In the political guidelines of the new Commission, it was announced that the EEAS and the European Commission are working on a White Paper on the Future of European Defence, expected in the first 100 days of the mandate. The objective of the White Paper is to frame the new approach on defence and identify our investment needs.
Defence budgets are still predominantly spent on a national basis. A fraction of equipment spending in Europe is devoted to EU joint procurement. And the vast majority of defence acquisitions by Member States are still made from outside Europe.
Ongoing (updated on 02/04/2025) - Bureau decision date: 21/01/2025
Europe’s energy system is increasingly unbalanced due to intermittent renewable sources like wind and solar, often relying on fossil fuels for stability. Achieving balance is key for energy reliability, climate goals, economic growth, and technological innovation. This opinion explores how Member States can integrate renewables while ensuring system stability and advancing decarbonisation, focusing on managing intermittent energy effectively.
Ongoing (updated on 31/03/2025) - Bureau decision date: 23/01/2025
Administrator / Assistant in charge: Marco RISTORI / Elisabete DIAS
Background Information
Over the past decades, open trade policies fostered growth, reduced poverty, and helped keep prices affordable. Today, however, heightened geopolitical tensions, the drive for green and digital transitions, and the quest for economic security risk undermining these gains.
Ongoing (updated on 31/03/2025) - Bureau decision date: 23/01/2025
This opinion intends to discuss the relationship between water resilience, digitalisation and the green transition. It aims to propose recommendations to address the different challenges involving water, digitalisation and decarbonisation from an industrial perspective.
Ongoing (updated on 31/03/2025) - Bureau decision date: 25/03/2025
Elena-Alexandra CALISTRU (Civil Society Organisations - GR III/Romania), Konstantinos DIAMANTOUROS (Employers - GR I/Greece), Stefano PALMIERI (Workers - GR II/Italy)
Plenary session number
596
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Ongoing (updated on 28/03/2025) - Bureau decision date: 27/02/2025
Dominika BIEGON (Workers - GR II/Germany), Antonio GARCÍA DEL RIEGO (Employers - GR I/Spain), Giuseppe GUERINI (Civil Society Organisations - GR III/Italy)
Plenary session number
596
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The European Parliament has requested the EESC to draft an opinion on sustaining and financing investments. More specifically, on the expectations, concerns, and needs of civil society. We will deliver our views and policy recommendations on the further integration of EU capital markets, the Banking Union, and on public support to boost private investment.
This opinion is in the context of the own-initiative procedure of the European Parliament on Facilitating the financing of investments and reforms to boost European competitiveness and creating a Capital Markets Union (Draghi Report).
Ongoing (updated on 24/03/2025) - Bureau decision date: 23/01/2025
As emphasised in the Letta and Draghi reports, the two main challenges of EU R&I policy are: i) reversing the declining productivity of the EU economy and closing the competitiveness gap with other global scientific and economic powers; and ii) reducing the fragmentation of the European research area to allow for the free circulation of scientific knowledge, research and innovation referred as the ‘fifth freedom’ in the Letta report.
In early 2026, the Commission is expected to publish the European Research Area Act (ERA Act). EESC’s input through this own-initiative opinion (OIO) is intended to shape the ERA Act, ensuring that it supports a vibrant ecosystem for innovation and digital transformation, and aligns with these strategic visions.
Ongoing (updated on 24/03/2025) - Bureau decision date: 27/02/2025
