the view that strategic foresight should also support sustainable and inclusive well-being as part of the European social model.
The opinion analyses the legislative proposal on the EU Business Wallet which aims at enabling secure digital identification, data sharing and legally valid notifications across the EU. Its purpose is to help economic operators manage regulatory requirements, cut administrative burdens and compliance costs. By ensuring interoperability with national systems, it also aims at supporting cross-border business, boosting SME competitiveness, fostering trust in digital interactions and advancing the EU’s digital single market.
Download — Avizul Secțiunii CESE: European business wallets
The opinion examines the digital omnibus, a set of two legislative proposals which focuses on bringing regulatory simplification and immediate relief to businesses active on digital.
This initiative aims to simplify EU legislation on medical devices and diagnostics to enhance competitiveness, foster innovation and ensure proportionate, cost-effective safety requirements while maintaining high levels of patient protection and public health.
The proposal simplifies and streamlines EU technical rules and testing procedures for motor vehicles to reduce regulatory burdens and costs for the automotive industry, while maintaining safety and environmental standards.
The Cyprus Presidency has asked the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) to draw up an exploratory opinion aimed at analysing how affordable housing initiatives can integrate measures to reduce energy costs for families and support vulnerable households.
