a ban on products that cannot be repaired, rather than a mere obligation for producers to inform consumers when a product cannot be repaired;
more incentives to opt for repair. There are a number of simple ways to encourage repair: for instance, getting a product repaired during its warranty period could lead to this period being extended;
launching a retraining programme. Professions have changed considerably and mechanics-based repairs have become mostly connections-based ones;
innovative solutions such as 3D printing or refurbishing, which the Commission has excluded from the proposal.
Underlines that in crisis management, it is crucial to respond promptly. To achieve this, the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) team, in collaboration with national agencies, should appoint a single authority responsible for managing each crisis. This authority will make decisions regarding the effective allocation and deployment of available forces,
Believes that to improve the operational capacity of the mechanism, it is important to expand pre-positioning beyond firefighting in all stages of civil protection (prevention, preparedness, and response). This expansion should be seen as a catalyst for enhancing operational capacity.
Underlines that a new governance for food policies is needed given the urgency of the food system crisis and the need for rapid behavioural change,
Believes that the European Food Policy Council, a form of a science-based and multi-stakeholder platform, will improve the food policymaking by promoting integration, participation, and alignment across EU, national, and local levels,
Is also ready to provide a convening space for the European Food Policy Council, following the successful model of the circular economy stakeholders platform.
The EESC calls for equal treatment of young people in the labour market and advocates they are entitled to the same minimum wage as older workers under equal pay principle;
recommends that traineeships should offer good adequate working conditions but should not be used as a substitute for regular jobs or a precondition for a job placement;
supports greater integration of the European Youth Test, which evaluates the effects of new policies on young people, into mainstream practices.
emphasises that the designing of proposals for new sources of own revenues should be done in context of the budgetary pressures faced by Member States following the pandemic and the ongoing international tensions. This has become all the more important in the current higher interest rate environment;
urges the Commission to develop the proposals concerning Business in Europe: Framework for Income Taxation (BEFIT) as soon as possible and asks for more refined estimation of the potential additional revenues linked to its implementation and deems it reasonable to explore the possibility of including financial services within BEFIT or of developing a global financial transaction tax (FTT);
points out that the fundamental aspect of European integration – freedom of movement – needs to be ensured for all in the EU, while focusing on a long-term and holistic approach to regional development and labour market integration;
stresses that in order to better address the labour and skills shortages, long-term solutions are needed to support regional development, such as better infrastructure, sustainable resources, improved job quality, effective support to those not in employment, education, or training;
calls on the Commission and Member States to put in place cohesion policies and EU funds to support the shaping of labour market transitions in a way that no worker or region is left behind;
believes it is relevant to address disparities between the various MRS, especially with regard to the regions most disadvantaged, to prevent turning economic competitiveness and social cohesion into something problematic that will lead to bigger gaps between regions that are more "developed" and those that are less so;
proposes establishing a system for the short- and medium-duration exchange of civil servants between the regions of the MRS, similar to the Erasmus programme;
proposes organising forums with the representatives of civil society and social partners in MRS Member States;
The EESC undertakes to support and take part in a high-level declaration on eliminating HIV-related stigma and discrimination in Europe, to be issued by the European institutions;
considers it essential to promote awareness-raising, training and information actions with the aim of overcoming stigma, discrimination and false stereotypes;
calls for a more ambitious new target for all countries to be achieved by 2030, improving coverage levels to as high as 95% for testing, treatment and virological suppression.
The EESC agrees with the proposal to add a social progress protocol (SPP) to the Treaties. The SPP would prioritise fundamental social rights over economic freedoms in the event of conflict and in EU policies;
encourages the Spanish presidency to convene a meeting of the Council of Social Affairs Ministers that would agree on a joint proposal and enable a specific EU summit to be held to adopt it;
It is convinced that an SPP will enable the EU to be a leader when it comes to economic growth, the well-being of its citizens, and robust and sustainable businesses.
