warns against letting the move towards digital services do away with in-person services, which must remain available, in particular for vulnerable groups;
urges against cutting back on staffing levels in public services, as is often the case with digitalisation. Keeping sufficient staffing levels is a prerequisite for a successful transformation;
recommends making access to data subject to different levels of authorisation in order to safeguard data confidentiality and ensure that only data that is strictly necessary is disclosed.
The EESC recommends involving the EESC from the very beginning of the foresight process in future. Organised civil society can strengthen the EU's analysis and foresight capacities;
a strategic foresight agenda geared towards a new development model that combines economic, environmental and social sustainability and puts people at the centre;
setting out a clearer picture of the risks and scenarios should the desired objectives not be met, especially when it comes to the availability of raw materials, rare earth metals and water resources;
looking into the following strategic policy areas in the 2023 annual foresight exercise.
The EESC deems that reporting obligations should not be limited solely to exchanges and transfers in crypto-assets;
stresses the need for effective and proportional penalties, leaving the decision on the specific amounts of sanctions to be issued up to the Member States;
hopes that the penalties and compliance measures will be able to strike a proper balance between effective rules and adequate deterrence on one hand, and proportionality on the other.
The EESC underlines that increased equity funding for European companies is key and therefore strongly welcomes the Listing Act proposed by the Commission;
believes that bringing family-owned companies to capital markets would open up untapped potential to attract capital for growth, and a multiple-voting rights regime helps families to retain control, making listing more attractive to them;
estimates that the publication of a full-scale document, and not only the summary, in national languages would empower local retail investors. Using "English-only" issuance documents would hinder the development of a national retail investment base.
The EESC expected a clearer stance on reducing exposure to UK central counterparties (CCPs) and more specific rules and incentives after Brexit;
asks the Commission to explain the specific definition of the term "urgently", and for the co-legislators to establish which exemptions are considered "urgent" decisions;
proposes that civil society be involved in the monitoring mechanism established under Article 23c, and that the EESC takes part in the Joint Monitoring Mechanism as an observer.
