32 Amendments of Vicky FORD related to 2014/0000(INI)
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Reiterates its call on the Commission to improve governance of the Single Market by developing an analytical tool to measure economic and regulatory performance of the Single Market integration within the framework of the Single Market pillar of the European Semester; believes that such an analytical tool could provide useful input for country- specific recommendations (CSRs), the Annual Growth Survey, the European Council’s guidance to Member States, and the national action plans aimed at implementing the Single Market guidelines;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Asks for a comprehensive overhaul of the framework for Single Market governance, strengthening of the monitoring of the correct, timelyimplementation and effective application of Single Market rules; stresses the need to use the Single Market as the third pillar of the European Semester in order to cover a clear set of priorities related to the real economy, while fully respecting the principles of subsidiarity, proportionality and diversity within the EU;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Commission to take full account of the key growth areas for building an EU Single Market fit for the 21st century, previously identified by the Commission and further specified in the study of September 2014 entitled ‘The Cost of Non Europe in the Single Market’ as services, Digital Single Market, in particular e-commerce, the consumer acquis, public procurement and concessions, the free movement of goods, transport, energy and the Digital Single Market and energy;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that there is a need to definemay be benefits to an integrated measurement system, combining different methodologies such as composite indicators, a systematic set of indicators and sectoral tools to measure the performance of the Single Market for the purpose of embedding it in the European Semesterbut recognises that embedding a comprehensive M&E system for the Single Market is a tough challenge, and any set of indicators could have knock on effects; stresses that Single Market holistic indicators need to be flexible due to their potential adverse consequences which may distort trade flows in the Single Market and competitiveness in relation to Third Countries; any indicator would need to be carefully designed and interpreted and of economic significance not solely in the Single Market but also in other jurisdictions; stresses that, in order both to measure and to provide an impetus for deepenenhancing the Single Market in key priority areas, a headline to deliver growth, jobs and competitiveness, not solely in the EU, indicators and a target for this indicators as regards Single Market integration should be consideredprogress in these priority areas should be considered not solely within the EU but also in comparison with other jurisdictions and based on OECD competitiveness levels;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Regrets that the CSRs have not been sufficiently aligned with the Europe 2020 targets; calls, therefore, for more determined efforts to guide and coordinate national and EU policies in Single Market growth, jobs and competitiveness;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls, furthermore, on the Member States to take more seriously the implementation of the CSRs and to transpose rigorously the EU targets into their own targets at national level; considers, therefore, that the Member States should report annually and thoroughly on the implementation of the CSRs on Single Market Areas;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Supports the emphasis in the CSRs for 2014 on the importance of removing unjustified restrictions and barriers to entry in the key sectors such as retail, e- commerce and business services; urges the Member States concerned to give those recommendations their utmost consideration and, as an immediate priority, to remove these obstacles to the growth of the Single Market
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Is greatly concerned by the persistentaware of the uncertainty of private investors, theircausing a lack of confidence and theirus a reluctance to invest, in particular as a consequence of productivity standards with persisting Single Market fragmentationbarriers to growth in areas such as e-commerce;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Takes the view that completing theadvancing Digital Single Markets is crucial to stimulating growth and creating employmentjobs and competitiveness in the European economy;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Regrets the fact that the lack of national and European investment is impeding the achievement of theNotes the importance of investment in achieving priority goals and objectives in the key area of the digital market;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Believes that fragmentation and a lack of legal certainty are primaryis a significant concerns in this field and that the inconsistent enforcement of existing EU rules in Member States also needs to be addressed;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Notes that the completion of the Digital Single Market could generate additional GDP growth of 4.0 % over the period up to 2020 and supports addressing barriers to e-commerce, new investment in infrastructure and the deployment of new technologies, such as 4G; considers the adoption of the EU’s general data protection framework and the Network and Information Security Directive as essential for the completion of the Digital Single Market by 2015;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Underlines that there is a clear need to updateneed for EU Single Market rules to be workable for the digital era, establishing a simplementation of Single Mareaket rules for online payments, e- invoicing, protecting intellectual property rights and clarifying VAT requirements, where appropriate, in order to generate trust in e commerce and afford adequate protection to EU consumers onlineto ensure the same level of protection is available to consumers online as they are used to in their traditional market;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Believes that the free movement of goods, capital, services and people professionals still offers untapped potential for citizens and business, in terms of efficiency, growth and jobs creation;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Reiterates its support for comprehensive trade and investment agreements that would support the creation of quality jobs for European workerjobs, directly benefit European consumers and open up new opportunities for EU companies, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs);
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Calls for the increased monitoring of barriers in the Single Market for goods;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Underlines that specific policy actions should be included in the Europe 2020 strategy, aiming at addressing barriers in the services sectors covered by the Services Directive, and in financial services, for example, and putting more explicit emphasis on the deepening of the Single Market;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Calls for the abolition of the 'economic needs test' under the Services Directive, due to the limitations it places upon businesses wishing to operate in other Member States;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Considers that consumer protection, choice and competition, in the area of financial services should be strengthened and consumers’ financial capabilities raised, given the significant potential damage that financial serviceconfusion that can arise regarding financial products and the problems this can cause to individual consumers and the Single Market;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Reiterates the need for renewed efforts to combat tax evasion, including through rapid progress in tackling the problem of VAT fraud and therefore calls for more emphasis to be given to good tax governance in both the private and public sector in the EU;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Reaffirms its position that the overall levelquality of investment in research and development should be increased to stimulate innovation; reminds the Commission of the need to create a genuine Single Market for knowledge, research and innovation and for the completion of the European Research Area;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Welcomes the fact that in 2014, the third generation of the EU regulation on public procurement was adopted with a view to simplifying the 2004 regime and overcoming interpretation problems and heterogeneity in concession contracts;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Stresses the need for the proper and timely transposition of legislation on public procurement and concessions; highlights the importance of public procurement and the value of pre-commercial procurement as a key driver of growth, particularly for SMEs;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Finds it regrettable that the fragmented implementation of EU consumer protection legislation by the Member States results in differences in the protection of consumers and differences in the severity andStresses the complexities of consumer protection legislation in the EU and the need to prevent increased costs for businesses and consumers, where appropriate a Single Market outlook should be encouraged; nevertheless stresses the importance of affording consumers no less rights at EU level that they are accustomed to in their domestic market; considers that the timing of any enforcement measures taken; considers that thismay limits the consistency and coherence of legislative provisions in the same sectors or between different sales channels;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Acknowledges that the Single Market Scoreboard can be considered a best practice for monitoring and evaluating the compliance of Member States with Single Market obligations, given that it may trigger improvements and catch-up processes among countries; stresses the importance of improving dialogue with, and between, Member States to identify and address the complexities they are experiencing in implementing the Single Market legislation; in this regard calls on the Commission to better assist Member States, when requested by Member States, with the implementation of complex Single Market legislation;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Notes that with respect to the regulatory performance of the Single Market, a composite indicator to measure the Single Market gap, that iset of flexible indicators using international standards twhe additional burden borne by citizens and companies in cross-border activities because of the lack of rules governing the Single Market, could be developedre available could be developed; stresses that any indicators must be supported by detailed stakeholder consultation and have a positive impact to enable growth; insists that such an indicator should facilitate the development of conclusions which could result in non- binding policy recommendations for the EU institutions and Member States;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Supports the creation of a sustainable Single Market based on the development of an inclusive, resource-efficient, knowledge-based economy, including measures to further all innovation in sustainable technologies, putbalance consumer interand businests at the heart of the Single Marketinterests, and make improvements in respect of an informal problem-solving mechanism for the Single Market, such as SOLVIT whilst also enhancing public knowledge of points of single contact so that they are better aware of the available opportunities to generate growth and jobs in the Single Market;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Acknowledges the continuous increase in the use of the Your Europe and Your Europe Advice portals, which should be able to provide the necessary information to anyone moving aroundbetween Member States in the EU;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Welcomes the fact that the average transposition deficit in Member States has fallen below the 1 % limit agreed by the European Council, reaching 0.6 %, which represents the best result registered so far since the creation of the InternalSingle Market Scoreboard;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Urges the Member States and the Commission to step up their efforts to enforce Single Market legislation and to monitor this enforcement, inter alia through regular EU inspection sweeps, while also continually reflecting on problems regarding implementation and making sure that legislation is more efficient, and that ex post assessments are used more extensively and effectively;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Recalls, however, that the infringement proceedings haveprocess has revealed a number of limitations in terms of swiftly addressing and correcting the implementation and application deficiencies in Single Market provisions; calls on Member States to work more effectively with the Commission in resolving cases more swiftly;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33a. Recognises that a failure to implement can be as a result of complexities in the initial drafting; therefore stresses the need for both primary and secondary legislation to follow better regulation principles throughout, employing proper consultation, impact assessments and post-implementation reviews;