About: EESC
Holistic farm policies needed to keep focus on SDGs argues EESC’s Peter Schmidt
Est. 7minGovernments are shifting their priorities away from Sustainable Development Goals, but the EESC’s Peter Schmidt argues for a holistic approach, designing policies that can help farmers and citizens transition to a more sustainable way of producing and consuming.
Combatting energy poverty needs local community engagement, says EESC
Est. 6minFor many Europeans, flipping a light switch or turning the faucet for warm water is an unremarkable action, yet around 42 million people across Europe could not warm their homes effectively, the EESC is demanding more action.
Candidate countries must sync and blend with the EU, argues EESC’s Dimitris Dimitriadis
Est. 7minTo catch the enlargement train, EU candidate countries must run simultaneously with the European Union, argues the EESC’s Dimitris Dimitriadis. He says responsibility for an increasing Western Balkans' disillusionment with the EU is shared.
EESC deploys learning curve engagement for EU candidate countries
Est. 5minThe European, Economic and Social Committee has taken a unique approach to enlargement, using a future-proofing strategy to engage with EU candidate countries through a pilot initiative to include them in policy development discussions.
Frontline and facing forward, the EESC’s next generation strategy
Est. 1min2024 brings a new European Union mandate and a multitude of challenges. The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) plans to be increasingly visible and relevant as the EU navigates climate and technological change, and new employment challenges.
Oliver Röpke’s big tent approach in his first year as EESC president
Est. 6minAfter one year in office, the launch of a bold manifesto including the voices of youth, an emphasis on gender equality, and a fresh approach to enlargement, Oliver Röpke, President of the EESC is making waves with a Blue Deal.
Enlargement is a logical step forward for democracy in Europe
Est. 4minGradually integrating civil society from candidate countries into the EU will give them the ability to become as strong as they should be by the time of accession, write Oliver Röpke, Milojko Spajić and Edi Rama.
Commission’s late payments proposal misses its target
Est. 5minThe EU's proposed rules on late payments will deprive SMEs of the flexibility they require from their business partners, argues Alena Mastantuono.
EESC seeks permanent youth participation
Est. 4minRead this article in Romanian. Young people’s voices should have a permanent role when considering legislation, the President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) Oliver Röpke told Euractiv in an interview, adding that youth participation should …
Poorer EU regions look to citizens to finance the green transition
Est. 4minDeprived EU regions are looking at innovative solutions like crowdfunding and citizen-led energy communities to finance the transition to a net-zero economy.
EU could experiment with a participatory budget, experts say
Est. 4minExperts and lawmakers are making a case for a co-decision process allowing European citizens to have a voice in deciding how the EU budget is allocated, which could strengthen citizen participation and drive sustainable economic growth models across member states.
EU minimum wage directive gets final stamp of approval
Est. 5minEU ministers approved the directive on adequate minimum wages on Tuesday (4 October), starting the two-year implementation process for member states. Meanwhile, trade unions argue for faster implementation due to the cost of living crisis.
EU advisory body backs Ukraine candidate status, flags Balkans
Est. 2minUnconditional candidate status must be given to Ukraine without jeopardising the ongoing accession process of Western Balkans countries, a European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) resolution approved on Thursday (16 June) stated.
Employers’ representative: EU needs competitiveness check, not minimum wage directive
Est. 5minAn EU directive on minimum wages "risks undermining collective bargaining and adding up complexities to the recovery and the resilience of the EU economy", Stefano Mallia, who represents employers in the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), told EURACTIV.
EESC: initiating CoFoE recommendations screening process is crucial
Est. 6minA “dashboard” to follow-up citizens' recommendations must be created, so the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) does not fail its goal of including citizens in EU policymaking, Christa Scweng told EURACTIV.
Workers’ groups seek to influence Green Deal
Est. 3minThe workers’ groups of the European Economic and Social Committee have seized upon the term “just transition” in a bid to insert their aims for workers’ co-determination into the Commission’s flagship policy, the European Green Deal.
Momentum for Social Europe
Est. 6minEU minimum wage legislation can help drive much-needed momentum for social policy reform, writes Oliver Röpke.
EU companies ready to take on twin green, digital transitions
Est. 5minEU employers are ready to switch gear and accelerate the roll-out of the green and digital transitions, writes Stefano Mallia.
New EESC President: ‘Jobs do not fall from the sky’
Est. 6minChrista Schweng has served as the President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) since October. She has a vision, but first Europe must get through the coronavirus crisis, protecting both jobs and people.
Europe needs a new governance mechanism for sustainability
Est. 5minThe European Union unveiled a strategy last week to become the world's first climate neutral economy by 2050, generating a positive momentum ahead of the COP24 in Katowice, writes Luca Jahier.
Greek minister: Refugees are the modern Jews, scapegoats of the crisis
Est. 4minRefugees and immigrants have become modern-day scapegoats for demagogues, who are turning a blind eye to the real causes of the crisis - rising inequalities, according to Greece's Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Georgios Katrougalos. EURACTIV.com reports from Athens.
Civil Protection needs more and targeted EU involvement
Est. 4minClimate change has been described as one of the biggest global threats of the 21st century. Dimitris Dimitriadis explains what the European Union needs to do to improve its civil protection capacities.
Oettinger names and shames member states on long-term EU budget cuts
Est. 5minSweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Finland…. The EU's Budget Commissioner Günter Oettinger did not hesitate to point the finger at countries reluctant to increase their contributions to the EU's next seven-year budget during a speech on Wednesday (19 September).
EESC president: MFF proposal is ‘not ambitious enough’
Est. 5minThe European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) will discuss on Wednesday (19 September) the next multi-annual financial framework (MFF) with budget commissioner Günter Oettinger. EESC President Luca Jahier told EURACTIV.com that the long-term budget for 2021-2027 should be increased to 1.3% of EU’s GDP.