European Economic and Social Committee

Clean Transition + Innovation = New European Bauhaus   Making it a reality is an essential part of the new European Housing Package. When going from vision to implementation, it is important to involve civil society.   This is why we call for: 🏘️ focusing on investment in sustainable, affordable and quality housing; 🏘️ EU countries connecting the EU and local authorities; 🏘️ ensuring accessible upskilling opportunities, particularly for employees, professionals and SMEs.   Learn more: link.europa.eu/8KvQMC

Only 3 days left to vote for us! 🏆🇪🇺    Our Youth Test has been nominated for the European Ombudsman Award for Good Administration 2026! We became the first EU body to commit to this tool, ensuring that youth participation is at the heart of our policy-making.    It is our objective to mainstream youth perspectives through consultations, impact assessments, and involving youth representatives directly in our opinions. Now, we need your support! Let’s make youth voices count in EU policy-making.    ✅ Vote for us here: link.europa.eu/44NKpd  ⏳ Deadline: 15 June 2026     #EUCivilSociety #EOAward European Youth Forum

We need a more affordable, secure and sustainable EU for all. 🇪🇺 From ensuring accessible energy and strengthening grid governance, to making the digital space clearer through trusted data use, and addressing the housing crisis, we are taking concrete actions. Next up, our focus turns to: ⚡ energy security and affordability; 💻 a fair and interoperable digital economy; 🏠 tackling housing scarcity with sustainable and family-oriented policies. Read more: link.europa.eu/3hv8N3

Our next #EESCPlenary is coming up soon! ✨ On 17-18 June, our members and special guests will come together to debate current issues, exchange ideas, and adopt opinions on matters shaping the future of Europe. On the agenda:   📄 opinions on fisheries management, waste exports, Eastern border regions, EU budget, water resilience and circular economy;  🗣️ a debate on driving a competitive transition towards a circular and climate-neutral economy with Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition at the European Commission;  💧discussions on advancing water resilience from the EU Blue Deal to global action. Find out more information here → link.europa.eu/8V3j3n #EUCivilSociety  

An important move toward strengthening Europe’s energy independence. 🇪🇺    We welcome the European Commission’s decision to provide additional fiscal flexibility for energy-related investments, as announced by Commissioner Dan Jørgensen.     This step is fully aligned with our recent opinion on the Grids Package, recognising energy infrastructure as a strategic asset for Europe’s security and stressing the urgent need for stronger, smarter and more resilient electricity systems across Europe.     In our recommendations, we emphasised:  🔸 the importance of decentralised energy production to reduce pressure on grids and increase public acceptance;  🔸 the need for better coordination and planning of electricity networks at EU level;  🔸 that prioritising digitalisation and optimisation of existing grids is essential;  🔸 that Connecting Europe Facility funding ensure EU value, labour compliance, and fair, innovation friendly access.    Our work: link.europa.eu/vyq7vp 

Today we celebrate the heartbeat of our planet. 🌍🫀🌊 On World Oceans Day, we are recognising one of nature's greatest wonders and its essential role for our own very existence. Our voices and choices matter. From avoiding single-use plastics and harmful products to joining beach cleanups, every action counts. We have consistently advocated for ocean policies that balance environmental protection, economic sustainability and social fairness. Through our work on the European Ocean Pact and the High Seas Treaty, we have called for strong ocean governance that puts people, science and nature at its core.  We keep working and calling for:  🌊 an ambitious European Ocean Pact aligned with the Green Deal, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Blue Economy Strategy;  🌊 stronger cooperation between policymakers, scientists, industry and coastal communities;  🌊 a just transition for maritime workers and future generations. Find out more: link.europa.eu/rqDc6k  #EUBlueDeal #EUCivilSociety

Safe food starts with smart policies.     On World Food Safety Day, we reaffirm that food safety is a shared responsibility. By combining science, innovation, and public participation, we can build food systems that are resilient, sustainable, and trusted by all.    We continue to focus on:   🔸 simplifying food and feed regulations while maintaining high EU safety, health and environmental standards;  🔸strengthening the role of civil society in the monitoring and enforcement of the legislation;   🔸ensuring strong safeguards for new agricultural technologies and pesticide use.     Our work: link.europa.eu/DcJjr9    #WorldFoodSafetyDay FAO 

Civil society is essential for building trust between the EU and the Western Balkans.   This is why on 29th May, we held a conference on enlargement in Vienna. Enlargement strengthens Europe’s security, economy, and democratic resilience and brings benefits to citizens both in the EU and in the Western Balkans.   Therefore, as our President Séamus Boland said: "Civil society must be at the heart of this process."   Learn more: link.europa.eu/jc4dDq   📊 Eurostat

The EU needs a strong and coherent bioeconomy strategy.    On World Environment Day, we emphasise that Europe relies on fossil fuels and raw materials in an increasingly tense geopolitical situation. At the same time, overexploitation of natural resources is one of the main causes of ongoing biodiversity loss.    In our recommendations, we call for:  🌳 a EU bioeconomy strategy firmly anchored in the European Green Deal and the Sustainable Development Goals, integrating climate, biodiversity, and circular economy;  🌳 clear and enforceable sustainability safeguards that define which biological resources can be used as inputs;  🌳 greater clarity on the societal value of the use and non-use of bioeconomy resources;  🌳 a stronger commitment to the waste hierarchy, prioritising the reduction of overall resource consumption as the basis for true circularity.     Read more: link.europa.eu/bgq4fy    🔍 Eurostat, 2023    #WorldEnvironmentDay EU Environment and Climate UN Environment Programme

A circular Europe is not a future ambition or simply an environmental imperative: it is a strategic necessity.    This was one of the key messages of the ECESP Circular Economy conference held in April.    Over two days, policymakers, businesses and civil society representatives explored how a competitive and fair circular economy can strengthen the single market, reduce resource dependencies and turn this ambition into action.    The message was clear: circularity will only scale if it becomes a core part of the Single Market. To succeed, we must move from policy ambition to practical implementation, ensuring the transition is both competitive for industry and fair for Europeans.    These discussions will help shape the forthcoming Circular Economy Act, calling for:  ♻️ stronger markets for secondary raw materials;  🔧 greater support for reuse, repair and remanufacturing;  🤝 a just transition with civil society at its core.    Find out more: link.europa.eu/7X6dkW    #SingleMarket #StrategicAutonomy EU Environment and Climate