The rising cost of living has impacted competitiveness and social costs. Services of general interest (SGIs) can ensure access to essential services for a decent life and can mitigate the impact of inflation and crises due to their non-profit-driven spirit.
The EESC advocates greater scope for long-term investment in social infrastructure and emphasizes the importance of public investment in accessible and affordable housing.
Reducing fossil fuel subsidies can provide short-term support for vulnerable households and more durable solutions for decarbonised electricity and heating systems, renovations and access to affordable SGIs.
urges the European Commission to accelerate negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement, ensuring a Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) chapter with a structural role for civil society;
proposes to deepen security and defence ties, including joint Research & Development, space and dual-use projects, with a focus on SMEs;
recommends strengthening maritime security cooperation in the Western Indian Ocean;
suggests boosting cultural and academic exchanges, particularly university and student programmes;
advocates for enhanced collaboration in infrastructure, deep-water ports, airports, and energy connectivity;
encourages advancing cooperation within the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), with the EESC preparing a dedicated opinion on its prospects.
believes that trade policy must be closely coordinated with industrial policy and European economic security policy. This requires a common European foreign policy and security strategy;
believes that, in view of the current evolving circumstances, strong leadership is required and use of existing trade-defence tools if tariffs are imposed illegally, including retaliatory tariffs, economic diplomacy action, and WTO challenges;
proposes the establishment of an EU Investment Fund for Economic Resilience and Sustainable Competitiveness to boost financial capacity, alongside strengthening the European Investment Bank and completing the Banking and Capital Markets Unions;
stresses the importance of civil society's participation in trade negotiations through structured consultations to address critical concerns before agreements are finalized.
believes it is crucial to include persons with disabilities throughout the process of designing, developing, assessing and implementing new technologies and AI-based applications. This involvement is key to mitigating potential discriminatory risks;
invites the Member States and the EU to audit and evaluate to what extent AI applications are inclusive in critical fields;
believes further follow-up is required to protect persons with disabilities from the harmful application of supposedly limited risk systems, particularly in the field of employment and recruitment;
underlines the importance of ensuring the general accessibility of services and goods that apply new technologies and AI based solutions
recommends two conceptual adjustments to this impressive financial support package: a) increasing the share of grants from the current proportion of 16% to 35% and b) increasing the minimum share of the total loan amount to be allocated to investments from 25% to 35%;
suggests that the Plan should allocate enough investment in research and development (R&D) in order to support the transition to the new model of economic growth based on higher value added and productivity;
draws attention to the importance of calibrating the Plan to Moldova's local and regional development needs as an indispensable condition for balanced and sustainable development across the country;
considers that proper funding should be provided for creating and ensuring the proper functioning of the economic and social committee in the Republic of Moldova, in line with the formal request from the National Trade Union Confederation of Moldova, the Confederation of Employers and Civil Society Organisations.
FIrmly believes that relations between organised civil society in the EU and Kazakhstan can develop in a structured way on the basis of an Action Plan, with several priorities and in line with the objectives of the New EU Strategy for Central Asia;
Supports the development of civic and social dialogue in Central Asia and advocates for it to be formalised, along the lines of the good practices in relations with organised civil society of other regions, like the Western Balkans.
points out that further reductions in the regulatory burden are still required, given that SMEs are facing double and triple legislative requirements as a result of the additional wave of regulation and existing requirements, including in relation to the Green Deal;
highlights that reducing the regulatory burden must not jeopardise compliance with social, environmental and consumer safety rights and standards established at international and EU levels, or with the principle of transparency and the rule of law in the EU;
recommends creating an easy-to-use ‘single reporting tool’ that can provide SMEs, mid-caps and other companies with all EU-relevant reporting obligations, deadlines and sanctions; also recommends that the SME test and the competitiveness check should be merged into one procedure and that the Regulatory Scrutiny Board (RSB) should be significantly strengthened and made more independent.
emphasises the urgent need to enhance European competitiveness while maintaining sustainability and social cohesion. The EU must act decisively to stay competitive without compromising environmental sustainability, workers’ rights or regional balance. The EESC advocates for growth aligned with social and territorial cohesion;
calls for greater investment in key areas such as social infrastructure, digital transformation and energy transition. The EESC emphasises the need for substantial investments in modern infrastructure - education, research, digitalisation and renewables - to sustain Europe’s economic strength and competitiveness and tackle demographic, technological and climate challenges;
stresses the need for the EU to drive global economic transformation rather than just preserve past achievements. Europe is at a crossroads: it can either take a proactive role in global economic transformation or risk falling behind. The EESC therefore calls for the proactive adaptation of the single market, reduced reliance on non-EU supply chains and stronger strategic industries.
underscores the urgent need for a unified and robust EU defence funding mechanism to address geopolitical challenges, particularly the Russian aggression against Ukraine;
stresses the necessity of aligning EU defence policy with NATO strategies to ensure complementarity and interoperability in security operations;
calls for enhanced joint procurement mechanisms, including the European Peace Facility (EPF), to optimise resource efficiency and operational readiness;
