The EESC is urging the creation of a European network of special ombudsmen to help SMEs cope with the financial and funding issues they are experiencing, particularly as a result of the COVID crisis. The Committee also stresses that for SMEs to take up AI there needs to be the political will to support them…
New data published by the Greens/EFA Group reveals the amount of housing being bought up and controlled as investment assets by large firms across Europe. The study, My home is an asset class: The Financialization of Housing in Europe, shows how investors, facilitated under the capital markets union, are rapidly buying up significant amounts of living…
The social economy can only attract suitable investments if there are dedicated financial instruments that balance social impact with acceptable returns for investors and fair risks to social enterprises, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) says in an opinion adopted at its January plenary session. Requested by the French presidency, which will make the social…
The European Commission has disbursed €271 million to Finland in pre-financing, equivalent to 13% of the country’s financial allocation under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). The pre-financing payment will help kick-start the implementation of the crucial investment and reform measures outlined in Finland’s recovery and resilience plan. The Commission will authorise further disbursements based…
The EPP group has welcomed what it calls “new and strong” rules for online platforms. “The European Parliament will send a strong signal that we want a Digital Single Market with clear rules, strong consumer protection and a business-friendly environment”, said Arba Kokalari, speaking during plenary debate on the Digital Services Act (DSA) in the…
The European Commission has presented its communication on own resources and directives on a minimum corporate tax and fighting shell entities. Reaction came from BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer who said: “It is important that the EU has a stable funding source through its own resources. The best way to ensure we are able…
The Commission has proposed to establish the next generation of own resources for the EU budget by putting forward three new sources of revenue: the first based on revenues from emissions trading (ETS), the second drawing on the resources generated by the proposed EU carbon border adjustment mechanism, and the third based on the share…
The Ariane 5 launcher, operated by Arianespace on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA), has successfully injected NASA’s Webb Space Telescope into its transfer orbit towards its final position at the second Lagrange point (L2). Carrying out its final mission of the year, the Ariane 5 rocket once again proved its exceptional reliability, this…
The Commission has approved €354.8 million under the 2022 tranche of REACT EU to support the recovery and to pave the way for the digital and green transition of Spain. This support will be channelled through the top up of five Operational Programmes (OP) of the ERDF. These resources add up to the support already provided with the 2021…
A two-day seminar in Poland, in the city of Lublin, co-hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the Mayor of Lublin, heard how important it was for public authorities and organised civil society to work together to provide effective services meeting basic needs such as health and social care. Cooperation between public administrations and…
