The Bulgarian presidency of the Council of the EU has requested the EESC to prepare an exploratory opinion on how to best promote SMEs in Europe with a special focus on a horizontal legislative SME approach and respect of the SBA's "think small first".
Download — Γνωμοδότηση της ΕΟΚΕ: Promoting SMEs in Europe with a special focus on a horizontal legislative SME approach and respect of the SBA's "think small first" (Exploratory opinion requested by the Bulgarian Presidency)
The EESC believes that the collaborative economy may offer a new opportunity for growth and development for the countries of the EU. The Committee underlines that given the particularly fluid and rapid nature of change in this sector, it is crucial for fiscal regulatory systems and tax regimes to be adapted in an intelligent and flexible way. The EESC urges the Commission and the Member States to work together to adopt an overall legal framework for the collaborative economy that can coordinate and standardise the tax rules that apply to these new forms of economic activity.
Download — Γνωμοδότηση της ΕΟΚΕ: Taxation of the collaborative economy – analysis of possible tax policies faced with the growth of the collaborative economy (exploratory opinion requested by the Estonian presidency)
The EESC supports the Report on Competition Policy for 2016 on the whole, but believes that EU competition policy requires better definition and that it is often out of step with other EU policies that influence it. It also calls on the Commission to establish genuinely effective corrective measures in the area of mergers and concentrations.
Download — Γνωμοδότηση της ΕΟΚΕ: Report on Competition Policy 2016
The situation concerning economic, social and cultural rights is quite patchy in the Euro-Mediterranean region. Although some countries, in the wake of what has been called the Arab spring, drew up new constitutions enshrining some of these rights in legislation for the very first time, the rights have not always been respected. In certain other countries, these rights have been weakened since 2011.The aim of this information report would be to give an overview of the current situation as regards economic, social and cultural rights in the Euro-Mediterranean region, as well as pinpointing new avenues for work in the future. This report would be submitted at the Euromed Summit of Economic and Social Councils and would enable us to work together with our counterparts from the Mediterranean countries.
Download — Γνωμοδότηση της ΕΟΚΕ: Economic, social and cultural rights in the Euro-Mediterranean region (own-initiative opinion)
A number of topical industrial developments and trends are currently at the focus of attention. At the same time it should be recognised that people must live everywhere in Europe, including in many regions that these innovative trends are not likely to reach even in the next 50 years. Without undermining their importance and while supporting the political efforts promoting these trends, it is necessary to recall that these businesses are the key element in the creation of new activity and value in resource-constrained areas and are crucial to enhancing economic prosperity and cohesion across Europe. Against this background, the main objective of the opinion is to identify and analyse the particular challenges these businesses face and find solutions and possibilities to support them.
Download — Γνωμοδότηση της ΕΟΚΕ: The potential of small family and traditional businesses to boost development and economic growth in the regions (own-initiative opinion)
The EESC agrees with the Commission's proposal to develop the governance of the customs union, but believes that establishing it in a comprehensive way requires multilevel reform and resolute action on the technical front. It also considers that a switch to automated central clearance is needed.
Download — Γνωμοδότηση της ΕΟΚΕ: Application of State aid rules for compensating the provision of services of general economic interest (Decision 2012/21/UE and Community Framework) (own-initiative opinion)
