At its plenary session in July, the European Economic and Social Committee presented proposals for the economic agenda of the upcoming legislative period (2019-2024) and recommended that they should form the basis of a new European economic strategy. The Committee's proposals seek to develop more resilient and sustainable EU economic policies within an improved governance framework for the Economic and Monetary Union.

The European Semester should be based on the principles of partnership and multilevel governance modelled on the partnership agreements existing in cohesion policy, as this bottom-up approach will contribute to more clarity, legitimacy and ownership at implementing level. This was one of the main messages of a hearing held by the European Economic and Social Committee on 11 June.

Uniunea Europeană are nevoie urgent de o strategie nouă, clară și ambițioasă pentru viitor, din care trebuie să facă parte și politica de coeziune. Noile dispoziții privind politica de coeziune de după 2020 trebuie să prevadă suficiente mijloace financiare și să garanteze o mai mare eficiență și vizibilitate a politicilor, îndeamnă Comitetul Economic și Social European (CESE), într-un aviz exploratoriu privind viitorul politicii de coeziune, solicitat de Președinția română a Consiliului.

At a time of growing social and economic disparities between the regions of the European Union and when Euroscepticism is on the rise, all relevant stakeholders must advocate for an ambitious and future-proof cohesion policy post-2020. The goal must be sustainable and inclusive economic and social growth, competitiveness and employment across the EU.