Proposals and Topics

On this page, you will find a summary description of all the Conference proposals and the corresponding specific measures. These follow the order of the nine CoFE themes. To select a theme, please click on the right- side menu. It will first display the proposals for each theme, followed by a summary description of the corresponding measures.

3. A stronger economy, social justice and jobs

Proposals

· Sustainable Growth and innovation
· Enhancing EU's competitiveness and further deepening the Single Market
· Inclusive labour markets
· Stronger social policies
· Demographic transition
· Fiscal and tax policies

Sustainable Growth and innovation: The Conference Plenary proposals call on the EU to shift to a sustainable and resilient growth model, considering the green and digital transitions with a strong social dimension in the European Semester, and empowering citizens, trade unions and businesses. They also suggest boosting European technology and innovation to make it a viable alternative to foreign technologies, including payment systems and single currency.

Enhancing EU's competitiveness and further deepening the Single Market: The EU economy should become more resilient, competitive and strategically independent, to this end citizens propose promoting entrepreneurial culture where innovative businesses of all sizes, and in particular Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), as well as start-ups are encouraged and can thrive and contribute to more resilient and cohesive societies.

Inclusive labour markets and stronger social policies: The Conference Plenary propose to improve the functioning of labour markets so that they ensure fairer working conditions and promote gender equality, employment, including that of young people and vulnerable groups. The EU, Member States and social partners need to work to end in-work poverty, address the rights of platform workers, ban un-paid internships and ensure fair labour mobility in the EU. The proposals suggest that social policy should focus on reducing inequalities and tackling poverty including child poverty and social exclusion. The EU competences should be strengthened in proposing harmonised legislation and minimum requirements to promote social policies and ensure equality of rights, including health.

Fiscal and tax policies: strengthening the EU own budget through new own resources. Proposals point to moving taxation away from people and SMEs and target tax evaders, big polluters and the digital giants.