Summary of Opinions Adopted

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European Economic and Social Committee

Brussels, 16 November 2009

Registry CESE 119/2009 FR-EN-ES/HR/ht

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Contents:

1.RESOLUTION

2.LISBON STRATEGY

3.ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE

4.TRANSPORT AND ENERGY

5.SOCIAL COHESION

6.JUSTICE, FREEDOM, SECURITY

7.EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING

8.INTEGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP

9.HEALTH AND CONSUMER PROTECTION

10.SUSTAINABLE FOOD

11.MARITIME POLICY

12.REGIONAL POLICY

13.FINANCIAL SECTOR

14.INTERNAL MARKET

The plenary session of 4 and 5 November 2009 was marked, on the Wednesday, by the attendance of Mr Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament, the awarding of the 2009 EESC organised civil society prize and a topical debate on the Lisbon Strategy and economic growth.

The plenary session continued on the Thursday with the adoption of a resolution on climate change and a topical debate on the Copenhagen Conference. Speaking at the debate were Mr Jöran Hägglund, State Secretary to the Swedish Minister for Enterprise and Energy, MrJo Leinen, MEP and chair of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, and MrOlivier Deleuze, director, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The text of the resolution and the summary of opinions adopted by the Committee are given below.

1.RESOLUTION

Reference: CESE 1676/2009 fin

The resolution on climate change was adopted as follows:

"The European Economic and Social Committee, as the institutional representative of organised civil society at European Union level, approves the following message to Governments, leaders, negotiators and other parties involved with the climate change negotiations in Copenhagen and with the development and implementation of climate change policies:

"Climate change is already having adverse and possibly irreversible impacts in many parts of the world. These problems can only get worse in the years ahead if greenhouse gases continue to accumulate in the atmosphere at the present rate. The scientific analysis by the IPCC and other authoritative sources shows very clearly that developed countries will have to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by over 80% by 2050 if temperature rises are to be kept to safe levels. To put the world on a realistic pathway to achieve such reductions will require a 25-40% reduction by 2020, and significant efforts by emerging and developing countries.

The forthcoming conference in Copenhagen is critical. A successful outcome could set the world on a path towards reducing emissions in the years ahead, and stabilising temperature increases at manageable levels. Failure could set the world on an ever more dangerous path towards accelerating temperature increases and the human and ecological disasters that would ensue.

1. At this critical moment the European Economic and Social Committee calls on governments, leaders and negotiators to redouble their efforts to reach a universal and binding agreement that will unite all countries and their peoples in a common effort to reduce the level of emissions in the years ahead and to safeguard the world's environment in which we and future generations find our home.

1. The European Union has offered to commit itself to 30% reductions by 2020 if other countries make comparable efforts. Europe has repeatedly called for comparable levels of commitment by other developed countries, and for significant efforts also to be made by the emerging economies that are fast catching up with or overtaking the developed world as the largest emitters of greenhouse gases. We urge that that position be resolutely maintained.

1. We are deeply concerned about the failure of the negotiations so far to make the crucial breakthroughs needed. In whatever way the final stages of the negotiations develop we urge the European Union not to be tempted to use a failure to gain sufficient support from others as an excuse to reduce its own ambitions, or to lower its own commitment to whatever might emerge as a lowest common denominator in Copenhagen. That would be bad both for Europe and for the world. Even if there is not yet a universal consensus on the European level of ambition at Copenhagen we urge the Union to maintain its own level of commitment and to seek to build a strong coalition of other developed and developing nations who are ready to commit to comparable levels of ambition, and to undertake the necessary measures to achieve this.

1. We should continue to push forward the industrial and social transformations that are required to meet the 30% reduction goal by 2020 as a central part of transforming the European economy to a new eco-efficient low carbon sustainable model. We need to make an unprecedented research and development effort in the energy sector in order to offer credible technical alternatives to businesses, the public authorities and the general public. The ecological crisis can no longer be dissociated from the social crisis at political level action. This should lead to the design of a new production and consumption model. We should view this transformation not as a burden but as a challenge to create a new wave of technological and social innovation that will be the best guarantee of sustainable jobs, competitive advantage and social well-being in the future. We urge that this objective should be placed at the centre of the new 2020 strategy for the European Union that should integrate the principal objectives of the existing strategies for sustainable development, for sustainable growth and for climate and energy.

1. Other developing countries and particularly the least developed countries are being put in a critical position by the evolution of climate change. While having done the least to cause climate change the poorest developing countries are in many cases among the most severely affected. To achieve success in Copenhagen the developed world needs to come forward with firm pledges of substantial new and additional sources of funding to assist the developing countries with their major problems of adaptation and to help them take their own mitigation measures in due course.

The European Commission has recently tabled significant proposals about the levels of support that Europe should provide to this partnership and how it should be administered. The Committee urges the Union to proceed rapidly to the point at which these proposals can be tabled as a firm offer in the negotiations, and can be used as a lever to stimulate comparable offers from other developed countries.

1. The whole of civil society is affected by climate change. Business, trade unions, other civil society organisations will all need to be involved in all the efforts both to mitigate and to adapt to climate change. As representatives of organised civil society we know that there is a growing awareness throughout Europe of the scale of the challenge, and a growing willingness to face up to all the changes that will need to be made to our patterns of production and consumption and the way in which we live. We urge our leaders and negotiators to be resolute in guiding us forward on this path. There must be no turning back."

2.LISBON STRATEGY

• The post-2010 Lisbon Strategy

Rapporteur-general: Mr Greif (Employees – AT)

Reference: Exploratory opinion requestedby the forthcoming Spanish presidency – CESE1722/2009

Key points:

The EESC is in favour of continuing an integrated and global strategy beyond 2010. However, it is also of the view that neither a "back to Lisbon 2000" approach or an approach involving "more of the same with a somewhat stronger environmental focus where appropriate" is the right answer to the current challenges. Current challenges, such as the financial and economic crisis and the resulting social problems, the globalisation of the economy, the need to improve the working of the single market, energy policy and climate change, demographic trends and migration, require a new, comprehensive post-2010 global strategy at European level which a) tackles these challenges; b) corrects shortcomings in implementation; c) is backed up by a sense of shared European responsibility and d) is capable of linking up all EU strategies in a coherent way (the Recovery Strategy, the Lisbon Strategy, sustainable development, climate change).

The EESC proposes that this strategic reorganisation should be made clear, among other things, by giving a different name to the new European strategy.

The opinion presents a long list of policy recommendations demanding that policy makers should think and act along European lines through European projects. It continues with recommendations on the Lisbon Strategy goals and concludes with recommendations on governance.

Contact:Mr Gilbert Marchlewitz

(Tel.: 00 32 2 546 93 58 – e-mail: )

• Energy and climate change at the heart of the renewed Lisbon Strategy

Rapporteur-general: Ms Sirkeinen (Employers – FI)

Reference: Own-initiative opinion – CESE 1717/2009

Key points:

The EESC underlines that the EU must do all possible efforts to reach an international agreement on climate change that creates a level playing field globally, including an international trading system or compatible systems. Civil society and the social partners must be actively involved in the enormous effort of restructuring our economies. The EESC is ready and willing to play its part.

The renewed Lisbon Strategy has to include an action plan for a low carbon economy. This must be achieved while respecting the three pillars of sustainable development – economic, environmental and social – and without losing sight of the overall goal of competitiveness, growth and jobs.

Contact:Mr Juri Soosaar

(Tel.: 00 32 2 546 96 28 – e-mail: )

• The external dimension of the renewed Lisbon strategy

Rapporteur-general: Mr Jahier (Various Interests – IT)

Reference: Own-initiative opinion – CESE 1718/2009

Key points:

The challenges raised by the emergence of new global powers and the international financial and economic crisis highlight the need for Europe to have a new, more coherent and effective overarching external strategy.

The EESC believes that to enable the better development of and ensure a widespread political consensus on such an ambitious and assertive project for its external agenda, the EU needs the role of the social partners and organised civil society to be strengthened significantly, both within Europe and in third countries.

The EESC proposes that a suitable EU Action Plan should be aimed at strengthening the presence and role of Europe in the new landscape of globalisation by:

• developing the EU's external policies and the external aspects of its other policies in accordance with a structural logic, strengthening their overall coherence and increasing the unity with which Member States act;
• ensuring a balanced opening of markets through the conclusion of the Doha round and structured dialogue with its key partners;
• enhancing its role as an international regulatory power and pursuing an international policy based on the promotion of rights;
• strengthening the international dimension of the euro;
• adopting the goal of building a wide area of special development and economic growth, which we could call "EurAfrica: an alliance for mutual progress", involving the rapid completion of the enlargement of the Union, the Neighbourhood Policy, the Mediterranean Union, and a stronger partnership with Africa.

The EESC is well equipped to play an increasingly significant role in consolidating and developing participatory systems for monitoring and for active involvement of civil society almost everywhere in the world.

Contact:Mr Juri Soosaar

(Tel.: 00 32 2 546 96 28 – e-mail: )

• Universities for Europe

Rapporteur-general: Mr van Iersel (Employers – NL)

Reference: Own-initiative opinion – CESE 1719/2009

Key points:

In the view of the EESC universities have an essential role in the knowledge triangle: education, research, innovation. They should be perceived as key for sustainable socio-economic developments in Europe.

The EESC emphasises the need of a European methodology to assess performance and to collect comparable data. Furthermore, the EESC calls for advisory Educational Platforms at EU- and national level, including civil society representatives. The EESC advocates as well for a coherent integration of universities in a revamped Lisbon Strategy in the framework of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and the European Research Area (ERA).

Contact:Mr Juri Soosaar

(Tel.: 00 32 2 546 96 28 – e-mail: )

3.ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE

• Towards a comprehensive climate change agreement

Rapporteur: Mr McDonogh (Employers – IE)

References: COM(2009) 39 final – CESE 1705/2009

Key points:

The EESC recommends, in line with scientific findings, a long term (by 2050) target about 2 tonnes CO2e per capita per annum, in order to keep global warming to less than 2°C.

The EESC asserts that the EU should take up a strong interim target of at least 30% reduction in GHG global emissions from 1990 by 2020, providing there are comparable reductions by other developed and by economically more advanced developing countries.

Developed countries should commit to a reduction of at least 80% in GHG emissions by 2050, relative to 1990.

The EESC is in agreement with the Commission that developing countries as a group (with the exception of Africa’s least developed countries) should commit to limit the growth of their emissions to 15% to 30 % below ‘business as usual’ by 2020.

GHG emissions from aviation and maritime transport should be included in the negotiations in Copenhagen.

Adequate financing for global (and regional) climate change Research, technology Development and Demonstration must be provided.

The present global economic downturn should not be used as a deterrent in taking decisive and urgent actions on climate change.

Contact:Mr Robert Kaukewitsch

(Tel.: 00 32 2 546 23 66 – e-mail: )

• Outlook for the Sustainable Development Strategy

Rapporteur: Mr Ehnmark (Employees – SE)

Reference: Exploratory opinion – CESE 1706/2009

Key points:

The EESC endorses the Commission's suggestion that in the next period the strategy should prioritise action on four main themes – the low carbon economy, protecting biodiversity, water and other natural resources, promoting social inclusion and strengthening the international dimension of sustainable development. The Committee regrets however that the Commission has not developed further its analysis and made specific proposals for targets, timetables and actions in these areas.

To be effective, the EU SDS needs an entirely new structure of governance, including an adequate level of staffing and finance, and appropriate mechanisms for verifying implementation of the strategy.

The Committee urges the Council and the Commission to make the EU SDS a meta-strategy for all EU policies. All other EU strategies with shorter timeframes must feed into the targets of any future EU SDS. Many policies adopted today will have repercussions for decades to come. Measures effective in the short term must not compromise the development opportunities of future generations.

In drawing up the new Lisbon or 2020 Strategy the Commission should be requested to demonstrate explicitly how the actions to be proposed in that strategy will support the long term transition to a more sustainable pattern of development and the specific targets of the Sustainable Development Strategy. The future financial perspectives, the Structural Funds, the CAP, the R&D framework programmes and all other major strategies and programmes at European level should similarly be required to demonstrate how they are advancing SD Strategy objectives and targets.

In its current form, GDP can no longer be used as a key policymaking yardstick. Progress and human wellbeing should be measured differently than has been the case up to now. The Committee wholeheartedly backs the ongoing development and practical application of progress indicators that go beyond GDP. In that connection, a discussion is also needed about the values the EU wishes to promote.

Contact:Ms Annika Korzinek

(Tel.: 00 32 2 546 80 65 – e-mail: )

• Adapting to climate change: Towards a European framework for action (White Paper)

Rapporteur: Mr Osborn (Various Interests – UK)

References: COM(2009) 147 final – CESE 1707/2009

Key points:

The Committee considers that some of the actions proposed by the Commission do not have sufficient urgency and are not specific enough. In particular the Committee urges:

a stronger role for the co-ordinating European strategy pulling together a set of national adaptation strategies;

a tighter timetable for further development of the strategy giving particular attention to issues or areas that may require the most urgent adaptation measures to be put in place;

the establishment of an independent high level committee or body to monitor progress on mitigation and adaptation in Europe and to draw attention publicly to issues where progress is falling short;

an early effort to quantify the scale of adaptation expenditures that are likely to be needed in Europe (comparable to the admirable efforts that the Commission has already made to quantify developing countries' needs in this regard);

greater effort to engage the public and civil society in developing plans and actions for adaptation.

Contact:Ms Annika Korzinek

(Tel.: 00 32 2 546 80 65 – e-mail: )

• International climate finance: a European blueprint for the Copenhagen deal

Rapporteur-general: Ms Andrei (Various Interests – RO)

References: COM(2009) 475 final – CESE 1708/2009

Key points:

The Committee welcomes these timely proposals and urges the institutions to give urgent consideration to them so that they can indeed help to achieve a successful outcome in Copenhagen. The communication is a good start, as up to now the industrialized countries did not want to put any number for finance on the table.

Climate finance is not to be seen as voluntary aid but as an obligation, enshrined within the UNFCCC Convention Articles, to provide new, additional, adequate and predictable financial resources to developing countries. It is a necessary obligation of industrialised countries to respect the Convention’s principle of ‘common but differentiated responsibility’.

Developing countries need substantial help to fight climate change, as the EU has agreed under the UN Climate Convention.

The EESC is supporting the EU proposal for “fast start” public funding from industrialised countries of € 5 to 7 billion a year for the period before 2013.

The Committee also appreciates the Commission's positive approach towards action to source finance from international aviation and shipping.

On the other hand, there are already strong signals that the EU’s offer is far too low. Many NGOs and UN economists have argued that a conservative estimate for the required financing from developed countries for developing countries amounts to a sum in the region of $150bn per annum (or around €110bn) , during the 2013 – 2017 commitment period.