With this opinion the EESC takes the opportunity to comment on how the European market for retail financial services can be further opened up. The EESC welcomes that the Commission is on track and has an ambitious programme for implementing the Action Plan on Building a Capital Markets Union, also endorsing that consumers should be given the opportunity, whenever possible, to compare different products, so they can make an informed choice.
Download — Opinia EKES-u: Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the prospectus to be published when securities are offered to the public or admitted to trading
The EESC supports the European Digital Single Market Strategy proposed by the Juncker Commission, which is an extension of existing digital strategies and programmes. Its intention is to end the fragmentation of European digital policy into 28 strategies and national digital markets and merge them within a European approach, so as to guarantee a leading position for the EU in the global digital economy, a privilege that has become the preserve of third countries.
The EESC is convinced that the European Union, which has at its disposal excellent skills and considerable experience in certain aspects of digital technology, can still catch up. With this in mind, the EESC strongly recommends developing multidisciplinary research poles and European synergies in the European Research Area, in spheres such as cloud computing, nano-electronics, the storage and processing of big data, appliances that can be consulted or controlled remotely (connected objects), and smart services.
Download — EESC opinion: Digital Single Market Strategy
The development of global markets is fuelling demand for energy, raw materials, food, medical supplies and transport. Yet climate change, limits to the regenerative capacity of ecosystems, and scarcity of raw materials necessitate smart and responsible use of natural resources.
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Download — EESC opinion: Strengthening the European chemical industry's innovative capacity and competitiveness through nanotechnology (own initiative opinion)
The EESC expresses its support for the Commission in combating the erosion of Member States' tax bases and unfair tax competition. The Committee in this context endorses the introduction of a CCCTB and is also pleased that the Commission has published a list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions. The EESC goes even further and proposes that EU rules should include sanctions for companies that continue to run their business through tax havens.
Slideshow DG TAXUD – A Fair and Efficient Corporate Taxation
EU aviation is at a crucial junction: without a compelling and coherent strategy, it runs the risk of further difficulties and thereby losing its economic clout and growth potential. In order to be able to compete in a globalised economy the entire European aviation value network needs more intermodality, better connectivity, better use of secondary hubs and regional airports, as well as optimisation of current processes. This does not, however, require new legislation in all cases. The EESC again urges the Commission to do more to ensure that current EU legislation is implemented. The Commission’s strategy for EU aviation should be driven by a compelling vision of how best to promote European competitiveness without distorting competition or undermining the social and labour relations.
Download — EESC opinion: Integrated EU Aviation Policy
The EESC reiterates its support for the Juncker Commission's objective to fight social dumping as expressed in its 2015 opinion on the Roadmap to a single European transport area, as well as its call for the Commission to propose preventive measures.
The EESC regrets that the notion of social dumping while extensively used is not defined. For the purpose of this Opinion the EESC considers as social dumping practices that endeavour to circumvent or are in breach of social or market access regulations (letterbox companies) in order to gain competitive advantages. This opinion will focus on ways to deal with this kind of action.
Download — EESC opinion: Internal market of international road freight
