The European Economic and Social Committee underlined that Rio+20 must rise to the challenge of paving the way for a new economic order, where sustainability and not just GDP will play a key role, during a debate with Janez Potočnik, the EU Commissioner for the Environment, and Ricardo Neiva Tavares, Head of the Mission of Brazil to the EU.

The Commissioner Potočnik made clear at the debate held at the EESC that Rio+20 could not succeed without the constructive input of civil society. The Commissioner stressed such point to the EESC president Steffan Nilsson and Ricardo Neiva Tavares, Head of the Mission of Brazil to the EU in a debate held at the EESC. In addition, the EESC president assured the Commissioner that the Committee, as a representative of European organised civil society, was ready to take on this challenge.

At the EESC meeting, the Commissioner presented the new Roadmap for a resource-efficient Europe, which was adopted in September 2011. The Roadmap is a plan for implementing the flagship initiative on the same subject under the Europe 2020 strategy, aimed at bringing about a truly sustainable European economy by 2050. It focuses on activities with the greatest impact on resources and highlights measures for reducing consumption whilst at the same time proposing indicators for measuring progress. Besides the EESC suggested that the Rio+20 conference should adopt a mandate for a "green economy" which could be pursued by the UN. This mandate should establish the global framework of targets, measures and policy tools needed for successful transition to a sustainable economy, which would then be used for specific national strategies. On the other hand, the Committee of Regions recently stressed the need to have the municipalities involved in these proposals.

Two opinions were presented at the meeting with the Commissioner. According to one of them, the Heads of State needed to agree upon common sustainability goals at the Rio+20 Conference to guide the necessary shift to a green economy with a strong focus on social inclusion and environmental viability. In addition, EESC members agreed that this transformation would not happen without the active involvement of organised civil society.