Activities of Simon BUSUTTIL related to 2011/2182(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
EU citizenship report 2010 (debate)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the EU Citizenship Report 2010: Dismantling the obstacles to EU citizens’ rights
Amendments (14)
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Emphasises in particular the importance of removing obstacles to the free movement of Europe's citizens in particular by ensuring that citizens enjoy their EU rights pertaining to the several aspects of their life in any Member State to which they travel. This is particularly important with respect to the free movement of workers and professionals and thus to the completion of the internal market.
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Commends the Commission's commitment to propose by 2012 a legislative instrument for faster and less bureaucratic recognition of professional qualifications. Regards access to apply electronically for recognition of qualifications as an important priority in this area.
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1 c. Recalls the importance of portability of pensions across EU Member States which remains a significant obstacle discouraging citizens from exercising their right to free movement.
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1 d. Strongly reaffirms its belief in the importance of one-stop-shop information points. Commends the Commission's efforts in creating its online one-stop-shop information portal and ongoing efforts to streamline information. Calls on the Commission to step-up solutions for adequately resourced physical one-stop- shops located within each Member State. Proposes that such one-stop-shops be located within the representations of the European Commission in the various EU Member States.
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 e (new)
Paragraph 1 e (new)
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 f (new)
Paragraph 1 f (new)
1 f. Recognizes the language difficulties faced by citizens in dealing with national courts, institutions and administrations when moving freely within the European Union. Calls on the Commission to offer tangible and expedient solutions to help citizens overcome this significant obstacle, without placing a significant burden on the Member State authorities.
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 g (new)
Paragraph 1 g (new)
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 h (new)
Paragraph 1 h (new)
1 h. Supports the Commission's efforts to devise an initiative on registration of motor vehicles previously registered in another Member State as this will reduce cumbersome re-registration formalities and paperwork and will avoid instances of dual payment of registration tax. Calls on the Commission to ensure that a legislative proposal is presented in this regard in 2012.
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 i (new)
Paragraph 1 i (new)
1 i. Welcomes the Commission's proposals to facilitate access to cross-border healthcare to ensure peace of mind for citizens located outside their Member State and to improve quality and accessibility to health services for all EU citizens.
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Takes note of the recent Commission publications on ‘Consumer Empowerment’ and ‘The 20 main concerns’, which highlight the information, legislative and implementation gaps which persist within the Single Market, as well as citizens' antagonism and lack of knowledge with regard to their rights within the market on the other hand;’ frustration at not being adequately informed and therefore not being able to exercise their rights within the single market effectively. Calls on the Commission to fill in these gaps.
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls the importance of effective redress mechanisms as a means to ensure that consumers may pursue their rights. Emphasises that ADR systems like the SOLVIT network have proven effective in solving problems affecting citizens such as the recognition of professional qualifications and portability of pension funds of mobile workers, but that nevertheless the ADR landscape of Europe remains largely fragmented; urges the Commission to ensure that foreseen EU legislative action in the fields of ADR and collective redress is completed by 2012;. Emphasises the importance that the adopted tools should facilitate consumer redress in cross-border purchases of goods and services.
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Welcomes the Commission's proposals to provide patients with secure online access to their medical health data; Calls on the Commission to continue working towards its target of widespread deployment of telemedicine services by 2020.
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Demands further action from the Member States in coordination with the Commission to overcome hurdles preventing online companies from offering their services to citizens of particular Member States. Welcomes, in this regard, the Commission proposal on a European Contract Law.
Amendment 47 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5 c. Reminds the European Commission of its duty to investigate infringements of EU law particularly with respect to infringements of citizens' EU rights. Stresses that the burden of proof regarding such infringements of EU law must not be pushed onto citizens who do not have the resources to furnish such information.