In this opinion, the EESC presents its recommendations on the proposed EU Anti-Poverty Strategy. It explores the initiatives that social partners and civil society could undertake to better adapt policy frameworks for combating poverty, and how they can effectively address its root causes to decisively reduce poverty levels and ensure a sustained downward trend.
Ongoing (updated on 16/07/2025) - Bureau decision date: 23/01/2025
In this own-initiative opinion, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is addressing the growing disparities in healthcare access across the EU. These inequalities, exacerbated by inflation and the cost-of-living crisis, disproportionately affect vulnerable groups such as low-income households, people with disabilities, children, and older people. The opinion calls for urgent action to ensure equitable access to healthcare and long-term care, in line with the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR), and proposes concrete policy recommendations to strengthen healthcare systems and reduce barriers to care.
Ongoing (updated on 16/07/2025) - Bureau decision date: 25/03/2025
The EESC stresses that the success of the Union of skills depends on effective and cooperative governance, adequate financing, and inclusive representation of social partners, national authorities and other stakeholders, including civil society organisations, teachers and learners. This opinion points at the importance of tailored support for SMEs and for women and disadvantaged individuals. It calls for improving the quality, inclusiveness, attractiveness, effectiveness and accessibility of vocational education and training and adult learning, and to make Europe more attractive to global talent. It asks that recommendations on education and skills be fully integrated into the European Semester process.
Ongoing (updated on 16/07/2025) - Bureau decision date: 21/01/2025
The European Commission published a long-awaited European Water Resilience Strategy in June 2025. The strategy aims to restore and protect the water cycle, build a water-smart economy and safeguard access to clean water for all.
Ongoing (updated on 14/07/2025) - Bureau decision date: 25/02/2025
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 11/07/2025) - Bureau decision date: 23/01/2025
This opinion will examine how to support the competitiveness of European automotive manufacturers and the overall enabling conditions, including targeted financing, regulatory simplification, ensuring the availability of skilled workforce and how to improve its supply chain resilience. It will also examine how to make electric vehicle battery cells and components production in the EU cost-competitive in the short term. Finally, it will look at autonomous driving technologies and the regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles.
Ongoing (updated on 11/07/2025) - Bureau decision date: 27/02/2025
Download — EESC section opinion: Boosting sustainable growth and quality jobs in Euromed: promoting entrepreneurship and tapping the potential of women and young people
Pietro Vittorio BARBIERI (Civil Society Organisations - GR III/Italy), Peter SCHMIDT (Workers - GR II/Germany), Christa SCHWENG (Employers - GR I/Austria)
Plenary session number
598
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Download — EESC opinion: EU strategy to support, protect and empower civil society
