European Economic and Social Committee
REQUEST TO DRAW UP AN OWN-INITIATIVE OPINION OR INFORMATION REPORT
Requesting body:
Section for Economic and Monetary Union and Economic
and Social Cohesion
Subject:
Innovation as an instrument of economic and social
development in the European Union
1.
Background and objectives of the own-initiative opinion (Rule 29(2))
2015 has seen a drive to promote economic and social development in the EU's Member States and
the Union as a whole. Obstacles to promoting development have actually increased for political and
foreign policy reasons, and the future has become more uncertain. It is due to the Member States
themselves and therefore also the Union, that the means of improving this difficult situation have not
been exhausted, let alone fully identified. One of these approaches is the application of innovation in
planning and above all in achieving economic and social targets. Building the Innovation Union is an
important element of the Europe 2020 strategy, and the EESC should also encourage this effort.
2.
Previous EESC work on the subject, if any
The Committee has been involved in many ways – mainly through opinions and development projects
– in consolidating and implementing the Europe 2020 strategy over the past few years, and thus also
emphasised the importance of education and research. Civil society organisations have been
extensively involved in these projects.
3.
Compliance of request with the Committee's political priorities and/or links with
current European political developments of particular importance
If the goals are to be achieved, it is an absolute priority for civil society to really be brought on board
in a common economic and social policy to promote growth. If, all being well, the outcome of the
Paris climate conference is positive, the time will have come to focus on strengthening the economies
of the Member States based on sustainable development approaches. This will mean being open to
and positive about innovations and about using them to create products and services and in modern
distribution systems. Successful innovations and increased productivity depend on adequate education
and above all on high-quality scientific research and the product development it generates.
4.
Arrangements for involving civil society organisations in the preparation of the opinion
The EU is currently one of the most developed regions of the world measured by the quantity and
quality of innovations. But global competition is tough, and productivity growth cannot be achieved
on sustainable principles without new intellectual investment in both research and product
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development. Civil society will then be needed both to develop models and to promote application of
research findings. The EESC's member organisations have a lot of potential to offer here.
5.
Planned or envisaged institutional follow-up
Since the subject of the opinion, innovation, is an important part of the Europe 2020 strategy, it would
also be relevant to future EU decision-making.
6.
Expected impact and potential added value of the opinion in the context of EU decisionand policy-making
The opinion would highlight the views and ideas of civil society and have them feed in to decisionmaking.
7.
Clear interest for civil society
It is important that civil society organisations themselves be able as far as possible to determine how
research, product development and distribution systems evolve and that public feedback be taken into
account in enhancing production and productivity and creating a healthy environment. It is also
important to listen to academia and those funding research, i.e. not just social stakeholders and
political decision-makers but also private funders, including foundations.
8.
Planned or envisaged communication activities to promote the own-initiative opinion or
information report
In addition to the Committee opinion and possible statements on the issue, publications could include
reports by both civil society organisations and academia and research communities. Implementation
of the innovation union must also be closely monitored.
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