The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has adopted an opinion that aims to safeguard citizens' fundamental rights in the midst of the implementation of AI technology in public services.
adopting digitalisation and AI (artificial intelligence) could revolutionise the way public services are provided, offering innovative solutions for dealing more efficiently and more quickly with people’s needs;
AI can help make these services more accessible, in particular to the most vulnerable people in society;
the possibility to automate complex and repetitive processes could increase efficiency while reducing workload for individual workers.
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) calls for a European flagship initiative for health, aiming to build a cross-cutting health architecture within the European Union. It also calls on the European Commission to publish an Action Plan on Rare Diseases with clearly achievable targets.
stresses the urgent need to adapt strategies for work-life balance taking into consideration the shifting demographics, new forms of work, flexible working arrangements and rising care demands, in view of the 2027 revision of the Directive (EU) 2019/1158 on work-life balance for parents and carers;
notes that ageing populations require increased resources for care services and recommends the Council ask the Commission to develop a Care Toolbox with indicators for long-term care;
emphasises that needs-based measures should provide affordable, accessible, high-quality services benefiting workers, families, companies, and public authorities.
launch the proposal for a comprehensive European Action Plan on Rare Diseases (APRD) with SMART targets that can be achieved by 2030 to enable the diagnosis of rare disease patients within one year;
set up a Steering Group for the European APRD composed of experts from Member States, EURORDIS members and the EESC to ensure coordination and cooperation, monitoring and supervision of the APRD;
encourage agreements with Member States on the content, updating, application and monitoring of national plans for RD.
welcomes the proposal for updated guidelines on employment policies, aimed at fostering a competitive and sustainable economy, reflecting new labour market needs;
highlights the importance of upward convergence and of enhancing the European Semester’s role in coordinated economic policy responses;
stresses the need to strengthen social partners' roles through social dialogue and collective bargaining and the involvement of civil society in employment reforms and policy-making.
notes that the EU and Member States shall aim to promote a high level of employment, improve living and working conditions and achieve proper social protection, including under comparable conditions, for the self-employed;
encourages the EU and Member States, within their respective competences and in keeping with national practices, to adapt social protection systems to cover non-standard work, ensuring sufficient benefits for decent work and a decent life for all workers;
calls for Member States to shift the focus of social protection from workers alone to all Europeans, offering a minimum income for those unable to work, while promoting a return to employment for those who can work.
Across a wide range of issues, including employment, pension systems, climate change, health and care services, and political participation, both younger and older generations feel inadequately represented in the current policy responses. This is contributing to growing political disillusionment and jeopardising the cohesion of European societies.
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), has adopted an opinion supporting the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the open labour market, calling for the promotion of measures and policies (including the setup of a joint fund between Member States) that would buttress these efforts.
