The functional economy and how it works in practice was discussed at a public hearing, organised on the 8th June by the European Economic and Social Committee. The focus is on the function of the product rather than on the product itself - the functional economy considers how the product can be used most efficiently. "The concept of the functional economy has to be well-defined. We also have to explore the effect it will have on the creation of jobs and the advantages of a long lasting product which can be used by more than one consumer", said the EESC Rapporteur Thierry Libaert in his opening speech.
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"Many examples have shown that pressure on suppliers or intense competition between them can lead to situations where workers work in dangerous conditions without decent employment contracts or social security or for very low wages and without real opportunities to join or form unions to defend their rights,"
On 7 June 2016, in Warsaw, Mr Baráth participated as a speaker in a conference on "Achieving Good Living Environment: Territory Matters. What's beyond 2030 for Macro-Regions?" organised by VASAB, an intergovernmental multilateral co-operation of 11 Baltic Sea Region countries in spatial planning and development, in order to bring a regional input into the implementation of European territorial cohesion objective.
A European Pensions Tracking Service is feasible and beneficial for citizens and pension providers alike
CIVIL SOCIETY DAYS 2016
Representatives from European civil society organisations and networks, members of the EESC and European institutions gathered in Brussels on 31 May and 1 June for the annual Civil Society Days, hosted by the EESC. The main focus of the discussions over the 2-day event was migration and the challenges and changes that this presents to our European society to make the most of it.
Article of Georges Dassis at the GMB European Newsletter: http://www.gmb.org.uk/assets/media/gmbbrussels/GMB%20European%20News%20M...
President Dassis calls for more commitment in Europe
"The most remarkable aspect of this new global agenda is that in a world where tensions, national egotism and conflict are on the rise, world leaders have reached agreement on a common vision and a roadmap that addresses the major global challenges of our times: ending poverty and ensure the well-being and respect for human rights, peace and the protection of our planet", said President Georges Dassis at the "How to make SDGs Europe's business" conference
On 31 May, the President of the European Economic and Social Committee held a meeting with Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky, United Nations Independent Expert on foreign debt and human rights. Mr Bohoslavsky was appointed by the Human Rights Council on 8 May 2014 and took up his duties on 2 June 2014.
The Exploratory opinion on "More sustainable food systems" (Rapporteur: Mindaugas Maciulevičius), requested by the Netherlands presidency of the EU, was adopted by the EESC at its plenary session on 26 May 2016. The opinion calls for the development of a comprehensive food policy in the EU and for an ...
President Dassis calls for more commitment in Europe