Imposing the burden of State aid notification on providers of services of general economic interest (SGEIs) for public compensation overt 15 million EUR a year is excessive, says the EESC in a recently adopted opinion which encourages the Commission to remove the threshold based on an extensive study of the Member States' implementation reports.
EU Customs Union crucial in the fight against counterfeiting
The production of counterfeit goods is on the rise. While it is still considered an external phenomenon, the production of counterfeit goods is also increasing in EU Member States. Criminal networks, already experienced in fraud, document forgery, tax evasion or human trafficking, see counterfeiting as a profitable business, with lower risks and the advantage of lower transport costs and circumventing customs controls. ...
Creating a positive narrative for the EU, strengthening its economic foundations, fostering its social dimension, facilitating the transition towards a low-carbon and circular economy and empowering and involving Civil Society. These are the main messages of the contribution of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) to the European Commission's 2018 Work Programme.
The EESC, which is the EU body representing civil society in the European legislative process, adopted its contribution to the 2018 Work Programme on 5 July. The Committee calls on the Commission to adopt sustainable development as an overarching approach to its work, with reference to the three "pillars" of sustainability: i) strengthening the economic foundations of Europe; ii) fostering its social dimension; and iii) facilitating the transition towards a low-carbon and circular economy.
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held the 6th Western Balkans Civil Society Forum in Sarajevo on 10-11 July. Participants adopted a Final Declaration calling for increased media freedom, opening the doors of the Western Balkans to EU enlargement, the implementation of migration policies and increased employment opportunities, and working on women's rights.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the European economy and have a huge potential to contribute to its development. Acknowledging that, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is actively pushing ....
"Brexit means uncertainty", said Michel Barnier at the outset of the debate with EESC members on 6 July, "uncertainty for citizens, businesses and jobs". He stressed his task was to negotiate on the basis of what the United Kingdom put on the table, which included no free movement for EU citizens, full autonomy of laws, no role for the European Court of Justice and the autonomy to sign free trade agreements. The latter involves leaving the customs union and the single market.
