Европейски икономически и социален комитет
SMEs are the backbone of the EU economy and have been placed in the focus of European policy following the adoption of the Small Business Act in 2008. This study makes a comprehensive overview of EU support initiatives for SMEs in the period 2007-2015 with the aim to assess the effectiveness of EU SME policies – both in terms of their formulation and implementation.
Digitalisation is transforming business landscapes and the world of work, and redefining the boundaries of production, consumption and distribution. This has created tremendous opportunities, as new products, processes and techniques have emerged, but has also created threats, as new ways of employment pose new challenges to employers and employees. The overall consequences on labour markets are, however, still highly uncertain, which is reflected in the wide variation in the outcomes of the existing research.
The publication is a summary of the conference "Does the EU encourage private sector investment" that took place on 11 May 2017 in Valletta, Malta. The conference was jointly organised by the Employers' Group of the European Economic and Social Committee and all major Maltese employers' organisations: Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, Malta Employers' Association (MEA), Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) and Malta Chamber of SMEs (GRTU).
This study shows that the Almunia package has led to substantial improvements in clarity and legal certainty as regards the provision of SGEIs and state aid. It has achieved the right balance between the need to foster and support SGEIs and the objective of preventing potential distortions in competition.
In recent years, REFIT and the institutional agreement on Better Regulation have focused on reducing regulatory burdens, increasing the number of impact analyses, and wide-ranging consultations. As a result, the legislative process has ground to a halt. Having mapped and quantified the EU acquis, the Commission is preparing to launch a targeted deregulation with the aim of reducing regulatory burdens.
Balancing economic benefits and ethical questions of Big Data in the EU policy context
The focus of the study is to analyse the progress of the Jobs, Growth and Investment Package and its contribution towards promoting more sustainable and inclusive growth. The study is based on the concept of inclusive growth, derived from the development literature: it not only states that growth with equity is possible, but also that equity is necessary for growth.
The presence of mass immigration in the Southern Mediterranean region of Europe requires the development of new instruments in the field of social security coordination. Many of the existing problems associated with coordinating social security systems have been resolved, until now, through bilateral agreements between Member States and MED countries. However, it is practically impossible for all 28 Member States to individually initiate negotiations with all MED countries or vice versa.
The study examines international reports for culture's impact on European cities and its use as a tool for regeneration and development. It provides an overview of the factors in EU city development linked to culture and identity through selective qualitative and quantitative analysis. Culture is examined thematically in terms of its use as a vehicle for economic growth, a tool for reconverting cities, for integration and inclusiveness, and as a pillar of European identity.
This Study brings light to the economic factors that contribute to sustainable growth in the European Union (EU) and investigates the political feasibility of economic reforms enhancing such factors. It also explores the aspects influencing competitiveness and fostering convergence and cohesion at EU and Member State levels.
