European Economic and Social Committee,update

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May 2024 ■ eesc.europa.eu/nat ■ Our current & future opinions

EDITORIAL BY PETER SCHMIDT

Turning visions into actions with the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform "We cannot build a future we cannot imagine." This was the theme of the session where I spoke that closed the two-day joint conference held by the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform and the World Circular Economy Forum in Brussels this April. Over 1360 circular enthusiasts on-site and almost 10,000 online. While the conference covered a lot of ground, I had hoped for more open discussions about the systemic flaws of our current economic model and see more youth representatives in the programme. 💬Read the editorial

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Organic awards | Applications closing soon! Applications for the EU organic awards 2024 will close on 12 May! Spread the word and help us showcasing European best organic businesses! The EU organic awards are a joint initiative by the European Commission, the EESC, the CoR, COPA-COGECA and IFOAM Organics Europe. These awards aim to recognise excellence throughout the organic value chain, rewarding the best and most innovative actors in EU organic production. The EESC is responsible for the three award categories of food processing SMEs, food retailers and restaurants/food services.📑 Read more

MEET OUR MEMBERS

Teppo SÄKKINEN | How to achieve climate targets in a way that ensures competitiveness and just transition Achieving the climate targets is all about investments in clean energy, decarbonising our industries and manufacturing and securing the technologies and materials needed for this transition, says Teppo Säkkinen, EESC member and rapporteur of the ongoing opinion on EU climate target for 2040. Getting there builds on three pillars: ensuring competitiveness, just transition and utilising a broad range of net zero technologies. 💬Read the interview

OUR FEATURED NEWS

EU's flagship conference turns circular economy vision into actions This year, the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform, an initiative developed and co-hosted by the EESC, joined forces with the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council and the Finland-based World Circular Economy Forum for its flagship conference on 15 and 16 April in Brussels. More than 1000 participants and 150 speakers from around the world gathered at the conference. A delegation from the EESC actively participated in various sessions as speakers, sharing the EESC's views and the success story of the Platform. 📑Read more

EESC's rural renaissance | Paving the path to prosperity in Europe The EESC believes that in the heartlands of Europe lie the seeds of its future prosperity. In an own initiative opinion adopted at its April plenary, it underscores its steadfast commitment to nurturing rural communities and reaffirms its dedication to the long-term vision for the EU's rural areas. Recognizing the dynamic needs of rural environments, the EESC calls for enhanced frameworks, annual assessments, and targeted interventions to ensure that no corner of rural Europe is left behind. 📑Read more

Meeting with Ukrainian delegation of farmers'organisations On 4 April, Peter Schmidt (NAT Section President) and Stoyan Tchoukanov (rapporteur of the EESC opinion on the social, environmental and economic sustainability of the EU agri-food sector with future enlargement) met a delegation of Ukrainian agri-food stakeholders, under the coordination of the German-Ukrainian Agricultural Policy Dialogue. Presentations were given on the current challenges in the agricultural policy of Ukraine to support Ukraine's European integration as well as on the challenges for the agricultural business and trade, followed by a discussion with the members.📑 Read more

Strategic Dialogue on the future of EU agriculture  The European Commission launched a strategic dialogue on 25 January 2024 bringing together key stakeholders from across the whole agri-food chain with the aim to bring forward a shared vision for the future of EU agriculture. On 23rd of April, Professor Peter Strohschneider, appointed by President Ursula von der Leyen as Chair of this dialogue, met a 6-member delegation of the NAT Section to hear about the EESC's recommendations on sustainable agri-food systems while also exchanging on recent farmers' protests and the need to involve civil society representatives in decision-making. 📑Read more

Charting Europe's Forests | EESC recommendations for sustainable monitoring and planning In response to the European Commission's proposals for a comprehensive forest monitoring framework, the EESC adopted an opinion on EU forests, emphasizing the need for sustainability, inclusivity, and respect for property rights in the proposed forest data system, while also urging attention to technical limitations and judicial considerations. 📑Read more

How to ensure food democracy in EU food policy? The EESC organized a session on Food Democracy during the Open Food Conference held in Leuven in March. The conference aimed to bring the food system community together to discuss the current state of play after four years of the Farm to Fork Strategy and the introduction of the Flemish Food Strategy "Go4Food". The EESC highlighted the importance of food democracy in achieving sustainable food systems as well as ways to further strengthen the governance of the food policy process.📑 Read more

EESC event | Towards a European Green and Social Deal, based on a wellbeing economy  On 26 February 2024, the EESC held a high-level discussion in the context of its ongoing opinion on a blueprint for a European Green and Social Deal, based on a wellbeing economy. Invited speakers discussed the successes and shortcomings of the current framework while exploring concrete ways of shaping a new deal that takes into account the needs of civil society organisations and can successfully deliver a green and just transition. 📑Read more 🔎PPTs 🎬Video recording

EESC event | Advancing SDGs through Sustainable and Just Economic Transformation On 11 March 2024, the EESC held a public debate on the pivotal role of sustainable and just economies in driving the implementation of SDGs. The event explored ways to address economic and social inequalities, while putting sustainable business practices, decent work and the just transition at the forefront of its reflections in a world that is severely marked by the climate and biodiversity crises as well as shaken by the current geopolitical situation. 📑Read more 🔎PPTs 🎬Video recording

EESC event | How to best achieve Europe's 2040 climate target and path to climate neutrality by 2050 On 18 March 2024, the EESC held an expert event to feed into its opinion on Europe's 2040 climate target and path to climate neutrality by 2050. The event saw the participation of a large number of European civil society organizations and stakeholder representatives who shared key reflections on building a sustainable, just and prosperous society.📑Read more 🎬Video recording 📄PPTs

EESC event | Orientation debate on the just transition of agri-food systems  On 9 April 2024, the EESC held an orientation debate on the just transition of agri-food systems. The event contributed to reflections on the foundation of a just transition framework for the agri-food sector and provided concrete recommendations by identifying some key policy areas and legal leverage points that could be triggered and by looking at the skills, the capacity and mental support needed for the transition. 📑Read more 🎬Video recording 📄PPTs

Seasonal and migrant workers in agri-food value chains On 10 April 2024, the EESC and SAFEHABITUS project co-hosted a pivotal event on the living and working conditions of migrant workers in European agriculture. The event aimed to develop a strategic approach to address the challenges that seasonal and migrant workers face by gathering both policymakers and stakeholders at the EU level and share perspectives and insights on issues related to labour standards and their living and working conditions. 📑Read more

EESC event | The sustainability of the EU agri-food sector with future enlargement On 29 April 2024, the EESC held a public hearing with the aim to provide recommendations to ensure that future enlargement of the EU will benefit both farmers in candidate countries and in the EU, while effectively contributing to the achievement of the EU's sustainability objectives and Agenda 2030. High-level speakers exchanged views on the opportunities and challenges involved and on the contributions of the accession countries to the EU's social, environmental and economic sustainability. 📑Read more 🎬Video recording

ALSO ON THE AGENDA

International Resource Panel  | Global Resource Outlook 2024 Bend the trend The 2024 Global Resource Outlook shows that at the heart of global resource use are fundamental inequalities: low-income countries consume six times less materials and generate 10 times less climate impacts than those living in high-income countries. Resource extraction and processing account for over 60% of planet-warming emissions but sweeping policy changes could turn negative trends around and put humanity on a trajectory towards sustainability. 📑Read more

European Parliament | Study: The dependency of the EU’s food system on inputs and their sources A recent study commissioned by the European Parliament AGRI committee analyses the vulnerabilities of the EU food system regarding inputs and provides a state of play of the available tools to make the EU less dependent on foreign suppliers. The study also makes policy recommendations to increase the EU food sector’s resilience to disruption in trade flows and price increases of imported inputs. 📑Read more

European Commission | Converting Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) into Farm Sustainability Data Network (FSDN) A recent publication by the European Commission shows that the conversion of the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) into the Farm Sustainability Data Network (FSDN) will enlarge the scope of the FADN and offer environmental, social and economic sustainability data which will help advance on the EU's 2050 climate neutrality objective while also monitoring other objectives of the CAP, and enabling a holistic view of the EU agricultural sector. 📑Read more

European Environment Agency | European Climate Risk Assessment Report  A report by the European Environment Agency identified 36 climate risks with potentially severe consequences across Europe as well as the priorities for EU policy action, based on a structured risk assessment united with qualitative aspects, such as considering social justice. According to the report, several climate risks have already reached critical levels and if decisive action is not taken now, most climate risks identified could reach critical or catastrophic levels by the end of this century. 📑Read more

Open letter | Advocating for an EU Legislation on Sustainable Resource Management The European Youth Forum, together with 8 environmental organisations, wrote an open letter addressed to key EU and national decision-makers to advocate for EU legislation on Sustainable Resource Management. The letter calls for an EU Directive that will set binding footprint reduction targets to reduce the EU's impact on the environment. The proposed targets are backed by research, and the Directive emphasises sector-specific strategies, a just transition, and social justice. 📑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: Better protecting sharks through sustainable fishing and trade (expires 4 June 2024) Fertilising materials from livestock manure (expires 17 May)

RECENTLY ADOPTED OPINIONS

At its 586th and 587th plenary sessions, held in March and April 2024, the EESC adopted the following opinions in the field of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment: Towards a greater involvement of Member States, Regions and Civil Society actors in the implementation of the Long-Term Vision for the EU's Rural Areas Amendment to CAP basic acts - simplification Equivalence of seeds from Moldova and from Ukraine Chemicals – ‘One Substance, One Assessment’ EU forests – new EU Framework for Forest Monitoring and Strategic Plans Regulation on the welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability

UPCOMING EVENTS

7 May 2024 | EU circular talk  HOOP Project Webinar: Collection and valorisation of urban biowaste

8 May 2024 | EU circular talk  How to advance the circular behaviours that really matter

21 May 2024 | 14:30-17:30 CEST | Online Biodiversity & Climate: advancing on a sustainable financial architecture

5-6 June 2024 | ESDN annual conference  Upgrading Europe: Building transformative policies to reach the SDGs

OTHER LINKS AND NEWSLETTERS

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