The need for an industrial Europe/ The EU's future tops the agenda for the EESC's next plenary session

Met dank overgenomen van Europees Economisch en Sociaal Comité (EESC), gepubliceerd op donderdag 24 april 2014.

CES/14/34

24 April 2014

The need for an industrial Europe/ The EU's future tops the agenda for the EESC's next plenary session

At its upcoming plenary session (29-30 April, Charlemagne building, Brussels), the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) will adopt two highly controversial opinions on industry policy and forced labour in the EU.

The EESC plenary will also endorse its position on an Action plan for Europe . Attention will focus on the need for public involvement, the renewal of European governance and a set of concrete measures for the new MEPs and Commission.

The EESC will also adopt an impact study on The working of the Services Directive in the construction sector .

There will be two major debates on:

You can watch the plenary session live at: http://www.eesc.europa.eu

The full agenda is available here .

Opinions to be discussed and put to the vote during the plenary session:

Not all EU citizens can vote in national elections

Despite the fact that the EU treaties state that "every citizen shall have the right to participate in the democratic life of the Union", three million EU citizens living abroad in the EU have no right to vote in national elections either in their country of origin or in the country where they live. Five EU Member States prevent their expat citizens from voting in national elections. In its new opinion on disenfranchisement, the EESC argues that there is a discrepancy between the EU freedom of movement and the fact that certain citizens exercising this right cannot vote in national elections.

Consumer protection and over-indebtedness

Over-indebtedness has grown with the financial crisis, the rising cost of living and the use of cash credit. However, it has not been properly addressed at EU level. The EESC wants to see an appropriate, uniform procedure put in place, including verification of claims, a European framework for usury and preventive measures.

For a European industrial renaissance

According to the EESC, the Commission’s key priorities for industrial policy lack clear vision and strong measures to create an attractive environment for industry in Europe. Without a competitive industrial base, Europe will not secure growth and more jobs. Among other measures, the EESC will propose a reduction in energy prices, more attention for the role of services and a revamp of EU financing for innovation.

Core Network Corridors and the Connecting Europe Facility

On the whole, the EESC values this communication as a useful tool in the implementation of the TEN-T guidelines and for stakeholders, giving them the opportunity to be proactive and optimise their planning. However, there is still room for improvement. With regard to the governance system, for instance, the EESC believes that proper oversight of implementation is vital. The EESC is also concerned about the inadequacy of available EU budgetary resources. The use of alternative financing mechanisms such as project bonds and private public partnerships should be further clarified.

Combating forced labour in the EU and the world

Human trafficking has no place in a civilised society. The EESC's contribution to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) debate with an own-initiative opinion would bring added value, sending a high-level political message from EU civil society regarding the need to fight forced labour, insisting on the need to update the existing ILO conventions and implement preventive and protective measures.

For more information, please contact:

EESC Press Unit

Tel.: +32 2 546 9779

E-mail: press@eesc.europa.eu

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The European Economic and Social Committee represents the various economic and social components of organised civil society. It is an institutional consultative body established by the 1957 Treaty of Rome. Its consultative role enables its members, and hence the organisations they represent, to participate in the EU decision-making process. The Committee has 353 members from across Europe, who are appointed by the Council of the European Union.

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