435 Amendments of Adam SZEJNFELD
Amendment 6 #
2018/2151(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 9 #
2018/2151(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Stresses that the focus of the EIB’s priorities in the 2017-19 Action Plan should be the effective implementation of the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy for smart and sustainable development;
Amendment 10 #
2018/2151(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Points out that part of the EIB’s overall lending activity is dedicated to operations outside the Union; notes that there must be close coordination and complementarity between the EIB’s external lending activities and the EU External Investment Plan;
Amendment 11 #
2018/2151(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3c. Points out that the EIB, when providing support to EU companies abroad, should take due account of the EU’s trade strategy, including existing and future free trade, services and investment agreements; points out that, in that context, the EIB should take particular account of the requirements of the internationalisation of European SMEs;
Amendment 12 #
2018/2151(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)
Paragraph 3 d (new)
3d. Takes the view that the ratio between the financial resources earmarked for EIB tasks within the European Union (90%) and those implementing its objectives in more than 150 third countries (10%) should be analysed and adjusted if necessary;
Amendment 14 #
2018/2151(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that the EIB has committed 25 % of its total financing to projects relating to climate change, rising to 35 % by 2020; urges the EIB to strongly reconsider this level of fundingpoints out that this trend should be assessed positively, noting that the projects supported should be effective not only in the fight against climate change but also from a financial perspective;
Amendment 21 #
2018/2151(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that the EIB’s lending to Mediterranean Partner Countries will amount to EUR 15 billion over the next five years; cautions, however, that Transparency International considers these to be among the worst countries in the world for corruption; affirms that such lending should therefore cease until the appropriate auditing measures are in place should, in its lending activities, be required to exercise the highest level of precaution and care in implementing projects – including investments – in countries with low budgetary discipline and high level of corruption;
Amendment 23 #
2018/2151(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
Amendment 28 #
2018/2151(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Considers that the EIB should increase its transparency, vis-à-vis not only the European Parliament, but also the parliamentauthorities of the Member States; believes that it is only right that democratic representatives should have more information about the activities of the EIB;
Amendment 29 #
2018/2151(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. EmphasiStresses that there will have to be special arrangements regarding the UK’s shareholding, in the framework of the ongoing negotiations on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, detailed arrangements for all the UK’s obligations towards the EIB must be drawn up in order to ensure that the EIB’s capacity to achieve its objectives is not affected;
Amendment 34 #
2018/2151(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. EmphasiStresses that systems need to be rigorous and transparentthe EIB should seek to further increase the transparency of decision-making procedures, in particular by developing clear and rigorous criteria for the selection and approval of supported projects;
Amendment 38 #
2018/2151(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Believes that in order to achieve commercial control of projects, the EIB should replace with regional objectives the current system of horizontal high-level objectives set out in part 1 of the handbookTakes the view that, when the objectives of the European Union are being pursued, a balance should be kept between the horizontal and geographic approaches to EIB lending activities.
Amendment 7 #
2018/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the Member States’ customs authorities apply more than 60 legal acts outside the customs area, which relate, inter alia, to consumer protection, product safety, the protection of public health, the protection of the environment, intellectual property rights and cash movements;
Amendment 8 #
2018/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas the customs union must function properly if consumer trust in goods entering the single market is to be maintained;
Amendment 9 #
2018/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
Ac. whereas overly complex customs rules and procedures and differences in the way they are applied by the Member States’ customs authorities can, in many cases, create an excessive burden for business entities, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises;
Amendment 10 #
2018/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)
Recital A d (new)
Ad. whereas smuggling and other forms of illegal and illicit trade in goods have a negative impact on the functioning of the single market and make the playing field uneven for competing businesses – to the detriment, in particular, of small and medium-sized enterprises;
Amendment 17 #
2018/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas the objective of the customs programme proposed under the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 is to support the activities of, and cooperation between, the Member States’ customs authorities;
Amendment 18 #
2018/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU poses a challenge to the proper functioning of the customs union;
Amendment 26 #
2018/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Points out that, if the customs union is to function properly, customs legislation must be applied in a uniform way by the Member States, in particular in areas such as undervaluation, mis- reporting of the origin of goods and their incorrect classification;
Amendment 29 #
2018/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that, while the EU is more than just an economic area, the Customs Union is undeniably a success in that it enables firms established in the EU to sell their goods and invest throughout the EU, with no internal borders, and that that achievement takes on fundamental importance in the context of Brexit;
Amendment 31 #
2018/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses that honest legal businesses should not be penalised as a result of the criminal activities of fraudulent operators; takes the view, therefore, that checks carried out by Member States’ customs authorities should not cause an undue hindrance to legitimate trade, a consideration which is important for the development of competitive businesses and of the EU as a whole;
Amendment 33 #
2018/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to step up their efforts to simplify customs rules and procedures in order to keep bureaucratic and financial burdens to a minimum, in particular for SMEs, while fully preserving the security of EU trade with third countries;
Amendment 35 #
2018/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Encourages the Commission to step up its efforts to create an integrated EU customs one-stop-shop that would help businesses submit all the right information and documents in one place, so that they can meet all the regulatory requirements for the import, export and transit of goods;
Amendment 37 #
2018/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1 – paragraph –3 a (new)
Subheading 1 – paragraph –3 a (new)
–3a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to develop a more efficient, cost-effective and streamlined approach to the management of IT systems for customs authorities; calls, in particular, for a more precise and realistic estimate for the time and resources that will be needed, and the scope of the individual IT projects that will help to digitise customs procedures;
Amendment 39 #
2018/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Regrets deeply the request by the Commission to Parliament and the Council for an extension to the transitional period, and regrets the fact that the Commission has provided incomplete information in support of a further extension, particularly in the light of what comes within its remit and that of Member States, as a result of which Parliament cannot exercise its budgetary and political oversight in an appropriate manner;
Amendment 44 #
2018/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Takes the view that, even in the event of significant delays in the implementation of individual IT projects, the systems to be rolled out should be subject to comprehensive security tests so that any possible issues do not jeopardise the goods checks carried out by the Member States’ customs authorities, since a dysfunctional IT system in this field is almost worse than no system at all;
Amendment 66 #
2018/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Stresses that the ‘Customs 2021- 2027’ programme, by supporting Member States’ customs authorities, will help not only to increase EU budget revenues, but also to guarantee product safety, the protection of European consumers and a level playing field for EU businesses;
Amendment 67 #
Amendment 68 #
2018/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Calls on the Commission to ensure that the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU does not have an adverse effect on the functioning of the customs union, in particular by thoroughly preparing the legal, technical and IT measures to be taken in the event of the UK’s departure from the customs union;
Amendment 69 #
2018/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 c (new)
Paragraph 9 c (new)
9c. Stresses that the uncertainty surrounding the UK’s departure from the EU is a major challenge for European businesses; calls, therefore, on the Commission and the Member States to give stakeholders comprehensive information about the repercussions of the UK’s in the area of customs and certain kinds of indirect taxes – VAT and excise duties;
Amendment 70 #
2018/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 d (new)
Paragraph 9 d (new)
9d. Stresses that, following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom, there must be no loopholes in the customs system – including at the external borders of the EU – that would pave the way for illicit trade or the evasion of public-law debts provided for under EU law;
Amendment 46 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
(1a) Given the significant increase in humanitarian crises and global emergencies, and with a view to enhancing the promotion of solidarity and the visibility of humanitarian aid among Union citizens, there is a need to develop solidarity between Member States and with third countries affected by man-made or natural disasters.
Amendment 49 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 a (new)
Recital 4 a (new)
(4a) The European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid, which was signed in 2007, shall provide the framework within which the EU will respond to humanitarian crises. It reaffirms the commitment to an approach based on needs and the fundamental principles of neutrality, humanity, independence and impartiality. The European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid should guide the activities of the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps.
Amendment 51 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 b (new)
Recital 4 b (new)
(4b) Participating volunteers and organisations implementing the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps should abide by the principles set out in the European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid.
Amendment 53 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) The solidarity activities offered to young people should be of high quality, in the sense that they should respond to unmet societal needs, contribute to strengthening communities, offer young people the opportunity to acquire valuable knowledge and competences, be financially accessible to young people, and be implemented in safe and healthy conditions. Where appropriate, volunteers should also contribute to capacity building and support volunteering in partner countries, thus adding strong developmental value to solidarity activities.
Amendment 61 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Volunteering activities (both within and beyond the Union) constitute a rich experience in a non-formal and informal learning context which enhances young people’s personal, socio-educational and professional development, sense of responsibility, active citizenship and employability. Volunteering activities should not have an adverse effect on potential or existing paid employment, nor should they be seen as a substitute for it. The Commission and the Member States should cooperate regarding volunteering policies in the youth field via the open method of coordination.
Amendment 69 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14 a (new)
Recital 14 a (new)
(14a) National agencies should encourage former participants to become ambassadors of the European Solidarity Corps in order to share their experiences through youth organisations, educational institutions and workshops. As ambassadors, they would participate in the training of future candidates, thus contributing to the promotion of the programme. To that end, national agencies should provide volunteers with support.
Amendment 71 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) Particular attention should be given to ensuring the quality of the activities and other opportunities offered under the European Solidarity Corps, in particular by offering training, language support, insurance, administrative and post-activity support to participants as well as the validation of the knowledge, skills and competences acquired through their European Solidarity Corps experience. Security and safety of the volunteers remain of paramouAdequate training, security and protection of volunteers remain essential and should be subject to regular information exchange and risk assessment, importance and vn particular with regard to the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps. Volunteers should not be deployed to operations conducted in the theatre of international and non-international armed conflicts.
Amendment 73 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 a (new)
Recital 15 a (new)
(15a) The EU principles of equal opportunities and non-discrimination should be fully respected at all stages of the implementation of the European Solidarity Corps, including the identification and selection of participating volunteers and organisations.
Amendment 76 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) A quality label should ensure compliance of the participating organisations with universal values, the principles and objectives of the EU, as well as the principles and requirements of the European Solidarity Corps, as regards their rights and responsibilities during all stages of the solidarity experience. Obtaining a quality label is a precondition for participation but should not automatically lead to funding under the European Solidarity Corps.
Amendment 79 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) Any entity willing to participate in the European Solidarity Corps should receive a quality label provided that the appropriate conditions are fulfilled. The process that leads to the attribution of a quality label should be carried out on a continuous basis by the implementing bodies of the European Solidarity Corps, in line with existing certification schemes and with a view to the simplification of administrative procedures. The attributed quality label should be reassessed periodically and could be revoked if, in the context of the checks to be performed, the conditions that led to its attribution were found to be no longer fulfilled.
Amendment 80 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) The European Solidarity Corps Portal should be continuously developed in order to ensure easy access to the European Solidarity Corps and to provide a one-stop shop for both interested individuals and organisations as regards, inter alia, registration, identification and matching of profiles and opportunities, networking and virtual exchanges, online training, language and post-activity support as well as other useful functionalities, which may arise in the future. Given the particularly long time lag between the volunteer's arrival and the deployment of a humanitarian aid mission, it is important to ensure that participants in humanitarian activities do not face additional barriers compared to participants in other areas.
Amendment 83 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) The European Solidarity Corps targets young people aged 18-30, and pbut the specific nature of humanitarian aid operations in third countries allows for the participation of people up to the age of 35 in relation to the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps. Participation in the activities offered by the European Solidarity Corps should require prior registration in the European Solidarity Corps Portal.
Amendment 90 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 39
Recital 39
(39) In order to better achieve the objectives of the Programme, the Commission, Member States and national agencies should preferably work closely together in partnership with national governments, non- governmental organisations, youth organisations, the private sector and local stakeholders having expertise in solidarity actions, in accordance with existing national and regional volunteer programmes.
Amendment 93 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 42
Recital 42
(42) In order to ensure sound financial management, cost optimisation and legal certainty in each participating country, each national authority should designate an independent audit body. Where feasible, and in order to maximise efficiency, the independent audit body could be the same as the one designated for the actions referred to in Chapter III of [New Erasmus Regulation].
Amendment 95 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2
(2) ‘registered candidate’ means an individual aged between 17 and 30 years, and up to 35 years for the activities referred to in Chapter IV, who has registered in the European Solidarity Corps Portal to express the interest to engage in a solidarity activity but is not yet participating in such activity;
Amendment 98 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3
(3) ‘participant’ means an individual aged between 18 and 30 years, and up to 35 years for the activities referred to in Chapter IV, who has registered in the European Solidarity Corps Portal and takes part in a solidarity activity under the European Solidarity Corps;
Amendment 103 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The general objective of the Programme is to enhance the engagement of young people and organisations in accessible and high-quality solidarity and non-profit activities as a means to contribute to strengthening cohesion, solidarity, sustainable development and democracy in the Union and abroad, addressing societal and humanitarian challenges on the ground, with particular effort to promote social inclusion.
Amendment 111 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 3 – point a a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 3 – point a a (new)
(a a) solidarity projects, as referred to in Article 9;
Amendment 112 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. On the basis of a prior assessment of needs in third countries, this Regulation should support actions aimed at strengthening humanitarian aid capacity in order to enhance local preparedness and response to humanitarian crises and to ensure that volunteers' work has an effective and sustainable impact on the ground, including: a) management of risks associated with natural disasters, preparedness and response, coaching, training in volunteer management, and other relevant areas for staff and volunteers from hosting organisations; b) exchange of best practices, technical assistance, twinning programmes and exchange of staff and volunteers, creation of networks and other relevant actions.
Amendment 118 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Volunteering must meet the real needs and gaps identified at local level by the host organisations.
Amendment 119 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Assessing the level of risk with regard to the safety and security of volunteers should be a priority, especially in countries or areas considered to be unstable, or where there are immediate risks.
Amendment 120 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 a (new)
Article 11 a (new)
Article 11a Identification and selection of candidate volunteers 1. On the basis of a prior assessment of needs in third countries, the Commission should identify and select candidate volunteers for training in cooperation with national agencies and host organisations. 2. The identification and selection of candidate volunteers shall be carried out in accordance with Article 14, respecting the principles of non-discrimination, gender equality and equal opportunities.
Amendment 121 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 b (new)
Article 11 b (new)
Article 11b Training of candidate volunteers 1. Building on existing programmes and procedures, the Commission shall establish a training programme to prepare candidate volunteers to support and complement humanitarian aid actions. 2. Candidate volunteers who have been identified and selected in accordance with the application procedure shall be eligible to participate in the training programme implemented by qualified organisations. The individual scope and content of the training to be undertaken by each volunteer candidate shall be determined in consultation with the certified host organisation according to needs, taking into account the previous experience of the volunteer candidate and the planned volunteering location. 3. The training programme shall include an assessment of the readiness of candidate volunteers to be seconded to support and complement humanitarian aid activities in third countries, as well as to meet local needs.
Amendment 124 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1
Article 15 – paragraph 1
Young people aged 17 to 30 years, and up to 35 years in relation to the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps, willing to participate in the European Solidarity Corps shall register in the European Solidarity Corps Portal. However, at the moment of commencing volunteering, traineeship, job or a solidarity project a young person shall be at least 18 years of age and not older than 30. For the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps, the maximum age limit shall be 35 years. The following are eligible to apply for volunteer status: a) EU citizens, b) third-country nationals legally residing in a Member State, and c) nationals of the countries referred to in Article 14 under the conditions laid down in that Article.
Amendment 133 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 2
Article 28 – paragraph 2
2. The actions of the European Solidarity Corps shall also be consistent with and complementary to the relevant policies, programmes and instruments at national level in the participating countries, in order to guarantee a sense of responsibility on the part of the participating countries. To this end, the Commission, national authorities and national agencies shall exchange information on existing national schemes and priorities related to solidarity and youth, youth and humanitarian needs, on the one hand, and actions under the European Solidarity Corps, on the other hand, with a view to build on relevant good practices and achieve efficiency and effectiveness.
Amendment 134 #
2018/0230(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 3
Article 28 – paragraph 3
3. The actions of the European Solidarity Corps in third countries referred to in Article 11 shall be in particular consistent with and complementary to other areas of Union external action, in particular humanitarian aid policy, development cooperation policy, security policy, enlargement policy, neighbourhood policy and the Union Civil Protection Mechanism.
Amendment 5 #
2017/2191(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses that monopolies and oligopolies, in particular, violate the principles of fair competition in services, trade and investment, and often harm the legitimate interests of consumers;calls, therefore, on the Commission to step up its efforts against monopolistic practices that distort competition;
Amendment 26 #
2017/2191(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Reiterates that equal access to natural resources, including energy sources, has a fundamental impact on fair and equal competition on the global market; calls, therefore, on the Commission to include provisions that improve access to such resources in trade agreements;
Amendment 38 #
2017/2191(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Recalls that if anti-competitive practices are to be fought effectively, all aspects of unfair competition must be taken into consideration, including social dumpingundeclared work and fraudulent posting of workers.
Amendment 43 #
2017/2191(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Stresses that unjustified and disproportionate regulations on access to regulated professions and the pursuit of professional activities distort competition in the services market, restrict opportunities for young professionals and adversely affect the interests of consumers, inter alia by increasing the prices of services;calls, therefore, on the Commission to step up its efforts to limit unjustified regulations and open access to regulated professions;
Amendment 25 #
2017/2083(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital D
Recital D
D. having regard to the failure of the Washington Consensus, whichct that the action taken so far has not made Africa a full player in global trade or eradicated poverty on the continent;
Amendment 33 #
2017/2083(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls on the European Union to focus on supporting effective projects which will have an immediate impact on the creation of decent jobs, the fight against poverty, protection of the environment, improving the business climate, the management of public finances, transparency in the management of natural resources (in particular in mining and energy production), and the fight against corruption and illegal capital flows away from the continent;
Amendment 59 #
2017/2083(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the EU to support Africa’s ambitions of creating a genuine intra- African market and avoidto takinge steps which might hinderto promote these ambitions;
Amendment 74 #
2017/2083(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls for transparency in trade agreements and for the fullmore active participation of the civil societies and parliaments of the countries concerned in future negotiations and the implementation of agreements currently under negotiation.
Amendment 81 #
2017/2083(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Stresses that support for investment projects should be made conditional on economic effectiveness and expected economic outcomes, in an effort to boost trade on the African market and with third countries and regions, and to boost the processing capacity of industries in African countries.
Amendment 105 #
2017/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Believes that financial assistance and support should be based on the effective fight against corruption and pathological phenomena, in particularly when it comes to upholding fundamental human rights;
Amendment 245 #
2017/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Encourages a change to be considered to the way that development aid is spent as regards investment in human capital in the developing African countries; believes that some funds might be used to finance highly specialised education of those countries’ citizens not in Africa but in the European Union, in particular in the following sectors: healthcare, construction industry, infrastructure, environment, economy, management and entrepreneurship;
Amendment 5 #
2017/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas in the absence of harmonisation, it is for the Member States to decide on the regulation of professions, albeit not always in a non-discriminatory, justified and proportionate manner;
Amendment 21 #
2017/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that regulated professions play a fundamental roleare very important in the EU economy, representing in the services sector a significant part of the occupation rate as well as an important share of the added value in the Union; believes, furthermore, that the quality of professional services is of paramount importance for preserving the EU economic, social and cultural model;
Amendment 26 #
2017/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the Commission initiative providing guidance for Member States in the context of the mutual evaluation exercise, including the organisation of in-depth discussions with national authorities; points out that the guidance should take account of the need to reduce bureaucracy and open the professions to new service providers;
Amendment 30 #
2017/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Points out that the guidance should take account of the need to reduce bureaucracy and open the professions to new service providers;
Amendment 40 #
2017/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Underlines that reducing financial and bureaucratic burdens and improving transparency and comparability of the national requirements on the access to or pursuit of regulated professions is key to ensuring safe mobility and that consequently, in line with Directive 2005/36/EC, all national requirements should be notified and made publicly available in the database for regulated professions;
Amendment 51 #
2017/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Acknowledges that some Member States did not consult the relevant stakeholders in an appropriate manner while preparing the NAPs; calls for a broader involvement of all interested parties in the future, including not only professional associations but also consumer organisations;
Amendment 60 #
2017/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses that effectivebetter regulation of professions contributes to the development of a fair society; recalls that Member States are free to introduce new regulations or to amend existing rules restricting the access to or pursuit of regulated professions where justified by public interest objectives, including overriding reasons of general interest, reflecting thus their vision for society and their socio-economic context;
Amendment 67 #
2017/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. At the same time, considers that discriminatory, unjustified and disproportionate requirements can be particularly unfair for young professionals, hamper competition, reduce the quality of services and negatively affect servicetheir recipients, including consumers;
Amendment 76 #
2017/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Recognises the role of better professional regulation in achieving a high level of protection of public interest objectives, such as the protection of consumers, recipients of services and workers, the safeguarding of the proper administration of justice, the protection of the environment, and the preservation of national historic and artistic heritage and social and cultural policy objectives; acknowledges the margin of appreciation of Member States in determining the ways to achieve this;
Amendment 83 #
2017/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Points out that better comparability of the level of professional qualifications is needed in order to increase the homogeneity of the evidence of formal qualifications across the European Union and to create a level playing fieldcomparable conditions for young Europeans entering the professions, as well as promote their mobility;
Amendment 95 #
2017/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Underlines that this indicator, based on numerical data and including merely an analysis of the barriers to free movement, is to be used as a purelyn indicative tool and does not determine automatically whether a possibly stricter regulation in some Member States is disproportionate;
Amendment 9 #
2017/2070(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises the importance of comprehensive provisions on social, labour and environmental standards in trade agreements; urges the Commission to include a sanctions-based, binding and enforceable chapter on Trade and Sustainable Development in all trade agreements;
Amendment 16 #
2017/2070(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the conclusion of the Regulation on Conflict Minerals1 and calls for its speedy implementation; encourages the Commission to introduce greater transparency and accountability in global supply chains, including binding due diligence obligations for supply chains in the garment sector; _________________ 1 Regulation (EU) 2017/821 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017 laying down supply chain due diligence obligations for Union importers of tin, tantalum and tungsten, their ores, and gold originating from conflict-affected and high-risk areas, ; [OJ: L 130, 19.5.2017, p. 1.
Amendment 146 #
2017/2054(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex – Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – table – row 21
Annex – Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – table – row 21
Poland 515
Amendment 11 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the collaborative economy is socially beneficial for EU citizens,
Amendment 13 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
Amendment 28 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
Amendment 31 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Maintains that the collaborative economy, which covers activities which are gainful but are not economic activities pursued on a professional basis, should not be subject to additional administrative burdens; considers, on the other hand, that entities engaged on a professional basis in intermediary activities between providers and recipients of services in the context of the collaborative economy should be subject to generally applicable business laws;
Amendment 33 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Considers that there is no need for the Commission to adopt detailed regulations on the collaborative economy;
Amendment 35 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Believes that, if developed in a responsible manner, the collaborative economy may creates significant opportunities for citizens and consumers, who benefit from enhanced competition, tailored services and lower prices;
Amendment 44 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Agrees that the collaborative economy could also generates new entrepreneurial opportunities, jobs and growth, and could play an important role in making the economic system not only more efficient, but also socially and environmentally sustainable;
Amendment 55 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
Amendment 67 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 76 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
Amendment 86 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
Amendment 118 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
Amendment 123 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
Amendment 133 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
Amendment 145 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
Amendment 157 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
Amendment 164 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Draws attention, at the same time, to the risk that establishing thresholds may create a disparity between micro and small businesses on the one side, and peers on the other; calls thereforeCalls for the legislation applicable to professional service providers to be revised in order to level the playing field among comparable categories of service providers and to remove unnecessary regulatory burdens;
Amendment 170 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Believes that consumers should enjoy a high and effective level of protection, regardless of whether services are provided by professionals or peers; highlights, in particular, the importance of protecting consumers in peer-to-peer transactions; welcomes the Commission’s initiative to ensure the adequacy of consumer law and preventing abuse of the collaborative economy should be prevented;
Amendment 182 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
Amendment 194 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
Amendment 210 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls on the Commission to further scrutinise EU legislation in order to reduce uncertainties concerning the rules applicable to collaborative business models and to assess whether new or amended rules are desirable;
Amendment 215 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
Amendment 230 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
Amendment 239 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Points out the crucial importance of clarifying methods by which decisions based on algorithms are taken and of guaranteeing algorithm fairness; eEmphasises the need to verify the potential harm to privacy caused by big data, to assess the impact of data on different segments of society and to prevent discrimination; calls on the Commission to lay down effective criteria for developing algorithm accountability principles for information-based collaborative platforms;
Amendment 245 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
Amendment 254 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Calls on the Commission for an ambitious enforcement framework, and to support the Member States in developing a strong culture of compliance and enforcement;
Amendment 257 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
Amendment 267 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Is concerned about the difficulties that have emerged so far in relation to tax compliance and enforcement, despiteNotes the increased traceability of economic transactions via online platforms;
Amendment 278 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
Amendment 301 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
Amendment 312 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
Amendment 354 #
2017/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Points out the importance of adequate competences and skills, in order to enable as many individuals as possible to play an active role in the collaborative economy; is of the opinion that the potential of the collaborative economy will be fully unleashed only through effective policies of social inclusion at EU level, starting with confident and critical use of ICT as a key competence for lifelong learning strategies;
Amendment 5 #
2016/2301(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas the ‘Trade for All’ communication bases EU trade policy on three key principles – effectiveness, transparency and values – and has a dedicated section on responsible management of supply chains;
Amendment 8 #
2016/2301(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. Whereas there is an obligation on producer countries in particular to create appropriate legal and economic conditions for businesses to operate and find a place in global supply chains; they must also be able to implement international standards and norms, including drawing up, implementing and enforcing appropriate legislation, particularly in the area of establishing the rule of law and combating corruption;
Amendment 16 #
2016/2301(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas global value chains (GVCs) have become a key feature of today’s global economy; whereas, on the one hand, GVCs offer new prospects for growth, development and jobhave helped developing countries to integrate into the global economy, reduce poverty and create jobs, while at the same time boosting production capacity, including by diffusing technology and skills, but on the other hand, their complex nature, lack of transparency and dilution of liabilities has led to a higher risk of human rights violations;
Amendment 18 #
2016/2301(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Emphasises that the globalisation of value chains has helped developing countries to integrate into the global economy, reduce poverty and boost jobs, while at the same time boosting production capacity, including by diffusing technology and skills.
Amendment 24 #
2016/2301(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Is deeply concerned by cases of human rights violations committedthat are occurring as a result of some corporations’ management decisions;
Amendment 28 #
2016/2301(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses the importance of implementing, enforcing or transposing existing laws on regional, national and international levels;
Amendment 31 #
2016/2301(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Reaffirms the urgent need to act in a continuous, effective and coherent manner at national, European and global level, in order to address effectively the legal problems resulting from the extra- territorial dimension of companies and of their conduct, and the related uncertainty as to where the liability for human rights violations lies;
Amendment 36 #
2016/2301(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes theStresses that businesses, in their international activities, must take account of the need to comply with fundamental values and standards, in particular human rights; in that context, welcomes businesses' existing practice of incorporating responsibility for respecting human rights into the binding contractual obligations between companies and their clients and suppliers; notes that such requirements can, in most cases, be enforced by judicial means;
Amendment 37 #
2016/2301(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas there is an obligation on producer countries in particular to create appropriate legal and economic conditions for businesses to operate and find a place in global supply chains; whereas they must also be able to implement international standards and norms, including drawing up, implementing and enforcing appropriate legislation, particularly in the area of establishing the rule of law and combating corruption;
Amendment 39 #
2016/2301(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the EU should respond even more effectively to social and environmental dumping and unfairunfair competition and trade practices, and ensure a level playing field;
Amendment 44 #
2016/2301(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Warmly welcomes the drafting of a binding UN Treaty on Business and Human Rights and reiterates its calls for the Member States and the EU itself to promote and participate in this processwhich clearly sets out how governments and businesses must protect and uphold human rights at every stage of the supply chain, regardless of the country in which production takes place, and reiterates its calls for the Member States and the EU itself to support the adoption of those guidelines and assist with their implementation;
Amendment 44 #
2016/2301(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the EU has developed binding corporate due diligence regulations in sectors such as timber and conflict minerals; whereas some Member States have also developed legislation, such as the UK Modern Slavery Act and the French bill on the duty of care of MNCs; whereas Parliament has repeatedly called for the EU to develop a binding framework on corporate due diligence;
Amendment 49 #
2016/2301(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Welcomes the many promising initiatives taken by the private sector, such as codes of conduct, labelling, self- assessment and social audits, which have significantly contributed to recent improvements in human rights and workers' rights standards in global supply chains;
Amendment 55 #
2016/2301(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Stresses that the coordination and exchange of information and best practices can help to make private and public value chain initiatives more effective;
Amendment 59 #
2016/2301(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Member States to compelTakes the view that the new conflict minerals regulation is a good due diligence model for companies using certain raw materials or commodities that might have originated from conflict-affected areas (for example, so-called conflict minerals) to disclose their sourcing and use of such materialsfrom conflict areas, and takes the view that this practice could also be extended to other raw materials, where reasonable;
Amendment 62 #
2016/2301(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls on the Commission to step up initiatives relating to businesses' social responsibility and due diligence across the whole supply chain;
Amendment 63 #
2016/2301(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Stresses, therefore, the need to draw up an overview of existing corporate social responsibility measures being implemented by European businesses, in order to be able to identify good practices more effectively and contribute to the creation of a common action framework at European level;
Amendment 70 #
2016/2301(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
Amendment 90 #
2016/2301(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas makingimproved access to customs data on imports entering the EU publicly available would increase GVC transparency and accountability;
Amendment 122 #
2016/2301(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 (new)
National legislation Stresses the importance of implementing, enforcing and transposing existing laws on GVCs at regional, national and international levels;
Amendment 127 #
2016/2301(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Acknowledges the smart mix of regulatory and voluntary action, but recalls that voluntary corporate social responsibility (CSR) creates unfair competition for suppliers that have chosen to comply with international labour and environmental standards; reiterates its call for the systematic inclusion of binding and enforceable rules, associated sanctions, remedies and independent monitoring mechanismsenforceable rules, remedies and independent monitoring mechanisms; stresses, therefore, the need to draw up an overview of existing CSR measures being implemented by European businesses, in order to be able to identify good practices more effectively and contribute to the creation of a common action framework at European level;
Amendment 133 #
2016/2301(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Acknowledges the smart mix of regulatory and voluntary action, but recalls that voluntary corporate social responsibility (CSR) may creates unfair competition for suppliers that have chosen to comply with international labour and environmental standards; reiterates its call for the systematic inclusion of binding and enforceable rules, associated sanctions, remedies and independent monitoring mechanisms;
Amendment 151 #
2016/2301(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the green card initiative launched by some national parliaments following the adoption of the French bill on MNCs’ duty of care; calls on the Commission to work on a legislative proposal for mandatory corporate due diligence for EU companies operating both in and outside the EU;
Amendment 154 #
2016/2301(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recalls that CSR policies should take into account the special characteristics of micro- and small enterprises, so as not to impose a very heavy administrative burden;
Amendment 158 #
2016/2301(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Welcomes the many promising initiatives taken by the private sector, such as codes of conduct, labelling, self- assessment and social audits, which have significantly contributed to recent improvements in human rights and workers' rights standards in global supply chains;
Amendment 162 #
2016/2301(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Stresses that the coordination and exchange of information and best practices can help to make private and public value chain initiatives more effective;
Amendment 171 #
2016/2301(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 – point a
Paragraph 9 – point a
(a) implementing fully Parliament’s recommendations of 2010 and 2016 with respect to TSD chapters in FTAs, including by developing an upgraded TSD chapter model with binding and enforceable provisions;
Amendment 178 #
2016/2301(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 – point b
Paragraph 9 – point b
(b) including enforceable anti- corruption and whistle-blower protection provisions in all future FTAs;
Amendment 179 #
2016/2301(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 – point c
Paragraph 9 – point c
Amendment 218 #
2016/2301(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls on the EU to work towards the introduction of a mandatory ‘social and environmental traceability’ labelling system along the entire production chain for products sold on the EU market, in compliance with the WTO TBT Agreement;
Amendment 224 #
2016/2301(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls for improved, clear labelling legislation on the origin of products entering the EU market;
Amendment 226 #
2016/2301(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
Amendment 234 #
2016/2301(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
Amendment 262 #
2016/2301(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Reiterates its call for the strengthening of import and supply chain controls to ensure that only child labour- free products, as defined by the International Labour Organisation, enter the EU market;
Amendment 1 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 18
Citation 18
Amendment 2 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 21
Citation 21
Amendment 3 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 22
Citation 22
Amendment 8 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas adiverse economic and business models coexist, including the usage-based economic model has emerged which can help to reduce the adverse environmental and social consequences of a model based largely on the ownership of goodsconsequences for the environment;
Amendment 12 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas jobs have been lost in many industrial sectors in Europe, and whereas there is a need, on the one hand, for some production to be relocated, and, on the other, to promote the repair sector in order to generate non-relocatable jobsthe European repair sector, mainly comprising micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, needs to be supported;
Amendment 19 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the second-hand market plays a role in the social and local economy and in integrating people in difficulty into the labour market;
Amendment 20 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas, in a Eurobarometer survey conducted in June 2014, 77 % of EU consumers said that they would prefer to be able to have their goods repaired, rather than being forcedtry to repair broken goods than to buy new ones;
Amendment 24 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the decline in consumer confidence in product quality is detrimental to European companies, and whereas the Commission's proposal to extend the period covered by the presumption of conformity of goods to 24 months is a step in the right directionquality products are in the interests of European consumers and businesses;
Amendment 26 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
Amendment 31 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas there has been an increase in the number of national initiatives to remedy the problem of premature obsolescence of goods, and whereas there is a need to develop a common strategy for the single market;discussion concerning the premature obsolescence of goods,
Amendment 35 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
Amendment 44 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
Amendment 51 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Points out that issues such as product durability, extended warranties, availability of spare parts, ease of repair and interchangeability of components should be part of a manufacturer's commercial offer in meeting the various needs, expectations and preferences of consumers, and are an important aspect of free market competition;
Amendment 52 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
Amendment 56 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls for a European programme to support the work of companies developingon the Commission and the Member States to support producers of modular designs which are easy to dismantle and interchange;
Amendment 59 #
Amendment 67 #
2016/2272(INI)
– by guaranteeing the right to use substitutes for original parts to repair all products, including motor vehicles,
Amendment 74 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – indent 3
Paragraph 4 – indent 3
Amendment 78 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – indent 4
Paragraph 4 – indent 4
Amendment 91 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – introductory part
Paragraph 5 – introductory part
5. Considers it crubeneficial to guaranteensure the availability of spare parts essential to the proper functioning of goods:
Amendment 93 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – indent 1
Paragraph 5 – indent 1
Amendment 96 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – indent 2
Paragraph 5 – indent 2
Amendment 104 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – indent 3
Paragraph 5 – indent 3
Amendment 108 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
Amendment 114 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Points out that the option of going to an independent repairer should always be safeguarded, for example by banning technical or software-related scheme solutions which prevent repairs from being performed other than by approved firms or bodies;
Amendment 119 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
Amendment 123 #
Amendment 125 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Urges the Commission to focus on developing the functional economy and to conduct a study into the ways in which individual product families are fostering or holding back the developmentand the Member States, in view of the coexistence of diverse economic and business models – including the functional economy – to refrain from taking action that favours one over the others, which would lead to the distortion of competition ofn this economic modele open market;
Amendment 129 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 – introductory part
Paragraph 10 – introductory part
10. Calls on the Commission and the Member States:
Amendment 133 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 – indent 2
Paragraph 10 – indent 2
Amendment 140 #
2016/2272(INI)
11. UrgesCalls on the Member States to use their public policies to promote the functional economy, to ensure that the durability of products is taken into account in public procurement and to increase the re-use rate of equipment purchased by public authorities;
Amendment 146 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Commission, when promoting the circular economy, to stress the importance of product durability and also to provide financial incentivessupport for social and economic innovations supporting re-use, the usage economy and repairs;
Amendment 148 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Encourages the Commission to view re-usable and reconditionable electrical and electronic devices or components not as waste, but as resources, in order to make it easier for them to be passed on to social enterprises and associations that can make use of such goods and their components which can still be put to good use;
Amendment 151 #
Amendment 152 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
Amendment 173 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
Amendment 180 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls for a definition to be drawn up of planned obsolescence, for hardware and software, sDraws attention to the concern growing among consumers as a result of emerging suspicions that some manufacturers may be deliberately building technical features into thateir products whose lifespan is deliberately shortened can be banned; calls, in that connection, for better legal protection for ‘whistle- blowto shorten their lifetimes; calls on the Commission to look closely into this matter and, if wrongdoing is found to have occurred, to take steps to put an end to any such practices that could damage the interests of consumers’;
Amendment 189 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 – indent 1
Paragraph 17 – indent 1
Amendment 194 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 – indent 2
Paragraph 17 – indent 2
Amendment 207 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls foron the implementation of a complaints mechanism at European level for cases in which the right to a guarantee is not implemented, in order to facilitate the monitoring of the application of European standards by the relevant authoritiCommission and the Member States to make greater efforts to encourage consumers to make use of out- of-court dispute settlement procedures, in particular online and alternative procedures;
Amendment 208 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 7
Subheading 7
Amendment 210 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
Amendment 215 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
Amendment 220 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
Amendment 224 #
2016/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
Amendment 16 #
2016/2241(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas threats to debt sustainability include not only deteriorating terms of trade, natural and man-made disasters, adverse trends and volatility on international financial markets, but also irresponsible lending and borrowing, the mismanagement of public finances, the misuse of funds, and corruption; whereas the more effective mobilisation of domestic resources offers strong prospects of improved debt sustainability;
Amendment 19 #
2016/2241(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas, while the UNCTAD principles for responsible sovereign lending and borrowing and the G20 operational guidelines for sustainable financing are undeniably useful for the formulation of regulatory framework provisions, priority must be given to ending irresponsible practices through the introduction of transparent principles, suitable deterrents and, where justified, penalties as well;
Amendment 47 #
2016/2241(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Points out that credit facilities are an essential means of ensuring a dignified future for developing countries; emphasises that access to international financial markets enables developing countries to raise funds with a view to achieving development goals;
Amendment 62 #
2016/2241(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers that responsibility for spiralling (external) debt rests primarily with the politicians governing the countries in question and that, in many cases, their creditors must also be held accountable for the resulting debt crisis, where they grant loans without taking into account the borrowers’ actual ability to repay them;
Amendment 71 #
2016/2241(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Takes the view that, where the misuse of public funds is identified by the authorities, creditors ought to trigger warning measures, and where those are not effective, impose sanctions to suspend or even require that loans be repaid before the terms under which they were granted expire;
Amendment 72 #
2016/2241(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to support developing countries when it comes to promoting the public availability of data on their sovereign debt and social education in that area, because detailed information on the state of public finances is rarely available to civil society in developing countries;
Amendment 77 #
2016/2241(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes that most of the sustainable development goals can be viewed in terms of human rights and, as such, are an end in themselvimportant measures when it comes to combating poverty, whereas debt redemption, on the other hand, is merely a means to an end; points out that commitments, including loans, are made in pursuit of those goals;
Amendment 80 #
2016/2241(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. EndorseRecalls the guiding principles on foreign debt and human rights formulated by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, under which the right to achievement of the sustainable development goals should take priority over debt repayment; takes the view that borrower countries should make optimum use of their financial resources to achieve the SDGs, in particular as regards human rights; points out that this should involve monitoring the debt situation in order to avoid incurring excessive or disproportionate debt servicing costs, which eat into the resources required to achieve development goals; points out that the finances and commitments of debtor countries should be adapted and modified to reflect the need to achieve the sustainable development goals, including the primacy of human rights;
Amendment 86 #
2016/2241(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Urges development stakeholders to assess the impact of debt servicing on the financing capacity of heavily indebted countries in the light of the SDGs, for which results must be achieved by 2030, taking precedence over the rights of those creditors who knowingly make loans to corrupt governments;
Amendment 104 #
2016/2241(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Deplores the refusal by the EU Member StatesPoints out that in 2015, following the adoption of Council Common Position 11705/15 (of 7 September 2015), the EU Member States refused to approve UN Resolution A/RES/69/319 concerning basic principles for sovereign debt restructuring, which was nevertheless adopted by majority vote in the UN General Assembly on 10 September 2015;
Amendment 107 #
2016/2241(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – introductory part
Paragraph 14 – introductory part
14. Calls on the EU Member States to act Takes the view that it is essential for EU Member States and international financial institutions the mandate adopted in Resolution A/RES/69/319 of 10 September 2015 in order to:o consider developing mechanisms to respond to crisis situations in developing countries and to support debt restructuring in those countries;
Amendment 110 #
2016/2241(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point a
Paragraph 14 – point a
Amendment 113 #
2016/2241(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point b
Paragraph 14 – point b
Amendment 122 #
2016/2241(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. UrgTakes the adoption of a rule applicable in cases of impending insolvency, depriving creditors of the right to initiate legal proceedings against a debtor country if the loan in question was not duly authorised by its national parliamentview that, in order to avoid the risk of insolvency, developing countries should set borrowing limits via budget legislation adopted by national parliaments; takes the view, furthermore, that credit institutions should take that legislation into account, and that failing to comply with it should have consequences for both debtors and creditors;
Amendment 129 #
2016/2241(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on institutional and private creditors to agree to a debt moratorium in the aftermath of a natural disaster or acute humanitarian crisis, in order to enable a debtor country to devote all itsthe necessary resources to securing a return to normality;
Amendment 2 #
2016/2220(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas statelessness has an important impact on human rights and civil duties, access to, including civil, political and economic rights, and represents a major obstacle to access healthcare and education, land and property, services andas well as weakens social position; whereas this undermines the development prospects of affected populations and the effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;
Amendment 7 #
2016/2220(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Welcomes the adoption of Sustainable Development Goal 16.9 that foresees providing legal identity and birth registration for all; regrets however that statelessness is not explicitly mentioned in the Agenda 2030 either as a ground for discrimination or as a poverty reduction target; calls on the EU and its Member States to consider including statelessness indicators in their monitoring and reporting mechanisms while implementing the SDGs;
Amendment 8 #
2016/2220(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes the link between statelessness and forced displacement, in particular in conflict-affected regions; recalls that at least 1.5 million stateless persons in the world are refugees or former refugees;
Amendment 10 #
2016/2220(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that statelessness in the regionworld is largely unmapped and under- reported, and that existing data is based on different definitions; urges the international community to adopt a unified definition and address the gaps in data collection for measuring statelessness in developing countries, notably by assisting local authorities in putting in place adequate methods to quantify, identify and register stateless persons, and to enhance their statistical capacities;
Amendment 14 #
2016/2140(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
- having regard to the cooperation agreement signed on 25 April 2016 by the President of Inditex, Pablo Isla, and the Secretary-General of IndustriALL Global Union, Jyrki Raina, on responsible management of the supply chain in the garment sector,
Amendment 15 #
2016/2140(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 b (new)
Citation 8 b (new)
- having regard to the High-Level Conference on Responsible Management of the Supply Chain in the Garment Sector, held in Brussels on 25 April 2016,
Amendment 22 #
2016/2140(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas economic development should go hand-in-hand with social justice; whereas the complexity and fragmentation of global value chains (GVCs) underline the needcall for complementary policies and flanking measures to avoid, address and mitigate theirto create value in supply chains and studies into the impact that organisational structures in the sector, the coordination system and the bargaining power of network members have on the development of these processes; having regard to the need for complemantary flanking measures to safeguard against potential adverse impacts and the need to ensure victims of human rights violations have an effective access to remedy;
Amendment 33 #
2016/2140(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas responsible management of GVCs is particularly relevant from a development perspective, as the most flagrantvery serious violations of human and labour rights and environmental pollution tend tofrequently occur in the producer countries that often face significant challenges in terms of sustainable development and growth for, affecting the most vulnerable;
Amendment 37 #
2016/2140(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas most human rights violations in the garment sector areconcern various aspects of labour- rights related and include the denial of workers fundamental right to join or form a union of their choosing and bargain collectively in good faith; whereas this has led to widespread labour rights violations ranging from poverty wages, wage theft, unsafe workplaces, and sexual harassment,, in particular the impossibility of association in trade unions and employees’ organisations, making it difficult to guarantee that workers can enjoy their fundamental rights in the workplace; whereas there are cases not only of violations of law but also of injury to precarious workputation and human dignity;
Amendment 46 #
2016/2140(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas initiatives led by the private sector, such as codes of conduct, labels, self-assessments and social audits, have not proven to be at aprovide relevant frameworks for cooperation on issues such as health and safety at work, but are not fully effective over the last 20 years in terms of increasing workers’ rights in the garment supply chainin achieving a real improvement in workers’ rights;
Amendment 58 #
2016/2140(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the specific characteristics of the garment sector value chains, such as geographically dispersed stages of the production process, low prices, short lead times, subcontracting and short-term buyer-supplier relationships are conducive to reducing visibility and transparency over an enterprise’s supply chain and to increasing the risks of human rights and labour abuses and of environmental damage; whereas transparency is a prerequisite for a company’s accountability and responsible consumption; whereas the consumer has the right to knowclear rules for determining where a piece of clothing was produced, and in which social and environmental conditions should be laid down;
Amendment 63 #
2016/2140(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas guaranteeing consumers the right to reliable, transparent and relevant information on the sustainability of production will help to bring about lasting change in supply chain traceability and transparency in the garment sector;
Amendment 68 #
2016/2140(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
Amendment 75 #
2016/2140(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas the garment sector is the sector which has the most sustainability initiatives in progress; whereas few some existing initiatives reach the scale needed to make a significant impacthave helped to improve the situation in the garments sector and therefore efforts should also be continued at European level;
Amendment 85 #
2016/2140(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
Recital K a (new)
Ka. whereas there is an obligation on producer countries in particular to create appropriate legal and economic conditions for businesses to operate;
Amendment 86 #
2016/2140(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K b (new)
Recital K b (new)
Kb. whereas action to improve the situation of workers employed in the garment sector should be reasonable and proportionate so that it does not lead to a dramatic decline in profitability, which could mean the loss of jobs, an increase in unemployment and the impoverishment of society in producer countries;
Amendment 94 #
2016/2140(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls for the Commission to be committed to promoting binding and non- negotiable human rights and social and environmental clauses in the negotiation of international agreements; regrets that current human rights clauses in free trade agreements and other economic partnership agreements are usually not respectednot always fully respected by the signatory states;
Amendment 105 #
2016/2140(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission to present a legislative proposal on bindingcomprehensive programme designed to ensure the more effective implementation of due diligence obligations for supply chains in the garment sector aligned with OECD guidelines and internationally agreed standards on human rights and social and environmental standards; this proposalgramme should focus on the core problems garment workers face (occupational health and safety, a living wage, freedom of association, sexual harassment and violence) and should address the following matters: key criteria for sustainable production, transparency and traceability, including collection of data and tools for consumer information, due diligence checks and auditing, access to remedy; gender equality, supply-chain due diligence reporting; awareness raising; notes, however, with concern that a lot more needs to be done and urges the Commission to take further actions which have a direct impact on workers’ lives;
Amendment 115 #
2016/2140(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Welcomes the cooperation agreement concluded between Inditex and IndustriALL Global Union – which together represent 50 million workers in 140 countries – on improving supply chain management in the garment sector; emphasises that the future of the garment sector is dependent on improving sustainable productivity and traceability so as to ensure the effective identification of the processes taking place throughout the value chain, which will make it possible to identify and introduce improvements;
Amendment 116 #
2016/2140(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Calls on the Commission to bring forward clear guidelines for all stakeholders – especially businesses – on the relationship between competition policy and due diligence obligations, in accordance with OECD guidelines;
Amendment 119 #
2016/2140(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Reiterates its call on the Commission to extendpromote corporate social responsibility and binding due diligence initiatives beyond existing frameworks for the garment sector so as to ensure that the EU and its trading partners and operators live up to the obligation to respect both human rights and the highest social and environmental standards;
Amendment 134 #
2016/2140(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Urges the Commission to deliver on its objective to foster improvements in the ready-made garment sector, including through a strong gender focus; calls on the Commission to make gender equalitythe empowerment of women and the enhancement of women’s rights a central focus of its flagship legislative initiative;
Amendment 142 #
2016/2140(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the Commission to promote actively the use of ecological and sustainably managed raw materials and to promote enthusiastically the re-use and recycling of garments and textiles through specific provisions in its flagship legislative initiatinitiative; calls on the Member States and European businesses to increase research and development funding with regard to the recycling of clothing, because the recycling of fibres is still very expensive;
Amendment 151 #
2016/2140(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls on the Commission to put in place specific measures for small and medium-sized European enterprises to have access to financing for tools to invest in the sustainability and fairness of their supply chains by, inter- alia, supporting match- making businessbusiness cooperation platforms to connect them with fair trade and ethical fashion importers and suppliers in the EU and in its partner countries;
Amendment 157 #
2016/2140(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Emphasises that because SMEs have fewer resources, action must be taken to ensure that the administrative and financial obligations imposed on them do not represent a disproportionate burden;
Amendment 160 #
2016/2140(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Believes that it is crucial to ensure increased access to information on the conduct of enterprises; considers it fundamental to introduce a mandatoryn effective reporting system and due diligence for EU companies that outsource their production to third countries; believes that responsibility should extend throughoutthis should apply to the entire supply chain, including sub- contractors in the formal and informal economy, and commends existing efforts to this effect; believes, however, that the EU is best placed to develop a common framework through legislation on mandatory transnational due diligence and supply chain transparency and traceability;
Amendment 168 #
2016/2140(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses the need for comprehensive data on corporate sustainability performance; in this context, the elaborationcalls for the establishment of a common definitions and standards forframework for, and a harmonised approach to, the collection, comparison and assessment of statistical data notably on imports, and welcomes the holistic approach of the Higg Index in measuring enterprises’ environmental, social and labour impacts;
Amendment 170 #
2016/2140(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Emphasises the importance of labour inspections and social audits in the clothing and footwear supply chain; takes the view that too often these only show the situation at the time the inspection is carried out; recommends that further action be taken to improve inspections and audits, including training for inspectors and the approximation of inspection standards and methods via cooperation with the garment industry and producer countries;
Amendment 180 #
2016/2140(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Emphasises that producer country governments must be able to implement international standards and norms, including drawing up, implementing and enforcing appropriate legislation, particularly in the area of establishing the rule of law and combating corruption; calls on the Commission to support producer countries in this area under the EU’s development policy;
Amendment 182 #
2016/2140(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Warmly welcomes the work initiated in the preparation of a binding UN Treaty on Business and Human Rights which it is believed will enhance social corporate responsibility, including in the garment sector; regrets any obstructive behaviour in relation to this process, and calls on the EU and its Member States to engage constructively in these negotiations;
Amendment 3 #
2016/2101(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Reiterates the importance of a well- functioning and integrated Single Market to the recovery of the European economy after the financial crisis; supports the inclusion of Country-Specific Recommendations (CSRs) which go beyond narrow fiscal and macroeconomic targets and allow for a more balanced policy mix with the potential to help sustainfoster greater stability, increased economic growth and employment and greater competitiveness, without which there cannot be a socially balanced recovery; welcomes this repositioning, as well as the streamlined structure of CSRs;
Amendment 29 #
2016/2101(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Member States to do all they can to foster a healthy business environment by further reducing red tape and improving administrative efficiency and the quality of legislation, as well as through innovation, R&D and digitalisation, in order to create jobs, particularly through micro-businesses and SMEs;
Amendment 36 #
2016/2101(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Condemns the barriers which still exist, or have been created, that hinder a well-functioning and integrated Single Market; draws attention, in particular, to the partial transposition and implementation of the Services Directive by many Member States, and calls on the Commission to enforce more effectively what Member States have signed up to in European law;
Amendment 42 #
2016/2101(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. NStresses that many Member State rules governing access to regulated professions do not meet actual needs and disturb the balance of the market; notes that further action is required to better implement mutual recognition of professional qualifications, and welcomes the exercise of mapping regulated qualifications, which will create an interactive public database that can aid Member States’ National Action Plans;
Amendment 54 #
2016/2101(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Supports the Member States in their endeavours to modernise public services, in particular through e-government, and calls for better cross-border cooperation and interoperability of public administrations to the benefit of all businesses and citizens;
Amendment 62 #
2016/2101(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Notes that the full potential of public-private partnerships (PPP) has not yet been harnessed in the majority of EU Member States; calls for the harmonisation of Member State framework rules on PPPs, the dissemination of best practices and the promotion of PPPs;
Amendment 6 #
2016/2100(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Commission to include ambitious provisions on competition and state aid in all trade agreements and to carry out effective monitoring to ascertain whether those provisions are properly respected by the parties; stresses that state aid should be permitted only in exceptional, justified cases that are regulated by law in order to prevent distortion of competition on the market;
Amendment 1 #
2016/2053(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Underlines that the existing ACP- EU cooperation have not brought optimal results for the parties of the agreement and therefore stresses that the future use of the same instruments in relations with the ACP countries can bring only limited effects for their development.
Amendment 2 #
2016/2053(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 a (new)
Paragraph -1 a (new)
-1a. Calls for an efficient analysis of the effectiveness of the existing Partnership Agreement between the EU and the group of African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACP), the results of which should be the fundamental basis for taking further actions that will be more relevant to the needs and goals of the parties.
Amendment 12 #
2016/2053(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls for an effective post-Cotonou framework adapted to global challenges, based on ownership by the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and in line with the Sustainable Dresponsibility of the ACP countries for their development Goals; stresses that a revised general framework agreement, together with the regional Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and other trade instruments, must support fair and sustainable trade and, ultimatelyaffect the effective increase in trade relations between the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, support fair trade, sustainable development and poverty reduction;
Amendment 25 #
2016/2053(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that the post-Cotonou process should offer a framework within which to discuss trade issues with all the ACP countries taking into account their specifics deriving from their different traditions, culture, development and geographical location; calls for a strengthening of trade cooperation, with a values-driven approach and improved Policy Coherence for Development; believes that inclusive growth, job creation, the development of the private sector, inclusive growth, job creation and regional integration mustshould be central in a future economic partnership;
Amendment 31 #
2016/2053(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. 5. Stresses that not only trade agreements, including the Economic Partnership Agreements, but also investment have a great importance for the development of ACP economies and a decrease in unemployment and social inclusion. To this purpose, future arrangements after 2020 should provide adequate records to support investment processes.
Amendment 51 #
2016/2053(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that the involvement of the representation of entrepreneurs and employers, including SMEs and civil society involvement is a must throughout the implementation of the EPAs and the post- Cotonou process; notes the importance of a renewed ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly and, which defends strong parliamentary oversight of the future framework; asks for results-oriented periodical monitoring of ACP-EU cooperation, especially with regard to trade and sustainable development;
Amendment 62 #
2016/2053(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. RecCalls the Financing for Development commitments; calls for the EU to ensure more and effective funding for Aid for Trade to supportfor a thorough analysis of needs and funding opportunities for effective support of the development of trade and investment to aid the ACP countries’ efforts to move up the global value chain.
Amendment 58 #
2016/0404(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The freedom to choose an occupation is a fundamental right. The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union guarantees the freedom to choose an occupation, as well as the freedom to conduct a business. The free movement of workers, freedom of establishment and freedom to provide services are fundamental principles of the internal market enshrined in the Treaty. National rules organising access to regulated professions should therefore not constitute any unjustified and disproportionate obstacle to the exercise of those fundamental rights in the internal market.
Amendment 110 #
2016/0404(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) Where a Member State intends to regulate a profession or to amend existing rules, account should be taken of the nature of the risks related to the public interest objectives pursued, in particular the risks to consumers, to professionals or third parties. It should also be borne in mind that, in the field of professional services, there is usually an asymmetry of information between consumers and professionals. Professionals display a high level of technical knowledge which consumers may not have and consumers therefore find it difficult to judge the quality of the services provided to them.
Amendment 123 #
2016/0404(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) Where a Member State regulates a profession, account should be taken of the fact that technological developments may reduce the asymmetry of information between consumers and professionals. In view of the speed of technological change and scientific progress, the reduction of bureaucratic barriers, and up-dates in access requirements may be of particular importance for a number of professions.
Amendment 136 #
2016/0404(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) The national authorities should carry out a global assessment of the circumstances in which the restrictive measure is adopted and implemented and examine in particular the cumulative effect of imposing several requirements in addition to the specific professional qualification. The taking-up and pursuit of certain activities may be conditional on complying with certain provisions such as rules relating to the organisation of the profession, compulsory membership of a professional body, professional ethics, supervision and liability. Therefore, when assessing the cumulative effect of the measures, the competent authorities should also take into account other existing requirements, such as continuous professional development, compulsory chamber membership, registration or authorisation schemes, quantitative restrictions, specific legal form requirements and shareholding requirements, territorial restrictions, multidisciplinary restrictions and incompatibility rules, requirements concerning insurance cover as well as language knowledge requirements, to the extent necessary to practise the profession. A measure introduced by a Member State cannot be regarded as necessary to achieve the objective pursued if it essentially duplicates requirements which have already been introduced in the context of other rules or procedures or it is clearly disproportionate to needs.
Amendment 160 #
2016/0404(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
This Directive lays down rules on a common framework for conducting proportionality assessments before introducing newof applicable legislative, regulatory or administrative provisions restricting access to or pursuit of regulated professions, or amending existingas well as planned ones, with a view to ensuring the proper functioning of the internal market.
Amendment 185 #
2016/0404(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall ensure that before introducing newcarry out an assessment of the proportionality of the rules laid down in this Directive when introducing new or amending existing legislative, regulatory or administrative provisions restricting access to or pursuit of regulated professions, or amending existing ones, in accordance with the reulevant competent authorities undertake an assessment of their proportionality in accordance with the rules laid down in this Directives set out in this Directive. Member States shall remove disproportionate restrictions on access to or pursuit of regulated professions.
Amendment 200 #
2016/0404(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 5
Article 4 – paragraph 5
5. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the assessment of proportionality referred to in paragraph 1 is carried out in an objective and independent manner including through involvement of independent scrutiny bodies, while also taking into account the opinions of the social partners.
Amendment 206 #
2016/0404(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall ensure that legislative, regulatory or administrative provisions restricting access to or pursuit of regulated professions they intend to introduce and amendments they intend to make to existing provisions are justified by public interest objectives.
Amendment 207 #
2016/0404(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall ensure that legislative, regulatory or administrative provisions restricting access to or pursuit of regulated professions they intend to introduce and amendments they intend to make to existing provisions are unquestionably justified by public interest objectives.
Amendment 217 #
2016/0404(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 3
Article 5 – paragraph 3
3. Grounds of a purely economic nature, including persons pursuing regulated professions, having essentially protectionist aim or effects or purely administrative reasons shall not constitute overriding reasons in the public interest, justifying a restriction on access to or pursuit of regulated professions.
Amendment 221 #
2016/0404(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 1
1. Before introducing newThe Member States shall assess whether the legislative, regulatory or administrative provisions restricting access to or pursuit of regulated professions, or amending existing ones, Member States shall assess whether those provisions are necessary and suitable for securing the attainment of the objective pursued and do not go beyond what is necessary to attain that objective.
Amendment 321 #
2016/0404(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
1. For the purposes of the efficient application of this Directive, before introducing newwhen assessing current legislative, regulatory or administrative provisions restricting access to or pursuit of regulated professions, as well as before introducing new provisions or amending existing ones, Member States shall encourage the exchange of information with competent authorities of other Member States on matters covered by this Directive, such as the particular way they regulate a profession or the effects of regulation identified in similar sectors of activities, on a regular basis, or, where appropriate, on an ad hoc basis.
Amendment 8 #
2016/0218(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of the Agreement, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council5 . Given that theIn accordance with that Regulation, the examination procedure applies, in particular, for the adoption of implementing acts form part ofrelating to the common commercial policy, the examination procedure should be used for their adoption. However, the advisory procedure may apply in duly justified cases. Where the Agreement provides for the possibility, in exceptional and critical circumstances, to apply urgentforthwith measures necessary to deal with the situation, the Commission should adopt such implementing acts immediately. For measures concerning agricultural and fishery products, the Commission, in cases of duly justified imperative grounds of urgency, should adopt such implementing acts immediately. __________________ 5 Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers (OJ L55, 28.2.2011, p. 13).
Amendment 138 #
2016/0152(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
(10a) In case the commercial practice of the trader does not correspond to his or her indication pursuant to Article 8a, Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 593/2008 and Article 18 of Regulation (EU) 1215/2012 should apply. Moreover, this should be without prejudice to any trader's liability for misleading or unfair practice pursuant to Directive 2005/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council 1a. _______________ 1aDirective 2005/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2005 concerning unfair business-to- consumer commercial practices in the internal market and amending Council Directive 84/450/EEC, Directives 97/7/EC, 98/27/EC and 2002/65/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (ʻUnfair Commercial Practices Directive’) (OJ L 149, 11.6.2005, p. 22).
Amendment 218 #
2016/0152(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24 a (new)
Recital 24 a (new)
(24a) If a trader accepts a means of payment within credit transfers or direct debit, the trader is prohibited from discriminating against customers for reasons related to the nationality, place of residence or place of establishment of the customer within the Union by refusing certain commercial transactions within the same means of payment accepted. A trader accepting credit transfers or direct debits is under no obligation to accept the payment if this requires entering into a new or modified contract with a payment service provider.
Amendment 220 #
2016/0152(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) Directive 2015/2366/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council28 introduced strict security requirements for the initiation and processing of electronic payments, which reduced the risk of fraud for all new and more traditional means of payment, especially online payments. Payment service providers are obliged to apply so-called strong customer authentication, an authentication process that validates the identity of the user of a payment service or of the payment transaction. For remote transactions, such as online payments, the security requirements go even further, requiring a dynamic link to the amount of the transaction and the account of the payee, to further protect the user by minimising the risks in case of mistakes or fraudulent attacks. As a result of theose provisions, the risk of payment fraud in national and cross-border purchases ihas brought to an equal level and should not be used as an argument to refuse or discriminate any commercial transactions within the Union. een significantly reduced. However, in case of direct debits where the trader might not be able to assess a consumer's creditworthiness properly, or it would require entering into a new or modified contract with the payment solution providers, the trader should be allowed to request an advance payment via SEPA credit transfer before dispatching the goods or providing the service. Different treatment is therefore justifiable in situations where there are no other means available to the trader to verify the creditworthiness of the consumer. __________________ 28 Directive (EU) 2015/2366 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 on payment services in the internal market, amending Directives 2002/65/EC, 2009/110/EC and 2013/36/EU and Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010, and repealing Directive 2007/64/EC (OJ L 337, 23.12.2015, p. 35– 127).
Amendment 19 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
Having regard to the reasoned opinions issued by national parliaments from 11 Member States objecting the Commission proposal on the grounds of subsidiarity,
Amendment 25 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The freedom to provide services includes the right of undertakings to provide services in another Member State, to which they may post their own workers temporarily in order to provide those services there. The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union in Article 56 provides that restrictions on the freedom to provide services are prohibited.
Amendment 39 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) Almost twenty years after its adoption, it is necessary to assess whetherensure that the Posting of Workers Directive still strikes the right balance between the need to promote the freedom to provide services and the need to protect the rights of posted workers.
Amendment 61 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) IEspecially in view of the long duration of certain posting assignments, it is necessary to provide that, in case of posting lasting for periods higher than 24 months, the host Member State is deemed to be the country in which the work isclosely check and assess whether a posted worker temporarily carrieds out. In accordance with the principle of Rome I Regulation, the law of his or her work in the host Member States therefore applies to the employment contract of such posted workers if no other choice of law was made by the parties. In case a different choice was made, it cannot, however, have the result of depriving the employee of the protection afforded to him by provisions that cannot be derogated from by agreement under the law of the host Member State. This should apply from the start of the posting assignment whenever it is envisaged for more than 24 months and from the first day subsequent to the 24 months when it effectively exceeds this duration. This rule does not affect the right of undertakings posting workers to the territory of another Member State to invoke the freedom to provide services in circumstances also where the posting exceeds 24 months. The purpose is merely to create legal certainty in the application of the Rome I Regulation to a specific situation, without amending that Regul. Article 2 of this Directive defines the nature of posting as having a temporary character therefore temporary character is an indispensable feature of genuine posting. Article 4 paragraph 3 of the Enforcement Directive 2014/67/EU provides a clear list of elements of temporary nature of posting. In addition, the case law provides explanation of the notion of temporary nature of the provision of services, which is to be determined by its duration, regularity, periodicity and continuity. Therefore the temporary character, being the indispensable feature of posting, should be closely monitored and assessed, especially in the case of postings of long duration, in any way. The employee will in particular enjoy the protection and benefits pursuant to the Rome I Regulaorder to avoid abuse and circumvention.
Amendment 75 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9 a (new)
Recital 9 a (new)
(9 a) Directive 2014/67/EU on the enforcement of Directive 96/71/EC provides a number of provisions to make sure that rules on posting of workers are enforced and are respected by all service providers. Article 4 of the enforcement directive provides a list of elements that should be assessed in order to identify the genuine posting and prevent abuse and circumvention.
Amendment 84 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) Because of the highly mobile nature of work in international road transport, the implementation of the posting of workers directive raises particular legal questions and difficulties (especially where the link with the concerned Member State is insufficient). It would be most suitTherefore transport services such as transit, international transport and linked cabotage are excluded forom these challenges to scope of this Directive and should be addressed through sector-specific legislation together with other EU initiatives aimed at improving the functioning of the internal road transport market.
Amendment 104 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) It is within Member States' competence to set rules on remunerationminimum rates of pay in accordance with their law and practice. However, these national rules on remunerationminimum rates of pay applied to posted workers must be proportionate, non- discriminatory and justified by the need to protect posted workers and must not disproportionately restrict the cross-border provision of services.
Amendment 110 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) The elements of remunerationinformation on minimum rates of pay under national law or universally applicable collective agreements should be clear, up to date and transparent to all service providers. It is therefore justified to impose on Member States the obligation to publish the constituent elements of remuneris information on the single website provided for by Article 5 of the Enforcement Directive. In order to provide more transparency and clarity generally applicable collective agreements should be also accompanied by clear information on applicable minimum rates of pay. Social partners are also obliged to make public all collective agreements, which are applicable according to this Directive. Similarly, foreign subcontractors should be informed in writing about terms and conditions of employment that they should apply towards posted workers.
Amendment 124 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Laws, regulations, administrative provisions or collective agreements applicable in Member States may ensure that subcontracting does not confer on undertakings the possibility to avoid rules guaranteeing certain terms and conditions of employment covering remunerationMember States have the freedom to establish on their territory appropriate measures applicable to local and foreign service providers in order to ensure compliance with the applicable rules concerning posting in case of subcontracting chains. In the case of the construction sector Member States are obliged, by the Directive 2014/67/EU, to introduce appropriate liability measures in order to ensure fair competition and workers rights. WThere such rules on remuneration exist at national level, thefore laws, regulations, administrative provisions or universally applicable collective agreements applicable in Member States may apply them in a non- discriminatory mannensure that subcontracting does not confer ton undertakings posting workers to the possibilitsy territory provided that they do not disproportionately restrict the cross-border proviso avoid rules guaranteeing certain terms and conditions of servicesemployment.
Amendment 137 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point -1 (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point -1 (new)
Directive 96/71/EC
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2
(-1) in Article 1, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: “2. This Directive shall not apply to merchant navy undertakings as regards seagoing personnel.” (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31996L0071:en:HTML) as well as transport services such as transit, international transport and linked cabotage.” Or. en
Amendment 147 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Directive 96/71/EC
Article 2 a
Article 2 a
Amendment 149 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Directive 96/71/EC
Article 2a
Article 2a
Amendment 177 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a
Directive 96/71/EC
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 2 – point c
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 2 – point c
(c) remuneration, including overtime rates; this point does not apply to supplementary occupational retirement pension schemes;minimum rates of pay
Amendment 208 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b
Directive 96/71/EC
Article 3 – paragraph 1a
Article 3 – paragraph 1a
Amendment 863 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 55 – title
Article 55 – title
Placing on the market and entry into service of parts or equipment that mayare capable of poseing a serious risk to the correct functioning of essential systems
Amendment 864 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 55 – paragraph 1
Article 55 – paragraph 1
1. Parts or equipment that mayare capable of poseing a serious risk to the correct functioning of systems that are essential for the safety of the vehicle or for its environmental performance shall not be placed on the market or entered into service and shall be prohibited, unless they have been authorised by an approval authority in accordance with Article 56(1) and (4).
Amendment 866 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 55 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
Article 55 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
The list of such parts or equipment and subsequent requirements should be established after having consulted affected stakeholders, on the basis of an evaluation resulting in a report and strive for a fair balance between the criteria outlined in Article 55 (3) point a) and b).
Amendment 867 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 55 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
Article 55 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 88 to amend Annex XIII to take account of technical and regulatory developments by updating the list of parts or equipment after stakeholder consultation and on the basis of information regarding:
Amendment 9 #
2015/2354(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12
Citation 12
Amendment 15 #
2015/2354(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the single market has been, and remains, the cornerstone of EU integration and the engine of growth and jobs, as well as a prerequisite for building the competitiveness of the EU economy on the global market;
Amendment 25 #
2015/2354(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the single market is underperforming in almost all areas – in stimulating a digital-driven market, encouraging start-ups, integrating global supply chains, dealing with new business models and ensuring market facilitation, standardisation and the licensing of professionals;
Amendment 33 #
2015/2354(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas, according to Parliament’s own research, the anticipated gain from completing the single market stands at a trillion euros; whereas the free movement of goods and services under the single market is still being limited by: bureaucracy, legislation that is in many cases disproportionate to needs, and non- tariff barriers often arising from national and corporate protectionism;
Amendment 43 #
2015/2354(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
E a. whereas some 5 000 professions are regulated in the EU, and in many cases the rules are unnecessary and – even if they are expected – excessive;
Amendment 57 #
2015/2354(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Supports the overall objectives of the Commission’s Single Market Strategy for goods and services, and welcomes its vision for how to unleash the full potential of the single market;
Amendment 71 #
2015/2354(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underlines the urgent need to eliminate the remaining barriersunjustified restrictions on the free movement of persons, goods, services and capital, as well as restrictions arising from bureaucracy and excessive regulation, from the single market in order to achieve tangible and quick results in terms of growth, innovation, job creation, consumer choice and new business models;
Amendment 89 #
2015/2354(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Believes that it is necessary to adopt a common definition of ‘innovative’ start- ups and SMEs, or objective criteria, that can be used as a point of reference for the adoption of related measures; calls on the Commission to propose such a definitionobjective assessment criteria for ‘innovative’ businesses, including start- ups and SMEs, that can be used so that effective support instruments can be applied to them;
Amendment 111 #
2015/2354(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the Commission’s determination to address the difficulties faced by SMEs as a result of the complexity of differing national VAT regulations; extends its full support to the Commission in respect of the VAT reform; calls on the Commission to assess the feasibility of further coordination and, in particular, to assess the possibility of a single tax in the e-commerce sector;
Amendment 131 #
2015/2354(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Draws attention to the difficulties faced by businesses, and in particular SMEs and start-ups, in securing funding; calls on the Commission, while continuing the valuable support provided to those companies through, for instance, the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) and programmes such as Horizon 2020 and COSME, to explore ways of further facilitating access to them, especially for micro-enterprises, for instance by reducing calls for applications to six-month periods and further simplifying the relevant procedures;
Amendment 140 #
2015/2354(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Draws attention to the fact that each year thousands of SMEs across Europe go bankrupt while waiting for their invoices to be paid, including by public administrations; calls on the Commission and the Member States to step up their efforts to facilitate the application and enforcement of the Late Payment Directive; calls, furthermore, on the Member States to consider, in the event of unsatisfactory implementation of the Late Payment Directive, forms of adequate compensation for companies owed money by a public administration; calls for consideration to be given to taking legislative measures to change the system of paying taxes from the accrual accounting method to the cash accounting method;
Amendment 183 #
2015/2354(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Considers that, in the collaborative economy, the same rules should apply to the same services, wiserious care must be taken as regards the a view to ensuring a level playing field and consumer safety while avoiding fragmentation that would hamper the development of new business modelspproach in order to ensure that fair conditions of competition are maintained for all actors on the free market without leading to the reduction or elimination of the sharing economy;
Amendment 195 #
2015/2354(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Draws attention to the important role of standards for innovation and progress in the single market; cCalls on the Commission to support and reinforcepromote and protect European standards, including by exploiting the opportunities offered by the ongoing negotiations for a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)context of free trade and services agreements already concluded or being negotiated with other countries;
Amendment 225 #
2015/2354(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls for measures to facilitate access to the patent system in Europe for all micro-enterprises and SMEs that wish to use the European patent with unitary effect in innovating their products and processes, including by reducing the bureaucratic and financial costs involved in the granting of patents;
Amendment 231 #
2015/2354(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
Amendment 239 #
2015/2354(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Notes that the full potential of public-private partnerships has not yet been harnessed in the majority of EU Member States; calls for the harmonisation of Member State framework rules on PPP, the dissemination of best practices and the promotion of this model;
Amendment 252 #
2015/2354(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls on the Commission to further support the Member States in developingfor an increase in emphasis on a strong culture of compliance with and enforcement, including by developing implementation plans for new major legislation and of the law in force; points out that organising compliance dialogues with Member States could be useful in this regard; stresses that correct enforcement and better regulation are essential and should cover all business sectors and apply to existing and future legislat, in particular, objectivity in the interpretation of law by Member State authorities are essential for the development of economic activity in the Union;
Amendment 275 #
2015/2354(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Takes note of the Commission proposal, as part of strengthening the single market for goods, to improve mutual recognition through action to increase awareness of the mutual recognition principle and through the revision of the Mutual Recognition Regulation, with a view, among other things, to improving instruments for resolving disputes in connection with inadequate implementation or application of the mutual recognition principle;
Amendment 288 #
2015/2354(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Reiterates its call for the rapid adoption of the Product Safety and Market Surveillance Package by the Council; underlines the importance of the indication of country of origin, which is crucial to protect consumers and to strengthen the fight against counterfeiting;
Amendment 298 #
2015/2354(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Stresses that regulatory differences between Member States regarding differing labelling requirements create unnecessary obstacles to the activities of suppliers of goods; calls on the Commission to consider introducing a mandatory scheme for the provision of key information for furniture, established at EU level; considers that such an initiative would be beneficial for consumers, industries and trade operators, ensuring transparency, adequate recognition of European products and harmonised rules for operators in the single market;
Amendment 317 #
2015/2354(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Emphasises, in respect of the single market in services, that there is a clear need to improve the cross-border provision of services; urges the Member States to ensure proper and more effective application of the Services Directive, while avoiding the practice of gold-plating it; welcomes the Commission proposal to improve notification under the Services Directive; agrees to extend the notification procedure provided for in Directive 2015/1535 to all the sectors not covered by that directive;
Amendment 328 #
2015/2354(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Supports the Commission proposal to introduce a services passport to help service providers demonstrate that they satisfy the requirements applicable to them in the Member State where they wish to provide their service on a temporary basis; considers that this initiative should be aimed at reducing administrative burden for service providers and simplifying the procedures applicable to cross-border service provision; at the same time, highlights the fact that the services passport is a temporary solution intended for use during the transition to a fully integrated single market;
Amendment 337 #
2015/2354(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Agrees with the Commission that many of the Member States’ regulations on access to and exercise of regulated professions are disproportionate to requirements and create barriers restricting access to those professions;
Amendment 342 #
2015/2354(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)
Paragraph 27 b (new)
27b. Calls on the Commission to review the legislation on the exercise of regulated professions in the Member States and to begin the process of changing the rules in this area in order to increase access to those professions while maintaining their high standards;
Amendment 5 #
2015/2346(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas participants and observers of the single market over the years consider that it makes a significant contribution to European economies;
Amendment 10 #
2015/2346(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas, more than 20 years after the launch of the single market, bureaucracy, legal regulation that is very often disproportionate to its purpose and non- tariff barriers (NTBs), often motivated by protectionism, continue to bedevil trade between Member States;
Amendment 15 #
2015/2346(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas 25 % of regulated professions are regulated in only one Member State, and whereas the regulation of these professions is very often unnecessary or, even if justifiable, excessive;
Amendment 22 #
2015/2346(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas for consumers, gaps in the single marketthe implementation of EU law in a way that is incomplete or at odds with the objectives of the single market, and also over- regulation or protectionism by Member States or corporations, lead to less product choice and to goods and services being more expensive;
Amendment 32 #
2015/2346(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Realises that despite the removal of tariff barriers since 1 July 1968, the free movement of goods and services has continued to be hampered by non-tariff barriers (NTBs) such as national technical rules and requirements governing products and service providers; believes that the frequent unjustified use of bureaucracy is making the situation worse;
Amendment 42 #
2015/2346(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recognises that national-level differences may emerge owing to multi- level governance, leading to internal NTBs within a Member State; believes that the need for measures to be proportionate and in furtherance of legitimate public policy objectives should be well-understood at all levels of regulatory decision-making, not just at Member State level but also at EU level;
Amendment 61 #
2015/2346(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Believes that the objective of the Union should be the eventual abolition of NTBs that cannot be justified; unjustified barriers to the free movement of persons, goods, services and capital, which are non-tariff barriers, and the curbing of excessive bureaucracy and regulation;
Amendment 81 #
2015/2346(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Draws attention to the issue ofharm caused by over-regulation and ‘gold- plating’, i.e. the tendency of national governments to load transposed directives with additional rules that are not required under EU law and add to business burdens and costs;
Amendment 94 #
2015/2346(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Believes that unequal application of the same rules in different Member States has the potential to create new NTBs; considers that transposition workshops should be held in order to minimise divergencehe process of implementing transposed directives should be better coordinated by means, for example, of specialised transposition workshops, in order to minimise divergences in the individual Member States’ legal systems at an early stage;
Amendment 102 #
2015/2346(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Believes that since economies of scale are reduced by the need to run different product lines, the burden falls disproportionately on SMEs many ways, whether legal, financial or other, SMEs bear a disproportionate share of the burden in comparison with companies operating on a different scale;
Amendment 111 #
2015/2346(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Draws attention to the low levels of cross-border public procurement, with less than 20 % of all public procurement in the Union publicised on pan-European platforms; calls on the Commission to make it easier for SMEs to participate in public procurement;
Amendment 135 #
2015/2346(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls on the Commission to act decisively to improve the application of mutual recognition; anticipates, in that context, the Commission’s plans to increase awareness and revise the Mutual Recognition Regulation, with a view, among other things, to improving instruments for resolving disputes in connection with inadequate implementation or application of the mutual recognition principle;
Amendment 147 #
2015/2346(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Draws attention also to the various restrictions in Member States as regards, among other things, the legal form of service providers and their shareholding or management structure, and as regards restrictions on the joint exercise of the profession; considers that corporate regulations are just as detrimental to the single market as national regulations; considers that these restrictions are serious obstacles to cross-border service provision;
Amendment 167 #
2015/2346(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Points out that many of the Member States’ regulations on the access and exercise of regulated professions are disproportionate and create unnecessary regulatory obstacles to the mobility of professionalprotectionist, as they create unjustified regulatory obstacles hindering access to many professions and the mobility of service providers in regulated professions and their workers;
Amendment 180 #
2015/2346(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Calls on the Commission to review the legislation on the exercise of regulated professions in the Member States and to start a process of derogation and deregulation of laws in this area and of liberalisation of access to regulated professions, including the liberal professions in the Union;
Amendment 182 #
2015/2346(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Highlights the peer review on retail establishment carried out by the Commission in 2014-2015, which showed that retailers often face disproportionate and inappropriate establishment and operating conditions and procedures in the single market;
Amendment 184 #
2015/2346(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Points out that Member State laws often treat retail and wholesale business as a lesser form of business, denying the sector, including SMEs, the type of support for economic activity available in other sectors;
Amendment 185 #
2015/2346(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 b (new)
Paragraph 29 b (new)
29b. Points out that some Member States are introducing rules discriminating against economic activity in the retail or wholesale sector on the basis of the surface area on which the activity is carried out, the size of the undertaking or the origin of the capital, which is inconsistent with the idea of the single market and the principles of free competition and restricts the development of the labour market;
Amendment 192 #
2015/2346(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on the Commission to set out best practices on retail establishment and the conditions for introducing operational restrictions in the single market;
Amendment 203 #
2015/2346(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Calls on the Commission to deepen its work on enforcement and the principles which underpin the single market; believes that early intervention with regard to national measures or implementation procedures which constitute NTBs may be effective and results more readily achieved than through infringement proceedings; underlines, nevertheless, that for serious or persistent failures or misapplication of Union law, particularly in areas of single market and economic interesmatters of principle affecting the idea, principles and provisions of a single market, the Commission may prioritise infringement actions;
Amendment 208 #
2015/2346(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on the Member States to view the single market as a joint initiative which requires coordinated and collective maintenancecommon good and a condition for making the EU economy competitive, including in the global market; believes that those who ultimately suffer the consequences of NTBs are domestic consumers, who are denied access to new entrants to domestic markets, and face higher costs, inferior quality and reduced choice; considers that Member States should dedicate further time to horizontal single market concerns and to identifying areas requiring priority action by one or more Member States, in order to maintain and further the single market;
Amendment 7 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the EU faces diverse challenges at both global and domestic level, such as sluggish growth, high levels of unemployment and, in particular, intense international competition;
Amendment 10 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the European Semester aims to increase coordination of economic and fiscal policies across the EU 28 in order to enhance stability, promote growth and employment and strengthen competitiveness;
Amendment 15 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the effective coordination of economic and fiscal policies to enablesupport growth and as a result create jobs must encompass micro- and macroeconomic coordination;
Amendment 18 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas a robust, efficient andn inclusive Single Market, with enhanced governance which avoids over-regulation or protectionism, is a crucial instrument to boost investment and competitiveness and thus preserve the confidence of the business sector and consumers;
Amendment 21 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas ongoing technological, societal and behaviourtechnological and social changes significantly impact businessentrepreneur and consumer behaviour, creating many economic opportunities and challenges which the Single Market framework must address;
Amendment 25 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
Subheading 1
The Single Market as an important microeconomic tool in boosting EU competitiveness and delivering jobs and growth
Amendment 28 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Believes that effective coordination of economic and fiscal policies mustshould also encompass macro- and microeconomic coordination, and calls for the inclusion of coordination of current EU microeconomic policies in the European Semester process;
Amendment 32 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines that the Single Market (SM) is the backbone of Member States’ economiesternal markets of the Member States should constitute a single market; highlights the economic benefits of the SM, such as product and market integration, economies of scale, and stronger competition, and a level playing field for 500 million citizenonsumers across the 28 Member States, providensuring greater choice, higher quality and lower prices for consumergoods and services;
Amendment 41 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises the importance of advancing the SM to achieve structural economic growth in order to attract investment, which will help to create jobs and promote well-being among the citizens of the Member States;
Amendment 49 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Is concerned that the level of implementation of European Semester recommendations for 2011-2014 was weak and even declininglower than expected, meaning that the anticipated outcomes were not achieved;
Amendment 55 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 61 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the 2015 Report on Single Market Integration and Competitiveness in the EU and its Member States; requests that the report be further developed and that it become part of the SM Governance pillar and the basis for annual evaluation of microeconomic policies; considers that the reportnotes that, with a view to improving implementation of the European Semester1 a, this report has been published as a document accompanying the Single Market Strategy communication, instead of being annexed to the Annual Growth Survey as was previously the case; the report replaces both the Single Market Integration Report previously annexed to the Annual Growth Survey and the Report on European Industrial Performance; considers that the 2015 Report on Single Market Integration and Competitiveness in the EU and its Member States should be systematically taken into account inby the Member States’ economic and fiscal evaluations and that it should feed into the specific SM section in the Annual Growth Survey, in Country- Specific Recommendations and in regular structured compliance dialogue with the Member States; __________________ 1a COM(2015) 600 final
Amendment 71 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
Amendment 81 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Recalls that pressing economic and social issuesoverregulation and protectionism continue to hamper productivity and the competitiveness of the European economy;
Amendment 85 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Regrets that further implementation of the Services Directive, covering activities representing more than 45 % of the EU’s GDP and employment, is hindered by a multitude of varying national rules and regulations and that the notification procedure is often not complied withnot as effective as it could be, inter alia because of the multitude of varying national rules and regulations;
Amendment 89 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Welcomes the modernisation of the Professional Qualifications Directive, proposing a smoother system of recognition of qualifications supporting labour mobility; highlights that the regulation of similar regulated professions still varies substantially between Member States, as do reserves of activities, thus hampering labour mobility and job creationthus hampering labour mobility and job creation, and in extreme cases resulting in abuses and illegal actions; the process of deregulation in the EU should however be broader and involve not only regulated professions, but all fields of economic activity for entrepreneurs, including small and medium-sized enterprises;
Amendment 93 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. WelcomNotes the proposal by the Commission to launch a legislative initiative introducing a services passport as a helpful tool to reduce barriers faced by service providers going cross-border; at the same time, highlights the fact that the services passport is a temporary solution intended for use during the transition to a fully integrated Single Market;
Amendment 98 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses that the public sector and public procurement mare criket accounts for a substantical drivers of bothportion of the Single Market as a whole, thus benefiting both the economies of the Member States and business growth,individual entrepreneurs, as well as contributing to job creation and improved competitiveness (representing more than 19 % of EU GDP expenditure); calls on the Commission to facilitate SME participation in public procurement;
Amendment 106 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
Amendment 110 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Notes that the full potential of public-private partnerships has not yet been harnessed in the majority of EU Member States; calls for the harmonisation of Member State legislation, the dissemination of best practices and the promotion of this model;
Amendment 112 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Emphasises that the development and widespread use of e-administration in the Member States will serve as a vital tool making it easier for entrepreneurs to do business in the Single Market and for consumers to exercise their rights; in connection with the above, calls on the Commission to commit to the development of e-administration as a key and urgent priority;
Amendment 115 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Highlights that national regulations and practices, coupled with inadequate implementation of the mutual recognition principle, continue to create unnecessaryharmful barriers and burdens for businesseentrepreneurs and consumers; calls for betterfull enforcement of the principle and cost-efficient instruments for dispute settlementmutual recognition principle and improved instruments for resolving any associated disputes;
Amendment 121 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Advises that a strengthened role for the existing Productgreater awareness of the existence and role of Product or Service Contact Points as single access points for SM issues for economic operators active in the Single Market will help raise awareness and understanding of the applicable legislation;
Amendment 123 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Highlights that better conditionssupport for the emergence and activities of start-ups and SMEs could result in more active innovation and job creation; recalls, however, that remaining red tape barriers impede prospects for SME growthwill encourage entrepreneurship, including among young people, and boost innovation, thus promoting economic growth and reducing unemployment; recalls that there are still many barriers, some of which are bureaucratic in nature, which hinder the development of SMEs domestically and internationally;
Amendment 127 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Highlights that the intensity of tangible and intangible capital accumulation in the EU has been lowerhas fallen in the EU post-financial crisis, when compared to competitors; believes that revitalising investment is of the utmost importance in order to restore productivity and long-term growth in the EU; emphasises that the lag in public spending is especially pronounced in the area of information and communication technologies (ICT)ich is detrimental to economic and social development; in order to reverse this negative trend, the Single Market must be enhanced and barriers to investment growth reduced;
Amendment 133 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls for upgrading of the European Standardisation System to commence as soon as possible in order to support EU policies in digital innovation, increased cyber security and improved interoperabilityas one of the tools essential for the proper functioning of the Single Market;
Amendment 136 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Emphasises that the notion ofeconomies in the modern economy isworld are rapidly changing owing to digital and technological advances, more intense international competition and changes in consumer behavioural patterns;
Amendment 139 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
Amendment 144 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
Amendment 149 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Welcomes the Digital Single Market Strategy as the right approach to make the EU fit for the digital age; calls for a speedy delivery and implementation of this strategy to ensure the EU regains lost ground in relation to the previously slow adoption and use of digital technologies; notes that it is also important to support digital innovation and improved interoperability, and that particularly close attention should be paid to cyber security issues;
Amendment 152 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Recalls that the integration of the Single Market in goods and services is almost always powered by data, with interoperability being the ‘glue’ improving connection along the supply chain and ensuring effective communication between digital components; calls on the Commission to commence the updating of the European Interoperability Framework as soon as possible, coupled with an integrated standardisation plan identifying and defining key priorities;
Amendment 156 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
Amendment 157 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Highlights that the EU, with its sizeable SM and strong tradition in manufacturing state-of-the-art products, could be should build its competitive advantage by creating the perfect breeding ground in Europe for innovative companies, but that thiswhich would require a modern industrial policy and better integrated infrastructure which puts technology adoption and an innovation- friendly ecosystem at the forefrocan easily accommodate new technologies, and an entrepreneur- friendly regulatory environment; calls for any futurthe digital framework proposed to be user- friendly and workablefor entrepreneurs and consumers;
Amendment 159 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Underlines that, in order to achieve stronger SM governance and ownership at all levels, a clarification of division of tasks between those levels and frameworks providing better incentives and clear SM governance must be made more effective, which requires a clarification of division of tasks and the introduction of accountability for their implementation and enforcement of SM laws are needed tot all levels of giove new impetus to the SMrnance;
Amendment 160 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. RequestNotes that suchthe multilevel ownership be supported by a compliance culture at all levels, adequate training, assistance and dedicated resources, and accessible informationof effective SM governance could be successfully achieved by means of deregulation on the one hand and a broader culture of regulatory enforcement on the other; calls for the development of human capital, inter alia on the basis of more accessible information and appropriate training to raise levels of knowledge and awareness;
Amendment 161 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Calls on the Commission to take a strategic approach to enforcement and useensure that Single Market rules are consistently enforced by the Member States by using all available information, evidence and instruments at its disposal, including rigorous notification of Member State legislation (ex-ante and ex-post), the ‘single market test’, proportionality, benchmarking, best practices, peer pressure, alternative arbitration systems, existing Court of Justice of and imposing the consequences provided for by the Treaties in cases where Member States fail to comply withe European Union rulings and infringement procedureU policies and laws;
Amendment 166 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
Amendment 170 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Remains concerned about the length of infringement procedures and the number of outstanding cases; suggests that the Commission prioritises and focuses infringement action on areas with the most dissuasive impact; recognises the need for a fast-track extra-judicial arbitration procedure as a fast, alternative remedy instrumentsignificantly speeds up its work, particularly on cases which represent major infringements of the idea or principle behind the Single Market or its rules;
Amendment 173 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Notes the benefits of SOLVIT; requests that SOLVIT be strengthened and better connected to Commission services, and well integrated with existing projects and databases such as CHAP and EU Pilot in order to create information synergies and share best practices; requests that the Commission follow up consistently on unresolved cases;
Amendment 175 #
2015/2256(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Urges national market surveillance authorities to cooperate more closely and to exchange information and best practices to effectively tackle the high number of illegal and non-compliant products incurring high costs for complying businesses; calls for the immediate adoption of the Product Safety and Market Surveillance Package by the Council of the European Uniontackle more effectively various forms of unfair competition in the Single Market, inter alia in connection with the illegal production, distribution and trade of goods and services, including those which do not meet the standards provided for by law, which penalises honest entrepreneurs;
Amendment 3 #
2015/2113(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Strongly believes that a long-term resilient Energy Union should be based on cost effectiveness, increased energy efficiency, renewable energymaking full use of all indigenous energy sources (including renewable), interconnection, with particular attention to European islands, improved self- sufficiency and cooperation;
Amendment 16 #
2015/2113(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that the inclusion of energy chapters in trade agreements can improve access to energy resources and foreign markets and at the same time make the EU’s energy supply more secure; calls for coherence between the EU’s trade policy and the principles of EU energy policy in this regard;
Amendment 23 #
2015/2113(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Points out that EU trade policy should aim to diversify the European energy mix and reduce import dependency on imports from a single external supplier; stresses that reduced dependence on one supplier should not lead to increased dependence on another;
Amendment 32 #
2015/2113(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Believes that rationalising energy demand and promoting sustainablemaking full use of indigenous energy sources are among the most effective tools for reducing dependency on external energy from volatile international energy suppliers and achieving EU climate objectives;
Amendment 44 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas an ambitious and balanced agreement with the US may support the reindustrialisation of Europe and help achieve the 2020 target for an increase of the EU’s GDP generated by industry from 15 % to 20 %; whereas it has the potential to create opportunities especially for SMEs, which suffer more from non-tariff barriers (NTBs) than larger companies; whereas an agreement between the two biggest economic blocs in the world has the potential to create standards, norms and rules which will be adopted at a global level, which would serve to the advantage of third countries as well;
Amendment 73 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas, given the growing interconnectedness of global markets – up to 40 % of European industrial products are manufactured from imported upstream products – it is crucial that policymakers shape the way these markets interact; whereas proper trade rules are fundamental to creating added value in Europe, since industrial production takes place in global value chains;it is crucial that Europe benefits from participation in global supply chains, while maintaining and developing a strong, competitive and diversified industrial base in Europe; (For consistency with the Recital A European added value should not be built only on e.g. costs of marketing, storage and/or distribution of imports. Also resolution should not quote data without reference to sources. TTIP should first and foremost promote trade of goods manufactured in the EU or the US but the imported goods only repacked/relabelled/assembled in the EU or the US.)
Amendment 78 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas EU's attempts to deal with the challenges of climate change, environmental protection and consumer safety have resulted in high regulatory costs for EU enterprises, coupled with high energy feedstock and electricity prices, which - if left unaddressed in TTIP - may accelerate the process of delocalization, deindustrialization and job losses thereby threatening EU reindustrialization and employment targets, that will also defeat the very policy targets that EU regulations seek to achieve;
Amendment 97 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Stresses the importance of the mobility package, including visa facilitation for services and goods providers from all EU countries, in order to ensure equal opportunities for European and US companies and professionals;
Amendment 114 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas many economic impact studies on TTIP should be taken with caution as they are built on computable general equilibrium economic models with veryased on many general assumptions and optimistic predictions about the capacity of the EU and the US to reduce regulatory barriers to trade; whereas the TTIP alone will not resolve economic problems in the EU and no false hopes and expectations should be raised in that respect;
Amendment 185 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas President Juncker has clearly reiterated in his Political Guidelines that – while the EU and the US can go a significant step further in recognising each other’s product standards and working towards transatlantic standards – the EU will not sacrifice its safety, health, social and data protection standards or our cultural diversity, recalling that the high level of safety of the food we eat and the protection of Europeans’ personal data are non- negotiable;will be maintained; (It is important to stress that we are not talking about lowering standards in negotiations rather than saying that issues of food safety are not-negotiable, as it is not true - issues of food safety or SPS are being negotiated, but we don’t want to decrease level of protection in this negotiations. That is the difference.)
Amendment 218 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 14 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 14 – subparagraph 1 (new)
14. Expects, in view of the EU’s legitimate interest in developing the internal market and maintaining the competitiveness of Member State economies, proper account to be taken during the negotiations between the EU and the United States of key issues such as trade in energy resources, including oil and natural gas.
Amendment 324 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point ii
Paragraph 1 – point b – point ii
(ii) to aim at the elimination of all duty tariffs, while respecting sensitive agricultural and industrial products on both sides;
Amendment 331 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point ii a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point b – point ii a (new)
(iia) to keep in mind that EU climate change, environmental, labour, consumer safety and animal welfare legislation imposes disproportionate cost burden on EU enterprises, that - in many sectors is - not borne by similar industries in the United States giving US industries a regulatory and cost advantage in those fields - and therefore the European Commission is encouraged to protect these sectors by, including, but not limiting to, negotiating the longest possible transitional periods;
Amendment 337 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point iii
Paragraph 1 – point b – point iii
(iii) to keep in mind that there are important offensive interests for the EU in the services sector, for instance in the areas of engineeringprofessional services, telecommunications and transport services;
Amendment 350 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point iii a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point b – point iii a (new)
(iiia) to ensure that mutually beneficial mobility package is provided for, which includes visa facilitation for providers of services and goods from all Member States and recognises their professional and technical qualifications;
Amendment 361 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point iv
Paragraph 1 – point b – point iv
(iv) to increase market access for services by mutual recognition for EUs professional service providers, according to the ‘positive list approach’ whereby services that are to be opened up to foreign companies are explicitly mentioned and new services are excluded while ensuring that possible standstill and ratchet clauses only apply to non- discrimination provisions and allow for enough flexibility to bring services back into public control;
Amendment 528 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point xiv
Paragraph 1 – point b – point xiv
(xiv) to ensure that the negotiations on rules of origin aim at reconcilinge the EU and US approaches; given the conclusion of the negotiations for the Compreh in a way that as far as possible takes into account the interests of European producers and that thus contributes to economic growth and promotes job creation in the EU while protecting the sensitive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between EU and Canada and the potential upgrade of the EU-Mexico free trade agreement, the possibility and scope of cumulation will need to be considered; products; however it must be kept in mind that the purpose of TTIP is to facilitate trade in genuinely US and EU made products and not to allow imports from third countries; Exclusions for certain products will need to be considered on a case by case basis and exclusions from all type of cumulation should be granted for sensitive sectors;
Amendment 550 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c – point i
Paragraph 1 – point c – point i
(i) to ensure that the regulatory cooperation chapter promotes an effective, pro- competitive economic environment through the facilitation of trade and investment while developing and securing high levels of protection of health and safety, consumer, labour and environmental legislation and of the cultural diversity that exists within the EU; negotiators on both sides should strive to achieve the best outcome in each sector; however, they need to identify and to be very clear about which regulatory measures and standards are fundamental and cannot be compromised, which ones can be the subject of a common approach, which are the areas where mutual recognition based on a common high standard and a strong system of market surveillance is desirable and which are those where simply an improved exchange of information is possible, based on the experience of one and a half years of ongoing talks;
Amendment 635 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point ii
Paragraph 1 – point d – point ii
(ii) to ensure that the sustainable development chapter aims at the full and effective ratification, implementation and enforcement ofreaffirmation of the Parties' commitment to shared key principles stemming from the eight fundamental conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and their content, the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda and the core international environmental agreements; provisions should be aimed at improving levels of protection of labour and environmental standards; an ambitious trade and sustainable development chapter should also include rules on corporate social responsibility based on the Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and a clearly structured civil society involvement; (Commission in its position paper on Trade and Sustainable Development suggests less stringent provisions. We have to be careful in obliging US to ratify all ILO conventions, as this is probably non- negotiable issues for them.)
Amendment 684 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point vii
Paragraph 1 – point d – point vii
(vii) to ensure that in course of the negotiations the two sides examine ways to facilitate natural gas and oil exports, so that TTIP wouldTTIP abolishes any existing export restrictions on energy between the two trading partners, thereby supporting a diversification of energy sources in the EU and to consider conditioning tariff reduction on energy intensive goods on effective free flow of US energy to the EU in order to enhance European negotiating position;
Amendment 765 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point xiv
Paragraph 1 – point d – point xiv
(xiv) to ensure that foreign investors are treated in a non-discriminatory fashion and have a fair opportunity to seek and achieve redress of grievances, which can be achieved withrout the inclusion of an ISDSgh a national court systems or, where appropriate ISDS; all dispute mechanism;s such a mechanism is not necessary in TTIP given the EU’s and the US’ developed legal systems; a state-to- state dispute settlement system and the use of national courts are the most appropriate tools to address investment disputes;et in place within the TTIP- framework must uphold full transparency and be subject to democratic principles and scrutiny with CETA solutions serving as a basis; (It is crucial to include in the ISDS provisions the so called fork-in-the-road provision, which creates an option for the investor to choose EITHER national court system OR investment arbitration; parallel claims should be prohibited. Intergovernmental dispute settlement would leave decision on initiation of an investment dispute to a state, which would inevitably involve political considerations and would limit access of SMEs to dispute settlement.)
Amendment 1 #
2014/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that in order to meet global energy challenges and implement its energy and climate change objectives, the EUthe challenges of developing a European energy security strategy, the European Union must also take common action on the international stage;
Amendment 1 #
2014/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
Amendment 13 #
2014/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to take due account, when taking further steps to enhance the EU's energy security, of the need for a diverse, balanced energy mix that includes all of the energy sources available in the Member States;
Amendment 15 #
2014/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Reiterates that energy is a basic human need; insists, therefore, that the EU’s energy security strategy should ensure affordable access to energy for all and should, meaning that EU energy policy should be correlated with the policy to promote economic growth in order to reduce poverty and exclusion; stresses that emphasis should also be placed on strengthening public control and regulation and fair competition in the energy market;
Amendment 16 #
2014/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Stresses that, with a view to enhancing energy security, the EU should seek to make the best possible use of indigenous energy sources, including fossil fuels, given their relatively low production and transport costs and ease of storage;
Amendment 18 #
2014/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Calls for appropriate research and development funding to be made available under EU programmes for indigenous fossil fuel exploitation technologies that will substantially reduce the harmful atmospheric emissions generated by the burning of fossil fuels, in line with the EU’s climate and energy policy targets,
Amendment 20 #
2014/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1d. Points out that a key way of enhancing energy security is to ensure that the Member States have a diverse energy mix, achieved through the judicious inclusion of not only renewable energy sources but also nuclear power; believes that steps should be taken to cut renewable energy production costs, as this will allow public subsidies for the renewables sector to be significantly reduced and, at the same time, result in increasingly widespread use of renewables as an alternative to conventional energy sources;
Amendment 22 #
2014/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that international trade plays a key role in energy security, and that strong energy partnerships, reinforced by energy chapters included in the EU’s trade agreements, are essential tools; considers it of key importance to reduce dependency on imported energy; given the importance of international agreements, particular attention in this regard should be paid to the negotiated provisions of the trade agreement between the European Union and the United States; considers it of key importance to reduce dependency on imported energy sources and energy, meaning that the European energy security strategy should also provide for appropriate use of domestic energy sources, including fossil fuels;
Amendment 22 #
2014/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 e (new)
Paragraph 1 e (new)
1e. Underlines that the elimination of regulated energy pricing is a precondition for achieving a well-functioning energy market;
Amendment 24 #
2014/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 f (new)
Paragraph 1 f (new)
1f. Urges the Commission and the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) to place more emphasis on combating the problem of transmission curtailments at national borders; maintains that a well-functioning internal energy market requires both the significant development of infrastructure, in particular cross-border transmission links, and the rigorous enforcement of existing capacity allocation rules;
Amendment 25 #
2014/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 g (new)
Paragraph 1 g (new)
1g. Recalls the importance of setting ambitious goals for energy efficiency that involve reducing EU dependence on imported energy while augmenting jobs and growth; draws attention to the key importance of cogeneration, of cogeneration, i.e. generating heat and electricity in the most efficient way possible, by using a single technological process, with a view to both enhancing energy efficiency and reducing harmful atmospheric emissions through the simultaneous use of solid, liquid and gaseous energy sources;
Amendment 26 #
2014/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 h (new)
Paragraph 1 h (new)
1h. Stresses the importance of Member States allocating adequate resources for the market surveillance of the energy efficiency of products, so as to ensure a level playing field for the industry while providing consumers with the information they need to make informed choices; calls for the EU and its Member States to implement long-term educational campaigns to raise public awareness of the various ways of reducing one’s energy consumption, instead of introducing a system of requirements, prohibitions and penalties forcing people to do so; n
Amendment 27 #
2014/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 i (new)
Paragraph 1 i (new)
1i. Calls for stronger attention to be paid to the emerging market for energy services (including energy performance contracting and energy service agreements); stresses the importance of developing standards for each element of the energy efficiency investment process;
Amendment 28 #
2014/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 j (new)
Paragraph 1 j (new)
1j. Believes that an improved and more robust emissions trading scheme should ensure that the investments needed to achieve the EU’s long-term energy and climate objectives are obtained, while remaining consistent with the economic competitiveness objectives of the EU and the Member States;
Amendment 29 #
2014/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
Amendment 40 #
2014/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 44 #
2014/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Member States to increase their cooperation on the information exchange mechanism with regard to intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) with third countries in the field of energy, in order to increase transparency and bundle their negotiating power vis-à-vis third countries, in accordance with the Commission’s strategy of constructing an energy union; believes that, in this context, consideration should be given to the possibility of the Member States introducing a collective purchasing mechanism for energy sources in the future;
Amendment 50 #
2014/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Underlines the fact that the energy security strategy should strive to alleviate tensions between countries and reduce market inefficiencies, both of which factors counteract the benefits of trade; stresses the need to promote democratic global governance structures for energy and raw materialstreamline market mechanisms in order to effectively build a global energy market and bring trade benefits to all its participants;
Amendment 54 #
2014/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
Amendment 58 #
2014/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is of the opinion that the EU should help the most vulnerable countries diversify their sources and supply routes, including reverse flows, with an emphasiswith particular emphasis on the use of domestic energy sources, including fossil fuels, the promotion onf renewable energies and related storage facilities, in order to increase energy efficiency worldwide, and should help eradicate energy poverty, contribute to global sustainable development and support the global effort to tackle climate changes and nuclear power and the development of the storage and transmission infrastructure, in particular cross-border interconnections and reverse flows;considers it equally important to take steps to develop new technologies for producing energy from different sources and to increase energy efficiency, including by promoting cogeneration;
Amendment 65 #
2014/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 69 #
2014/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Considers export opportunities for EU private and public companies in clean, secure and efficient energy technologies particularly important, especially as are increasing the light of the growing global energy demandMember States’ investment in research and development and applying new energy technologies; calls for significant tariff reductions on these technologies within the Green Goods initiative.
Amendment 71 #
2014/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
Amendment 77 #
2014/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
Amendment 119 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) Establishing single-member limited liability companies as subsidiaries in other Member States entails costs due to the diverse legal and administrative requirements which must be met in the Member States concerned. Such divergent requirements continue to exist among Member States and therefore companies might find it costly and difficult to conduct business across borders. The additional financial and administrative burdens and costs related to setting-up companies hamper the full development of business within the internal market.
Amendment 121 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) In line with the Europe 2020 strategy, the Review of the Small Business Act for Europe18 advocated further progress in making smart regulation a reality, enhancing market access and promoting entrepreneurship, innovation, job creation and inclusive growth. __________________ 18 COM(2011) 78 final, 23.2.2011.
Amendment 122 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) In order to foster more entrepreneurship in Europe and to facilitate the cross-border activities of SMEs and the establishment of single- member companies as subsidiaries in other Member States, the costs and administrative burdens involved in setting- up these companies should be reduced and the rules for businesses on the internal market of the Union should be simplified.
Amendment 128 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Single-member private limited liability companies formed and operating in compliance with Part 2 of this Directive should add to their names a common, easily identifiable abbreviation – SUP (Societas Unius Personae).
Amendment 130 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11 a (new)
Recital 11 a (new)
(11a) To ensure consistency, the rules applicable to private limited liability companies in the Member State of registration of the SUP should apply to SUPs, including Directive 2009/101/EC and Directive 2013/34/EU. This Directive should be without prejudice to any national provisions governing matters outside its scope, such as matters related to labour law, tax law, accounting or insolvency.
Amendment 151 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – point 5 a (new)
Article 2 – point 5 a (new)
(5a) 'online registration' means a registration procedure fully completed electronically at a distance without requiring the need of a physical presence of the founder before the authorities of the Member State of registration;
Amendment 156 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall not hinder SUPs from being single-members in other companies. Member States may establish rules prohibiting SUPs from being single- members in other limited liability companies if this leads to cross or circular ownership.
Amendment 161 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
This Directive is without prejudice to any national laws governing matters outside its scope, such as matters related to labour law, workers' participation in the management or supervisory bodies of companies, and the right to information and consultation, taxation, accounting or insolvency proceedings.
Amendment 165 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 3 – point a a (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 3 – point a a (new)
(aa) it has a single share and a share capital of at least EUR 1;
Amendment 177 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Member States shall ensure that the following templates may be used for on- line registration. The possibility to register an SUP on-line with the uniform template of articles of association shall not preclude the founder from registering on-line with its own bespoke articles of association if national law allows for it.
Amendment 178 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Member States shall ensure that an SUP may be registered on-line with the uniform template of articles of association. The obligation under Article 11 of Directive 2009/101/EC to have founding instruments drawn up and certified in due legal form shall be considered fulfilled if the founder draws up the founding instruments of SUP using the uniform template.
Amendment 199 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 3
Article 14 – paragraph 3
3. Member States shall ensure that the registration procedure for newly incorporated SUPs may be completed electronically in its entirety without it being necessary for the founding member to appearequiring the need of a physical presence of the founder before any authority in the Member State of registration (on-line registration).
Amendment 209 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
Article 14 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
5. Member States mayshall lay down rules for verifying the identity of the founding member, and any other person making the registration on the member's behalf, and the acceptability of the documents and other information submitted to the registration body. Any identification issued in another Member State by the authorities of that State or on their behalf, including identification issued electronically, shall be recognised and accepted for the purposes of the verification by the Member State of registrationWithout prejudice to paragraph 3, the process of registration and verification of identification of the founding member and/or a representative that registers the SUP on the member's behalf shall be governed by the applicable national law. Where, for the purposes of the first subparagraph, it is necessary for Member States to have recourse to administrative cooperation between them, they shall apply Regulation (EU) No 1024/2012.
Amendment 216 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 a (new)
Article 14 a (new)
Article 14a Recognition of identification means for the purposes of on-line registration 1. For the purposes of on-line registration of an SUP, the registration authorities shall recognise: (a) electronic identification means issued under an electronic identification scheme approved for the purpose of on-line registration of SUPs by the Member State of registration; (b) an electronic identification means issued in another Member State complying with Article 6 of Regulation (EU) No 910/2014. 2. The registration authorities may also recognise other electronic or non- electronic identification means. When non-electronic identification means, issued in the Member State of registration, are recognised by the registration authorities for the purpose of on-line registration, the same type of non- electronic identification issued in other Member States shall be equally recognised. 3. Member States shall ensure that any measures taken to comply with this Article or Article 14 do not affect the possibility of on-line registration referred to in Article 14(3).
Amendment 222 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 4
Article 16 – paragraph 4
4. Member States shall ensure that the SUP is not subject to rules requiring the company to build up legal reservWithout prejudice to paragraph 1, Member States may require the SUP to build up legal reserves in accordance with the national law applicable to private limited liability companies listed in Annex I. Member States shall ensure that information on such requirements is provided on the national registration web- sites. Member States shall allow companies to build reserves in accordance with their articles of association.
Amendment 229 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 2 – point a a (new)
Article 21 – paragraph 2 – point a a (new)
(aa) mergers and divisions;
Amendment 230 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 2 – point a b (new)
Article 21 – paragraph 2 – point a b (new)
(ab) creation of reserves;
Amendment 240 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 25 – paragraph 1
Article 25 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall ensure that their national law requires an SUPs to be dissolved or transformed into another form of company if SUPsit ceases to comply with the requirements laid down in this Directive. If an SUP fails to take appropriate steps to convert into another company law form, the competent authority shall be granted the powers necessary to dissolve the SUP.
Amendment 244 #
2014/0120(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 30 a (new)
Article 30 a (new)
Article 30a Review By [2 years after the date of transposition of this Directive], the Commission shall review the operation of this Directive, in particular, in the light of the development of the Digital Single Market, as regards options to extend the scope to companies with more than one shareholder, and present a legislative proposal if appropriate.