EESC to host debate with president António Costa on upcoming presidency of European Council

4-5 December 2024 -  European Commission - Charlemagne building (Alcide De Gasperi room)

 Web stream click here 

AGENDA

Debates

Wednesday, 4 December 2024 at 15:00

  • Priorities of the upcoming presidency of the European Council: presentation and exchange of views, with António Costa, President of the European Council

Wednesday, 4 December 2024 at 16:30

  • Democracy in Africa with Khalid Boudali,Presiding Officer of the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), Louis Cheick Sissoko, Chair of the ECOSOCC Cluster on Political Affairs and Brenda Brewer Moore, Deputy Presiding Officer for West Africa at the African Union's ECOSOCC, linked to the adoption of the opinion REX/584 Democracy in Africa – current situation and future perspectives. What role for the EESC?

Thursday, 5 December 2024 at 9:00

  • Debate on International Day of Persons with Disabilities and celebration of the Olympic spirit, with Joachim Gérard, Belgian athlete and Anne d'Ieteren, president of the Ligue Handisport Francophone

Thursday, 5 December 2024 at 11:30

  • EESC Housing Forum linked to the adoption of the opinion TEN/841 Social housing in the EU – decent, sustainable and affordable

Opinions in the spotlight

HOUSING

Social housing in the EU - decent, sustainable and affordable (TEN/841, rapporteur: Thomas Kattnig (AT-II); co-rapporteur: Rudolf Kolbe (AT-III))

The EESC believes that there has been a market failure in housing and this must be tackled by improving framework conditions like data, coordination, approval procedures and land use planning rules. The Committee welcomes the appointment of a new Commissioner for Housing and calls on the Commission to recognise social housing as an essential and promising tool of active housing policies. In the medium term, the fundamental right to affordable, decent housing for everyone should be enshrined in EU primary law. More

 

SINGLE MARKET

The cost of non-Schengen for the Single market – impact on Bulgaria and Romania (INT/1064, rapporteur: Mariya Mincheva (BG-I))

The EESC calls on the Council to set a date for lifting land borders controls between Bulgaria and Romania and the other Schengen countries still this year. It warns that their partial membership in Schengen costs Bulgaria and Romania billions of euros but this lack of full EU integration also has an adverse overall effect on EU competitiveness and economic growth. More

 

ENVIRONMENT 

Towards a just transition legislative proposal and EU policy tools that enable a more social European Green Deal (NAT/933, rapporteur: Dirk Bergrath (DE-II))

The EESC's own initiative opinion highlights the importance of a just transition in the EU, aligning with the European Commission's 2024-2029 priorities. It proposes a comprehensive policy package for the workforce, focusing on skills development, social dialogue, and worker participation. Key recommendations include mapping skill needs, offering compensated training, incentivising company upskilling, and scaling up funding through the just transition fund and social climate fund. More

 

INDUSTRY

Sector-specific industrial policies supporting greater strategic autonomy (CCMI/233, rapporteur: Alain Coheur (BE-III); co-rapporteur: Antonello Pezzini (IT))
The opinion highlights the urgent need to address the decline of the metallurgical industry to protect the EU’s strategic autonomy and industrial future, including sectors like rail, nuclear, automotive, and defence. It calls for an Industrial Deal to complement the Green Deal and Circular Economy Action Plan. Key topics include reindustrialising abandoned regions to create high-quality local jobs, strengthening industrial alliances in metals through important projects of common European interest (IPCEIs), and supporting strategic sectors such as chemicals, metallurgy, and cybersecurity. More

Industrial changes in the health sector in the face of multiplying crises (CCMI/235, rapporteur: Florian Marin (RO-II); co-rapporteur: Antonello Pezzini (IT))
The opinion stresses the growing importance of health on the geopolitical stage since the COVID-19 pandemic. While health is a national competence, the EU has shown it can play a strong supporting role. The opinion focuses on reducing strategic dependencies on pharmaceutical ingredients, addressing health inequalities, and improving working conditions for healthcare workers. It also highlights the need for better coordination of global health policies and investments, and for strengthening resilience against risks such as bioterrorism and climate-related shocks. More

 

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

Democracy in Africa-current situation and future perspectives. What role for the EESC? (REX/584, rapporteur: Carlos Manuel Trindade (PT-II))

The opinion explores the state of democracy in Africa and the role that the recently signed Samoa agreement can play in strengthening democracy and democratic values in the region. More

Water Politics: Empowering Youth, Women, and Indigenous and Local Communities (REX/585, rapporteur: Milena Angelova (BG-I); co-rapporteur: Ioannis Vardakastanis (GR-III))

Following up on the EESC opinion on blue diplomacy, this opinion zooms in on young people, women, and indigenous and local communities (including migrants and people with disabilities), as these population groups are some of the most vulnerable to water stress. More 

 

ECONOMY

Revision of the Territorial Agenda 2030 – Towards a more integrated and civic approach with stronger links with the cohesion policy (ECO/640, rapporteur: Stefano Palmieri (IT-II))

The EESC highlights the Territorial Agenda 2030 as key to promoting territorial cohesion and addressing regional challenges. It calls for stronger alignment with cohesion policy, climate action, demographic adaptation, and participatory governance. Recommendations include upgrading infrastructure, bridging the digital divide, fostering rural-urban partnerships, and enhancing local governance through capacity building and transparency. The EESC emphasises inclusivity, ensuring all social groups are represented, and urges integrated approaches to create sustainable, resilient, and equitable regions. More

Review of the legal framework for securitisation in the EU (ECO/644, rapporteur: Philip Von Brockdorff (MT-II); co-rapporteur Antonio García Del Riego (ES-I))

The EESC sees securitisation as a tool to boost investment, credit access, and the capital markets union (CMU). It recommends supporting the green transition, enhancing market infrastructure, harmonising regulations, and streamlining processes to attract investors while ensuring financial stability. Reforms should focus on increasing funding for households, businesses, and economic growth. More

For more information, please contact:

EESC Press Unit - E-mail: press@eesc.europa.eu - Tel: + 32 2 546 9793

@EESC_PRESS