Evropski ekonomsko-socialni odbor
Prehod na krožno gospodarstvo je visoko na dnevnem redu EESO kot rešitev za boj proti podnebni krizi in zaščito našega planeta. Je odlična priložnost za civilno družbo, saj lahko prispeva k:
Model linearne proizvodnje in potrošnje, ki danes še vedno prevladuje v našem gospodarstvu, ne prispeva le k zapravljanju virov, temveč tudi spodkopava boj proti podnebnim spremembam. V nasprotju z linearnim gospodarstvom ima krožno gospodarstvo regenerativno in obnovitveno zasnovo, ki se osredotoča na ustvarjanje in ohranjanje gospodarske vrednosti, saj obravnava svetovne okoljske izzive, kot so podnebne spremembe, izguba biotske raznovrstnosti in onesnaževanje, hkrati pa prinaša gospodarske koristi.
Dobra novica je, da krožni prehod že poteka v praksi. Deležniki iz civilne družbe, med njimi podjetja, sindikati, akademski krogi in skupnosti znanja, mladinske organizacije ter nevladne organizacije in druge interesne skupine, na lokalni in regionalni ravni ustvarjajo in izvajajo številne krožne pobude. Spodbujanje krožnih rešitev in vodilna vloga ustreznih deležnikov sta najboljša načina za pospeševanje prehoda na krožno gospodarstvo v Evropi.
Evropska platforma deležnikov za krožno gospodarstvo , ki je skupna pobuda EESO in Evropske komisije, je bila vzpostavljena leta 2017, da bi z njo povezali skupnost krožnega gospodarstva v Evropi. Platforma, ki jo usmerjajo deležniki, podpira prehod Evrope na krožno gospodarstvo s spodbujanjem dialoga ter izmenjavo znanja in najboljših praks.
The Sustainable Products Initiative (SPI) package aims to make every aspect of the design, production, use and sale of products placed on the EU market more environmentally-friendly and circular to deliver on the sustainability and climate objectives. The proposals of the package will introduce a new era where sustainable products become the norm as well as Europe's resource independence.
In its own-initiative opinion, the EESC examines the extent to which existing EU company law currently serves as an "expedient" for the politically-desirable Green Deal and which gaps still need to be closed, in particular regarding corporate social responsibility obligations. The opinion aims at following-up on the European Commission's initiative on due diligence and broadening the debate on sustainable corporate governance interlinking the social, environmental and economic dimensions.
Europe is embarking on a transition towards climate neutrality and digital leadership. European businesses can lead the way as we enter this new age, as they has done in the past.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are essential to Europe’s competitiveness and prosperity. Based on the new SME Strategy, the EU will support SMEs by:
The EESC strongly supports the Commission's proposal – Next Generation EU – as a specific tool for a quick and effective recovery.
The EESC takes a very positive view of the Commission's two main decisions:
The EESC strongly welcomes the fact that the newly proposed instrument should be closely coordinated with the European Semester process, and furthermore welcomes the Commission's proposal to introduce additional genuine own resources based on different taxes (revenues from the EU Emissions Trading System, digital taxation, large companies' revenues).