OREANDA-NEWS. At the 505th plenary session of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Jean-Claude Juncker will present his propositions of the EC's policy in the years ahead and discuss both the Committee's expectations and the key points of its contribution its contribution to the 2015 work programme.

The meeting will also focus on the development of the 2020 Strategy. Guntram Wolff, Director of Bruegel, a European think tank, will present an analysis of economic and social issues and the main challenges for civil society with a view to the mid-term review. 

EESC plenary session – 18 and 19 February 2015

with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker

Charlemagne building (European Commission), De Gasperi room (3rd floor), Brussels

Opinions to be discussed include:

  • Annual Growth Survey (Rapporteur: Mr Lobo Xavier)

The EESC welcomes the European Commission's intentions of refreshing European policies as proposed in the Annual Growth Survey. With a view to the Investment Plan, however, it is crucial to establish  appropriate conditions for partnership-based investment involving both the private and public sectors. Regarding the financial responsibility, greater uniformity is required in the presentation of Member States' budgetary situations in order to simplify comparisons and streamline the process of finding solutions.

  • Progress on the 2020 strategy and how to achieve its targets (Rapporteur: Mr Barath) 

Linking the 2020 Strategy to the "Digital Agenda for Europe" flagship initiative is an important step, but it also has to be more closely connected with the Investment Plan. Furthermore, investments supported by the Structural and Cohesion Funds have to be brought in line with the European Fund for Strategic Investments while sustainability has to be the focus of all projects. For the sake of better governance, there should be a "one-stop shop" to ensure effective coordination and rationalisation of tasks and procedures.

  • Role of cooperative and savings banks in territorial cohesion (Rapporteur: Mr Trias Pinto) 

It is vital to preserve the "biodiversity" of the financial system and the EESC applauds the European Commission for having considered the specific features of cooperative and savings banks in the new financial regulation framework. The EESC recommends the use of objective parameters that justify a calibrated regulation for each business model. It proposes that the financial authorities should offer incentives to those actors who best comply with strong ethical standards and codes of good governance, which should apply to all kinds of banks.

We look forward to welcoming you to the plenary session.