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 integrated report assembles inputs from the national Economic and Social Councils (and the Liaison Group, an NGO umbrella organisation) and gives an overview of the involvement of organised civil society in the European Semester, highlighting the different ways in which organised civil society interacts with governments in the framework of the European Semester. The purpose is to make the Semester more democratic and more efficient, by identifying problem areas and disseminating best practices across the entire European Union.
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) opened its doors to the general public on Sunday 17 May, between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
This year, the EESC focused on the future of Europe – while commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome – and talked about what the EU has achieved over the last 60 years: benefits of the citizens including free movement, single currency, research and innovations, environment, etc. and challenges for the future.
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.
The European Economic and Social Committee and Confrontations Europe held a Digital Agenda Conference entitled "Innovation in the digital era: reinventing our economy" in Brussels on 21 April 2016. With nearly 300 participants, well-known and high-level speakers, interactive debates with the audience, and the participation of representatives from the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, a member of the French Digital Council, EESC members and Commissioner Oettinger, this event was undoubtedly a huge success.
