The EESC supports the objectives of the Commission's package on securitisation, and recommends to ensure that the freed-up capital is used to fund the real economy, introduce safeguards for consumers and investors, guarantee financial stability, and avoid weakening, to the extent possible, international standards.
Among the measures to make it possible, the EESC recommends a two-years reporting period, the introduction of a fast-track mechanism, taking additional measures to preserve the long-term relationship between lenders and borrowers, and introducing social, environmental and governance information in the revised reporting templates.
In this Opinion, the EESC warns that democracy, the rule of law and European values face growing threats from both external actors, such as third-country governments and tech companies, and internal ones, including some Member States, extremist parties and 'uncivil' society. It calls for stronger EU action through stricter enforcement of rule of law standards and conditionality, protection of civic space, and simpler, fairer funding for civil society, starting with the next multiannual financial framework (MFF). The EESC urges embedding democracy protection in enlargement policy and supporting candidate countries to build resilience. The Opinion also highlights the fight against disinformation and propaganda, promoting media literacy, reducing digital dependence on third countries, and reinforcing initiatives such as EuroStack and East StratCom to strengthen democratic resilience.
The EESC welcomes the overall positive trade balance of the EU and calls for measures to maintain it, while recommending targeted support for strategically important industries, stronger investment conditions, and effective financing through the Single Market, the Savings and Investments Union, and a more integrated capital market. The EESC also underlines the need to support ambitious companies entering global markets, ensure opportunities for highly skilled professionals, simplify procedures without undermining social and environmental standards, create fiscal space for growth-enhancing investments, and strengthen multilateralism through new trade agreements and WTO reforms.
