5.10.2022
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
L 258/119
Environment and sustainability
65.
Welcomes the integration of sustainability, environmental and accessibility standards, including those of the Union eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS), as part of the buildings strategy of the Committee and the CoR; notes that since the setting up of their environmental management system, the Committee and the CoR have taken various actions with the aim of improving the energy performance of their buildings and reducing their carbon footprint; welcomes the creation of the working group dedicated to the Green Deal and is aware that a study on the carbon neutrality of the Committee and the CoR by 2030 is on-going; welcomes the participation of the Committee in Parliament’s offsetting of greenhouse gas emissions’ scheme and that the Committee has a specific budget line to provide the respective appropriations; welcomes the fact that the electricity consumed by the Committee is exclusively provided by green energy from sustainable sources; further encourages the Committee to install solar panels on all buildings in order to increase carbon efficiency;
66.
Notes a number of concrete actions taken to reduce paper use and urges the Committee to adopt a proper paperless policy; welcomes that the amount of paper used per person per day in 2020 decreased by 52 % compared to 2019 and by 81 % compared to 2015;
67.
Welcomes the concrete measures put in place by the Committee to promote the use of sustainable travel modes, such as service bicycles, infrastructure for cyclists and a voucher system to access the car parks in exceptional circumstances; observes that the mobility policy includes a financial contribution for cyclists and for members of staff who have purchased public transport season tickets, while the members of staff benefitting from both contributions relinquish their right to use the parking facilities;
68.
Notes the Committee’s commitment to implement the 17 United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) and to be in line with these goals and the relevant Union strategies; highlights that the Committee has a Sustainable Development Observatory, aimed at promoting sustainability within the Union;
69.
Congratulates the Committee for co-managing the Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform together with the Commission;
Communication and multilingualism
70.
Notes that in October 2019, the Bureau adopted a new Committee logo which reflects the logos of the Union institutions; believes that this change will contribute to the visibility and cohesion of the image of the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies among citizens;
71.
Welcomes that the Committee was able to adapt its communication strategy in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, organising a number of major events and actions online to facilitate its outreach and its contact with stakeholders and citizens; highlights that in July 2020 the Committee, instead of its annual Civil Society Prize, launched a one-off prize called ‘Civil Society Against COVID-19’ to reward not-for-profit initiatives carried out by individuals, civil society organisations and private companies aiming to tackle the COVID-19 crisis and its consequences;
72.
Underlines that all work in relation to the Committee’s opinions and information reports are available in all official languages and that the Committee’s website is compliant with the Union accessibility standards for public sector bodies;
73.
Welcomes the involvement of the Committee in the Conference on the Future of Europe, assisting that democratic exercise in better reaching organised civil society; further encourages the Committee to assist its members in participating in local dialogues with citizens and civil society on European matters;