7 July 2023
On Thursday 6 July 2023, the European Commission presented its fourth Strategic Foresight Report, which analyses how to put ‘sustainability and people's wellbeing at the heart of Europe's Open Strategic Autonomy' and suggests ten concrete actions to achieve this aim.
The 2023 report provides an overview of the current challenges, proposes ten areas for action to achieve a successful transition, and proposes pathways to adjust Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to consider new factors (such as health and the environment). Featuring many references to the provision of services of general interest, the proposed areas for action are, amongst others:
The Foresight Report 2023 will now be presented to EU Member States at the General Affairs Council on 10 July and will be further discussed during the informal European Council in Granada in October 2023.
SGI Europe contributed to the preparation of the Foresight Report 2023 through the participatory workshops organised by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, its response to the call for evidence and its involvement in the preparation of the opinion of the Fit-for-Future platform “Ensuring a future-proof regulatory framework for the Single Market”.
Contact: Maxime Staelens
On Wednesday 5 July 2023, the European Commission’s Directorate General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME) organised a meeting with the signatories of the joint statement on the EU Partnership for Integration (signed on 19 December 2022). The European Commission’s Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL), together with the Directorate General Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW), provided an assessment of the European Commission Recommendation on the recognition of qualifications for people fleeing Russia’s of Ukraine.
The meeting was a perfect occasion to exchange with representatives from the European Commission on this crucial issue, addressing the integration of migrants and refugees into the EU labour market and the recognition and validation of skills and qualifications.
During this meeting, SGI Europe presented the project proposal submitted under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (2021-2027), jointly with all the partners of the EU Partnership for Integration (SGI Europe, ETUC, SME United, Eurochambres and BusinessEurope). SGI Europe is leading this joint project aimed at strengthening the multistakeholder approach to facilitate the integration of migrants and refugees into the EU labour market. The project will involve EU cross-sectoral economic and social partners, as well as various organisations at the national and regional levels.
Contact: Benoît Cassorla
On 5 July, the European Commission adopted two packages to ensure a better and more sustainable use of soil and natural resources and improve the circular economy of textiles and food. These include a new EU Law for Healthy Soil, Plant and Forest Reproductive Materials, resilient food systems with New Genomic Techniques and Reduction measures of food and textile waste and a communication for sustainable use of natural resources.
With these packages, the Commission aims to reach the targets from the Biodiversity Framework and the Zero Pollution Action Plan while proposing for the first time an EU Soil Law, including a harmonised definition of soil health. The proposal also requests that Member States address unacceptable risks for human health and the environment due to soil contamination, guided by the polluter pays principle. Member States will need to identify, investigate, assess and clean up contaminated sites.
Regarding the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles, the Commission proposes a harmonised Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for textiles in all EU Member States. EPR schemes have successfully improved waste management from several products, such as packaging, batteries and electric and electronic equipment. Producers will cover the costs of management of textile waste, which will also give them incentives to reduce waste and increase the circularity of textile products – designing better products from the start. How much producers will pay to the EPR scheme will be adjusted based on the environmental performance of textiles, a principle known as ‘eco-modulation'.
Both topics will be further discussed and addressed in the next SGI Europe’s Environment and Water Task Force meetings after the summer break.
Contact: Henriette Gleau
On Thursday 29 June 2023, the report on the Resilience of critical infrastructures, prepared by the joint EU-NATO Taskforce on the resilience of critical infrastructure, was published. The Taskforce was created on 16 March 2023 in light of the increasing complexity of security threats, including the recurring bombings of critical infrastructure in Ukraine and recent attacks on the German rail and Nordstream.
The report outlines the importance of critical infrastructure, assesses the current security context, and explores four key sectors (energy, transport, digital infrastructure and space) and cross-sectoral considerations. Amongst others, it highlights that energy infrastructure now risks disruption with impacts extending beyond the local area as the digitalisation of the energy sector makes it potentially vulnerable to targeted cyberattacks and general disruptions of digital infrastructure and services. The report recommends diversification of energy sources – including through accelerated rollout of renewables – to strengthen resilience and autonomy.
Regarding the transport sector, the increasing electrification of transport will lead to a greater reliance on the electricity grid, batteries and dependence on other infrastructure, and cyber-risks. The report also points out that 5G networks – and modern telecommunication infrastructures -present a larger vulnerability surface that gives attackers more entry points. Ownership of the digital infrastructure can also increase risks. As it is often owned and operated by private sector companies, it will remain crucial to understand where data is stored and how it is processed.
Contact: Manca Pocivavsek
The European Commission is looking for ways to improve the Quality Framework for Traineeship ahead of the expected launch of a first-stage consultation of social partners on the issue on 15 July. The Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) and Open Evidence support the European Commission in this task. They are preparing a study to assess existing problems and explore options and impacts of a potential new EU initiative on quality traineeships.
Traineeships are common for young people to gain practical and professional experience before taking regular jobs. They improve employability and facilitate transition into regular employment, but are also helpful for employers to find new talent. The Quality Framework for Traineeships (QFT) of 2014 is an EU instrument aiming to improve the quality of traineeships, particularly regarding their learning and training content and working conditions.
As part of the CEPS-Open Evidence study, an ongoing survey has been launched, targeting trade unions, businesses (as traineeship providers) and business associations, public authorities (e.g. ministries, public employment services, etc.), education and training institutions and civil society organisations (e.g. youth associations). You can reply to the survey here. Please note that the responses will be analysed anonymously, and no personal information will be shared or published.
Contact: Guillaume Afellat
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