26-27 February 2025
26 February, 2.30 p.m. | 27 February, 9.00 a.m.
European Commission – Charlemagne building (Alcide De Gasperi room)
Web stream click here
AGENDA
Debates
- Wednesday, 26 February 2025 at 15:00
EU competitiveness, single market and regulatory simplification, with Maria Luís Albuquerque, European Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union and Michal Baranowski, Polish Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Economic and Technology, linked to the adoption of opinion INT/1070 – Assessment of the Letta and Draghi reports on the functioning and competitiveness of the EU’s Single Market and the adoption of opinion INT/1075 – The competitiveness of the EU’s small and medium-sized enterprises in light of new administrative burdens/obligations
- Wednesday, 26 February 2025 at 16:30
High-level forum on Women’s rights, with Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, linked to the adoption of opinion SOC/798 – Violence against women as a human rights issue: state of play of measures across the EU, and the adoption of SOC/821 – EESC contribution to the EU’s priorities at the UNCSW69 and to the EESC’s participation in the 69th UN Commission on the Status of Women
- Thursday, 27 February 2025 at 9:00
Presentation of the priorities of the Polish presidency of the Council of the European Union, with Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka, Polish Undersecretary of State, European Union Affairs Division
- Thursday, 27 February 2025 at 10:30
The EU and Civil Society: Strengthening Democracy and Participation, with Michał Wawrykiewicz and Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Members of the European Parliament, Carlotta Besozzi, Director of Civil Society Europe, Brikena Xhomaqi, Co-Chair of the Liaison Group, Andi Dobrushi, Director of Open Society Foundations Western Balkans, Nicholas Aiossa, Director Transparency International Europe, Faustine Bas-Deffossez, Policy Director of the European Environmental Bureau
Opinions in the spotlight
SINGLE MARKET
Assessment of the Letta and Draghi reports on the functioning and the competitiveness of the EU’s single market (INT/1070, rapporteurs: Matteo Carlo Borsani (IT-I), Giuseppe Guerini (IT-III), Stefano Palmieri (IT-II)
The EESC agrees with the Draghi and Letta reports on the need to act urgently to increase the competitiveness of the European economy, while maintaining environmental sustainability and social cohesion. The EESC calls for greater investment in social infrastructure, digital transformation and energy transition, to sustain Europe’s economic strength and competitiveness. More
The competitiveness of the EU’s small and medium-sized enterprises in light of new administrative burdens/obligations (INT/1075, rapporteur: Paul Rübig (AT-I))
In the EESC’s view, despite past EU initiatives in this regard, further efforts are needed to reduce regulatory burdens on businesses, as SMEs face overlapping legislative requirements, particularly due to new Green Deal regulations. However, reducing these burdens must not compromise social, environmental, and consumer safety standards at EU and international levels, nor undermine transparency and the rule of law. More
SOCIAL AFFAIRS
Violence against women as a human rights issue: state of play of measures across the EU (SOC/798, rapporteur: José Antonio Moreno Díaz (ES-II), co-rapporteur: Dovilė Juodkaitė (LT-III))
The EESC believes that violence against women must be dealt with most urgently and calls for the ratification of the ILO’s Convention 190 on violence and harassment and of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the Istanbul Convention). According to the Committee, the Directive 2024/1385/EU on combating violence against women and domestic violence should address all forms of violence against women that have not already been included. More
EESC contribution to the EU’s priorities at the UNCSW69 (SOC/821, rapporteur: Maria Nikolopoulou (ES–II))
This own-initiative opinion proposal, proposed together with the EESC Equality Group, aims to prepare the EESC priorities to the upcoming 69th meeting of the United Nations Commission on the Statute of Women (UNCSW69) taking place from 10 to 21 March 2025. More
TRANSPORT
The physical completion of EU’s internal market in the new geopolitical situation (TEN/845, rapporteur: Päivi Wood (FI-I))
The EESC believes that it is key to improve the resilience and reliability of transport systems and highlights the need for a proper analysis on the consequences of crisis for all transport modes. In the next MFF, it is imperative to allocate an appropriate level of funding to investment in the development and maintenance of transport infrastructure in a well-targeted manner, starting with the objective of completing the TEN-T Core Network by 2030. More
INDUSTRY
The future of EU industry in the face of high energy prices and transition costs (INT/1074, rapporteur Andrea Mone (IT-II))
The EESC urges swift action to develop a comprehensive industrial strategy that ensures competitiveness and quality jobs while aligning with Green Deal goals through monitoring and adjustments. It calls for a better economic and regulatory framework to tackle EU’s structural competitiveness challenges, such as high energy costs, investment burdens, skills shortages and an incomplete single market. More
TOURISM
Tourism in the EU: sustainability as a driver for long-term competitiveness (INT/1059, rapporteur: Isabel Yglesias (ES-I))
The EESC stresses the need to accelerate the shift to sustainable tourism and implement regenerative strategies, enabling tourism-focused regions to fully contribute to boosting EU competitiveness. Unlike sustainability, regenerative tourism actively restores natural, social, and economic resources for lasting positive impact. The EESC also recommends that the new EU legislative cycle promote tourism policies with regeneration goals, recognising the interconnectedness of ecosystems, communities, local economies, and visitors. More
AGRICULTURE
Ensuring sustainable food production and a fair income for European farmers in the face of market, environmental and climate challenges (NAT/939, rapporteurs: Joe Healy (IE-III), Piroska Kállay (HU-II), Arnold Puech d’Alissac (FR-I))
The EESC calls for stronger CAP tools to support crisis-hit farmers, urging public insurance, mutual funds, and fair trade protections. It backs a 0.5% EU GDP CAP budget, opposes below-cost selling, and stresses sustainable, high-quality food production. Ensuring farmer resilience requires fair policies, financial support, and balanced market measures. More
ECONOMY
Strengthening the results orientation of post-2027 cohesion policy – challenges, risks and opportunities (ECO/654, rapporteur: David Sventek (CZ-I), co-rapporteur: Florian Marin (RO-II))
The EESC supports the continuation and modernisation of EU cohesion policy to enhance regional resilience and sustainable competitiveness. It calls for maintaining and increasing funding in the 2028+ MFF while ensuring inclusivity, efficiency, and transparency. Key priorities include strengthening partnerships, simplifying processes, and adopting a results-based approach. The policy must address geopolitical challenges, social investments, and demographic issues while supporting a just transition and reducing inequalities. More
2025 European Semester – Autumn package (ECO/657, rapporteur: Petru Sorin Dandea (RO-II))
The EESC criticises the EU Commission’s failure to publish the Annual Sustainable Growth Survey amid global uncertainties. It urges stronger cooperation, investment, and regulatory reforms to boost competitiveness, energy efficiency, and digital transformation. The Committee calls for better civil society engagement, a strategic investment fund, and improved implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility. It also stresses the need to reduce business regulations, enhance labour policies, and address the housing crisis to ensure sustainable growth. More
DEFENCE
Defence funding in the EU (ECO/655, rapporteur: Marcin Nowacki (PL-I))
The EESC calls for urgent and unified EU defence funding to address evolving security threats, particularly in response to Russian aggression. It urges strengthened EU-NATO collaboration, clear defence policy objectives, and legal frameworks preventing first strikes. Enhancing the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB), expanding joint procurement, and prioritising space security initiatives like IRIS2 are key. Increased investment in defence should be included in the next MFF without compromising other EU priorities. The opinion aims to shape the European Commission’s Work Programme and guide strategic defence investments for a resilient and autonomous European security framework. More
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