The prospects for sustainable employment in rail, rolling stock and infrastructure: how industrial change will influence the European employment and skills base - Mr Jean-Paul Preumont, Social Affairs Adviser of the CER- Community of European Railways
The prospects for sustainable employment in rail, rolling stock and infrastructure - Mr Lahcen Rachidi, Sales & Development Director at AKKA Technologies, Engineering and Technology Consultancy
The prospects of employment in the European rail industry - Mr Michael Clausecker, Director-General of UNIFE- Association of the European Rail Industry
Download — The perspective for sustainable employment in Rail, rolling stock and infra producers. How the industrial change will influence European employment and competence base
Homelessness is the fourth most common reason given for poverty in the EU. It causes major personal tragedies, and also has significant social implications. If the number of homeless people was reduced, social costs would also decrease, and with better social inclusion Europe would progress. The right to housing is enshrined in many countries' constitutions. Still, there is no single and consistent method of collecting data on homelessness and the social integration of homeless people remains a very complex and difficult process. This EESC opinion, which focuses on both the effects and the causes of this problem, proposes measures to address it.
The EESC agrees that the 2050 vision goal of a greenhouse gas reduction of 60% in the transport sector, although very challenging, is in line with the EU's overall climate policy aims and that it strikes a reasonable balance between the need for quick reductions of greenhouse gases and the time needed to optimise energy efficiency in a single European Transport Area and develop new and sustainable fuels and propulsion systems in order to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Download — Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area (White Paper)
Social enterprise is a key element of the European social model and fundamental for the success of the EU2020 strategy. By supporting and promoting social enterprise, Europe strengthens its growth and competitiveness potential and its capacity to create social value. The EESC supports the Commission's launch of a political framework and action plan to promote social enterprise in Europe. In its opinion, it stresses the importance of its implementation at both EU and Member State level as well.
Download — EESC opinion: Social entrepreneurship and social enterprise
With this highly political Opinion with interest for all involved stakeholders, but also for consumers or citizens in general, the EESC aims to reply to the questions set out in the Commission Green Paper. Through the Green Paper consultation, the Commission is trying to obtain a better understanding of the online gambling sector which is expanding rapidly, is cross-border in nature and is characterised by different national regimes being implemented by Member States.
A highly participated hearing was held in the framework of the second study group meeting to elaborate a well-balanced and more realistic opinion. This event had an enormous feedback in media.
The proposal for a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base spurs the debate among policymakers and stakeholders. Opinions diverge whether such a project would remove obstacles to the completion of the Single Market and reduce compliance cost - or if it would rather impose further red tape, raise compliance cost and take away tax sovereignty from national legislators. The EESC generally supports the Commission proposal, but certain aspects remain controversial among it's members.
Download — EESC opinion: CCCTB / Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base
In the framework of this opinion a hearing (Opportunities and challenges for a more competitive European woodworking and furniture sector) was organized in Praha, Czech Republic, on 9 June 2011.
Download — Opportunities and challenges for a more competitive European woodworking and furniture sector
In the framework of this opinion a hearing (The processing and exploitation, for economic and environmental purposes, of the industrial and mining waste deposits from European Union) was organized in Cluj Napoca / Kolozsvár, in Romania, on 19 May 2011.
Download — The processing and exploitation, for economic and environmental purposes of the industrial and mining waste deposits from European Union
The aim of this additional opinion is to put forward some examples or recommendations for prevention, insufficiently addressed in the new proposed directive on combating the sexual abuse of children. Preventive measures should be holistic, child-centred and happen as early as possible. The EESC calls on the European Commission to adopt and enforce a European Union Prevention Strategy Against Child Sexual Abuse. There are also many excellent initiatives of civil society actors to be endorsed. To that end the EESC has produced a database of best practice.
Download — Preventive measures for the protection of children against sexual abuse
The Committee recommends the Commission to bring forward a comprehensive new package of measures to incentivise the massive new investment needed to deliver these new targets. The package should include a strengthening of the ETS as a cost optimising instrument for guiding investment decisions as well as other measures to: 1) promote energy efficiency in all sectors; 2) increase consumer awareness and capacity to use their purchasing power to favour low carbon goods and services; 3) support investment in the infrastructure that will be needed; 4) promote training and capacity-building in the key sectors.
