463rd Plenary Session of the European Economic and Social Committee

"Economy and economic governance is priority of my mandate."

(Mr. Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council)

The guest speaker of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) Plenary Session held in Brussels on 26 – 27 May was Mr. Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council.  His intervention was focused on the current economic situation in Europe and possible scenarios of how to exit from the crisis. He said: “Europe has to meet to objectives - to exit successfully from the current crisis and from the medium- and long-term pespective to ensure structural growth guaranteeing our European style of life. The budget deficits have to be reduced, but on the other hand we must not cut investment in education, innovation, research and development.”

The Plenary session discussed and adopted the following opinions:

• SOC/380 Employment guidelines
  On 27 April 2010 the European Commission proposed a new set of guidelines for employment policy in the Member States. Together with the broad economic policy guidelines, these form the integrated guidelines for implementation of the EU 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.
  The EESC regrets the fact that the Council and the Commission have set such a tight deadline for adopting the guidelines that it will be virtually impossible to have a proper debate with organised civil society and national parliaments. The EESC considers that the guidelines do not adequately demonstrate that combating unemployment should be a key policy of the EU and the Member States against the background of the economic crisis.
  Despite it welcomes the focus on fewer guidelines, but thinks that these are too general and too unambitious to be an effective impetus to action, which undermines European efforts, at the same time is concerned that the goal of full employment (a key point in the old guidelines) is no longer in evidence.
  
  
• SOC/372 The professionalisation of domestic work
  This additional opinion, which has been recognised as an own-initiative opinion, aims to follow up a recommendation made by the EESC in its exploratory opinion on Links between gender equality, economic growth and employment rates (CESE 1472/2009) to promote the professionalisation of domestic work and to highlight this issue as the EESC's contribution to the ILO's forthcoming international labour conference to be held in June 2010, which will be dedicated to the theme of "Decent work for domestic workers".
  The ILO has already opened discussions with the Member States and the social partners on the most appropriate instrument for this purpose. The EESC would also like the ILO to adopt an effective instrument that reflects the specific features of this type of work, which could take the form of a convention and/or a recommendation. The Committee also calls on all European stakeholders, Member States and social partners.
  
  
• REX/276 Relations EU-ASEAN
  The objective of this own-initiative opinion was to analyse anew the EU–ASEAN relations after the entering into force of the ASEAN Charter on 15th of December 2008. Thanks to the charter the grouping has become a rules-based, intergovernmental, regional organisation, with legal identity and the aspiration to build a people oriented community, that respects democratic principles, human rights and fundamental freedoms based on good governance and the rule of law. The community is being based on three pillars: ASEAN Political Community, ASEAN Economic Community and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. It has non–governmental organisations associated with and it acknowledges the existence of civil society.
  However, the hoped-for progress in EU-ASEAN dialogue has still not been achieved. Despite financial and other efforts to promote structured EU-ASEAN dialogue, bilateral negotiations in various areas (political, cooperation, trade, etc.), concrete results are poor and dialogue with and between civil society is still operating below its potential. The last decade seems to have been more of a missed opportunity than a time for developing a partnership with a region that is considered strategic to EU interests in the world.
  The EESC points at the opportunities and areas of the co-operation with ASEAN institutions and its countries' civil society created by the ASEAN charter, where the knowledge and the experience of the EESC members could be adequately demonstrated and used. It stresses the need of proper implementation of human rights welcoming at the same time the fact of establishing of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights as a first step in the process.
  
  
• REX/267 International trade and climate chase
  The EU has taken the lead in ongoing negotiations for a global climate change agreement launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali in 2007, and is setting ambitious targets for reducing overall green house gas emissions.
  After the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009, the EU strives for an agreement that is legally binding for all parties and sufficiently ambitious to limit global warming well below 2o C compared to pre-industrial level by reducing global emissions by 50% by 2050.The EU considers the Copenhagen Accord as the first step which involves most parties and gives basis to reduction commitments, financing and fight against deforestation. The climate change challenge has not diminished and further work should follow a tight time schedule with clear deadlines and the EU should continue to offer ambition and leadership. To this end, the EU thinks it is necessary to review, assess and learn from the meeting in Copenhagen. It is important to build on the progress made in the UNFCCC negotiations during the last years, including the meeting in Copenhagen
  The Committee in its opinion hopes that any overall conclusion of the Doha round at the WTO will facilitate trade in environmental goods and services by a substantial reduction in tariff and non-tariff barriers. The EU must lead by example by facilitating the transfer of "green" technologies in its bilateral and regional trade agreements.
  With regard to transport, the EESC supports the adoption of global UNFCCC objectives to cut air transport emissions by 10% and maritime emissions by 20%. The decision to share reduction efforts will also affect the transport sector, since air transport will be gradually included in the Emissions Trading System (ETS) from 2012. A European initiative to identify ambitious energy efficiency objectives in transport by sea would help in these efforts.
  If it is to develop a green economy and maintain its leading role in this area, Europe should, in its own interest and in the interest of the climate, retain its very ambitious goal of gradually cutting its emissions by 80% by 2050 with, for example, an intermediary objective of 25 to 40% between 2020 and 2030. The Committee suggests carrying out impact assessments (environment, employment and development) to plan for the transitions between 2020 and 2050.
  
  
• TEN/413 Investing in the development of low carbon technologies
  One of the EU's key ambitions must be to develop a low-carbon economy. The EU has put in place a comprehensive policy framework, including among others: the climate and energy targets for 2020 and a carbon price through the Emissions Trading System. We are also working towards the successful conclusion of international climate change negotiations at Copenhagen at the end of 2009. Now, we have to deliver, both in terms of the 2020 targets and, in the longer term, aiming for an 80% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 compared to 1990 levels.
  Reinventing our energy system on a low carbon model is one of the critical challenges of the 21st Century. Today, in the EU, our primary energy supply is 80% dependent on fossil fuels. Networks and supply chains have been optimised over decades to deliver energy from these sources to our society. Economic growth and prosperity has been built on oil, coal and gas. But, they have also made us vulnerable to energy supply disruptions from outside the EU, to volatility in energy prices and to climate change.
  The Committee fully supports the proposed investments and measures. Only by means of extraordinary, joint efforts will it be possible to convert our entire energy system - supply, conversion and consumption - and gear it to these objectives. This will require the development of low-carbon energy extraction and use technologies and methods which are also internationally competitive with existing technologies.
  The Committee is, however, extremely concerned that the expenditure this will require from the Commission, the Member States and private industry is still massively underestimated. The Committee therefore urgently recommends that an appropriate financing plan supported by the Commission, the Member States and industry and firmly based on the future EU budget be drawn up. Until then other sources of financing should be mobilised. In particular the Member States' entire revenue from CO₂ emissions certificates should be exclusively used for this purpose. The same should apply to revenue form a possible future CO₂ tax.
  Investment in the development of low-carbon energy technologies offers opportunities for innovation, economic dynamism, sustainable growth and jobs, particularly as usable energy is the lifeblood of our economy and way of life. Energy efficiency is a decisive factor in determining Europe's international competitiveness. This means that we need sustainable ways of obtaining energy.
  
  
• TEN/414 Action plan for urban mobility
  Drawing on the consultation following the presentation of the Green Paper this Action Plan sets out a coherent framework for EU initiatives in the area of urban mobility while respecting the principle of subsidiarity. It will do this by encouraging and supporting the development of sustainable urban mobility policies that help to achieve general EU objectives, for example through fostering the exchange of best practice and providing funding.
  The Action Plan proposes short- and medium-term practical actions to be launched progressively from now until 2012, addressing specific issues related to urban mobility in an integrated way. The Commission offers a partnership to local, regional and national authorities based on their voluntary commitment to cooperate in selected areas of mutual concern. It invites also other stakeholders in the Member States, citizens and industry, to closely cooperate, paying particular attention to the mobility needs of vulnerable groups such as elderly, low-income groups and persons with disabilities, whose mobility is reduced due to a physical, intellectual or sensory disability or impairment, or as a result of age.
  The actions proposed are centred on six themes responding to the main messages that emerged from the Green Paper consultation. They will be implemented through existing EU programmes and instruments. The actions complement each other and other EU initiatives.
  The EESC warmly welcomes the European Commission's proposal, in the form of an urban mobility plan, offering local, regional and national authorities ways of providing the best possible, most sustainable quality of life in urban areas. The Committee firmly believes that in a number of areas relating to urban mobility, concerted action by the Community can provide clear added value and it thus calls for the EU's powers and responsibilities to be more clearly defined, in line with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality.
  It should be noted, however, that the Commission's proposals in this action plan fall far short of the recommendations made by the EESC in previous opinions on urban mobility. Furthermore, the fact that this communication covers many of the issues and proposals already set out in the 1998 communication entitled "Developing the citizens' network" gives the impression that the situation has barely improved since then. Against this backdrop, the EESC is disappointed that no assessment has been made of the initiatives provided for in that earlier communication.
  The action plan under consideration should at least, on this occasion, be accompanied by measurable quantitative targets based on a set of indicators which cities and peri-urban areas should endeavour to achieve by means of sustainable mobility plans they have chosen themselves. In the EESC's view, the action plan needs to be complemented by another plan focusing more specifically on crime on public transport, non-motorised mobility and motorcycles, amongst other things.
  The EESC welcomes the Spanish Presidency's intention of creating a pan-European scheme/programme to promote the accessibility of European cities and towns, especially for people with reduced mobility, and would express interest in being closely involved in such an initiative, given its relevance to civil society.
  The EESC recommends more effectively targeting the EU's structural and cohesion funds, in particular by establishing a specific financial instrument to promote urban mobility. It proposes making the allocation of funds conditional on the implementation of urban mobility plans and compliance with criteria on accessibility for people with reduced mobility.
  Lastly, the action plan fails to address how civil society could be more closely involved in measures to promote sustainable mobility, despite the fact that civil society is able to bring stakeholders and policymakers together and raise the awareness of everyone in society in such a way that they reconsider and change the way they usually travel. 

Vladimíra Drbalová
International Organisations and EU Affairs
Member of the EESC