Looking ahead: A Dynamic start to the New Year for the TEN Section

As 2025 begins, the European Parliament and Commission, which took office last year, are working closely with the Council of the EU. This year, Poland holds the rotating Presidency, with Denmark set to take over later in the year. Together, they will tackle pressing issues shaping Europe’s future.

The TEN Section is kicking off the year with an ambitious line-up of activities. The recent debate on the Dual-Use of the Trans-European Transport Network: Are We Prepared for Crisis Situations? explored comprehensive strategies for readiness, focusing on the integration of civilian and military uses of transport networks. In a recent report, Sauli Niinistö, former President of Finland and Special Adviser to the President of the European Commission, stressed that strengthening Europe’s preparedness requires a holistic approach. He highlighted that true comprehensive readiness must extend beyond military hardware to encompass broader aspects of Europe’s defense and resilience.

EESC Bureau Approves Key Own-Initiative Opinions

I am proud to announce that the EESC Bureau has approved our proposal for own-initiative opinions. These will address crucial issues such as:

1. Tackling price hikes in transport, energy, and housing,
2. Planning sustainable urban mobility across the EU, and
3. Moving towards a balanced and sustainable European energy system.

I eagerly anticipate the insightful discussions these initiatives will generate and wish the study groups every success in their important work. 

I encourage you to visit the TEN Section site to stay informed about our activities and upcoming events.

Conference on "Offshore Power for E-Fuels: Boosting the New Hydrogen Economy"

| Pärnu (Estonia), 12 November 2024

The conference in Pärnu, Estonia, co-organized in November by the EESC and local Estonian partners, brought together experts, policymakers, and industry leaders from across Europe. The event served as a lively platform for discussions on advancing sustainable hydrogen initiatives, offering recommendations for lawmakers and key grassroots actors. The conclusions emphasize the need for a strong R&I ecosystem to accelerate renewable hydrogen, an effective financial mechanism to support hydrogen infrastructure, and the importance of regional renewable resources, local communities, and workforce skills development in driving progress.

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Debate on Gender equality in the energy sector 

| Brussels, 14 November 2024

On 14 November, the TEN Section hosted a debate on Gender Equality in the Energy Sector as part of Equality Week. This discussion was also linked to the TEN study on Gender-Disaggregated data on Energy Poverty.

Dr. Nadia Horstmann, Vice-Chair of the ICER Women in Energy Group and representative of CEER/BNetzA, shared the findings of National Energy Regulatory Authorities on women's participation in the energy sector. Ms. Carmen Oprea from DG ENER presented findings from the ASSET study on gender-disaggregated data and Ms. Maria Nikolopoulou, Vice-President of the EESC Equality Group, presented the ongoing initiatives of the Group.

The discussion underscored that while formal rules do not hinder women's participation, other factors often discourage women from assuming equal roles in certain areas. Unlocking the full potential of women in the energy sector is not only a matter of equality but also critical for achieving a fairer and more inclusive transition, benefiting society as a whole.

Conference "For an EU commitment to tackling rare diseases"

| Budapest (Hungary), 29 November 2024

On 29 November 2024, the TEN and SOC Sections hosted a conference in Budapest to push for a European policy framework on rare diseases. Bringing together diverse stakeholders - civil society, patient organisations, healthcare professionals, researchers, and EU institutions - the event underscored ongoing efforts since 2004. It highlighted the EESC’s exploratory opinion Leaving No One Behind: European Commitment to Tackling Rare Diseases, which calls on the European Commission to publish a 2025-2029 action plan to address rare diseases through integrated strategies across healthcare, research, and social protection. Read the full conclusions.

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Housing Forum

| Brussels, 5 December 2024

The EESC's December plenary session highlighted the urgent need for decent, sustainable, and affordable housing across the EU. In its own-initiative opinion Social housing in the EU – decent, sustainable and affordable, the EESC calls for social housing to be recognized as a key tool in active housing policies. It urges enshrining the fundamental right to affordable housing in EU law and addresses housing market failures through better coordination, funding, and the ‘Housing First’ approach for the homeless. The opinion was presented at the EESC's first-ever Housing Forum, bringing together key stakeholders to tackle the housing crisis. 

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Empowering Civil Society: EESC Members' Active Role in EURAD-2 Activities

| Brussels, 5 December 2024

Following the successful EESC-European Commission join event "Radioactive Waste Management – A Civil Society Perspective" on 17 October 2024, the launch of the Euratom Partnership on Radioactive Waste Management (EURAD-2) and the adoption of the EESC's own-initiative opinion Radioactive waste management: a civil society perspective, the European Commission (DG RTD) invited the EESC to appoint a permanent delegation of three members to participate in EURAD-2 activities.

The EESC representatives will engage in civil society groups, contributing to activities that aim to enhance safety, foster mutual trust, and promote meaningful engagement in the critical area of radioactive waste management.

Dual-Use of Trans-European Transport Network: Are We Prepared for Crisis Situations?

| Brussels, 14 January 2025

Together with high-level speakers, TEN Section members underlined the strategic importance of a comprehensive use of transport, in particular the TEN-T network, to step up the European Union’s capability to respond to present and future crises. The EU must look beyond military hardware and adopt a broader approach to its defence if it wants to achieve thorough preparedness. The future vision must include greater civilian-military cooperation and forward-looking dual-use planning of physical infrastructure and administrative regulation.

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Preliminary debate on the EU Space Law

| Brussels, 5 February 2025

Space is vital for the EU, impacting transport, communication, energy, and security. However, the EU space sector faces challenges from financing, fragmented governance, and lack of coordination, risking strategic dependencies. The EESC is organising a preliminary debate during the next TEN Section meeting, to discuss the upcoming Commission proposal of an EU Space Law, its plan to ensure a unified framework and its impact on civil society.

Permanent Group on Services of General Interest

| Warsaw (Poland), 6 March 2025

On 6 March in Warsaw, the Permanent Group on Services of General Interest will be organising a seminar with Korczak University and the Polish EAPN Committee on housing-related services of general interest, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups such as the elderly, people with disabilities and the homeless, under the patronage of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Towards a balanced European energy system

Europe’s energy system is increasingly unbalanced due to intermittent renewable sources like wind and solar, often relying on fossil fuels for stability. Achieving balance is key for energy reliability, climate goals, economic growth, and technological innovation. This own-initiative opinion will explore how Member States can integrate renewables while ensuring system stability and advancing decarbonisation, focusing on managing intermittent energy effectively.

How can a comprehensive housing policy reduce the cost-of-living crisis in the EU? 

The current cost of living crisis and the growing concern of many European citizens about the availability, affordability and sustainability of decent housing has led Mrs Von der Leyen to appoint a Commissioner for Energy and Housing. This own-initiative opinion will contribute to this objective in order to improve the lives of European citizens. 

Planning sustainable urban mobility in the EU 

Planning sustainable urban mobility is a top challenge for cities, especially given financial constraints. Local authorities must balance competing priorities: ensuring a high quality of life, fostering social inclusivity, and creating a thriving business environment.

In an own-initiative opinion, the TEN Section will dive into Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) as a powerful tool to enhance mobility while addressing the negative impacts of transport on society, health, and the environment. The opinion will explore the current state of SUMP implementation, highlight tools to support Member States and local authorities, and emphasize the importance of financial, organizational, and participatory resources in developing effective plans.
 

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