EESC:NAT section newsletter

 

July 2023 ■ eesc.europa.eu/nat ■ Our current & future opinions

EDITORIAL BY PETER SCHMIDT

Beyond Growth conference - a new vision of economic prosperity The Beyond Growth conference held in May at the European Parliament in partnership with the EESC brought together thousands of participants, including many young people. The plenary room was vibrating with ideas from top level experts, youth activists and policy-makers and I felt proud of the work we have initiated and pursued over the years at the EESC to foster the discussion on a wellbeing economy. We need to go beyond business as usual and build a new vision of economic prosperity "beyond growth". Read the editorial

MEET OUR MEMBERS

Meet our members | Nicoletta MERLO: it must be clear that young people have the right to be heard and engaged As rapporteur of the ongoing opinion on "The role of youth in rural areas", Nicoletta Merlo shares the initial findings on possible ways to improve the youth situation in the context of rural development. Surely there is one thing rural areas and young people have in common and that is high potential that needs to be recognised, channelled, developed and adequately promoted. Read more

OUR FEATURED NEWS

NAT interview on Nature Restoration Law Earlier this year, the EESC adopted an opinion on Nature restoration targets under EU biodiversity strategy. The opinion was the result of a balanced compromise between the two "souls" of the NAT section - farmers and environmentalists. Since then, the debate became very polarised and politicised, especially in the Parliament. In this context, Peter Schmidt interviewed Arnaud Schwartz (France Nature Environnement) and Arnold Puech d'Alissac (FNSEA and President of the WFO – also rapporteur of the EESC opinion) to hear their views. 🎬 Watch the debate

The EESC at the Beyond Growth conference On 15-17 May, the European Parliament hosted the Beyond Growth conference. The aim of the event was to challenge conventional policy-making in the EU and redefine societal goals based on a systemic and transformative approach to economic, social and environmental sustainability. The EESC was an active partner in the organisation of the conference and held a focus panel on Transforming food for the wellbeing of people and planet. Read more 🎬 Watch the video recording

The NAT work programme for the period 2023-2025 has been adopted The overarching priority of the NAT work programme will build on the achievements of the previous mandate and focus on fostering the systemic change and wellbeing economy needed for the successful implementation of the European Green and Social Deal and the Sustainable Development Goals towards a just transition. The NAT section will also remain committed to amplifying the voices of young people and youth organisations on climate and sustainability issues. Read more

European Commission | EU Voluntary Review on progress in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development  The European Commission published a report presenting the broad range of actions that the EU has put in place across all its policy areas to deliver on the SDGs and the progress made towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The report, to which the EESC made valuable contributions, will be presented at the 2023 UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, to be held in New York in July.  🎬Watch Peter Schmidt's address

The EESC at the High Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development As in previous years, the EESC will take part in the HLPF on Sustainable Development, to be held in New York in July. The EESC actively engages in the HLPF to advocate for the voice of European citizens and promote sustainable development policies aligned with the EU's priorities. The EESC was tasked to provide the views of civil society for the EU Voluntary Reviews (EU VR) and prepared a comprehensive contribution that is available as an accompanying document to the EU VR. Read more

Towards a sustainable and participatory European Food Council In a recently adopted opinion, the EESC stressed the need for a European Food Policy Council (EFPC), an initiative that could help achieve a more integrated and participatory approach to food policy-making, would accelerate the alignment of policies at EU, national and local levels and, most importantly, would increase the quality and legitimacy of EU food policy. Read more 🎬Watch the rapporteur's address

EESC study | Social protection of seasonal workers in the agriculture and food sectors after COVID-19 In 2020, the limited movement of goods and persons within the EU caused by COVID-19 affected food supply chains and the availability of seasonal workers for labour-intensive activities in the agriculture sector, while also shedding light on their working and living conditions. This study puts together evidence to conclude that seasonal workers in the agriculture and food sectors are vulnerable to exploitation and that unethical employers perpetrate social fraud and social dumping and sometimes even abuse. Read more

EESC online event | What next for European action on SDGs? On 27 June 2023, the EESC hosted a public hearing to explore ways to strengthen the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the EU. The event aimed to take stock of the progress achieved, identify challenges and put forward recommendations on how to enhance the impact of European policies on achieving the Agenda 2030 while reviewing the EU's internal and external implementation of the SDGs. Read more 🎬Watch the video recording

EESC online event | The EU's contribution to the UN Food Systems Stocktaking Moment On 22 June 2023, the EESC hosted an online public hearing to explore the state of progress of the EU on the path to more sustainable, fairer and inclusive food systems, following the new actions agreed upon during the UN Food System summit in 2021 and ahead of the July's Stocktaking Moment. The event gathered representatives from FAO, the European institutions and civil society organisations. Read more 🎬Watch the video recording

EESC online event | The role of Youth in Rural Development  On 12 June 2023, the EESC hosted a public hearing to gather the views of youth representatives, rural development experts and various stakeholders on how to promote a sustainable and inclusive rural development that benefits both young people and rural communities as a whole. The presentations of the speakers are available on our website. Read more 🎬Watch the video recording

ALSO ON THE AGENDA

UN | Food Systems Summit stocktaking moment The UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment, to be held in Rome, 24-26 July 2023, will serve as the first global follow-up to the 2021 Food Systems Summit, two years on, and provide the opportunity to review commitments and assess progress towards the implementation of national food systems transformation pathways. In anticipation of the 3-day event, the EESC recently held a public hearing to explore the state of progress of the EU on the path to more sustainable, fairer and inclusive food systems. Read more

European Environment Agency report How is the air quality where you live?  Launched in May 2023, the European environment and health atlas allows you to check the quality of the environment where you live, including air quality, noise levels, number of green spaces and quality of the nearest bathing water sites. The online platform presents data and information in a user-friendly manner on how pollution and other environmental risks affect the health and well-being of Europeans, and how environmental assets protect us. 📲Test the atlas

European Environment Agency | The benefits to biodiversity of a strong circular economy Biodiversity is vital for healthy ecosystems and the foundation of our well-being and economy but is under severe threat due to our current unsustainable production and consumption systems. This briefing by the European Environment Agency explores how circular economy can reduce the impacts of production and consumption on biodiversity and identifies three areas where the circular economy can benefit biodiversity: reducing primary resource demand, preventing pollution and biodiversity-friendly sourcing. Read more

Oxfam | Climate Finance Shadow Report In 2009, high-income countries committed in the Copenhagen Accords to mobilize US$100 billion a year by 2020 in climate finance for low- and middle-income countries. However, a recent Oxfam report finds that high-income countries have not only failed to deliver on their commitment but even overstated the level of support they have actually provided. Moreover, much of the finance has been provided as loans, which means that it risks increasing the debt burden of the countries it is supposed to help. Read more

LIFE's Response to the European Commission’s "Pact for Fisheries and Oceans" Low Impact Fisheries of Europe (LIFE) welcomes the European Commission's package of measures under the "Pact for Fisheries and Oceans" as a starting point on a journey towards "fisheries of the future", that will be resilient, carbon neutral, and environmentally and socio-economically sustainable. LIFE has now presented its response to each of the four elements included in the package, from energy transition to restoring marine ecosystems, the common fisheries policy and the report on the Common Market Organisation. Read more

Study on the implementation of the EU rural development policy The European Commission published a study to assess the contribution of the European Network for Rural Development (ENRD) and the National Rural Networks (NRNs) to the implementation of EU Rural Development Policy. The policy concerns 118 Rural Development Programmes implemented at national or regional level in the Member States (EU-27) and the United Kingdom for the 2014-2020 programming period. Read more

PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS

Have your say! Citizens and businesses can share their views on new EU policies and existing laws. All initatives here. Today in the spotlight: Union Civil Protection Mechanism - evaluation (expires 07/07/2023) Zero pollution: Commission consults citizens and stakeholders on the “polluter pays” principle (expires 04/08/2023)

RECENTLY ADOPTED OPINIONS

At its 579th plenary session, held on 14 and 15 June 2023, the EESC adopted the following opinions in the field of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment: Digital labelling of EU fertilising products Towards a European Food Policy Council as a new governance model in the future EU Framework on Sustainable Food Systems Ex-post evaluation of the European Union's Civil Protection Mechanism (including RescEU) Fisheries – NAFO

UPCOMING EVENTS

18 July 2023 | 9:30-11:00 CEST | Online Youth roundtable - The sustainable economy we need for a successful implementation of the European Green and Social Deal  👋With Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans

19 July 2023 | 13:00 (GMT-4) | Online (more info soon) HLPF side event - Partnering with the EU – Revitalising partnerships for SDGs

6 September 2023 | EU circular talk (more info soon) Packaging: Waste or valuable resource?

OTHER LINKS AND NEWSLETTERS

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