Financial markets

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  • Adopted on 14/03/2018 - Bureau decision date: 17/10/2017
    Reference
    ECO/443-EESC-2017-01-01-05496-00-00-ac-tra
    (Spain
    (Belgium

    The EESC welcomes the new set of measures proposed by the European Commission to complete the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) and move towards an optimal monetary zone. The EESC supports the various proposed goals for reinforcing the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) and the Single Resolution Mechanism (SRM). The EESC welcomes that the present communication provides scope for a broader discussion and for a phased approach to implementing the European Deposit Insurance Scheme (EDIS) and underlines the importance not to lose momentum in implementing the Banking Union. Finally, the EESC reiterates its commitment to a diverse financial ecosystem in which the large pan-European players coexist with small and medium-sized banks and other non-banking entities that focus reliably on the financing of the real economy on an equal footing, in an environment of much reduced systemic risk.

     

    EESC opinion: Completing the Banking Union (communication)
  • Adopted on 15/02/2018 - Bureau decision date: 17/10/2017
    Reference
    ECO/441-EESC-2017-01-01-05295-00-01-ac-tra
    (Belgium

    The EESC welcomes the Commission's proposals that are a new, important step in the efforts to achieve greater integration and convergence by increasing integrated supervision and provide new building blocks for the realisation of the Capital Markets Union (CMU) in the EU. A smoothly operating CMU can make an important contribution to private, cross-border risk-sharing. The challenge is to find the right balance between the competences of national and European supervisors and, where possible, to apply the subsidiarity and proportionality principles. Keeping the future in mind, new developments and modern technologies, such as FinTech, as well as more sustainable financing, in line with international activities and agreements should be reflected in the system of supervision. Close attention should be paid to costs for the supervision. Where part of the costs is directly borne by the private sector, care should be taken to exercise budgetary discipline and avoid duplication.

    EESC opinion: European System of Financial Supervision (ESFS) – review
  • Adopted on 18/01/2018 - Bureau decision date: 19/09/2017
    Reference
    INT/831-EESC-2017-01-01-04514-00-01-AC-TRA
    (Romania

    With this opinion the EESC welcomes the Commission's initiative to prioritise the fight against cybercrime, as it aims to protect Europeans and businesses from cybercrime networks, and includes measures to boost confidence in the use of electronic payment instruments. The EESC is of the view that the benefits of digitisation must be flanked by mechanisms able to meet the accompanying challenges, so that the European economy and Europeans can enjoy the information society to the full. For the EESC it is important to establish deterrents and mechanisms to inform the public about the modus operandi of offenders as well, through awareness-raising campaigns conducted by law enforcement authorities in the Member States.

    EESC opinion: Fraud and counterfeiting of non-cash means of payment
  • Adopted on 18/01/2018 - Bureau decision date: 17/10/2017
    Reference
    ECO/444-EESC-2017-01-01-05444-00-00-ac-tra
    Workers - GR II
    Spain

    The EESC notes that although economic recovery in the euro area has gathered pace since last year, it remains incomplete and atypical. It disagrees with the European Commission's proposal for an overall broadly neutral fiscal stance and instead proposes a positive fiscal stance of around 0.5% of GDP. It welcomes structural reforms that will not only increase productivity and growth potential, but also support the creation of quality jobs and reduce inequality. It supports the necessary steps for deepening the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), as well as the measures against tax fraud and tax avoidance.

    EESC opinion: Euro area economic policy (2018)
  • Adopted on 19/10/2017 - Bureau decision date: 30/05/2017
    Reference
    ECO/440-EESC-2017-01-01-03297-00-00-ac-tra
    Workers - GR II
    Malta

    The EESC is in favour of creating a Pan-European personal pension product – PEPP but is unclear as to whether the investment arising from this initiative will remain within the EU and on the impact on labour mobility across the EU. Every effort, by way of tax relief, should be provided to encourage as many workers as possible to take up personal pension products. The EESC emphasises the need for consumer protection and risk mitigation for savers during the course of their working lives and on retirement. The EESC also underlines the importance of the role of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) in monitoring the market and national supervisory regimes with a view to achieving convergence and consistency across the EU especially regarding the governance structure for PEPPs within any provider.

    EESC opinion: pan-European personal pension product
  • Adopted on 19/10/2017 - Bureau decision date: 30/05/2017
    Reference
    ECO/437-EESC-2017-01-01-03251-00-00-ac-tra
    (Belgium

    This opinion is part of a wider package of four EESC opinions on the future of the European economy (Deepening of the Economic and Monetary Union and Euro area economic policy, Capital Markets Union and The future of EU finances). The package of opinions underscores the need for a common sense of purpose in the Union governance, which goes far beyond technical approaches and measures, and is first and foremost a matter of political will and a common perspective. The EESC is strongly in favour of the Capital Markets Union (CMU) and finds it absolutely necessary that the CMU becomes a reality in all EU Member States and calls for the political will at European level and in the Member States to make all necessary efforts and to establish all of the relevant conditions required.

    EESC opinion: Capital Markets Union: mid-term review (Communication)
  • Adopted on 19/10/2017 - Bureau decision date: 27/04/2017
    Reference
    ECO/435-EESC-2017-01-01-02837-00-00-ac-tra
    (Czech Republic
    Workers - GR II
    Spain

    This opinion is part of a wider package of four EESC opinions on the future of the European economy (Deepening of the Economic and Monetary Union and Euro area economic policy, Capital Markets Union and The future of EU finances). The package of opinions underscores the need for a common sense of purpose in the Union governance, which goes far beyond technical approaches and measures, and is first and foremost a matter of political will and a common perspective. For this reason, the EESC considers it essential to have a balanced mix of euro area economic policies, with their monetary, fiscal and structural components properly interlinked. The Committee notes the improving economic situation in the euro area and recommends that, in order to maintain and bolster this, crucial steps be taken to stimulate investment and carry out reforms, while also strengthening the social and democratic dimensions of euro area governance.

    EESC opinion: Euro area economic policy (additional opinion)
  • Adopted on 17/10/2017
    Reference
    ECO/372-EESC-2014-01-01-06006-00-01-ri-tra
    Employers - GR I
    Greece
    Plenary session number
    509
    -
    Access to finance for SMEs
  • Adopted on 26/04/2017 - Bureau decision date: 22/09/2016
    Reference
    CCMI/147-EESC-2016-01-01
    (Spain
    (France

    Banking and insurance are evolving. Insurance companies and banks are at the forefront of the development of the digital economy. The very nature of their activities lends itself to the intensive use of the new technologies. In a highly competitive framework marked by a keener pursuit of competitiveness, insurance companies and banks have become part of an ongoing drive for innovation.

    EESC opinion: Digitalisation and innovative business models in the European financial sector, impact on employment and customers (own-initiative opinion)
  • Adopted on 26/04/2017 - Bureau decision date: 13/12/2016
    Reference
    ECO/427-EESC-2017-01-01-00342-00-01-ac-tra
    Workers - GR II
    Spain
    (Romania

    The EESC supports the Commission's proposal to expand the scope of controls and the competency of the authorities in order to conduct checks and confiscate goods, whenever there is a reasonable indication of illicit activities. The EESC recommends to improve cooperation, both between the competent authorities and between Member States and suggests that penalties should be harmonised across Member States and communicated to the Commission in a coherent way. The Committee also proposes that, in addition to gold, other "highly liquid commodities" should be included in the definition of cash from the moment the new regulation is adopted and it draws attention to the threat of further use of pre-paid cards by criminals and terrorists to covertly finance their activities.

    EESC opinion: Terrorism Financing – Controls of cash movements