27.4.2023
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
C 146/5
1.4.
However, the EESC is very concerned about the serious negative, economic, occupational and social effects of the energy transition in the short and medium terms.
These are being exacerbated by the current crisis of the war in Ukraine and the economic situation (high inflation).
Rising energy prices have affected the most vulnerable households, as well as many companies across the EU.
High energy bills increase companies’ costs and have an impact on their production and employment levels, forcing them into restructuring plans.
This is evidence that energy policy and its changes are substantial for the adjustment and balance of the labour market actors, employees as well as employers.
It is therefore necessary that the energy market has to be stabilised very soon and its future to be managed through the new rules which should integrate the double green and digital transition, resilience and competitiveness.
1.5.
In order to correct or mitigate these negative effects of the energy transition in the current context of fresh emergencies, the EESC proposes that Member States consider appropriate ways to have labour market policies better integrated into regulatory frameworks and environment and energy policies (sustainable, high-quality employment incentives as value added by the energy transition; funds for sharing the costs of restructuring processes, whether temporary or permanent; reskilling programmes to improve employability in a decarbonised economy, etc.) and into social welfare policies (securing universal access to energy services, providing access to replacement income and adequate minimum income, etc.).
This integration, as part of the national measures to implement the action plan for the European Pillar of Social Rights, should always be achieved through social dialogue and collective bargaining, subject to the autonomy and diversity of the different industrial relations systems of each state.
1.6.
Given the great complexity of these challenges, the EESC proposes prioritising the connections between the issues of the energy transition, labour markets and regional development, as part of a renewed (economic, social and territorial) cohesion policy.
While the relation between the EU energy policy and the labour market in a regional context is relevant for all EU regions, a specific case can be found in the Just Transition Regions, having a strong conventional energy background with an impact to connecting industries.
To this end, useful indicators, such as the decarbonisation employment potential (DEP) indicator, should be taken into account.
In order to effectively meet the objectives of climate policy and the energy transition, the EESC reiterates its firm belief that the Just Transition Mechanism needs to be used more effectively, taking into account a pace compatible with the situation of small and large enterprises.
It is necessary to carry out under these conditions new complementary regional measures, in order to preserve as many jobs as possible and ensure that new jobs are good quality.
This must always — in practice or in effect — involve social dialogue and collective bargaining, as well as social economy entities.
The Commission should promote this greater social dimension.
Any measures or policies considered must always be formulated in a manner that respects the features of national industrial relations systems as well as the roles, competences and autonomy of social partners.
1.7.
The EESC calls on the Commission and the Parliament, the Member States and the regions of the EU to involve the social partners and other civil society organisations in a more innovative and effective way in designing and implementing energy transition policies with high added value in terms of employment and social protection, and in monitoring and assessing them.
The territorial imbalances in this area have been revealed in the relevant case studies, and the Commission and the Member States, through social dialogue and social economy involvement, are therefore called on to take measures to facilitate more balanced territorial and socioeconomic development.
For example, consultation processes and, where appropriate, social compacts to ensure an economic, labour and socially just energy transition can be promoted.
1.8.
The EESC accepts the need to strengthen both public and private investment policies, as well as social compensation policies, in the current geopolitical crisis, given the negative effects on the competitiveness of large EU companies and SMEs and on the most vulnerable households.
Among other mechanisms, the use of the REPowerEU plan under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) is encouraged to stabilise market conditions and ensure supply to all European citizens.
This urgent need must be tackled with more economic and social investment measures (e.g. support to offset higher business costs, guarantee of resources to prevent energy poverty, etc.), but without reducing the decarbonisation targets set, because the effects of further slowing down the process would be worse than of speeding it up in the medium and long terms.
1.9.
The EESC believes that both large companies and SMEs have an important role to play in meeting the energy transition objective, using demanding conditions for promoting sustainable, high-quality employment and social protection, as well as ensuring access to energy services for all (e.g. through the prevention of energy poverty).
However, in order to address the greatest difficulties faced by SMEs, the EESC calls for programmes giving SMEs access to finance to be improved, streamlined and simplified, with ongoing assistance and support services.