EEA Consultative Committee adopts resolutions on the new Industrial Strategy and the European Green Deal

Published 18-09-2020
Co-chairs Sigi Langenbahn and Kinga Joó, also co-rapporteur with Jarle Hammerstad adopting the resolution on the European Green Deal
Social partners from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway and members of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) convened on 18 September 2020 in a hybrid meeting in Brussels for the 28th Meeting of the European Economic Area Consultative Committee (EEA CC).

The committee was co-chaired by Sigi Langenbahn from the EFTA Consultative Committee (EFTA CC) and Ms Kinga Jóo from the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). The EEA CC adopted two reports and resolutions on the new Industrial Strategy and on the European Green Deal.

The European Green Deal

The report on the European Green Deal was drafted by the co-rapporteurs, Kinga Jóo (EESC) and Jarle Hammerstad (EFTA CC). The resolution welcomes “the Commission’s overarching ambition to make Europe the first climate neutral continent by 2050” and the EEA CC members call on the EEA EFTA States to “commit themselves to the ambitious agenda of the European Green Deal.”

Also, the resolution states that climate action can and must be handled jointly with the economic recovery and reconstruction from the COVID-19 crisis. On the one hand, the recovery and reconstruction measures must be in accordance with the climate objective. On the other hand, climate action should be tackled so as to minimise costs and generate economic benefits.

Find the report and resolution in full here.

The new Industrial Strategy

The report on the EU’s new Industrial Strategy and the EEA was co-drafted by Petr Zahradník (EESC) and Dagný Aradóttir Pind (EFTA CC). The resolution points out that “the new Industrial Strategy – as part of the European Green Deal which is Europe’s new growth strategy – must ensure the right balance between supporting businesses, respecting the 2050 climate neutrality objective and providing consumers with incentives to shift consumption to sustainable goods and services.”

Moreover, the resolution stresses that the transition must benefit European citizens, workers, companies and society as a whole. The major economic changes necessary to save the planet from climate change need the full support and confidence from the civil society for them to be facilitated.

Find the whole report and resolution here.

Find all Reports and Resolutions of the EEA Consultative Committee here.

The EEA CC also received briefings on the latest developments of the EEA Agreement and current EU/EEA EFTA issues by Sabine Monauni, President and EFTA Chair of the EEA Joint Committee (Ambassador of Liechtenstein to the EU) and Clara Ganslandt, EU Chair of the EEA Joint Committee (EEAS). Andri Lúthersson, EFTA Deputy Secretary-General, also briefed the Committee on relations with the UK.

 

Asdis Olafsdottir
Head of Information and Communication
Secretary-General's Office

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