The aim of the opinion is to draw attention to the impact of the non-Schengen status of Bulgaria and Romania and neighbouring EU-countries on the Single Market, to assess the impact of non-Schengen membership on the competitiveness of these countries and the potential costs/benefits of Schengen for them, and to propose recommendations for policy-makers on how to address the negative effects of non-Schengen on the Single Market.
Download — EESC section opinion: The cost of non-Schengen for the Single market – impact on Bulgaria and Romania
Securitisation is the process of transforming a batch of debts into a marketable security, that is backed by the original debts. This process can increase the availability of credit, increasing investment and supporting economic growth in a way that increases competitiveness and improves labour market.
This own-initiative opinion will present a thorough description of the challenges and opportunities that come with securitisation, and provide concrete policy proposals for a possible future revision of the securitisation regulation.
Download — EESC section opinion: Review of the legal framework for securitisation in the EU
The proposed opinion aims to convey the central role of professional services in the green supply chain, focusing on their strategic integration and synergy with the manufacturing industry.
Download — EESC section opinion: Professional services in the green transition
Confronted with increasing instability, increased strategic competition and growing security threats, the EU committed to taking greater responsibility for its security and to taking further decisive action to build open European sovereignty, reduce its dependencies and develop a new growth and investment model for 2030 and beyond.
The Territorial Agenda (TA) 2030 is an inter-governmental declaration with no direct legal, financial or institutional implementation instrument. The application of the Territorial Agenda 2030 relies on informal multilevel cooperation between Member States, sub-national authorities, the European Commission, the European Parliament, the European Committee of the Regions, the European Economic and Social Committee, the European Investment Bank and other relevant players.
Download — Revision of the Territorial Agenda 2030 - Towards a more integrated and civic approach with stronger links with the cohesion policy
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, health has become a central topic on the geopolitical stage. The EU Global Health Strategy, launched at the end of 2022, shows the political path forward, guiding the EU’s role in advancing health for all beyond 2023. This own-initiative opinion will examine four key dimensions: strategic autonomy in health; structural trends in health and related sectors; health coordination; and security, defence and the mitigation of major shocks.
Download — EESC section opinion: Industrial changes in the health sector in the face of multiplying crises
To meet the EU objective of climate neutrality by 2050 and to secure a sustainable, affordable and reliable/secure energy system, a low-carbon transition of the industrial value chain is needed. To succeed, a coordinated set of sectoral industrial strategies under the comprehensive EU Industrial Strategy is needed, to safeguard the EU industrial competitiveness. The recent launch by the Commission of dedicated Strategies for e.g., the Electric Batteries, Hydrogen and Critical Raw Materials, proves forward-thinking about the importance of sectoral support for the low carbon transition. However, what is striking is the lack of a Liquid Fuels Strategy, dedicated to the transition from fossil to renewable liquid fuels, for an accelerated, affordable and resilient decarbonisation of all transport modes.
Ongoing (updated on 06/11/2024) - Bureau decision date: 22/10/2024
This Own-Initiative Opinion is proposed by the Group on Fundamental Rights and the Rule of Law (FRRL).
Violence against women is the ultimate expression of discrimination against women. It represents a control mechanism that stems from inequality between women and men while at the same time reinforcing and perpetuating this inequality. Not only does this undermine equal coexistence between men and women, it also constitutes an attack on the values and principles enshrined in Article 2 of the TEU. In the 2023 State of the Union address, Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen stressed that "there can be no true equality without freedom from violence".
Ongoing (updated on 04/11/2024) - Bureau decision date: 24/10/2024
In view of Europe's current security challenges, in particular: with the armed conflict caused by Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine, defence funding places a significant burden on the budgets of many EU Member States, worsening their fiscal position.
At the same time, the resources that Member States are currently able to allocate to the development of defence capabilities still seem to be insufficient.
As Europe needs to develop defence capabilities in a more integrated way, there is a need to significantly increase investment in European defence infrastructure and technological innovation to improve preparedness to respond to threats.
Ongoing (updated on 03/11/2024) - Bureau decision date: 17/09/2024
In 2021 the European Commission announced the revision of the Council Directive 2011/64/EU on the excise rules for tobacco. In the inception impact assessment, the EC stated that there are areas of weakness and ambiguity in the current legal arrangements which give rise to market distortions, legal uncertainty and can also hinder the detection and prevention of fraud. The review will ensure that the rules remain fit for the purpose and improve the proper functioning of the internal market, and a high level of health protection. The policy changes focus on:
Ongoing (updated on 28/10/2024) - Bureau decision date: 15/02/2024
The recommendations of this EESC own-initiative opinion focus on ensuring a more competitive and economically, environmentally and socially sustainable European maritime space to increase the global competitiveness of the EU shipping sector. This can be achieved through broader investment policies and legislative initiatives. The social partners and civil society must be actively involved in these efforts.
Ongoing (updated on 28/10/2024) - Bureau decision date: 17/09/2024
The future Polish Presidency has asked the EESC to develop an exploratory opinion, as deepening the integration of the services sector in the EU is one of the planned priorities of this Presidency; therefore the opinion could be useful in the context of the discussions foreseen at the COMPET Council on 6 March 2025. As the single market for services is still incomplete - even after the 30th anniversary of the single market itself - the opinion aims at providing a diagnosis of this issue and an analysis of the significant untapped potential of this sector.
Ongoing (updated on 28/10/2024) - Bureau decision date: 22/10/2024
