Publicat pe 26/03/2019

Brussels, March 26^th, 2019: At the request of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the European Economic and Social Committee adopted its opinion on:” The future of the EU: benefits for citizens and respect for European values”.

Adviser to the President of CCIR, Member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) Group III – Diversity Europe, Mr. Mihai Ivaşcu, was the rapporteur for the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee adopted by 147 votes in favor, 6 against and 9 abstentions.

The EESC opinion represents the vision of the European civil society on the Future of the European Union before the summit in Sibiu, that will take place in May 2019.

“The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania also supports and promotes, like the EESC, the increase in research and development investment, as well as the supply of skills and infrastructure necessary for the EU to capitalize on its competitive advantages,” said the CCIR Counselor, Mr. Mihai Ivaşcu.

The opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee, among others, stresses the need to increase convergence between regions and/or the Member States, to promote free, fair and sustainable trade within a multilateral system, to reform the World Trade Organization and to integrate young people into the labor market.

The EESC also argues that representative civil society organizations play a vital role in the development of the European project.

The Union holds the largest single market in the world and the second most widely used currency. It is the largest trading power and accounts for 16.5% of global imports and exports.

Background

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is an EU consultative body of representatives of workers ‘and employers’ organizations and other interest groups. The EESC debates opinions on European issues to the European Commission, the EU Council, and the European Parliament, thus acting as a bridge between the European decision-making institutions and EU citizens.

More than 60 years after the signing of the Treaty of Rome, the Member States are due to adopt a political position on the future of the EU in Sibiu, in May 2019. In the EESC’s view, human dignity and human rights, democracy, freedom, social justice, equality, separation of powers and the rule of law are the values that the EU has built. They must remain non-negotiable and represent the starting point for the reform of the EU and for the political decision in Sibiu. These European values are sometimes considered by default as being understood, or underestimated by populist and Eurosceptic movements.

The official document published by the European Economic and Social Committee here:
https://www.eesc.europa.eu/en/our-work/opinions-information-reports/opinions/future-eu-benefits-citizens-and-respect-european-values-exploratory-opinion-request-romanian-presidency