supports the revision of the Tobacco Taxation Directive, recognising the need to adapt the excise framework to market developments, new products and public health objectives, while stressing that the reform must remain proportionate, predictable and economically sustainable;
fully supports the Commission’s efforts to promote a more comprehensive and holistic approach to tackling VAT fraud by enabling the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) to access value added tax (VAT) data under Council Regulation (EU) No 904/2010;
regrets that the Commission has once again refrained from presenting the Annual Sustainable Growth Survey (ASGS) and stresses that sustainable economic growth is a necessary condition for Europe to meet its multiple commitments, welcomes the European Macroeconomic Report, which provides a deep dive into the underlying structural challenges facing the EU and the new recommendation on human capital, which is a crucial element in filling the EU technological gap, also taking into account the EU demographic challenge;
welcomes the Strategy for European Life Sciences, and stresses that ensuring a holistic approach and a nourishing environment can make Europe a global leader in the life science (especially for rare diseases and genomics). Such an approach involves:
o comprehensive scientific and data-based methods to diagnose and understand the causes of diseases (e.g. genetics, unhealthy habits and lifestyles, pollution, stress, etc.);
o disseminating information on prevention and early diagnosis;
o screening, effective and accessible treatment;
o high-quality care and accessible support infrastructure for patients and their families.
stresses that the European electricity sector must have the capacity to plan the needs of the electricity system at EU level and in partner countries, based on a common energy scenario set out by the Commission and national system operators.
considers that the programme in question pursues the right strategy by devising measures and support aimed at increasing and improving cooperation between the Commission and Member States, and among the Member States, in matters pertaining to the single market, Customs Union, taxation and efforts to combat fraud;
urges the European Commission to encourage Member States to boost human resources in customs authorities and in services collecting customs duties and taxes, especially in those Member States that receive the most imports from Asia, and with regard to parcels sent via digital platforms that are located there;
calls for the simplification of EU regulations to be accompanied by similar changes in each Member State’s legislation, so that national laws do not make it difficult for individuals and businesses to apply the rules;
recommends that digitalisation of the procedures to be followed by individuals and businesses should not result in greater complexity or in an increase in their reporting or other obligations;
considers it important to support consumer associations, given the key role they play in consumer dispute resolution arrangements, in monitoring the compliance of products circulating on the single market, and in efforts to boost financial literacy.
calls for concrete and rapidly deployable measures to speed up the commercialisation of AI, especially for SMEs and scale-ups, through simpler access to funding, a reduced administrative burden, clearer IP rules and support for cross-border scaling in the single market;
highlights the importance of regional competence clusters, leveraging European Digital Innovation Hubs, and the inclusion of underrepresented sectors such as finance, tourism and e-commerce to ensure a holistic and inclusive AI approach;
strongly recommends investment in AI skills and literacy, including clear definitions for upskilling and cross-skilling, to support the safe and effective integration of AI into key sectors such as healthcare, defence and security, and the public sector;
stresses the need for regulatory clarity and proportionality, strengthened data-sharing and IP frameworks, and inclusive governance with balanced stakeholder representation, ensuring obligations are appropriate for SMEs and innovative start-ups;
calls for long-term funding and strategic public procurement, including predictable support under the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework, to reinforce Europe’s AI ecosystem, digital sovereignty and industrial base, while ensuring transparency and fair competition.
considers the indicative budget of EUR 175 002 000 000 proposed for the period 2028-2034 to be encouraging and that it sends a strong signal of support for scientific excellence and the aim of investing in research and innovation and disruptive technologies. However, the EESC recommends that it be used only as a baseline figure for discussions between the Council and the European Parliament;
deems it imperative to improve the monitoring of the use of funds and to identify obstacles to their use and the factors behind underspending in certain countries;
recommends maintaining and correctly aligning Horizon Europe and the European Competitiveness Fund, particularly the fund’s four policy components and the corresponding activities under the ‘Competitiveness’ pillar of Horizon Europe (Pillar II);
recommends that, in order to support the entire innovation cycle from fundamental research to placing on the market, project assessment and selection procedures must not only be based on scientific excellence, but also on additional assessment criteria designed to better understand commercial relevance, industrial impact and the contribution to European strategic autonomy and the competitiveness of European industry;
recommends maintaining a four-year term of office, renewable once for the president of the European Research Council (ERC), instead of reducing it to two years.
welcomes the recognition of the need for investments, in particular the urgent need to strengthen the EU’s resilience and improve security. The Committee asks for an increase in CEF funding to at least 100 billion euros.
