EESC: FEEDBACK FROM THE GROUND IS THE MOST ADDED VALUE WE CAN BRING INTO THE EU LEGISLATIVE PROCESS

A couple of weeks ago, CEBRE asked me to write an article regarding my role in the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). After 2 and a half years, I am at the mid-way point of the EESC mandate which gives me a good opportunity to look back and assess my work in the Committee.

My engagement in Brussels business lobby started in 2007, since that time I have been serving as a representative of the Czech Chamber of Commerce to Eurochambres (European association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry) and as alternate to the Czech Members in the EESC Employers´ group till I became EESC Member in 2020. The EESC consists of 3 groups: Employers (Group I), Trade Unions (Group II) and Civil society organisations (Group III). As a representative of the Czech Chamber of Commerce, I am part of the Employers’ Group.

Being a new EESC Member, it is a great discovery for me. Despite the difficult start, during the COVID-19 pandemic, I have quite enjoyed the first half of the mandate. Going back to face-to-face meetings after being behind a screen or wearing masks for so long has finally made my engagement much more interesting and allowed me to get connected with other Members and stakeholders. The EESC Members work on opinions in study groups and then vote on the draft opinions at Section level and adopt them at plenary. The process, similar to that of the European Parliament, requires regular meetings with EU institutions, stakeholders and also other Members in order to discuss the proposed texts or tabled amendments.

I am a Member of two Sections – INT (Single Market, Production and Consumption) and TEN (Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society). Apart from these Sections, I am involved in Energy Thematic Group, SME Category, Ethical Committee and Commission for Financial and Budgetary Affairs.

In the last two years, I have been particularly active in the TEN Section and have undersigned more than 10 opinions as rapporteur or co-rapporteur. They were all linked to energy issues, e.g., REPowerEU, reform of electricity market design, security of energy supply and energy efficiency directive. Most of them were opinions as referrals requested by the European Commission but I also had a chance to be the rapporteur on the opinion requested by the Czech presidency on the role of nuclear energy in the stability of energy prices. This opinion was a difficult one as it opened a Pandora’s box in civil society, but I managed to deliver a response to the Czech presidency and the conclusions were presented at the last European Nuclear Energy Forum (ENEF) in Prague. The Energy crisis certainly contributed to a change in the narrative about nuclear energy and I am looking forward to participating at the next ENEF forum to be held in Bratislava in the autumn.

Recently, I had another great experience working on the resolution and report about energy resilience in the European Economic Area in view of the geopolitical landscape. The text was adopted by the EEA Consultative Committee and included in the agenda of the EEA Council held on 24 May 2023. This shows that the EESC can deliver a valuable input to the ministers’ discussions. Currently I’m working on my own opinion, analysing the impact of the energy crisis on the European economy, which is to be adopted at the June plenary together with my other opinion on REMIT. Adopted EESC opinions are published in the EU Official Journal and then presented to the EU institutions by rapporteurs.

Rather than simply shaking their hands, I prefer to explain our concerns to the Commission and Council representatives as well as to the Members of the European Parliament. As rapporteur for a series of energy-linked opinions, I had a chance to meet and exchange views with European Parliament rapporteurs as well as with EU agencies, stakeholders, and media. A rapporteurs’ role is to present the opinions to the public, as I did at numerous conferences and through articles for Euractiv and other media.

My active involvement in the TEN Section activities certainly contributed to the fact that Group I Members put trust in me and elected me as Vice-President of the TEN. This is a political role inside the Committee which supposes supporting the activities of the Members from my group and raise the voice of businesses within the Section.

Aside from TEN opinions, I have contributed to several from the INT Section, mainly in the digital area. Besides that, I also tabled amendments at Section and plenary level, for instance regarding F-gases. The input of my work comes from my home organisation and I use the input of our Chamber Members as much as possible. Feedback from the ground is the most valuable asset and, in my view, the most added value the EESC can bring into the EU legislative process. It brings more reality into the “Brussels bubble”.

That is also why, we as the Czech delegation in the Employers’ group brought other Members to Ostrava – the Czech coal mining region. The aim was to showcase a region in transition. This event was organised during the Czech presidency in the Council of the EU. Another great success was the event organised by the Czech Chamber of Commerce together with the EESC on the packaging proposal, shortly after its publication by the European Commission.

My goal in the EESC is to create bridges between the EU institutions and civil society. Only if both sides listen to each other will the EU legislation work in practice. I am pleased to combine my work in the EESC with my role of a delegate to Eurochambres. These worlds are interconnected. A notable achievement of the Czech Chamber of Commerce at the EU level this year, was that Vladimír Dlouhý, its President, became a President of Eurochambres. I am honoured to help President Dlouhý in his European engagement.

And what is ahead of me? I am looking forward to the June working trip to Luleå, a city in the northernmost county in Sweden, the home of several major innovations and technological milestones, including the production of fossil-free steel. At the same time, the upcoming change of EU institutions mandate will be an interesting period and the role of business organisations will be to shape the future political debate to allow businesses the breathing space they need to drive Europe’s prosperity.