The EESC wants the conditions be created for an efficient, modern financial services sector with appropriate regulations, which grants access to capital providers by companies seeking investment, especially SMEs and high growth companies, and finds it of utmost importance to overcome the current fragmentation of the markets.
Since a Capital Markets Union (CMU) is to a significant extent a reality for large companies, the EESC stresses the need for measures that will also allow SMEs to benefit from it, for example through accepting simplified standardised criteria for registration on regulated markets, and providing a definition of an emerging growth and high growth company and devoting special attention to the needs of such companies on the capital market.
The EESC endorses the Energy Union and considers its implementation urgent – this could lead to making energy the fifth EU freedom. At the same time, the Committee stresses the need for a clearer message a leading vision – on what European citizens and enterprises will gain from the Energy Union. It also underlines that the Commission, when preparing proposals for reviews of energy legislation, as outlined in the roadmap, should avoid inconsistencies and increasing costs but rather try to simplify processes. The Committee recommends that the most urgent priority, notwithstanding the importance of security of supply and the sustainability, should be action on energy costs.
Download — EESC opinion: The Energy Union strategic framework
The Neighbourhood policy is high on the agenda of the EESC's external relations priorities. This opinion will provide the contribution of the Committee to this consultation process as a first step, to be followed by a reaction to the Commission document that will be issued in the 2nd semester of 2015.
Download — EESC opinion: Towards a new European neighbourhood policy
The Employment Guidelines cover job creation, skills supply, well-functioning labour markets, social protection and fighting poverty. They should set quantified objectives for employment and poverty reduction, and support entrepreneurship and the social economy. Public investment should not be considered as expenditure. Workers' mobility should safeguard the transferability of their social rights.
The Food and drink Industry is the largest manufacturing sector in the EU economy employing directly 4.25 million workers in the EU. It is a non-cyclical and resilient pillar with a strong presence in all member states. It processes 70% of EU agriculture produce and provides safe, quality and nutritious food to the benefit of European consumers, besides being the largest global exporter of food and drink products. The sector generates 7% of EU GDP and should be an important contributor to achieve the EU target set in the 2020 strategy of achieving the necessary expansion of the manufacturing sector that will make it a contributor of 20% of European GDP.
3D printing, in combination with the internet, robotics and open-source software, will result in a new industrial revolution with profound implications over the coming years for national economies, business models and education.
3D manufacturing – better known as 3D printing – is a process that uses digital "blueprints" to produce three-dimensional products and parts. It is also referred to as "additive manufacturing". A wide variety of materials are commonly used in this process: bioplastics, gypsum, gold, etc. Particular attention should be paid here to the origin of products. There are unprecedented opportunities in this field for businesses.
