Comité Económico y Social Europeo
This publication provides a summary of the discussion entitled "Trading up for a stronger EU27. Free trade of the future – the social partners' perspective" which was held in Sopot (Poland) on 28 September 2017. The conference was organised by the Employers' Group of the European Economic and Social Committee in the framework of the European Forum for New Ideas.
With three quarters of EU citizens of the opinion that corruption is widespread in their own country and over 90% in ten Member States, the EESC is today calling for concrete action at the EU level to combat this Euro120 billion a year crime. Costing the European economy up to 1% of its GDP, the EESC has called on the European institutions and Member States to take concerted action to limit the impact of corruption on people and the economy. Improving transparency lies at the heart of the fight against corruption together with purposeful actions to raise public awareness.
The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership is the biggest and most ambitious free trade agreement currently being negotiated by the European Union. Economists believe that an agreement with the USA will be advantageous for both the European Union and the USA, and the negative effects of trade liberalisation will be insignificant. This publication is a summary of the debate on "What development opportunities does the TTIP bring to Europe?" that was held in Sopot on 2 October 2014 as part of the European Forum for New Ideas.
