The President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Séamus Boland, stated on Tuesday at the Forum Europa in Brussels that the 2028–2034 EU budget “will not fulfil its purpose” due to the way it has been drawn up, and predicted that it will widen the gap between the EU and its citizens.
EESC calls for the housing crisis to be declared an emergency and for action to be taken accordingly
The President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Séamus Boland, called on European authorities on Tuesday at the Forum Europa in Brussels to “declare the housing crisis an emergency and act accordingly”, with the necessary administrative measures and financial backing to start seeing results.
“I would like to see Member States, both at European level and within the Council of Europe, decide that we are facing an emergency. I myself would consider it an emergency”, Boland emphasised at a breakfast briefing organised by New Economy Forum in the EU capital.
The President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Séamus Boland, called on Tuesday at the Forum Europa in Brussels for “swift action” in the face of rising energy prices and warned that, otherwise, “Europe will be furious”.
At a breakfast briefing organised by New Economy Forum in the EU capital, Boland explained that this surge is “closely linked to global geopolitics” and the war in Ukraine, and is therefore plunging Europe “into a very serious situation”, with fuel prices “around 50 or 60 cents or perhaps more, higher than a year ago”.
The President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Séamus Boland, commented on Tuesday at the Forum Europa in Brussels that “Europe could have come together more to support Spain” with its migration issues over the summer –referring to the mass influx of migrants into Ceuta– and warned that “this situation should not be repeated”.
The Chair of the European Round Table for Industry (ERT), Sir Jonathan Symonds CBE, warned on Tuesday at the Forum Europa in Brussels that “energy insecurity” is “the most significant risk” currently facing businesses on the continent.
During his speech at this event organised by New Economy Forum in the EU capital, Symonds pointed out that energy is a major cause for concern for companies in the current geopolitical climate and must be treated as a priority issue to be resolved by EU institutions.
The Chair of the European Round Table for Industry (ERT), Sir Jonathan Symonds CBE, argued on Tuesday at the Forum Europa in Brussels for a “nuanced and sector-specific” approach to the EU’s trade policy with China, on the grounds that a one-size-fits-all tariff policy could have more negative consequences than benefits.
During his speech at this event organised by New Economy Forum in the EU capital, Symonds argued that “we must be very careful that, in trying to protect Europe, we do not inflict greater harm through retaliatory measures against China”.
The president of the European Round Table for Industry (ERT), Jonathan Symonds, called on Tuesday at the Forum Europa in Brussels for the EU to deliver without delay on the major promises contained in the "roadmap" presented by the European Commission during this legislative term, because "the clock is ticking" and Europe’s industrial base "is eroding day by day".
Back in September 2025, New Economy Forum began the celebration of its 25th Anniversary with a special ceremony, where they proudly presented the Forum Europa Prize to Mr. António Costa, President of the European Council.
The president of the European employers’ organisation BusinessEurope, Maciej Witucki, called at the Forum Europa in Brussels for an end to the perception that the European Union is “a bubble”, as he believes it is “the only path to success for 450 million Europeans”.
At this event organised by New Economy Forum in the EU capital, Witucki criticised the fact that national politicians often portray Brussels as imposing measures and urged them to highlight the positive changes it drives, citing mobile phone roaming as an example.
The president of the European employer's organisation BusinessEurope, Maciej Witucki, spoke at the Forum Europa in Brussels, expressing his conviction that Ukraine's potential integration into the European Union represents “a great opportunity” from an economic perspective as well.
Witucki made these remarks at the event organised by New Economy Forum in the EU capital, where he argued that the benefits of integrating the country into the “European family” go beyond defence.