15/07/2020 30/09/2020
The EESC strongly defends the democratic right to vote, the right of free speech and the right of expression and has been following closely the developments after the presidential elections in Belarus.
As the voice of EU civil society, we strongly condemn the military and police repression of peaceful protesters. The multiple beating, use of tear gas, rubber bullets and sound grenades is completely shocking and in fact illegal.
13/08/2020
EESC President Luca Jahier sends letters of condolence and solidarity to Lebanon, addressing HE Mr Fadi Hajali, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary - Head of Mission (EU), Mission of the Lebanese Republic to the European Union and Mr Charles Arbid, President of the Economic and Social Council of Lebanon.
06/08/2020
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) urges EU Member States to intensify their coordination on tax matters at European and international level with a view to the digital and collaborative economy. A closer coordination of tax policies applicable to the new economic sector and devising instruments and working solutions could improve tax compliance, assure fair competition and tap the full potential of this new economic sector.
16/07/2020
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) says that completing key EU transport corridors is vital, but that obstacles persist at national level which could be largely overcome by involving civil society organisations early on.
20/07/2020
In this issue:
- The Grassroots View - Episode 8 : When the world of work comes tumbling down
- 'Dessine-moi...' - series of articles
- EESC to award Civil Solidarity Prize to projects fighting coronavirus in each Member State and the UK
28/07/2020
At its July plenary session, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted an opinion on the latest annual report issued by the European Commission on the implementation of free trade agreements (FTAs), covering 2018.
28/07/2020
The new, long-awaited, five-year strategy should be updated and implemented without delay, to help prevent any further erosion of gender equality caused by the pandemic
27/07/2020
The EESC will reward up to 29 solidarity initiatives undertaken in the EU and the United Kingdom to battle COVID-19 and cushion its devastating blows
15/07/2020
The COVID-19 crisis has created the conditions for circular products and services to become the norm in Europe, says the EESC. In a recent opinion on the new EU Circular Economy Action Plan, the EESC urges lawmakers to ensure the circular economy finds a place and resources in the overall "greenprint" for Europe's recovery.
24/07/2020
For the first time, we now have a real strategy that can help Europe re-assert its industrial sovereignty, says the EESC in its newly adopted opinion on the proposed
23/07/2020
After five days of tough negotiations, the EU has reached a deal to bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic. This is an unprecedented decision for volume, content and key elements of innovation. Europe, today, is stronger than ever.
22/07/2020
Biometric recognition for tracking, surveillance and detecting emotions should have no place in Europe's human-centric approach to Artificial Intelligence (AI), says the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in its response to the European Commission's White Paper on AI, adopted by the EESC plenary on 16 July.
23/07/2020
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This website is dedicated to the work the EESC, its members and the civil society organisations it represents have been doing to get through the crisis and prepare for the future.
“The EU must be guided by the principle of being considered a community of common destiny.”
Resolution based on the work of the Subcommittee on post-COVID-19 recovery and reconstruction, adopted by the European Economic and Social Committee on 11 June 2020
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Opinions in the spotlight
Reference:
ECO/523-EESC-2020-02886-00-00-AC-TRAThe 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:
Reference:
ECO/512-EESC-2020The EESC believes that there are well-founded reasons to establish uniform rules within the EU to combat global warming and based on these to embark on international discussions with other trading blocs. Furthermore, the Committee deems that, in the future, it could be useful and necessary to also devise new taxation measures that can supplement the current emissions trading system and national carbon taxes in order to achieve an effective and symmetrical policy framework to tackle the increasing amount of CO2 emissions.
Reference:
ECO/513-EESC-2020While the recovery after COVID-19 crisis is a top priority, the EESC stresses that this should not steer the EU away from its medium and long-term objectives, as outlined in the European Green Deal, 2020 Sustainable Growth Strategy, and the European Pillar for Social Rights. There is a need for a resilient, technology-driven European economy that is defined by the protection of the environment.
Reference:
ECO/509-EESC-2020-00995-00-00-AC-TRAWhile acknowledging the progress made by the Commission in taking account of smaller and less complex banking institutions in its recent regulatory measures, the EESC believes it would be useful to further increase the proportionality of banking rules, without sacrificing the effectiveness of prudential rules.
Reference:
ECO/500-EESC-2019-03060-00-00-AC-TRAReference:
NAT/784-EESC-2020-1431This EESC opinion will respond to the European Commission's proposal for a regulation on establishing a European Climate Law and it will look into the role of citizens in driving the transformation towards climate neutrality.
Reference:
NAT/785-EESC-2020-01432The opinion will provide guidance on how to build on existing structures like citizens' dialogues and assemblies, social dialogue committees in order to structure and mainstream the dialogue with civil society. It will also make recommendations about how to encourage information sharing and public understanding of climate action; how to create real and virtual spaces for exchange on climate and how to build capacity to facilitate grassroots initiatives, among others.
Work in progress