A Blueprint for a European Green and Social Deal, based on a wellbeing economy

Key points

The EESC:

• stresses that the European Green Deal should adopt a wider societal perspective and be reinforced to foster a wellbeing economy serving both people and the planet. We need to move beyond a GDP-based growth economy and advocate for a comprehensive policy framework supporting a sustainable economy aimed at societal wellbeing and the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement and the Biodiversity Plan.
• believes that to achieve a wellbeing economy, the public budgets for investments in key policy areas associated with the green and just transition, such as education, social protection and healthcare, will have to be ensured maintaining a balanced approach between higher public investments and fiscal sustainability, so as to avoid austerity measures;
• underlines the need to attract more public and private investment by both the EU and Member States to fund the transition. Mechanisms to increase the budgets may include tackling tax evasion, improving tax collection, putting an immediate stop to existing environmentally harmful subsidies and avoiding new ones, reforming existing subsidies, raising tax on fossil fuels, promotion of higher taxes on the wealthiest 1% of the world population, and enhancing sustainable economic activity which generates resources.
• believes that it is necessary to accelerate the conditions for an encouraging investment environment, provide access to clean affordable energy, offer new technological solutions contributing to a net-zero economy and put in place sufficient technical and financial support and safety nets for the Member States, the companies in the affected sectors, individuals and civil society organisations that will have to implement the rules;
• believes that there should be universal, affordable access to education, healthcare, social protection and housing. Basic resources such as sustainably produced food, clean water and energy should be provided in a way so as to enable everyone to lead sustainable lifestyles.
• considers that civil society participation should be stepped up in a meaningful and inclusive way, especially taking into account underrepresented groups such as young people, women, migrants and people with disabilities. This can be achieved by improving access to funding for civil society organisations, encouraging bottom-up civic participation and strengthening social dialogue.
• calls the European Commission to appoint a Commissioner for Future Generations.