Press Summaries

In the opinion, the EESC's ECO section

• backs the Commission's proposal for a HOT system for MSMEs. It aligns with enhancing their competitiveness, simplifying cross-border activities, and cutting administrative hurdles;

• recognises that adopting the HOT system will add value to businesses, employees, and Member States. The EESC stresses the urgency in adopting it promptly to reduce administrative burdens and promote competitiveness for small business;

• believes HOT will improve cooperation between tax authorities in Member States. After adoption, the Commission should quickly start working closely with Member States and MSME organisations to raise awareness and achieve goals like reducing regulations and boosting cross-border activity;

In the opinion, the EESC:

1. Calls for comprehensive, cross-sectoral strategies to tackle rural challenges like depopulation and inadequate services. It emphasizes employing rural proofing and the EU Youth Test in EU policies to diminish rural-urban inequalities, fostering equal access to services, infrastructure, and opportunities, thereby enhancing rural appeal for young people
2. Calls for inclusive pathways for generational renewal, promoting intergenerational cooperation and governance. Advocates meaningful engagement of young people in decision-making across all stages and levels. Highlights the importance of initiatives such as the Rural Pact, Erasmus+, and the European Solidarity Corps to empower the youth.
3. Emphasizes the need for quality employment, education access, entrepreneurship support, and land access for youth in rural areas.

In the opinion, the EESC:

1. suggests enhancing the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2027. This involves integrating counter-cyclical elements, aligning CAP instruments with rapidly changing market conditions, and advocating for improved risk management tools in National CAP Strategic Plans
2. proposes the standardization of contract laws and practices across the food supply chain. This initiative aims to ensure consistency and efficiency among EU Member States, with contracts reflecting the dynamic production costs in primary agriculture. (more)

The EESC points out that:

• The energy infrastructure, like infrastructure for transporting and distributing energy, cannot be treated like any other commodity and must instead be classified as a service of general interest for the economy and the population.
• Particular attention should be paid to defining grid development, including cross-borders interconnections, both onshore and offshore, as critical infrastructure of an overriding public interest, including climate protection as a regulatory objective and, more generally, synchronising the planning of renewable energies and the electricity grid more effectively.
• Recognising the rising demand, it is particular important that substantial investments are made in electricity networks to stimulate the European economy and create high-quality (green) jobs.

In the opinion, the EESC:

• recommends extending the scope of the European Disability Card so that a person with a disability who has moved to another Member State to study or work can use it, on a temporary basis, to receive benefits linked to social policies or national social security systems;

• asks that the law state clearly that this Card should be free of charge and that those entitled be able to choose whether they want to use it;

• suggests setting up an EU-wide, fully accessible website. The website should have an easy-to-read version, be available in all EU languages including sign languages, and provide practical information for every country.

In the opinion, the EESC:

• advocates designing an EU homelessness strategy which fully incorporates EPOCH. National policies combating homelessness could then be factored into the European Semester exercise. To support the strategy, the Council should adopt a recommendation on homelessness. In this regard, the EESC calls on the future Belgian presidency of the Council of the EU to start work on a recommendation;
• is in favour of actively promoting the "Housing First" principle to address chronic homelessness;
• urges Member States to live up to their commitment and make substantial progress towards ending homelessness by 2030, emphasising the need for ambitious and achievable milestones.

In the opinion, the EESC:

• believes that the proposal could have positive effects on the harmonisation of laws on the protection of persons with disabilities and vulnerable persons, but believes that reference should be made to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) rather than to the Hague Convention;
• considers that, where the adoption of a legal measure against a person with a disability or a vulnerable person clearly violates human rights and international law, a Member State should be obliged not to recognise such a measure;
• calls for the term "vulnerable adults" to be changed to "adults with disabilities and vulnerabilities" and for monitoring to start three years (instead of ten) after the adoption of the proposal.

In the opinion, the EESC:

• calls for the development of a comprehensive EU political and social strategy that would boost the EU's capacity to respond in a proactive rather than reactive manner to climate emergencies;
• recommends highlighting the social aspects of the just transition, with an emphasis on children and intergenerational justice, and supplementing initiatives such as the EU Social Climate Fund and the EU Climate Adjustment Fund with additional instruments
• stresses the need to provide vulnerable groups with opportunities to acquire skills that are valuable in the green economy and that can prevent energy poverty.