This opinion will focus on possible solutions to rethink EU sustainable model for tourism, a sector of strategic importance in the EU but suffering from staff shortages in may countries.
Download — advies EESC: Tourism in the EU: sustainability as a driver for long-term competitiveness
Cohesion policy in its current form has had positive impact on the socio-economic development of the EU, individual countries and regions. However, the Polish presidency points out that there is a need to improve the effectiveness of the mechanisms supporting the transformational objectives of cohesion policy. In the discussion of its future, there are ideas aimed at reforming the implementation mechanisms with the approach used in the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) implemented since 2021 as a response to the challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and to support the transformation processes of economies.
Download — advies EESC: Strengthening the results orientation of post-2027 cohesion policy – challenges, risks and opportunities
In view of Europe's current security challenges, in particular with the armed conflict caused by Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine, defence funding places a significant burden on the budgets of many EU Member States, worsening their fiscal position.
At the same time, the resources that Member States are currently able to allocate to the development of defence capabilities still seem to be insufficient.
As Europe needs to develop defence capabilities in a more integrated way, there is a need to significantly increase investment in European defence infrastructure and technological innovation to improve preparedness to respond to threats.
The future Polish Presidency has asked the EESC to develop an exploratory opinion, as deepening the integration of the services sector in the EU is one of the planned priorities of this Presidency; therefore the opinion could be useful in the context of the discussions foreseen at the COMPET Council on 6 March 2025. As the single market for services is still incomplete - even after the 30th anniversary of the single market itself - the opinion aims at providing a diagnosis of this issue and an analysis of the significant untapped potential of this sector.
Download — advies EESC: The services sector in the European Union
The EESC welcomes the proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 2011/16/EU on administrative cooperation in the field of taxation (DAC9) and points out that legal certainty and clarity for multinational corporations and tax administrations can only be ensured by creating a single set of uniform rules applicable to all Member States. The Committee deems it crucial that information collected under DAC9 be used only and exclusively as intended by the Commission proposal and not for other purposes.
Download — advies EESC: Administrative cooperation in the field of taxation (DAC9)
