Activities of Konstantinos POUPAKIS
Plenary speeches (15)
Role and operations of the Troika with regard to the euro area programme countries - Employment and social aspects of the role and operations of the Troika (debate)
EU homelessness strategy (debate)
Youth guarantee (debate)
Towards a job-rich recovery (debate)
European platform against poverty and social exclusion (debate)
Implementation of Professional Qualifications Directive (debate)
Question Time (Commission)
Question Time (Commission)
Voluntary system of labelling in Braille format on the packaging of industrial products (written declaration)
One-minute speeches (Rule 150)
Adequate, sustainable and safe European pension systems (debate)
Implementation of the Services Directive (debate)
Question Time (Commission)
Question Time (Council)
Question Time (Commission)
Written declarations (1)
Amendments (964)
Amendment 11 #
2024/2007(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Particularly supports the idea of close cooperation and involvement of national parliaments and other stakeholders, including the social partners, during both negotiations and the transposition process;
Amendment 12 #
2024/2007(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Underlines the importance of open dialogue and closer cooperation between national parliaments and the European Parliament with a view to further discussion and detailed consideration of the problems encountered by the Member States during the transposition process, as the correct transposition and implementation of directives at national level are basic preconditions for the effective operation of the internal market, competition and economic and social stability within the EU;
Amendment 27 #
2024/2007(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Urges Member States to provide the Commission with correlation tables containing detailed information on the national measures taken to transpose directives in order for it to be able to provide more detailed information on the quality of transposition; calls further on the Member States to develop existing guidelines and exchanges of best practice with a view to taking direct, targeted action to tackle the existing transposition deficit;
Amendment 35 #
2024/2007(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Believes that Member States should, with the support of the Commission, improve the capacity of problem solving mechanisms, in particular SOLVIT, to provide more effective redress; emphasises that experiences from SOLVIT should be fed into national and EU policy-making, resulting in structural or regulatory changes where necessary; calls on Member States to further reinforce the networks of SOLVIT centres by allocating additional financial and human resources;
Amendment 68 #
2013/2277(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes that the crisis has highlighted and exacerbated macroeconomic imbalances in certain Member States and that it is therefore clearly necessary to initiate structural changes and reforms on a case-by-case basis, giving special attention to vulnerable sections of society with a view to achieving growth, accompanied by social cohesion and employment;
Amendment 74 #
2013/2277(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Stresses that, on the one hand, the adoption of the same solution for all Member States without taking individual circumstances into account and, on the other, the very brief period allowed for the implementation of economic adjustment programmes has made it difficult for both society and the business sector to adapt, thereby undermining social cohesion, employment and the real economy;
Amendment 76 #
2013/2277(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Notes that high rates of unemployment and underemployment, combined with public and private sector pay cuts - in accordance with economic adjustment programmes - are undermining the sustainability and adequacy of pension systems as a result of diminishing insurance contributions and social security funding shortfalls;
Amendment 78 #
2013/2277(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
4d. Notes with concern the lack of effective action in those Member States that are implementing economic adjustment programmes to combat tax evasion, contribution evasion and the underground economy, resulting in the excessive taxation of earnings, undermining social security systems and aggravating social inequalities;
Amendment 81 #
2013/2277(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes with great concern that it is young people who are suffering the highest levels of unemployment, with the situation in countries such as Greece, where the rate is over 50%, or Portugal and Ireland, where it is in excess of 30%, being quite devastating; notes the increasing degree of employment mismatch and the resulting loss of the innovatory and expert resources affecting production and hence growth; regrets the fact that even those who do find a job often find themselves working under precarious conditions or on part-time contracts which make it hard to live independently;
Amendment 89 #
2013/2277(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Expresses its concern at the fact that high rates of unemployment and long- term unemployment have resulted in loss of health coverage for a large part of the unemployed population and their dependents and an increase in the number of households forced to survive on meagre incomes or with no income at all, thereby increasing the risk of extreme poverty and social exclusion, as reflected by the growing number of destitute and homeless people and the lack of access to basic goods and services, particularly in the wake of the massive welfare restrictions introduced under the economic adjustment programmes;
Amendment 128 #
2013/2277(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Expresses its concern that, during the preparation and implementation of the economic adjustment plans, insufficient attention was given to the impact of economic policy on employment or its social implications and that, in the case of Greece, the working hypothesis turned out to be based on a mistaken assumption regarding the economic multiplier effect, resulting in failure to act in time to protect the most vulnerable against poverty, in-work poverty and social exclusion; calls on the Commission to take account of social indicators also for the purpose of renegotiating the economic adjustment programmes and replacing the measures recommended for each Member State, with a view to ensuring the necessary conditions for growth and full compliance with the EU's basic social principles and values;
Amendment 134 #
2013/2277(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Expresses concern that the (micro and macro) social and economic situation in these countries is aggravating regional and territorial disparities, thereby undermining the stated EUobjective of strengthening its internal regional cohesion;
Amendment 168 #
2013/2277(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17α. Expresses great concern, however, that the continuation or aggravation of the social and economic situation might further exacerbate the NEET problem and that of growing educational inequalities;
Amendment 179 #
2013/2277(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Notes that the recasting of industrial relations dictated by the logic of internal devaluation in line with the economic adjustment programmes has failed to produce the anticipated results, labour market reforms having proved most successful when drawn up and implemented in consultation with the social partners, particularly through social dialogue and consistently in line with national traditions, this being the only way to avoid labour market fragmentation and achieve the much- desired objective of harmonious industrial relations; accepts as clearly legitimate the demand for labour market reforms and cutbacks, given the constantly fluctuating social and economic conditions, while stressing the undeniable need to safeguard fundamental labour rights that have been established at national and European level in a bid to boost employment, prevent job losses and ensure full compliance with the core principles governing decent working conditions;
Amendment 194 #
2013/2277(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Stresses that Greece has done an enormous amount, involving unprecedented sacrifices on the part of the Greek people; urges the EU to help ensure that society and the real economy in Greece benefit accordingly from initial economic achievements;
Amendment 203 #
2013/2277(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Calls on the Commission, in cooperation with the national authorities , to provide additional assistance to countries implementing economic adjustment programmes, thereby ensuring that they make optimum use of the opportunities offered by the EU structural funds to improve public administration and education, boost employment, and combat poverty, unemployment and social exclusion for the public benefit;
Amendment 206 #
2013/2277(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Calls on the Commission to take measures, such as facilitating access to funding, to promote SMEs, which form the backbone of the European economy as well as playing a central economic role at national level in the countries concerned; calls on the Commission in this connection to examine the possibility of introducing a 'growth clause' in economic adjustment programmes, given that illiquidity, high taxation and prolonged recession in countries implementing economic adjustment programmes have seriously undermined entrepreneurship, particularly in small and medium enterprises, resulting in business closures or relocations, leading in turn to widespread job losses;
Amendment 17 #
2013/2194(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Stresses that, by removing barriers to the free movement of persons, goods, services and capital, the single market makes it possible for businesses to operate on a larger scale, thereby enhancing their ability to innovate, invest, increase productivity and create jobs;
Amendment 19 #
2013/2194(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Commission to present a detailed action plan of measures designed to achieve a fully integrated and interconnected Single Market in energy; highlights the need to provide consumers with transparent and comparable energy prices while at the same time ensuring that vulnerable consumers are protected;
Amendment 23 #
2013/2194(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Stresses the importance of adopting an integrated and updated cyber security strategy so as to make participation in the digital economy less costly for businesses and consumers;
Amendment 25 #
2013/2194(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Takes the view that easier access to funding for SMEs and improved financial flows within the supply chain, including measures to remedy late payments, would help loosen liquidity constraints and increase SME working capital;
Amendment 29 #
2013/2194(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Stresses the need for greater transparency and better information about price differences and consumer rights in the single market and for action to prevent unjustified discrimination between consumers;
Amendment 25 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
Eb. whereas while we have the best educated generation of youth in Europe’s history, and member states have invested huge amounts of money in education and training, our youth are largely cut-off from the labour market and their skills remain unused as they compete for temporary and underpaid positions;
Amendment 27 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the unemployment rate for young Europeans (15-24) reaches the unsustainable rate of 23% and is above 50% in those member states most severely hit by the crisis; whereas this massive youth unemployment leads to a huge brain drain and significantly undermines our capacity for sustainable growth in the future;
Amendment 28 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)
Recital E c (new)
Ec. whereas the EU is threatened by the prospect of ‘jobless growth’ which will further undermine the social and economic fabric of our societies as well as the long-term prospects of the EU competing on an equal footing within a globalized knowledge-based economy;
Amendment 46 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Takes the view that the steady development and deepening of the EU internal market is creating many substantial new opportunities for businesses of all sizes, clearly necessitating flexible framework provisions to promote entrepreneurship and self-employment, while the smooth functioning thereof requires a set of minimum regulatory standards, particularly in respect of public health and safety, health and safety at the workplace, food safety and environmental protection;
Amendment 53 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Stresses that, while excellence, innovation and human resources are what constitute the comparative advantages of the Union, dwindling investment in research, education and training, coupled with the particularly high unemployment rates in individual Member States and in the euro area, are driving many Europeans to seek employment on other labour markets; stresses that the brain drain is a major obstacle to growth, greater Union competitiveness and measures to promote entrepreneurship;
Amendment 56 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is concerned that Europe’s education and training systems are not adapted to businesses’ skills needs; notes with concern that in 2015 the estimated shortage of qualified ICT personnel in the EU will rise to between 384 000 and 700 000 and that the supply of STEM skills (science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills) will not match the increasing demands of businesses in the coming years, while the declining rate of women participating in those subjects has not been properly addressed;
Amendment 63 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls on the Member States to encourage the development of cooperation between enterprises, public education institutions and universities, so as to ensure that specialist areas of study and educational and training curricula in the context of lifelong learning are compatible and in line with the needs of the market, and promote traineeship and apprenticeship opportunities as part of the curricula, focusing on technical vocational training;
Amendment 64 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls for initiatives that will foster partnerships between businesses, research centres and universities, which will provide the necessary skills to Europeans to access ICT, energy-related and high- tech manufacturing jobs;
Amendment 72 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Notes that the ‘risk’ factor regarding self-employment revealed in the course of the crisis is a deterrent to engaging in such entrepreneurial activities; recommends accordingly that consideration be given to adoption of measures by the Member States to strengthen the welfare safety net for the self-employed without detracting from the flexibility of this particular type of activity, so as to make it a more attractive and a safer option;
Amendment 80 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Believes that the Commission and the Member States should promote schemes that would enable easier access for first time professionals to the labour market, especially by lowering the complexity and cost of becoming self-employed, including lowering indirect labour costs. In this spirit encourages the establishment of a European definition of the ‘auto- entrepreneur’ for activities related to the European digital economy;
Amendment 81 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Underlines the importance of providing entrepreneurial education and attitudes to young Europeans; In this context welcomes the strengthening of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) which has a clear focus on providing entrepreneurial and innovative skills to 10.000 Masters and 10.000 PhD students by 2020;
Amendment 111 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Stresses that the introduction of suitable and flexible single market framework provisions to promote entrepreneurship and support small and medium-sized undertakings forming the economic backbone of the Union must not, under any circumstances, be achieved to the detriment of minimum European labour standards and fundamental labour rights;
Amendment 114 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Notes the importance that the digital economy has for creating jobs, especially when linked to sectors that Europe is traditionally strong, like the creative industries, cultural heritage and tourism;
Amendment 118 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Believes there are real benefits in new forms of financing through innovative schemes and non-bank routes, such as crowd-funding, peer-to-peer lending, micro-lending and other tools, which can provide vital investment for start-ups to grow and create jobs;
Amendment 132 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Underlines the importance of streamlining and simplifying the framework that will enable angel-, seed-, and venture capital investors to engage in cross-border funding of innovative business and start-ups; Underlines the significance of lowering taxes on capital gains from research-driven innovative SMEs investments;
Amendment 134 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Asks for a better coordination of EU funding mechanisms, including Structural Funds, ERDF, Horizon 2020 and EIB investments, especially when it comes to funding innovative SMEs, and asks for an assessment of current obstacles that in several member states banks fail to transfer funds and loan guarantees to SMEs and the real economy;
Amendment 135 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
Paragraph 14 c (new)
14c. Underlines the importance of research and innovation for enhancing the competitiveness, productivity, sustainability and job-creation potential of European SMEs and notes the significant focus that Horizon 2020 and the EIT place in creating and supporting high-growth innovative SMEs;
Amendment 145 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Strongly believes that businesses can only create jobs if the right conditions exist, including access to a qualified and highly-skilled workforce, availability of flexible contractual arrangements, and keeping administrative burdens to a minimum;
Amendment 155 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Believes Member States must be more responsive to labour market needs, notably by fostering work-based learning and apprenticeships, as well as re-training of employees and provision of life-long learning opportunities;
Amendment 156 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Considers that there is major scope for increasing the involvement of the social partners and the bodies concerned in the formulation of a long-term strategy for small and medium-sized enterprises, this being the only way of identifying malfunctions, formulating intelligent and flexible legislation, avoiding market fragmentation and promoting the creation and development of sustainable and quality employment;
Amendment 157 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to create viable transition schemes from higher education and vocational training to the labour market, especially for first-time young professionals;
Amendment 162 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Welcomes European legislation setting out framework provisions regarding late payment in commercial transactions and calls on the Member States to ensure that they are properly implemented and that remedial action is taken, the crisis having shown that late payment, particularly for public contracts, is one of the problems further increasing the vulnerability of small and medium- sized enterprises;
Amendment 164 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Underlines the ‘think small first’ principle; recognises the benefits of cross- border e- commerce in providing new opportunities for SMEs to access the single market, reduce costs and compete globally;
Amendment 184 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Believes that Member States must be encouraged to share best practice on innovative ways to reduce bureaucracy and red tape, and unlock access to capital, particularly for SMEs and micro- enterprises;
Amendment 246 #
2013/2176(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Calls on the Commission to draft EU texts that are easily understandable and accessible to citizens and businesses, especially when it comes to comprehensive guidelines on how aspiring entrepreneurs can use European financial and business tools;
Amendment 65 #
2013/2158(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Underlines that the social and economic priorities as agreed within the framework of the EU2020 strategy are deeply interconnected. Economic sustainability and macroeconomic balance cannot be achieved - in the medium as well as in the long run- without the enhancement and the safeguard of the social dimension of the EMU. Social and economic aspects of the Union are two sides of the same coin and both play a key role in the development of the EU.
Amendment 135 #
2013/2158(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25 a. Taken into consideration the fact that excessive private debt in cases of households is a major issue in countries severely hit by the crisis endangering core social values, exposing a great number of people to poverty and homelessness and social exclusion while influencing negatively the functioning of the banking sector, urges Member States to create a financially and socially efficient framework to govern cases of household excessive debts so as to guarantee the sustainable function of the banking sector while preserving social cohesion.
Amendment 201 #
2013/2158(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 a (new)
Paragraph 53 a (new)
53 a. Stresses that the necessary undergoing reforms of the pension systems in Member States should be designed, conceived and adopted in the direction of ensuring their sustainability while at the same time not jeopardising the adequacy of pensions, fully in line with the economic and social priorities of the EU2020 strategy;
Amendment 8 #
2013/2153(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Α a (new)
Recital Α a (new)
Αa. whereas utility services are common to all European societies and essential to the European social model;
Amendment 48 #
2013/2153(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Stresses the need for consumers to have access to affordable and high quality utility services throughout the EU, given that they are essential to ensuring social and territorial cohesion while contributing to European economic competitiveness;
Amendment 52 #
2013/2153(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Stresses the fundamental role of utility services in improving quality of life and combating social exclusion and isolation;
Amendment 63 #
2013/2153(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses the need for adequate safeguards to protect vulnerable consumers, particularly regarding the provision of utility services, by ensuring affordable rates, with special concessions and arrangements for those in low income brackets;
Amendment 65 #
2013/2153(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Stresses the need to avoid the practice followed in certain Member States of collecting taxes owed to the State in conjunction with utility bills; notes that such practices hurt mainly vulnerable consumers, whose bills may as a result be inflated out of all proportion and who may thus find themselves at risk of essential services being cut off;
Amendment 6 #
2013/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Β a (new)
Recital Β a (new)
Ba. whereas misleading marketing practices cause market failures and distortions of competition, impairing the ability of businesses to make informed and hence effective choices;
Amendment 9 #
2013/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas misleading marketing practices have a knock-on effect on consumers, who are, as a result, charged more for products and services;
Amendment 30 #
2013/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Urges the Commission and the Member States jointly to promote initiatives to educate and inform all business undertakings and promote exchanges of best practice between them, thereby ensuring that they are aware of the dangers;
Amendment 33 #
2013/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls on the Member States to appoint an enforcement authority empowered to ensure compliance with the rules, including codes of business practice;
Amendment 36 #
2013/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Stresses that legislative action is necessary as the current legislative framework has several deficiencies, both as regards substantive rules and enforcement; takes the view that the most effective way of introducing coherent and consistent measures to prohibit misleading marketing practices would be a simultaneous review of Directive 2006/114/ΕC and Directive 2005/29/ΕC regarding business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) relations;
Amendment 41 #
2013/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Stresses that particular attention should be given to interpretation of the rules governing comparative advertising in accordance with the substantial body of case law established by the EU Court of Justice;
Amendment 49 #
2013/2122(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Calls for the creation of a European support network for small and medium- sized undertakings to resolve cross-border differences, which can direct defrauded businesses towards the most suitable channels of legal redress;
Amendment 26 #
2013/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Ε a (new)
Recital Ε a (new)
Εa. whereas undeclared work has exceptionally adverse repercussions, resulting in an unequal distribution of the tax burden at the expense of those belonging to the world of paid employment; whereas drastic measures to contain the problem would have a favourable impact in terms of securing increased public revenue while ensuring socially just tax and pension arrangements and the effective or 'intelligent' distribution of social spending;
Amendment 30 #
2013/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Ε b (new)
Recital Ε b (new)
Εb. whereas fragmentation of the employment market, combined with uncontrolled and unregulated expansion of flexible employment arrangements in certain Member States, is depressing pay levels substantially and thereby creating a situation likely to aggravate further the problem of undeclared work;
Amendment 45 #
2013/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses the importance of drawing up national action plans for the reorganisation or strengthening of labour inspection mechanisms and the financing thereof from the European Structural Funds in view of the added value of effective labour inspections in underpinning social cohesion and, in general, consolidating justice at the workplace;
Amendment 51 #
2013/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses the need to enhance the role of national labour inspectorates, provide training for their senior staff and coordinate their responsibilities so as to meet successfully the new inspection challenges arising partly from developments in the field of industrial relations;
Amendment 56 #
2013/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Stresses that the financial reforms being carried out in certain Member States must in no case detract from the manpower, funding and material and technical infrastructural resources of labour inspectorates;
Amendment 94 #
2013/2112(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Advocates the creation of additional tripartite sectoral inspectorates representing government, workers and employers and calls for them to be brought into operation as a pilot initiative in the Member States with the highest levels of undeclared work;
Amendment 25 #
2013/2111(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas false self-employment is basically a form of partial contribution evasion that is difficult to detect and undermines the sustainability and adequacy of pension schemes, depriving them of vital resources;
Amendment 26 #
2013/2111(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Recital F b (new)
Fb. whereas the particularly high unemployment levels in many Member States, compounded by the constant pressure to reduce (unit) labour costs are leading to national labour market trends and practices that encourage the further development and growth of false self- employment;
Amendment 56 #
2013/2111(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Stresses that measures to ensure social protection of sufficiently high quality based on measures to promote participation in employment are important in improving health and safety at work and enhancing productivity, which is a major competitive advantage;
Amendment 61 #
2013/2111(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on the Member States, in cooperation with the Commission, to ensure adequate social protection for young people in traineeship and apprenticeship schemes designed to provide them with work experience;
Amendment 73 #
2013/2111(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls on the Member States to take effective action in response to the lack of social protection in small and very small family enterprises for employed family members, including spouses, as a result of their unclear and informal terms of employment;
Amendment 95 #
2013/2111(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Points out that, in many cases the economic crisis is making it impossible to strike a balance between flexibility and employment security in implementing labour market reforms in the Member States, thereby detracting from the sustainability of social security systems, the quality of benefits, workforce earnings and productivity, the real economy and social cohesion and, as a result, undermining the EU 2020 Strategy for maintaining and increasing employment levels;
Amendment 134 #
2013/2111(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Urges the Member States, in cooperation with the social partners, to introduce adequate social protection framework provisions for the self- employed, based on reciprocity and the principle of non-discrimination, taking particular care, on the one hand, to avoid creating further obstacles to self- employment in the form of increased bureaucracy, for example, and, on the other, to secure the continued benefits of self-employed activity;
Amendment 4 #
2013/2093(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses the need for a single coherent plan of action - effectively coordinating different policy areas – with a view to enhancing the performance of the retail sector in economic, social and environmental terms equally, in line with the Europe 2020 strategy objectives, focusing on the preservation and creation of high-quality and sustainable employment;
Amendment 4 #
2013/2093(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the dignity of the retail sector has to be fully recognised as a driver for growth, competitiveness and innovation;
Amendment 9 #
2013/2093(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas unfair trading practices (UTPs) continue to exist and negatively affect, in particular, farmers and small producing companie the entire supply chain, including farmers and SMEs;
Amendment 10 #
2013/2093(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2α. With this in mind and in order to combat effectively the problem of mismatched skills in the retail industry, it is necessary to establish clearly the requirements of this sector in terms of quality and quantity, with the active involvement of all stakeholders, including the social partners and the corporate sector;
Amendment 20 #
2013/2093(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Supports the Retail Market Roundtable, organised by its Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, as the institutional forum to keep the retail high on the EU political agenda, to review progress in the implementation of relevant aspects of the Retail Action Plan, to report on the work of the permanent Group on Retail Competitiveness and to update on progress made in other existing platforms and informal dialogue mechanisms; asks the permanent Group on Retail Competitiveness to work closely with the European Parliament to prepare the yearly Retail Market Roundtable;
Amendment 21 #
2013/2093(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Urges Member States not to take discriminatory measures in the context of austerity policies that undermine consumer confidence and directly harm the interests of the retail sector, such as increasing VAT or raising charges for shops; is concerned in particular about certain national trade and tax laws, affecting certain sectors or business models and distorting competition, which de facto have a discriminatory effect against foreign EU retailers; calls on the Commission to act more firmly to ensure full implementation of internal market legislation and competition law, including through speeding up infringement procedures with a fast-track approach;
Amendment 28 #
2013/2093(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission and Member States to give the highest political prominence to the retail sector as a pillar of the Single Market, including the Digital Single Market, and to lift practical obstacles making it difficult for retailers to fully benefit from the internal market; considers that retail market legislation should be more thoroughly evidence- based, particularly as regards the need to adequately examine and understand its impact on small businesses;
Amendment 30 #
2013/2093(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Asks Member States to transpose internal market rules in a coherent and consistent way and to ensure effective mutual recognition of goods and services, remove overlaps and reduce administrative burdens and regulatory barriers that may limit growth and job creation; urges Member States to fully and correctly implement the internal market rules and legislation, notably the Goods Package, the Services Directive, the Late Payments Directive, the E- Commerce Directive, the Small Business Act and the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive;
Amendment 51 #
2013/2093(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Emphasises that e-commerce is important to ensure consumer choice and access to goods and services, in particular in remote areas; stresses that appropriate action must be taken to develop its full potential, including improving access to the Internet in the European Union's most remote areas; supports the measures called for in the Commission's communication on e-commerce from 2012 to enhance confidence, simplify registration of domains across borders, improve secure online payments and delivery services, facilitate cross-border debt recovery and improve information to consumers on their rights, particularly concerning withdrawals and opportunities to appeal;
Amendment 14 #
2013/2073(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Emphasises that in order to achieve the Union’s objectives relating to the Youth Strategy - due to the multidimensional nature of this enterprise - specific, continuous, consistent and coordinated actions are needed by all stakeholders at all levels of government and in a variety of sectors of political action; calls upon Member States - with the assistance of the Commission - to adopt simplified and more result-oriented approaches focusing on specific socio- economic conditions and the state of the labour market in each Member State;
Amendment 44 #
2013/2073(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Stresses that Europe’s young people should not become the victims of the crisis and of the extensive cuts that are being made at each level of government; calls on Member States and the Commission to ensure that the financial constraints will not hamper the smooth implementation of the ‘EU Youth Guarantee’;
Amendment 108 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses the need both for the proper targeting of dynamic population groups and economic sectors and for effective programme implementation so as, on the one hand, to avoid the wastage of available resources and, on the other, to lower youth unemployment, rather than merely ‘recycling’ it;
Amendment 136 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Supports and encourages the participation of the social partners and the synergies between them in drawing up and implementing the National Action Plans to address unemployment through active labour market policies;
Amendment 166 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Encourages Member States to use the method of training vouchers, but notes the need for constant and thorough supervision in implementing the respective programmes, and for the constant evaluation of these programmes;
Amendment 205 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 α. Urges Member States, given the exceptional social conditions created by the crisis, to draw up a strategy to provide incentives – including financial incentives – for vulnerable groups of young students to complete their secondary education;
Amendment 207 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Encourages Member States to promote the institution of grants and to draw up student loan programmes offering favourable terms which are easily accessible to young people who are unable to pursue their studies in higher education because of financial difficulties, while at the same time emphasises the importance of having a quality public network of student residences;
Amendment 265 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Emphasises the crucial role of internships and apprenticeships in gaining initial work experience, which constitutes one of the principal ways by which an individual gains access to the labour market and makes progress in it;
Amendment 269 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11 b. Supports the strengthening and expansion of internships and apprenticeships in the educational system (secondary technical education, initial vocational training and higher education), subject, however, to rules and conditions to ensure that they do not act as ‘substitutes’ for existing jobs or forthcoming employment requirements;
Amendment 307 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Notes the particularly adverse effects of the ‘brain drain’ in the medium to long term, in particular the dearth of the expertise and innovation needed in productive and entrepreneurial activities;
Amendment 320 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Maintains that Member States need to upgrade and modernise national structures for identifying labour market requirements, effectively linking them up with the educational process so that the specialisations offered are matched as well as possible to labour market requirements, notably through the constant updating of educational syllabuses;
Amendment 22 #
2013/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Given the substantial mismatch between skills and the requirements of the labour market, calls upon Member States to promote cooperation between enterprises and universities in the training of specialities and in curricula and to introduce vocational guidance lessons in schools as a basis for preventing youth unemployment;
Amendment 37 #
2013/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Emphasises that in many remote areas there are severe problems in accessing schools, which is leading to a soaring school dropout rate; calls on Member States, given the severe economic distress afflicting the majority of European citizens, to take concrete steps to overcome barriers of this kind;
Amendment 39 #
2013/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Calls on Member States, as part of measures to increase the number of students in higher education, to facilitate the access of young people to universities, inter alia through the introduction of student loans on favourable terms, grants and decent student accommodation, since many young people are unable to pursue their studies due to financial problems. Particular attention should be paid to vulnerable social groups such as young people from families with members who are long-term unemployed;
Amendment 40 #
2013/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3 c. Calls upon Member States to establish or strengthen the Observatories or equivalent structures for diagnosing the needs of national labour markets, integrating their results in each step of the educational process;
Amendment 51 #
2013/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Calls on the Member States, in upgrading technical vocational training, to promote synergies between social partners and educational institutions at local level in order to bring the specialisations provided, professional profiles and the corresponding curricula into line with the specific needs of the local economy and labour market;
Amendment 72 #
2013/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Recognises the special importance of obtaining initial work experience as a critical element in the transition from education to employment; highlights the need to extend the institution of internship either to secondary and post- secondary level or to tertiary level, notably by submitting and implementing Action Plans financed by the European Structural Funds;
Amendment 73 #
2013/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Calls on Member States to take measures to increase the participation of employees and unemployed persons in vocational reorientation and retraining programmes in order to reduce the risk of unemployment and long-term unemployment for that section of the workforce whose professional activities are less and less in demand;
Amendment 88 #
2013/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Stresses the need for the continuous retraining of teachers so as to develop their horizontal skills in new teaching standards, methods and procedures in keeping with the rapid pace of scientific and technological developments;
Amendment 128 #
2013/0246(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 28
Recital 28
(28) In certain cases organisers should be allowed to make unilateral changes to the package travel contract. However, travellers should have the right to terminate the contract if the proposed alterations change significantly any of the main characteristics of the travel services. Price increases should be possible only if there has been a change in the cost of fuel for the carriage of passengers, in taxes or fees imposed by a third party not directly involved in the performance of the included travel services or in the exchange rates relevant to the package and if both an upward and downward revision of the price is expressly reserved in the contract. Price increases should be limited to 105% of the price of the package.
Amendment 273 #
2013/0246(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 2
Article 8 – paragraph 2
2. The price increase referred to in paragraph 1 shall not exceed 105% of the price of the package. Organisers shall be required to provide the relevant information, while travellers shall enjoy the rights set out under Article 9(2).
Amendment 278 #
2013/0246(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 3
Article 8 – paragraph 3
3. The price increase referred to in paragraph 1 shall be valid only if the organiser notifies the traveller of it with a justification and calculation on a durable medium at the latest 230 days prior to the start of the package.
Amendment 279 #
2013/0246(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3α. If travellers do not accept the price increase referred to in paragraph 2, they shall be entitled to terminate the contract without penalty on the grounds that the terms thereof have been altered.
Amendment 308 #
2013/0246(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2α. Travellers shall be entitled to terminate the contract before the start of the package without penalty in case of unavoidable and exceptional circumstances affecting them, for example a serious accident, serious illness or death in the family, provided that such incidents are appropriately documented.
Amendment 353 #
2013/0246(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
Article 12 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. The traveller shall not be entitled to price reduction or compensation for damages if:
Amendment 96 #
2013/0072(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) In order to improve levels of protection, passengers shouldmust not be denied boarding on the return journey of a two-way (return) ticket because they have not taken the outward journey.
Amendment 104 #
2013/0072(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
Amendment 113 #
2013/0072(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28 a (new)
Recital 28 a (new)
(28a) In order to protect passengers from excessive hand luggage restrictions, they should be allowed to take into the cabin free of charge certain basic personal possessions, including items purchased at the airport, over and above the maximum cabin baggage allowance.
Amendment 135 #
2013/0072(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b
Regulation (ΕC) No 261/2004
Article 4 – paragraph 4
Article 4 – paragraph 4
Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 shall also apply to return tickets where the passenger is denied boarding at the return journey on the grounds that he/she did not take the outward journey or did not pay an additional charge for this purpose. (This amendment concerns the Greek version only. It is intended to correct a mistake in the Greek version of the Commission proposal, which makes reference to paragraphs 1 and 2 only, and not to paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 as in the other language versions.)
Amendment 157 #
2013/0072(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Regulation (EC) No 261/2004
Article 6 – paragraph 5
Article 6 – paragraph 5
Subject to safety constraints, where a tarmac delay exceeds one hooccurs, the operating air carrier shall provide free of charge access to toilet facilities and drinking water, shall ensure adequate heating or cooling of the passenger cabin, and shall ensure that adequate medical attention is available if needed. Where a tarmac delay reaches a maximum of fivetwo hours, the aircraft shall return to the gate or another suitable disembarkation point where passengers shall be allowed to disembark and to benefit from the same assistance as specified in paragraph 1, unless there are safety-related or security- related reasons why the aircraft cannot leave its position on the tarmac.'
Amendment 159 #
2013/0072(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Regulation (EC) No 261/2004
Article 6 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Where a tarmac delay of over one hour occurs, meals and refreshments shall be served in accordance with Article 9(1)(a).
Amendment 179 #
2013/0072(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – point b
Regulation (EC) No 261/2004
Article 7 – paragraph 3
Article 7 – paragraph 3
The compensation referred to in paragraph 1 shall be paid within seven days at the latest, in cash, by electronic bank transfer, bank orders or bank cheques or, subject to the signed agreement of the passenger, in the form of travel vouchers and/or other services.
Amendment 189 #
2013/0072(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9 – point b
Regulation (EC) No 261/2004
Article 9 – paragraph 5
Article 9 – paragraph 5
Amendment 205 #
2013/0072(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Regulation (EC) No 2027/97
Article 6 d – paragraph 1
Article 6 d – paragraph 1
Amendment 207 #
2013/0072(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Regulation (EC) No 2027/97
Article 6 d – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 6 d – paragraph 1 a (new)
Passengers shall be allowed to take into the cabin free of charge their basic personal possessions, including items purchased at the airport, over and above the maximum cabin baggage allowance.
Amendment 123 #
2013/0027(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 18 a (new)
Recital 18 a (new)
(18a) In order to facilitate cooperation between the Member States and the Commission in their cross-border endeavours to prevent, detect and respond to network and data security incidents, ENISA must devise and operate at European level an early warning and response mechanism to function alongside the mechanisms being used by the Member States;
Amendment 128 #
2013/0027(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 29
Recital 29
(29) Competent Public authorities, single points of contact and ENISA should have the necessary means to perform their duties, including powers to obtain sufficient information from market operators and public administrations in order to assess the level of security of network and information systems as well as reliable and comprehensive data about actual incidents that have had an impact on the operation of network and information systems.
Amendment 129 #
2013/0027(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 30
Recital 30
(30) Criminal activities are in many cases underlying an incident. The criminal nature of incidents can be suspected even if the evidence to support it may not be sufficiently clear from the start. In this context, appropriate co-operation between competent authorities, the single points of contact, ENISA and law enforcement authorities shouldmust form part of an effective and comprehensive response to the threat of security incidents. In particular, promoting a safe, secure and more resilient environment requires a systematic reporting of incidents of a suspected serious criminal nature to law enforcement authorities. The serious criminal nature of incidents shouldmust be assessed in the light of EU laws on cybercrime.
Amendment 167 #
2013/0027(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
1. The competent authorities and the Commission shall form a network ("cooperation network") to cooperate against risks andsingle points of contact and the Commission, together with ENISA if it so requests, shall form a network ("cooperation network") to cooperate in the development of detection, analysis and response procedures in dealing with security issues and risks or incidents affecting network and information systems.
Amendment 182 #
2013/0027(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. The competent authorities orpoints of single contact, the Commission or ENISA shall provide early warnings within the cooperation network on those risks and incidents that fulfil at least one of the following conditions:
Amendment 187 #
2013/0027(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1a (new)
ENISA shall, in cooperation with the Commission devise and operate at European level an early warning and response mechanism to function alongside the mechanisms being used by the Member States;
Amendment 221 #
2013/0027(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 15 – paragraph 5
Article 15 – paragraph 5
5. The competent authorities and single points of contact shall work in close cooperation with personal data protection authorities when addressing incidents resulting in personal data breaches. The single points of contact and personal data protection authorities shall cooperate through ENISA to develop information exchange mechanisms and a single model for notifications under Article 14(2) of this Directive and under Regulation (xxx) of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data.
Amendment 32 #
2012/2322(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas, in the absence of harmonisation and with due regard to the principle of subsidiarity, the Member States maintain a margin of discretionthe right to regulate online gambling in accordance with their own values and pursued objectives of general interest;
Amendment 46 #
2012/2322(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Β a (new)
Recital Β a (new)
Βa. whereas the online gambling sector differs from other markets on account of the risks involved in terms of consumer protection and the fight against organised crime, as repeatedly acknowledged by the European Court of Justice;
Amendment 59 #
2012/2322(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has confirmed that the provision of games of chance or gambling is an special type of economic activity, which consequently falls within the scope of and that any restrictions to the fundamental freedoms of the TFEU, notably the free movement of services, and any restrictions imposed thereto need to comply with those provided for by the TFEU, notably under Articles 51 and 52 may be accordingly justified by overriding factors of general concern, such as consumer protection, fraud prevention and upholding law and order;
Amendment 62 #
2012/2322(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas, now more than ever, the Member States share common general concerns as to the negative social and economic impact of illegal online gambling at national level, their principal objectives being to protect underage and vulnerable members of society and combat addiction, crime and tax evasion;
Amendment 105 #
2012/2322(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recognises that, under the principle of subsidiarity, the Member States have the right to determine how the offer of online gambling services is to be organised and regulated at the national level, retaining the exclusive right to impose all measures they consider necessary to contain illegal online gambling so as to enforce national legislation and deprive illegal operators of market access, while observing the basic EU Treaty principles;
Amendment 140 #
2012/2322(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Commission to continue to carry out effective checks onhe dialogue with the Member States regarding compliance with EU law of national laws and practices, and to take legal action against gambling monopolies that do not reduce gambling opportunities or limit promotional activities for gambling in a consistent manner, in line with CJEU case-law;
Amendment 170 #
2012/2322(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises that Member States thatseeking to open up their online gambling marketsector, given that this is not mandatory under EU law, must provide for a transparent procedure based on objective and non- discriminatory criteria, in full compliance with EU law;·
Amendment 196 #
2012/2322(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 α (new)
Paragraph 6 α (new)
6a. Stresses the need for closer cooperation between the Member States, particularly with regard to consumer protection and measures to thwart illegal operators;
Amendment 250 #
2012/2322(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Agrees with the Commission that a fair offer of gambling services as specified by each Member State is necessary for consumer protection, because in its absence consumers are more likely to turn to unreliable gambling websites;
Amendment 299 #
2012/2322(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, to consider legislation to create an EU-wide self- exclusion register, accessible by national authorities and licensed gambling operators, so that any customer who chooses to exclude him- or herself from one gambling operator has the opportunity to be automatically self-excluded from all other licensed gambling operators;
Amendment 130 #
2012/2293(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on the Member States to step up exchanges of good practice regarding social housing; urges the Commission as a member of the Troika, particularly in respect of Member States implementing the Memorandum of Understanding, to step up dialogue for the creation of an effective social housing network as a profitable social investment which will, on the one hand, create new jobs and, on the other, help protect vulnerable categories from poverty and social exclusion;
Amendment 222 #
2012/2293(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Points out that the crisis has seriously reduced household incomes, causing major difficulties with regard to repayments on first home mortgages; calls on the Member States, in view of this disastrous situation, to take special measures to facilitate mortgage repayments and defer the auctioning of first homes;
Amendment 223 #
2012/2293(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15b (new)
Paragraph 15b (new)
15b. Notes with concern the fact that many Member States, faced with budgetary imbalances, are suspending operations, programmes and actions (rent and mortgage subsidies, for example) designed to facilitate home acquisition, while at the same time, disproportionately increasing property taxes in the midst of an acute economic crisis, leaving many sections of society a prey to poverty and deprivation;
Amendment 131 #
2012/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas as indicated by the Consumer Markets Scoreboards and the Single Market integration check-up for the four freedoms, the increased competition resulting from the integration process works as a powerful incentive to offer a wider variety of cheaper and higher quality products for European consumers;
Amendment 145 #
2012/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital AD a (new)
Recital AD a (new)
ADa. whereas the country-specific recommendations should, at the same time, offer to the Member States more practical solutions for improving the functioning of the Single Market, so that stronger public support and political commitment are created to encourage the completion of the Single Market;
Amendment 146 #
2012/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital AD a (new)
Recital AD a (new)
ADa. whereas the Annual Growth Survey 2013 has launched the third European Semester cycle and includes now for the first time an annual report on the state of the Single Market integration; whereas this stronger focus on the Single Market in the context of the European Semester is necessary in order to better exploit its growth and employment potentials in Europe and to allow citizens and businesses to fully benefit from it;
Amendment 148 #
2012/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital AD b (new)
Recital AD b (new)
ADb. whereas the report on the State of the Single Market Integration 2013 does however not provide any new insights on the state of play in Member States nor draw sufficiently elaborated conclusions with regard to concrete growth potentials; whereas the choice of priority areas in the integration report should be backed by comprehensive data;
Amendment 150 #
2012/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital AD d (new)
Recital AD d (new)
ADd. whereas this year's report emphasises in particular the services sector and calls, among others, for a full compliance with the Services Directive; whereas this is a valid call but merely compelling, if it is not accompanied by both supportive and stringent measures on the correct transposition and interpretation of that Directive;
Amendment 155 #
2012/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital AD f (new)
Recital AD f (new)
ADf. whereas the digital economy is also considered as a priority area; whereas timely and correct transposition and implementation of the Consumer Rights Directive is one of the essential factors for the development of this economy;
Amendment 158 #
2012/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital AE a (new)
Recital AE a (new)
AEa. whereas, as indicated by the annual report of the Single Market integration, Member States in the energy market should focus on the gradual phasing out of regulated prices while ensuring robust competition and strengthening the protection of vulnerable consumers; whereas this procedure will send the correct price signals needed to secure enough investment and enhance energy efficiency while, in the longer run, it would provide consumers with more choice and sustainable market prices;
Amendment 67 #
2012/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Member States to adopt measures favourable to job creation such as labour tax reforms that provide employment incentives, promote and support self-employment and business start-ups, improve the framework for doing business, facilitate access to financing for SMEs, transform informal and undeclared work into regular employment, reform labour markets to make them more adaptive, dynamic and inclusive, modernise wage-setting systems while ensuring adequate security for employees, modernise wage-setting systems - with the active participation of the social partners, within the framework of social dialogue - to align wages with productivity developments taking into consideration their adequacy, exploit the high employment potential of sectors such as the green economy, health and social care, and the ICT sector to create sustainable and quality jobs;
Amendment 11 #
2012/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Α – indent 5
Recital Α – indent 5
the importance of avoiding gender inequalities in pensions, resulting from imbalances in the way men and women participate in the reconciliation of work and care, by making greater use of ECB funding, firstly for structures to achieve work-life balance and secondly for the launching of vocational training initiatives specifically designed for mothers, thereby improving their position on the employment market and their access to it;
Amendment 50 #
2012/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas retirement systems are a key element of the European social model which, their fundamental and non-negotiable objective being the provision of benefits that are sufficient to ensure a decent standard of living and financial independence for people in old age;
Amendment 55 #
2012/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas pensioners are a major consumer category and any fluctuation in their spending habits has serious repercussions for the real economy;
Amendment 67 #
2012/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1α. Warns of the inherent danger of one- sided commitment to an internal devaluation policy with regard to insurance fund revenues and sustainability; stresses that the appropriate response to the crisis is the introduction of measures to stimulate growth, coupled with policies designed to rationalise public finances;
Amendment 143 #
2012/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Calls on the Member States to proceed with the necessary reforms to guarantee the financial sustainability of pension schemes and hence ensure the payment of adequate pensions in accordance with the basic principles of such schemes, which include enabling the elderly to enjoy a dignified and financially independent existence;
Amendment 168 #
2012/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the main thrust of the White Paper that suggests focusing on: balancing time spent in work and retirement; and developing complementary occupational and private pension savings, and enhancing the EU’s pension monitoring toolccessible to all workers, as well as private pension savings;
Amendment 191 #
2012/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Points out that labour market reforms adopted with the aim of reducing unemployment must, on the one hand, ensure the necessary job security and, on the other, take account of the consequences in terms of labour productivity and insurance fund revenues;
Amendment 192 #
2012/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Calls on the Member States to draw up realistic and effective action plans to combat undeclared work and contribution evasion, which are the key factors behind diminishing insurance fund revenues, for example by shifting the tax burden from earned income, stepping up inspections, mobilising available European Structural Fund resources, intensifying exchanges of best practices between Member States and introducing harsher penalties;
Amendment 201 #
2012/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Notes that the effective enforcement and implementation of legislation on health and safety at work could also prove beneficial in terms of greater productivity and the sustainability of social security systems. It is of paramount importance to rationalise health services with a view to achieving an optimum ratio between health care costs and quality;
Amendment 203 #
2012/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Calls on the Member States, in cooperation with the social partners, to formulate measures to improve the employment situation for older workers who appear to be at greater risk of long- term unemployment as a means of improving the sustainability of insurance systems and combating poverty and social exclusion, in line with the Europe 2020 Strategy.
Amendment 9 #
2012/2144(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Β a (new)
Recital Β a (new)
Βa. whereas the full implementation of the Directive will greatly improve the functioning of the single market in services, in particular by facilitating the market access of SMEs, expanding consumer choice and helping strengthen competitiveness in the EU, growth and employment;
Amendment 30 #
2012/2144(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Notes that the Commission should focus its efforts on those service sectors that are of great economic importance and have above-average growth potential, such as business services, construction services, tourism services and the retail trade so as to produce tangible results in the short term for growth and jobs;
Amendment 33 #
2012/2144(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that effective enforcement of existing rules is a smart and fast way of creating growth without public spending; underlines the urgent need to make the directive work in practice with a view to releasing its untapped potential;
Amendment 35 #
2012/2144(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Emphasises that, in the interests of market integration, the promotion of growth and the creation of new jobs, Member States should adapt any ambiguities in the Directive for the benefit of society as a whole and the protection of workers' rights;
Amendment 123 #
2012/2144(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. UrgesCalls upon stakeholders, the business community and social partners to ensure the full implementation of Single Market legislation, always taking into account its social dimension and to play their part in holding governments to account for revitalising the European services sector and creating stable jobs;
Amendment 23 #
2012/2134(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Urges the Member States to speed up implementation of the Late Payments Directive, given that the economic sustainability of SMEs has been seriously compromised by the observed slowdown in payments for business transactions at a time of great economic hardship;
Amendment 36 #
2012/2134(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls on the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, to take action to improve and promote comprehensive SME information so as to facilitate their access to funding and limit the information deficit, which is a major reason for restricted SME access to funding;
Amendment 39 #
2012/2134(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b Stresses the need to examine the tax obstacles to cross-border investments at EU level, so as to encourage the cross- border take-up of funding on the one hand and prevent tax evasion and tax avoidance on the other;
Amendment 40 #
2012/2134(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Stresses the importance of state support in facilitating SME access to finance by means of transparent procedures, with a view to enhancing economic competitiveness, sustaining employment levels and combating unemployment;
Amendment 32 #
2012/2133(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the European consumer agenda sets out EU consumer policy mainstreaming measures designed to achieve the ‘Europe 2020’ strategy objectives;
Amendment 135 #
2012/2133(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses that the increasingly rapid development of e-commerce is of major importance as far as consumers are concerned, offering a wider choice, especially to those living in less accessible, remote or outlying areas, as well as those with reduced mobility, who would otherwise not have access to a wide choice of goods;
Amendment 168 #
2012/2133(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Underlines the need for action targeted mainly at vulnerable consumers, at both EU and Member State level, in line with the results of the most recent Eurobarometer showing that under 50% of consumers feel informed and protected, while vulnerable groups in particular are having difficulty in understanding the choices available to them, are not aware of their rights, are facing more problems and are displaying reluctance to act when problems arise;
Amendment 179 #
2012/2133(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Calls on the Commission to take account of the new developments arising from the onset of the economic crisis, given the sharp contraction in household spending in certain Member States, which is further increasing poverty and material deprivation; urges it to make effective use of the European consumer agenda so as to create as far as possible better conditions for improving levels of prosperity and reducing social inequalities;
Amendment 204 #
2012/2133(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Emphasises the need to promote responsible and sustainable consumption, in line with the objectives of the EU 2020 strategy, strengthening the position of consumers, helping and encouraging them to make healthy and sustainable choices and enabling them to achieve cost savings for themselves and society as a whole, and to make markets fully accessible to consumers from the perspective of a social Europe based on solidarity;
Amendment 162 #
2012/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Calls on the Member States to take action to enhance the effectiveness of policies to promote corporate social responsibility by, for example, introducing rewards for responsible corporate behaviour in the form of investment policy incentives and access to public investment;
Amendment 163 #
2012/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Urges the Commission to contribute effectively to the guidance and coordination of EU Member State policies, thereby minimising the risk of additional costs being incurred by businesses operating in more than one Member State as a result of divergent provisions;
Amendment 164 #
2012/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 c (new)
Paragraph 20 c (new)
20c. Points out that most small, medium and micro enterprises continue to adopt a more informal and intuitive approach to corporate social responsibility and that it would perhaps be appropriate to adopt measures in line with the size of the enterprises and the nature of their activities so as to foster awareness of corporate social responsibility without any increase in costs or bureaucratic burdens;
Amendment 202 #
2012/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Calls on the Member States, in cooperation with the Commission and, as appropriate, with universities, to promote corporate social responsibility through inclusion of the relevant material in the context of education and vocational training, thereby enhancing the role of CSR in the business sector and fostering awareness of sustainable consumption;
Amendment 203 #
2012/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)
Paragraph 24 b (new)
24b Takes the view that the social partners can play a major role in promoting corporate social responsibility, which, it should be noted, contributes to and facilitates social dialogue;
Amendment 2 #
2012/2067(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses that, once all regulations concerning passenger rights and transport have entered into force, the Commission, together with the Member States, must carry out an immediate assessment of their implementation in practice;
Amendment 15 #
2012/2067(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Stresses that transparency regarding total ticket prices and what is included is essential to enable passengers to make fully informed choices before purchasing tickets and in avoid confusion and mistrust with regard to transport services;
Amendment 17 #
2012/2067(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Urges the Commission to extend its monitoring activity to the websites of companies and transport service providers so as to increase transparency for passengers, particularly regarding online ticket purchases and ensure that they are not misled in any way, for example regarding pre-ticked boxes, supplementary charges concerning which they were not properly informed in advance or supplements for the use of certain payment methods (e.g. credit cards);
Amendment 53 #
2012/2067(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Stresses that passengers with limited mobility or with disabilities must be given equal travel opportunities and unrestricted access and assistance to services.; emphasises also the need to ensure suitable training for staff dealing with such passengers;
Amendment 60 #
2012/2067(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls on the Commission to formulate a general set of standards regarding the accessibility of infrastructures and transport services, including aspects such as the issuing of tickets, real-time travel information and online services, so as to ensure equal and unrestricted access for persons with disabilities to products and services in the transport sector.
Amendment 89 #
2012/2067(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Commission to extend its monitoring activity to the websites of companies and transport service providers, to enable the current law on price transparency and unfair commercial practices to be implemented and enforced effectively, in accordance with Directive 2011/83/EC, and to ensure that the headline price corresponds exactly to the final price and that no unreasonable extra costs (e.g. handling charges or a charge for payment by credit card) are added just before a purchase is made;
Amendment 103 #
2012/2067(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 α (new)
Paragraph 11 α (new)
11a, Points out that, notwithstanding the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008 concerning price transparency, passengers currently lack certainty on which costs and features are included in the basic fare, resulting in confusion and mistrust; calls on the Commission, in cooperation with the national authorities, to consider the implementation of a harmonised, intermodal vision of the content of passenger transport services and of the elements of the price to be included in the basic fare for all transport modes;
Amendment 193 #
2012/2067(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls on carriers, together with industry, to devise comprehensible standard notification procedures and, if possible, set up coordinated notification systems, so as to make travel easier for people with disabilities or reduced mobility and enable them to communicate their assistance needs in advance at no additional cost;
Amendment 197 #
2012/2067(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 α (new)
Paragraph 21 α (new)
21α. Calls on the Commission, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006, to present as soon as possible guidelines on the implementation of provisions concerning assistance for disabled passengers and passengers with reduced mobility;
Amendment 13 #
2012/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas the aim should be job creation and the provision of workplace conditions which promote the health and wellbeing of individuals and, by extension, social progress as a result of their work;
Amendment 14 #
2012/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Recital F b (new)
Fb. whereas, in addition to the human dimension of inadequate health and safety at the workplace, this problem is also detrimental to the economy; more specifically, problems relating to health and safety at the workplace are an obstacle to growth and competitiveness while at the same time causing a disproportionate increase in social security costs;
Amendment 47 #
2012/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Urges the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, to ensure the effective and unhindered implementation of European asbestos legislation and step up official inspections;
Amendment 48 #
2012/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Calls on the Commission, in view of the lack of information for employers and staff regarding asbestos, to cooperate with the Member States and the relevant stakeholders, including the social partners, in creating and developing services providing advice and ongoing information;
Amendment 49 #
2012/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. Calls on the Commission, in cooperation with the national authorities, to provide the necessary support to ensure protection for the entire EU workforce, given that small and medium-sized enterprises, which employ most of the European workforce, are particularly exposed when it comes to the implementation of health and safety legislation;
Amendment 75 #
2012/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Calls on the Member States to ensure that occupational physicians are properly trained so as to ensure that they know about asbestos and are hence able to provide the necessary information to the workforce under their supervision;
Amendment 118 #
2012/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34a. Calls on the EU, in cooperation with the World Health Organisation, third countries and other international bodies, to promote worldwide high levels of health and safety at the workplace, for example by identifying asbestos-related problems and promoting solutions conducive to health protection;
Amendment 9 #
2012/2056(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas, according to official statistical data on eCall, it is estimated that the full integration of the system in cars in EU Member States will save up to 2 500 lives annually, while also reducing the severity of injuries by 10 % to 15 %,
Amendment 90 #
2012/2056(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7α. Stresses that there is a growing need for a common data transfer protocol for forwarding such information to public safety answering points and emergency response services, in order to avoid the risk of confusion or misinterpretation of the data communicated;
Amendment 91 #
2012/2056(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b(new)
Paragraph 7 b(new)
7b. Emphasises that the forwarding of information by mobile network operators to public safety answering points should be established in a transparent and non- discriminatory way;
Amendment 136 #
2012/2056(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 α (new)
Paragraph 17 α (new)
17a. Calls on Member States, in cooperation with the Commission, to establish and run national pilot programmes to implement the automatic vehicle emergency response system (eCall) in order to identify possible problems and prepare the way for the mandatory implementation of the system in all Member States in 2015;
Amendment 147 #
2012/2056(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to step up their activitieefforts as regards implementing awareness-raising campaigns concerning the eCall system and its benefitsand extensive information of the institutional actors involved and the public concerning the contribution of the eCall system and its benefits in the area of transport and, especially, in the sector of security for Europe’s citizens;
Amendment 5 #
2012/2055(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
(Ca) whereas entitlement to access to a basic payment account must not be made subject to the purchase of additional banking services and products;
Amendment 32 #
2012/2055(INI)
Draft opinion
Recommendation 2 – paragraph 2
Recommendation 2 – paragraph 2
Member States should ensure that all banks with private customers are obliged to offer basic payment accounts without any obligation to purchase additional banking services and products, so as to avoid discrimination and unfair competition among banks, except where specific arrangements are in force in a Member State.
Amendment 54 #
2012/2055(INI)
Draft opinion
Recommendation 3 – paragraph 3
Recommendation 3 – paragraph 3
Member States should ensure that basic payment accounts are provided either free of charge or at a reasonable cost. Member States must take particular care to ensure that services connected with access to a basic payment account are offered free of charge to consumers with low incomes or facing personal bankruptcy.
Amendment 59 #
2012/2055(INI)
Draft opinion
Recommendation 3 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Recommendation 3 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Each Member State must also determine what constitutes a reasonable charge in the light of criteria such as national income levels and average payment account charges or the total cost of providing basic payment accounts.
Amendment 63 #
2012/2055(INI)
Draft opinion
Recommendation 3 – paragraph 5
Recommendation 3 – paragraph 5
Many basic payment accounts are nowadays exclusively internet based, a fact which makes them ideal for e-commerce but also excludes part of the population, especially those who have no Internet access or older people. Given that consumers in these categories could be placed at a disadvantage, the aim should be to make the projected basic payment account user friendly, simple, and secure. Furthermore, management of such accounts must be made possible not only through online, SMS and other existing remote banking procedures but also at local bank branches.
Amendment 74 #
2012/2055(INI)
Draft opinion
Recommendation 3 – paragraph 10
Recommendation 3 – paragraph 10
Member States should launch information campaigns on the concept of basic payment accounts in order to increase consumer understanding of the right of access to such accounts and of the ways of using out-of- court complaint and dispute settlement procedures. IDrawing attention to the advantages of using a basic payment account and imparting financial knowledge is aare matters of crucial importance, since ithey strengthens the consumers’ position and enables them to integrate into the single market.
Amendment 18 #
2012/2046(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls upon the Member States to ensure observance of minimum standards of workplace health and security in the services sector — and indeed in cases of adoption of the telecommuting model, given the specific characteristics of the workplace in such instances — and in collaboration with the social partners to see to the updating of the relevant legislation in accord with the conclusions of the scientific community;
Amendment 26 #
2012/2046(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls upon the Member States to intensify their actions for combatting unregistered employment — with a clearly higher proportion of women working in this way — the aim being to combat women’s poverty and secure the viability of social insurance systems;
Amendment 32 #
2012/2046(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Notes the low levels of women’s participation in vocational training in the services sector in the context of lifelong learning, and calls upon the Member States to undertake action along these lines;
Amendment 19 #
2012/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Points out that, in order to combat unemployment effectively, it is necessary to establish links between education and the needs of the labour market, so as to facilitate entry into employment; to this end, advocates cooperation between higher education establishments and the business sector;
Amendment 20 #
2012/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Acknowledges a failure to develop potential and take advantage of opportunities in the field of adult education and training in line with growing requirements at individual and community level and in terms of economic competitiveness and modern production methods;
Amendment 26 #
2012/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Amendment 38 #
2012/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Stresses the need to strengthen links between initial and further vocational training so as to improve significantly the quality and results of the courses offered, and promote new methods of work organisation and innovative forms of employment;
Amendment 44 #
2012/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on the Member States to facilitate participation by employers and workers in education and training, particularly through the mass media - by cutting bureaucracy, introducing co- funded programmes, etc. - so as to improve output and quality and achieve greater career satisfaction;
Amendment 45 #
2012/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Stresses the need to increase the involvement and participation of the social partners in drawing up education and training programmes and deciding on their content, as well as in the implementation thereof;
Amendment 52 #
2012/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. In view of the Europe 2020 strategy and the central importance position of its education and training goals with a view to improving the quality of employment and increasing output and competitiveness in the EU, calls on the Member States, in collaboration with the Commission, to ensure that records are kept of those not in employment, education or training, and formulate effective remedial strategies;
Amendment 55 #
2012/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Recommends the implementation of joint education and training initiatives in line with the particular nature of each target group and the needs of the geographical area or occupational sector concerned;
Amendment 13 #
2012/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
Ia. whereas improvement in the access of SMEs to funding in the current economic climate acquires great importance both for the survival and development of the enterprises themselves and for strengthening entrepreneurship and development in Europe generally,
Amendment 29 #
2012/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls on the European Commission to strengthen programmes that contribute to improvement of the entrepreneurship, internationalisation and competitiveness of European SMEs, the backbone of the European economy;
Amendment 47 #
2012/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Calls on the Commission to intensify its efforts and overcome the basic obstacles that impede the development of SMEs, introducing immediate improvements to their funding environment, which will contribute to releasing their development potential, strengthening innovation and competitiveness and creating employment;
Amendment 58 #
2012/2044(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls on the European Commission to makefurther strengthen the points of single contact (PSC), making use of all technological resources available to launch information campaigns informing citizens of the benefits of the single market and of their rights, thus encouraging them to participate in creating a competitive, just and balanced market;
Amendment 23 #
2012/2042(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls upon the Commission and the Member States to undertake specific actions with a view to improving mass media access to funding. The mass media comprise a basic lever for development and for workplace creation, particularly in countries suffering from deep recession, such as Greece;
Amendment 25 #
2012/2042(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Calls upon the Member States to undertake initiatives that will help to reduce the bureaucratic burden that discourages development in the mass media, while noting that this should not be done at the expense of defending basic working conditions and indeed health and security in the workplace;
Amendment 26 #
2012/2042(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3c. Underlines the importance of discussions with the social partners during planning of national actions aimed at strengthening and promoting small and medium entrepreneurship;
Amendment 30 #
2012/2040(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses that it is necessary to require greater transparency and better consumer information regarding surcharges and additional fees for the various payment methods, given that traders generally include transaction costs in the price of their products and services, with the result that consumers are not properly informed in advance regarding the total cost and pay more for their purchases, thereby undermining consumer confidence;
Amendment 20 #
2012/2004(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes that social businesses should receive support due to the vital role they can play as important drivers for social innovation as they introduce new methods for providing services and intervention to improve the quality of life for citizens and as they encourage the creation of new products to meet the new needs of society;
Amendment 24 #
2012/2004(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is of the opinion that the reform of the EU’s public procurement rules provides a good opportunity to improve respect for social standards and, increase the participation ofby and improve access for social businesses in public contracts; insists that the main goals of the reform – simplification and modernisation – should not be jeopardised by overly burdensome social obligations or conditions;
Amendment 37 #
2012/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas in the context of social economy and social innovation the promotion of social entrepreneurship is a basic element in fostering the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy in relation to creating viable quality workplaces and combating poverty and social exclusion;
Amendment 112 #
2012/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Emphasises that in the context of promoting social enterprises it is important that there should be improved access to funding both at the European and at the national level, noting that existing shortcomings in information on social enterprises complicate the task of finding investors. At this point it is worth noting that social enterprises are more competitive and productive than we think, primarily as a result of the personal commitment of the people working for them and the better working conditions;
Amendment 122 #
2012/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Supports actions, both at the European and at the national level, favouring promotion of social enterprises - through ensuring their viability and maximum social effectiveness – by providing training and information programmes on social entrepreneurship but also on the existing regulatory framework, while at the same time promoting their integration into the framework of preliminary and further training;
Amendment 225 #
2012/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Maintains that in the context of reform of the arrangement for public sector contracts – particularly in the case of social services and health – it would be useful to conduct an examination of the problem of obstructed access encountered by social enterprises, given the central importance of the qualitative factor when contracts are assigned for such services;
Amendment 259 #
2012/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Asks the Commission and the Member States to examine the possibility of instituting and developing instruments for the purpose of evaluating and appraising the consequences and the social performance of social enterprises;
Amendment 19 #
2012/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the majority of recent responses to the crisis were based mainly on short- term goals aimed at restoring stability to public finances, being crucial efforts to defend our economy, and whereas these austerity measures could have negative long-term effects on employment, growth, social cohesion and competitiveness if not completed with growth- and employment- friendly measures;
Amendment 24 #
2012/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the recently published Annual Growth Survey as well as the Joint Employment Report showed that, due to the fact that fiscal consolidation — with the emphasis on harsh austerity and without corresponding growth initiatives — is still being treated as the priority, social, employment and education targets of the Europe 2020 werhave not been sufficiently addressed by all Member States;
Amendment 28 #
2012/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Ε
Recital Ε
E. whereas the unemployment rate in January 2012 stood at more than 10 % in the EU -27, affecting especially young persons, low-skilled workers and the long- term unemployed, and whereas this, together with an ageing population, creates a serious risk of losses of human capital in the longer term, and could have non-irreversible repercussions on the labour market and for, on the potential for economic growth, on competitiveness in the EU, on the viability of social insurance systems and also on social cohesion;
Amendment 29 #
2012/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Ε α (new)
Recital Ε α (new)
Ea. whereas the subsequent policies of severe austerity have contributed to a breakdown of social dialogue and the fragmentation of the employment market, with a significant increase in vulnerable forms of employment where sufficient insurance is not provided, leading to a distortion of the principles of flexicurity and seriously damaging the quality of employment;
Amendment 38 #
2012/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Η
Recital Η
H. whereas the pressure on social assistance schemes has increased, and their revenues have dropped considerably; whereas persistence of high rates of long- term unemployment is likely toand the ineffectual fight against undeclared work will aggravate this trend further;
Amendment 62 #
2012/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that the crisis requires a modernisationhas revealed a need to protect the principles of the European Social Model, and requires a rethinking of national social policies and a transition from an ‘active welfare state’, that only responds to emerging damages caused by market failure, to an ‘activating welfare state’, that invests in people and gives citizens instruments and incentives, with a view not only to addressing but to preventing social distortion;
Amendment 95 #
2012/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point e
Paragraph 5 – point e
e) reform pension systems and create conditions for working longerto ensure the viability of the social insurance systems and the adequacy of the services offered,
Amendment 108 #
2012/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Encourages Member States to invest in supporting young persons, and in improving their access to the labour market, by providing training and youth internship programmes, by promoting entrepreneurship and creating incentives for employers to engage graduates, by securing a better transition from education to work and by promoting European and regional mobility; urges Member States to adopt the European Youth Guarantee and to integrate it into their national action plans as a mainstay of policies to combat youth unemployment;
Amendment 76 #
2012/0366(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) The labelling provisions also need to be adapted to new scientific evidence. For example the indication of the yields for tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide on cigarette packets have proven to be misleading as it makes consumers believe that certain cigarettes are less harmful than others. Evidence also suggests that largeThe introduction of combined health warnings are morshould be leffective than text-only warnings. In this light combined health warnings should becomt to the discretion of each Member State, while text warnings are mandatory throughout the Union and cover significant and visible parts of the packet surface. A minimum sizpercentage of the external surface should be set for all health warnings to ensure their visibility and effectiveness.
Amendment 80 #
2012/0366(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) In order to ensure the integrity and the visibility of health warnings and maximise their efficacy, provisions should be made regarding the dimension of the warnings as well as regarding certain aspects of the appearance of the tobacco package, including the opening mechanism. The package and the products may mislead consumers, in particular young people, suggesting that products are less harmful. For instance, this is the case with certain texts or features that appear on the packaging, such as ‘low-tar’, ‘light’, ‘ultra-light’, ‘mild’, 'natural', 'organic', ‘without additives’, ‘without flavours’, 'slim', names, pictures, and figurative or other signs. Likewise, the size and appearance of individual cigarettes can mislead consumers by creating the impression that they are less harmful. A recent study has also shown that smokers of slim cigarettes were more likely to believe that their own brand might be less harmful. This should be addressed by specifying which texts may be found on the package.
Amendment 145 #
2012/0366(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 34
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 34
(34) 'tobacco products' means products usable for consumption by consumers and consisting of, even partly, tobacco, whether genetically modified or not;
Amendment 151 #
2012/0366(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 2
Amendment 159 #
2012/0366(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 3
Article 3 – paragraph 3
3. Member States shall notify the Commission of the maximum yields that they set for other emissions of cigarettes and for emissions of tobacco products other than cigarettes. Taking into account internationally agreed standards, where available, and based on scientific evidence and on the yields notified by Member States, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 22 to adopt and adapt maximum yields for other emissions of cigarettes and for emissions of tobacco products other than cigarettes that increase in an appreciable manner the toxic or addictive effect of tobacco products beyond the threshold of toxicity and addictiveness stemming from the yields of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide fixed in paragraph 1.
Amendment 164 #
2012/0366(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The accuracy of the tar and nicotin, nicotine and carbon monoxide indications shall be verified in accordance with ISO standard 8243.
Amendment 207 #
2012/0366(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 3
Article 7 – paragraph 3
3. In order to ensure their graphic integrity and visibility, health warnings shall be irremovably printed, indelible and in no way hidden or interrupted, including by tax stamps which shall be placed at the opening of the tobacco product package, price marks, tracking and tracing marks, security features or by any type of wrapper, pouch, jacket, box or other device or by the opening of the unit packet.
Amendment 211 #
2012/0366(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 5
Article 7 – paragraph 5
5. The health warnings shall in no way hide or interrupt the tax stamps, which shall be placed at the opening of the tobacco product package, price marks, tracking and tracing marks, or security features on unit packets.
Amendment 212 #
2012/0366(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 7
Article 7 – paragraph 7
7. IOptional images of unit packets and any outside packaging targeting consumers in the Union shall comply with the provisions of this chapter.
Amendment 214 #
2012/0366(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 3
Article 8 – paragraph 3
3. For cigarette packets the general warning and the information message shall be printed on the lateral sides of the unit packets. These warnings shall have a width of not less than 20 mm and a height of not less than 43 mm. For roll-your-own tobacco the information message shall be printed on the surface that becomes visible when opening the unit packet. Both the general warning and the information message shall cover 50% of the surface on which they are printed.
Amendment 229 #
2012/0366(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) be comprised of a text warning listed in Annex I and a corresponding colour photograph specified in the picture library;
Amendment 237 #
2012/0366(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) cover 750 % of the external area of both the front and back surface of the unit packet and any outside packaging;
Amendment 249 #
2012/0366(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point g
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point g
Amendment 265 #
2012/0366(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 3 – point c
Article 9 – paragraph 3 – point c
(c) define the position, format, layout, design, rotation and proportations of the health warnings;
Amendment 291 #
2012/0366(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
This tobacco product can damages your health and is addictive
Amendment 300 #
2012/0366(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 2
Article 12 – paragraph 2
2. Prohibited elements and features may include but are not limited to texts, symbols, names, trade marks, figurative or other signs, misleading colours, inserts or other additional material such as adhesive labels, stickers, onserts, scratch-offs and sleeves or relate to the shape of the tobacco product itself. Cigarettes with a diameter of less than 7.5 mm shall be deemed to be misleading.
Amendment 322 #
2012/0366(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 2
Article 13 – paragraph 2
2. A cigarette packet can be of carton or soft material, which are safe for the product and the user alike and environmentally-friendly and shall not contain an opening that can be re-closed or re-sealed after the opening is first opened, other than the flip-top lid. The flip-top lid of a cigarette packet shall be hinged only at the back of the packet.
Amendment 442 #
2012/0366(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 18 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
Article 18 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
Amendment 443 #
2012/0366(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 18 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 18 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
This product contains nicotine and can damages your health.
Amendment 451 #
2012/0366(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
This product can damage your health and is addictive.
Amendment 456 #
2012/0366(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 2
Article 22 – paragraph 2
2. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Articles 3(2), 3(3), 4(3), 4(4), 6(3), 6(9), 6(10), 8(4), 9(3), 10(5), 11(3), 13(3), 13(4), 14(9), 18(2) and 18(5) shall be conferred on the Commission for an indeterminate period of time from [Office of Publications: please insert the date of the entry into force of this Directive].
Amendment 469 #
2012/0366(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
With a view to drafting the report, the Commission shall be assisted by scientific and technical experts from the Member States in order to have all the necessary information available.
Amendment 82 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) In order to prevent, avoid and combat circumvention and/or abuse of the applicable rules by companies taking improper or fraudulent advantage of the freedom to provide services enshrined in the Treaty and/or the application of Directive 96/71/EC the implementation and monitoring of the notion of posting should be improved, taking into consideration the principles of proportionality and non-discrimination.
Amendment 86 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4 a (new)
Recital 4 a (new)
(4a) All measures introduced by the Directive must be justified, proportionate and non-discriminatory so that they do not create administrative burdens and do not lock the potential that companies, in particular small and medium enterprises have in creating new jobs, while protecting posted workers.
Amendment 116 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Mutual trust, a spirit of cooperationTaking into account that the ability of the host Member State to establish factual elements regarding the foreign undertaking is limited, cooperation with the Member State of establishment is crucial and needs to be further improved. Mutual trust, a spirit of assistance, continuous dialogue and mutual understanding are essential in this respect.
Amendment 129 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The free movement of workers gives every citizen the right to move freely to another Member State to work and reside there for that purpose and protects them against discrimination as regarddom to provide services includes the right of undertakings to provide services in another Member State, for which they may send ('post') their own workers temployment, remuneration and oorarily to carry out ther working conditions in comparison to nationals of that Member State. It need necessary to provide these services there. It is necessary for the purpose of the posting of workers to be distinguished this freedom from the freedom to provide services, which includes the right of undertakings to provide services in another Member State, for which they may send (‘post’) their own worker movement of workers, which gives every citizen the right to move freely to another Member State to work and reside there for that purpose and protects them against discrimination as regards temporarily to carry out loyment, remuneration and other work necessary to provide these services thering conditions in comparison to nationals of that Member State.
Amendment 135 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 14 a (new)
Recital 14 a (new)
(14a) Where terms and conditions of employment are laid down in collective agreements which have been declared universally applicable, Member States should ensure that these collective agreements are officially published and accessible.
Amendment 135 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) In order to prevent, avoid and combat circumvention and/or abuse of the applicable rules by companies taking improper or fraudulent advantage of the freedom to provide services enshrined in the Treaty and/or the application of Directive 96/71/EC the implementation and monitoring of the notion of posting should be improved, taking into consideration the principles of proportionality and non-discrimination.
Amendment 138 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4 a (new)
Recital 4 a (new)
(4 a) All measures introduced by the Directive must be justified, proportionate and non-discriminatory so that they do not create administrative burdens and do not lock the potential that companies, in particular small and medium enterprises have in creating new jobs, while protecting posted workers.
Amendment 139 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) Therefore, the constituent factual elements characterising the temporary nature inherent to the notion of posting, which implies that the employer should be genuinely established in the Member State from which the posting takes place, as well as the relationship between Directive 96/71/EC and Regulation (EC) No 593/2008 on the law applicable to contractual obligations (hereinafter the ‘Rome I Regulation’) need to be further clarified, so that a broad application of the Directive is ensured.
Amendment 150 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Mutual trust, a spirit of cooperationTaking into account that the ability of the host Member State to establish factual elements regarding the foreign undertaking is limited, cooperation with the Member State of establishment is crucial and needs to be further improved. Mutual trust, a spirit of assistance, continuous dialogue and mutual understanding are essential in this respect.
Amendment 157 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 14 a (new)
Recital 14 a (new)
(14 a) Where terms and conditions of employment are laid down in collective agreements which have been declared universally applicable, Member States should ensure that these collective agreements are officially published and accessible.
Amendment 163 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) To ensure better and more uniform application of Directive 96/71/EC as well as its enforcement in practice, and to reduce, as far as possible, differences in the level of application and enforcement across the Union, Member States should ensure that effective and, adequate, proportionate and non-discriminatory inspections are carried out on their territory and that inspected undertakings are provided with information in writing on the result of the inspection.
Amendment 188 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
This Directive aims to facilitate the exercise of the freedom to provide services for service providers and promoting fair competition between service providers, while guaranteeing respect for an appropriate level of minimum protection of the rights of posted workers for the cross-border provision of services, while facilitating the exercise of the freedom to provide services for service providers and promoting fair competition between service providers.
Amendment 190 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) ‘competent authority’ means anpublic authorityies of a Member State designated by athis Member State to perform functions under this Directive;
Amendment 207 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) the place where the undertaking has its registered office and administration, uses office space, pays taxes, or according to national law has a professional licence or is registered with the chambers of commerce or professional bodies,
Amendment 216 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The assessment of these elements shall be adapted to each specific case and take account of the nature of the activities and/or period of time in which these activities were carried out by the undertaking in the Member State in which it is established.
Amendment 239 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point f
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point f
(f) keep the information provided for in the country fiches up to date, exact and exhaustive.
Amendment 241 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) ‘'competent authority’' means anpublic authorityies of a Member State designated by athis Member State to perform functions under this Directive;
Amendment 257 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
1. For the purpose of implementing, applying and enforcing Directive 96/71/EC the competent authorities shall take into account factual elements characterising the activities carried out by an undertaking in the State in which it is established in order to determine whether it genuinely performs substantial activities, other than purely internal management and/or administrative activities. Such elements may includeemployer shall communicate to the competent authorities the following information:
Amendment 260 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. During the period of posting a worker to another Member State, the inspection of the working conditions to be complied with according to Directive 96/71/EC lies within responsibility of the authorities of the host Member State in cooperation with the Member State of establishment.
Amendment 270 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) an obligation to keep or make available and/or retainwithin a reasonable period of time and/or retain, at the choice of the services provider, copies in paper or electronic form of the employment contract (or an equivalent document within the meaning of Directive 91/533, including, where appropriate or relevant, the additional information referred to in Article 4 of that Directive), payslips, time-sheets and proof of payment of wages or copies of equivalent documents, issued according to the national law of the Member State of establishment, during the period of posting in an accessible and clearly identified place in its territory, such as the workplace or the building site, or for mobile workers in the transport sector the operations base or the vehicle with which the service is provided;
Amendment 273 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) the place where the undertaking has its registered office and administration, uses office space, pays taxes and social security, has a professional licence or is registered with the chambers of commerce or professional bodies,
Amendment 274 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) the place where the undertaking has its registered office and administration, uses office space, pays taxes, or according to national law has a professional licence or is registered with the chambers of commerce or professional bodies,
Amendment 290 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point d
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point d
(d) the place where the undertaking performs its substantial business activity, including the conclusion of the majority of its contracts with clients, and where it employs administrative staff,
Amendment 310 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The assessment of these elements shall be adapted to each specific case and take account of the nature of the activities and/or period of time in which these activities were carried out by the undertaking in the Member State in which it is established.
Amendment 317 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
In order to assess whether a posted worker temporarily carries out his or her work in a Member State other than the one in which he or she normally works, all factual elements characterising such work and the situation of the worker shall be examined by the competent authority.
Amendment 511 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. During the period of posting a worker to another Member State the inspection of the working conditions to be complied with according to Directive 96/71/EC lies within responsibility of the authorities of the host Member State in cooperation with the Member State of establishment.
Amendment 526 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Member States may onlyshall at least impose the following administrative requirements and control measures:
Amendment 548 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) an obligation for a service provider established in another Member State to make a simple declaration tonotify the responsible national competent authorities at the latest atin English or the language of the host Member State prior to the commencement of the service provision, whereby the declaration may onlynotification shall at least cover the identity of the service provider, the presence of one or more clearly identifiable posted workers, their anticipated number, theanticipated number of posted workers and their personal identification details, the designated contact person, the beginning and anticipated duration and location of their presenceactivity, and the services justifying the posting;
Amendment 562 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) an obligation to keep or make available and/or retainwithin a reasonable period of time and/or retain, at the choice of the services provider, copies in paper or electronic form of the employment contract (or an equivalent document within the meaning of Directive 91/533, including, where appropriate or relevant, the additional information referred to in Article 4 of that Directive), payslips, time-sheets and proof of payment of wages or copies of equivalent documents, issued according to the national law of the Member State of establishment, during the period of posting in an accessible and clearly identified place in its territory, such as the workplace or the building site, or for mobile workers in the transport sector the operations base or the vehicle with which the service is provided;
Amendment 594 #
2012/0061(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) an obligation to designate a contact person who can be contacted by the competent authorities of the Member State and who is authorised to negotiate, if necessary, on behalf of the employer with the relevant social partners in the Member State to which the posting takes place, in accordance with national legislation and practice, during the period in which the services are provided.
Amendment 46 #
2012/0027(COD)
3. The Commission may, in duly substantiated cases and for a limited period of time, adopt decisions allowing one or several Member States to use, by way of derogation from paragraph 1, means of exchange and storage of data other than electronic data-processing techniques.
Amendment 48 #
2012/0027(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 a (new)
Article 7 a (new)
Article 7α Delegation of power The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 243, specifying the criteria for granting the derogation referred to in Article 6(3).
Amendment 113 #
2012/0027(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 91 – paragraph 3
Article 91 – paragraph 3
3. The time limits laid down in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be suspended for the period indicated in Article 24(4). Where an appeal is lodged under Article 37, the periods laid down in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be suspended, for the duration of the appeal proceedings, from the date on which the appeal is lodged.
Amendment 141 #
2012/0027(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 137
Article 137
Amendment 144 #
2012/0027(COD)
1. The customs authorities may authorise a person to lodge or make available, at the customs office responsible for the place where he is established a customs declaration for goods which are presented to customs at another customs office. In such cases, the customs debt shall be deemed to be incurred at the customs office at which the customs declaration is lodged or made available.
Amendment 146 #
2012/0027(COD)
2. The customs office at which the customs declaration is lodged or made available shall carry out the formalities for the verification of the declaration and the recovery of the amount of import or export duty corresponding to any customs debt and for granting release of the goods.
Amendment 149 #
2012/0027(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 138(3)
Article 138(3)
3. The customs office at which the goods are presented shall, without prejudice to its own controls for security and safety purposes, carry out any examination justifiably requested by the customs office at which the customs declaration has been lodged is lodged or made available and shall allow release of the goods, taking into account information received from that office.
Amendment 155 #
2012/0027(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 144(2)
Article 144(2)
2. In certain cases the obligation to lodge a supplementary declaration shall be waivedA supplementary declaration shall not be required in the following cases: (a) for goods situated in customs warehouses, (b) for goods subject to special procedures provided that: (i) two or more authorisations for special procedures have been issued to the same person, (ii) the special procedure shall cease to apply when the goods are placed under a subsequent customs procedure and the relevant entry made in the declarant’s records. .
Amendment 157 #
2012/0027(COD)
3α. In certain case, the obligation to lodge a supplementary declaration shall be waived: (α) where the simplified declaration concerns goods or assets not exceeding the statistical threshold; (b) where the simplified declaration already contains all the information necessary for the customs procedure; (c) where the simplified declaration does not take the form of an entry in the declarant’s records.
Amendment 32 #
2011/2320(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Strongly believes that the main focus needs to be on reform measures that promote a correct growth model in the short term as well as in the medium and long term;
Amendment 48 #
2011/2320(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Urges the Member States to take into consideration the needs of the vulnerable groups while implementing tax reforms towards ensuring the fairness of the system and preserving social cohesion;
Amendment 54 #
2011/2320(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Believes that the necessary reforms in the labour market - aiming at increasing productivity and competitiveness - should be implemented in such a way as to ensure social justice and promote job quality, respecting national traditions of social dialogue;
Amendment 78 #
2011/2320(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Calls on Member States to make full use of the structural funds in order to enhance employability and combat structural and long term unemployment effectively; believes that the Commission should provide further assistance and guidance to the Member States towards this aim, especially in these times of recession and social challenges;
Amendment 102 #
2011/2320(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21 a. Urges the Member States not to allow austerity measures to compromise growth friendly policies, and to prioritise growth friendly expenditure such as education, life long learning, research and innovation ensuring at the same time the efficiency of this spending;
Amendment 5 #
2011/2312(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Considers that a territorial approach can be an effective mechanism for promoting development, sustainable and decent employment, education and poverty reduction, which are core objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy;
Amendment 14 #
2011/2312(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Takes the view that it is extremely important for personnel, at all governance levels, planning and implementing actions contributing to political cohesion in the context of regional development to be adequately trained;
Amendment 26 #
2011/2312(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Considers that a key priority is to provide all stakeholders with meaningful and integrated training and enhanced access to information on how to better utilise European resources for regional development;
Amendment 36 #
2011/2312(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Considers that it is of primary importance to promote the exchange of best practices between Member States within the context of meaningful and effective long-term territorial development planning, and by promoting decent and sustainable employment with a view to preventing and fighting poverty and unemployment;
Amendment 57 #
2011/2285(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Takes the view that initiatives and measures must be taken, principally in the field of education, at every stage and at both national and European level, to combat stereotyped perceptions of female employment as being associated with subsidiary household income, which have done much to cultivate and maintain the gender pay gap;
Amendment 69 #
2011/2285(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls on the Member States to combat the undeclared employment of women, since it is not only undermining the sustainability of insurance funds but also contributing to the full deregulation of women’s pay structures, causing increased poverty among women, particularly in later life;
Amendment 21 #
2011/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses that Member States must take the appropriate measures to provide adequate guarantees for the protection of vulnerable consumers;
Amendment 27 #
2011/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 87 #
2011/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States, in accordance with the principles of Corporate Social Responsibility, to offer incentives to companies to establish a system of voluntary labelling of industrial product packaging in Braille (including, for example, the type of product and expiry date, at least), in order to make life easier for visually-impaired consumers;
Amendment 93 #
2011/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes the fact that in international forums, the need to protect consumers through information and regulation of the financial markets has been recognised, the complexity of such markets entailing that in the majority of cases any consumer is vulnerable, with the frequent result that consumers are misled and overborrow;
Amendment 95 #
2011/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Deplores the fact that the market for financial products (loans and credit cards) is functioning poorly for consumers and that, according to a recent survey by the Commission, 70% of financial institutions’ and companies’ websites were making basic errors in their publicity and in the basic, required information on the products on offer, while the cost was presented in a misleading way; stresses that such practices and the complexity and difficulty in understanding the products in question often lead consumers into excessive debt; emphasises that the purpose of the Directive on consumer credit, which has recently been transposed into Member States’ national legislation, is to make it easier for consumers to understand credit offers and not be misled into excessive debt;
Amendment 118 #
2011/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses that in spite of the existence of legislation on the subject, the lack of enforcement of said legislation means that travellers often find themselves in vulnerable situations, especially in case of cancellation or delay of their trip, which is exacerbated when the consumer suffers from a disability; this means that equal access must be provided for persons with reduced mobility and disabilities, emphasising that services for these travellers must be provided without hindrance; encourages the European Commission and the Member States to take the necessary measures to ensure transparency in fares and the correct observance and implementation of existing legislation;
Amendment 133 #
2011/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Stresses that it would be beneficial to avoid the practice applied in certain Member States where utility bills (e.g. electricity bills) are linked to the collection from consumers of tax owing to the state; this type of practice causes hardship principally for vulnerable consumers and, because the inclusion of tax owing results in exorbitant bills, there is a danger that these utilities, which are a fundamental service, will be cut off; notes that Member States must ensure, especially with regard to utilities, that rights and the obligations regarding vulnerable consumers are respected;
Amendment 6 #
2011/2181(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Calls on the business community to take their shared responsibility and to step up their commitment in promoting sustainable consumption as an integral part of their company strategy;
Amendment 12 #
2011/2181(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Underlines that diversity is an asset for a more representative decision-making in leading positions of companies;
Amendment 49 #
2011/2181(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Takes the view that, particularly under present-day economic and social circumstances, corporate social responsibility could, in combination with corporate governance, help to forge closer links between companies and the social environment in which they grow and operate;
Amendment 18 #
2011/2157(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses that, with a view to promoting stability within the partner countries, ENP should encourage policies leading to stronger economic and social growth without exclusions, including support for efforts to promote education and training, create sustainable jobs, improve the business environment, and help small and medium-sized enterprises;
Amendment 34 #
2011/2157(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Stresses that ENP should form the basis for effective cooperation to tackle illegal immigration, since the partner countries are both countries of origin and countries of transit for illegal immigrants, effectively manage the borders, fight organised crime and, consequently, protect human rights;
Amendment 14 #
2011/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Ζ α (new)
Recital Ζ α (new)
Ga. whereas the increase in the transposition deficit can be explained up to a point by the fact that many Member States are mobilizing to take action to tackle the economic crisis; whereas despite this, Member States, such as Greece, Ireland and Spain, have maintained an excellent record despite the very difficult situation they face;
Amendment 32 #
2011/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 α (new)
Paragraph 4 α (new)
4a. Calls on the Commission and Member States in the Internal Market Advisory Committee to consider how to improve cooperation between the Commission and Member States and how best to exchange best practices, and how to highlight successful mechanisms put in place by Member States;
Amendment 45 #
2011/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 α (new)
Paragraph 12 α (new)
12a. Stresses that Member States should continue to further reduce transposition delays in order to meet the 1% target; notes that special attention and priority should be given to Directives where the deadline for transposition into national law has expired more than a year ago, significantly improving the transposition delays;
Amendment 65 #
2011/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 α (new)
Paragraph 22 α (new)
22a. Calls on the Commission to encourage Member States to further strengthen the points of single contact (PSC) and to provide citizens with information in a clear and practical way, by ensuring and taking full advantage of synergies in the area of information at European level, such as 'Your Europe Advice';
Amendment 15 #
2011/2150(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses that passengers must be promptly informed of any travel delay, the reasons for postponement or cancellation, the expected duration of the delay and alternative travel options, including other forms of transport where possible, underlining that passengers are by right entitled to choose between three options: obtaining reimbursement of their fare, accepting an alternative itinerary or making a fresh booking;
Amendment 30 #
2011/2150(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Amendment 36 #
2011/2150(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a Stresses that passengers with limited mobility or with disabilities must be given equal air travel opportunities and unrestricted access to services;
Amendment 43 #
2011/2150(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a.Calls on the Commission to organise targeted information and awareness campaigns concerning the rights of air travellers in all the Member States, given that exercise by passengers of their rights depends on their knowledge thereof;
Amendment 25 #
2011/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
13 G. whereas consumers seem reluctant to enjoy the benefits that market integration provides, as they do not feel confident that their rights will be properly protected when making cross-border purchasesempowered consumers can better identify the best prices, selling conditions and quality, therefore driving competition and innovation,
Amendment 27 #
2011/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas theall stakeholders (including the European Commission and, national enforcement authorities, consumer organisations and the private sector) need to step up their efforts to achieve the objective of a high level of consumer protection, and empowerment, Or. en 14
Amendment 61 #
2011/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Points out that, given the enormous increase in e-commerce, consumers' confidence in cross-border online purchasing arrangements needs to be increased by guaranteeing their rights on the internet as well increasing consumers’ and retailers' confidence in cross-border online purchasing is needed to reap the full potential of e-commerce; underlines the key role that proper implementation and enforcement of existing legislation, as well as the dissemination, through appropriate channels, of each party's rights and obligations play there;
Amendment 72 #
2011/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Notes that although increasing the percentage of European consumers who buy cross borders, in order to further develop cross border markets and further strengthen consumer confidence in the digital environment, underlines the need to promote a pan-European Trustmark and the existence of specific information on the provider's identity such as: business name, geographic address, contact details, tax number, which will help the consumers to identify reliable e- commerce stores·
Amendment 88 #
2011/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Deplores the evUnderlines that empower increasing information overload on the internet as regards contract terms and conditions; g consumers does not mean overloading them with more information but providing them with useful, targeted and understandable information ; insists that EU and national authorities as well as consumer organisations and companies need to step up their efforts to improve consumer education; reiterates the view expressed in the resolution of 20 May 2010 on delivering a Single Market to consumers and citizens that the Commission ought to promote ‘consumer-friendly’ Single Market legislation, so as to ensure that consumer interests are fully taken into account in the workings of the Single Market; 42
Amendment 93 #
2011/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
44 9. Calls on the Commission and Member States to provide betadequater support, through funding for and capacity- building and publicity,to consumer organisations and public authorities in their role as intermediariesin each Member State, thereby enhancing consumer empowerment;
Amendment 94 #
2011/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls on the Commission to launch information campaigns in all the Member States concerning the European 'CE' designation and the significance thereof, making it clear to consumers what it does (or does not) represent and providing them with more comprehensive information, while seeking to raise awareness of product safety in professional circles;
Amendment 102 #
2011/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Calls on the Member States to step up market monitoring procedures so as to ensure an effective response to uncontrolled price rises caused by profiteering and distortions of competition at the expense of consumers, which are undermining their confidence in the market, given the steep decline in their purchasing power caused by the current econmic climate in many Member States;
Amendment 105 #
2011/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Emphasises the need to provide better protection for vulnerable consumer groups, such as children and the elderly; points out that children are exposed to extensive advdesign consumer policies that take into consideratising even though they have no possibility to make informed choices; on the specificities of vulnerable consumer groups; Or. en 50
Amendment 150 #
2011/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
69 21. Calls for targeted research funding in order to make for better consumer protection, given that project funding often does not cover the cost of scientific research; points out that, besides providing funding, it is also important to take into account the views of consumers and households in EU research programmefunding to be allocated to consumer research projects, especially in the field of consumer behaviour and data collection, to help design policies that answer the needs of consumers;
Amendment 65 #
2011/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Believes that the economic effects of the crisis and the severe economic downturn in some Member States should not serve as a pretext for the defective application of legislation on health and safety at work, or undermine occupational risk prevention policies;
Amendment 135 #
2011/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Believes that health and safety at work is a multidimensional concept and requires synergy between individual policies, such as education, health, research, social security, etc. It is extremely important to focus on occupational risk prevention policies, including through training programmes - with the participation of the social partners - and by informing and training employers and employees;
Amendment 136 #
2011/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Takes the view that progress of research in the health sector, the constantly evolving socio-economic conditions, developments in new technologies and changes in the labour market require vigilance at European and national level regarding the emergence of new occupational hazards and the timely updating of the relevant legislation, its implementation framework and the list of arduous and unhealthy occupations;
Amendment 151 #
2011/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21. Urges Member States to combat the burden of bureaucracy and the labyrinthine structure of state control mechanisms for health and safety at work and work inspections, by strengthening their dynamics and simplifying time- consuming internal procedures with a view to implementing more and more effective controls;
Amendment 8 #
2011/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls on the Commission to submit a legislative proposal on the use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) for consumer matters in the EU by the end of 2011 and emphasises the importance of its swift adoption; stresses, however, that the drawing up of a single European charter containing the guiding principles that should govern ADR systems could serve to complement the legislative text;
Amendment 14 #
2011/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Supports the Commission’s intention to encourage the use of alternative means of dispute resolution that are swift, effective and cheap and apt to enable the establishment and maintenance of quality commercial relations, stressing that this is a ‘win-win’ situation with benefits for both sides compared to current judicial practice;
Amendment 23 #
2011/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Agrees with the Commission that appropriate access to reparation in the internal market requires both the possibility of easy recourse to ADR and the existence of an effective system for collective claims, the two being complementary; stresses, however, that collective recourse should be used only as a last resort once the possibilities of amicable mediation have been exhausted;
Amendment 49 #
2011/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 – indent 5
Paragraph 6 – indent 5
– free services: the issue of the cost of ADR should be resolved in order to ensure that such an option is attractive to the parties concerned; a system that is entirely free to the consumer must be considered, with access for less prosperous sections of society;
Amendment 62 #
2011/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls on the Commission to set up an on-line platform for cross-border disputes, facilitating linkage and cooperation in dealing with ADR at national level and acting at the same time as a one-stop shop for all consumers;
Amendment 76 #
2011/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Amendment 36 #
2011/2116(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Stresses the great importance of investigating the reasons for which the SCE has had such little impact and of taking action accordingly to deal with obstacles to its success;
Amendment 47 #
2011/2116(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Stresses that future European SCE initiatives and measures must be centred on transparency, protection of stakeholders' rights and respect for national customs and traditions; the contribution of the social partners is of great importance in this respect;
Amendment 48 #
2011/2116(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Notes the existence of a number of gaps regarding the transposition of the directive at national level in respect of monitoring and the implementation of worker participation procedures; stresses the great importance of remedying these omissions effectively so as to prevent abuse of SCE arrangements in such a way as to withhold or deny the right of worker participation;
Amendment 18 #
2011/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Notes the long-term economic and social effects of early school leaving, leading to a lack of skilled labour force throughout the European economy, an increased risk of unemployment, poverty and social exclusion;
Amendment 31 #
2011/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that the challenge of early school leaving is different within and between the Member States, with large differences in early school leaving rates between the Member States; Urges the Member States to carry out an analysis of the problem of early school leaving, while taking due account of data protection, and to develop appropriate packages of measures for prevention, intervention and compensation;
Amendment 41 #
2011/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Urges Member States, assisted by the Commission, to act effectively to record the phenomenon of NEET and tackle it;
Amendment 42 #
2011/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Notes that early school leaving is directly related to the phenomena of poverty and social exclusion and that this should be considered when designing the relevant strategy at both national and European level;
Amendment 62 #
2011/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Urges Member States, in exchanging best practices, given the multidimensional nature of education, to strengthen its practical dimension at every level in order effectively to combat early school leaving;
Amendment 97 #
2011/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Takes the view that early school leavers should be approached by the competent employment authority as quickly as possible after dropping out of school to provide them with the necessary information about their options; notes the importance of giving them a perspective through individual support and to prevent a life of long-term unemployment and social exclusion;
Amendment 103 #
2011/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Highlights the need for members of the educational community, in collaboration with pupils' parents and academic specialists, to take action and launch initiatives with a view to drastically reducing intimidation, violence and social and race-based racism at school, which lead to the marginalization of pupils, thereby creating the conditions for early school leaving;
Amendment 104 #
2011/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Urges Member States to spread the institution of second-chance schools, both strengthening the content of their curricula and their material and technical equipment, and boosting the capacity of the teaching staff available, given that these schools are emerging as an important tool for the reintegration of persons who have slipped through the meshes of the formal educational system;
Amendment 105 #
2011/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Highlights the need to upgrade the skills provided in technical vocational training and more effectively to match the specializations offered with labour market requirements, since linking education and employment is an integral part of tackling early school leaving;
Amendment 106 #
2011/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 d (new)
Paragraph 7 d (new)
7d. Notes that an effective policy to tackle the phenomenon of early school leaving should include all levels of education, be followed up and be drawn up on the basis of local, regional, social and individual criteria in three areas, namely prevention, intervention and compensation;
Amendment 112 #
2011/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Encourages Member States to reduce early school leaving by exchange of experience and good practice on the national and European level;
Amendment 122 #
2011/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Advocates the targeted deployment of the structural funds, especially the European social fund, for early school leavers.;
Amendment 8 #
2011/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the Internet gambling market is growing constantly, and whereas this sector is unlike other markets on account the risks involved in terms of consumer protection and the fight against organised crime, as the CJEU has acknowledged on more than one occasion,
Amendment 17 #
2011/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas, in application of the principle of subsidiarity, there is no specific European legislative act regulating Internet gambling,
Amendment 32 #
2011/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the value added by a pan- European uniform minimum standards for theapproach to combating crime and fraud, in particular when it comes to preserving the integrity of sport and protection ofng gamblers and consumers and for combating crime are essential, is considerable,
Amendment 60 #
2011/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas gambling represents a considerable source of revenue for the Member States, for publicly beneficial and charitable purposes and for the fundingwhich is used mainly for the funding of publicly beneficial and charitable activities, such as tourism promotion, and of sport,
Amendment 65 #
2011/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas it is essential to ensure the integrity of sport and prevent further betting fraud, while ensuring a fair financial return for the sports and racing industries,
Amendment 71 #
2011/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Welcomes the fact that the Commission has taken the initiative of launching public consultation in connection with its Green Paper on online betting and gambling, which will facilitate pragmatic and realistic consideration of the future of this sector in Europe;
Amendment 81 #
2011/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point 2
Paragraph 1 – point 2
(2) containmbat the illegal gambling market,
Amendment 83 #
2011/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point 3
Paragraph 1 – point 3
(3) guarantee effective protection for young people and vulnerable gamblers,
Amendment 90 #
2011/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point 6
Paragraph 1 – point 6
(6) that risks tospecific measures are promoted to guarantee the integrity of sporting competition are precluded and
Amendment 129 #
2011/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Respects the decision by a number of Member States to ban Internet gambling totally; is opposed to government monopolies over on-line gambling, howevercognises the Member States’ discretion in determining how gambling is organised, while observing the basic EU Treaty principles of non-discrimination and proportionality; notes in this context the decision by a number of Member States to ban Internet gambling totally;
Amendment 139 #
2011/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses that, on the one hand, providers of online gambling should in all cases respect the national laws of the countries in which those games operate and, on the other hand, Member States should retain the exclusive right to impose all the measures they deem necessary to address illegal online gambling in order to implement national legislation and exclude illegal providers from market access;
Amendment 154 #
2011/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Is of the opinionEmphasises that the principle of mutual recognition of licences on the gambling market does not apply, but that nevertheless, in keeping with the internal market, simplified licence application procedures should be set up in some Member States; nonetheless recognises the need to avoid unnecessary red tape with regard to licence applications, while ensuring the pre- eminent role of the regulator in the Member State in which the application has been submitted; considers, therefore, that mutual confidence among national regulators needs to be enhanced through closer administrative cooperation;
Amendment 168 #
2011/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the Commission to explore all possible avenues for introducing - in keeping with the principle of ‘active subsidiarity’ - for a common regulatory framework laying down binding high-level minimum standards with regard to preventing gambling addiction and betting fraud and to protecting young people; states that, where a provider complies with those minimum standards, the other Member States should recognise this accordingly, but may set further conditions; is of the opinion that a pan- European code of conduct for Internet gambling could be a first step;
Amendment 203 #
2011/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls therefore foronsiders the establishment of a regulator with suitable powers in each Member State to be a necessary step towards more effective regulatory cooperation; encourages, in this context, cooperation between national regulatory bodies to be considerably expanded, with the Commission as coordinator, so as to develop common standards and take joint action against the unregulated black market; states that, in particular for identifying gamblers and combating money laundering, national standalone solutions are not successful; states that the Gaming Regulators European Forum (GREF) network and the Internal Market Information System could serve as the basis for this administrative cooperation;
Amendment 248 #
2011/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Calls for instruments to increase cross-border police and judicial cooperation and, at the same time, for a framework for cooperation with organisers of sports competitions to be considered with a view to facilitating the exchange of information between sports disciplinary bodies and state investigation and prosecution agencies, by setting up, for example, dedicated national networks and contact points to deal with cases of match-fixing;
Amendment 250 #
2011/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)
Paragraph 16 c (new)
16c. Urges Member States to ensure that the fraudulent manipulation of results for financial gain or other advantage is prohibited by establishing as a criminal offence any threat to the integrity of competitions, including those linked to betting operations;
Amendment 252 #
2011/2084(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 d (new)
Paragraph 16 d (new)
Amendment 17 #
2011/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Believes that the mission and image of customs should be redefined and given additional stimulus to reflect customs realities; considers that allocation of appropriate financial resources for customs-related procedures and processes, including the development of computer systems, is essential in achieving this aim; calls on the Commission to revamp its strategy on customs;
Amendment 32 #
2011/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers that customs controls should primarily target high-risk consignments, whereas low-risk consignments should be speedily released for free circulation; emphasises in that regard the crucial role of risk management techniques and strongly supports the introduction and further modernisation of electronic customs clearance systems; considers that effective risk management is dependent upon collection of high-quality information, the time taken for this purpose and its proper assessment;
Amendment 47 #
2011/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Recognises that the postponement of the application of the MCC is appropriate; suggests, however, that the Commission explore possibilities of introducing gradual application of certain provisions of the MCC as soon as feasibleurges the Commission, however, in cooperation with the Member States and in view of the difficulties and problems of the Member States in developing computer systems, to draw up a study seeking to establish when the MCC can be fully implemented;
Amendment 53 #
2011/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the Member States to fully commit themselves to this concept, as only truly harmonised customs rules, information exchange systems and data formats can ensure the successful implementation of the centralised clearance concept; is concerned about slow developments in the process of simplification of VAT rules, and problems arising in the collection of VAT and excise duties, all of which isare crucial for a truly centralised clearance system;
Amendment 99 #
2011/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Considers that customs clearance has to be streamlined by involving all the relevant authorities as early in the process as possible; therefore strongly supports coordinated border management and the single window principle, accompanied by the necessary legal basis;
Amendment 108 #
2011/2083(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to explore possibilities of establishing a European Customs Agency, exclusively dealing with customs issues and central coordination, in order to improve the functioning of the Customs Union; calls on the Commission to address this issue when considering the follow-up to the Customs 2013 programme;
Amendment 75 #
2011/2067(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that, within the Europe 2020 strategy, Member States agreed on an employment target of 75% for the 20-64 years age group by 2020, a goal inextricably linked to the defence of Europe's social model, economic growth and the viability of its social security systems and public finances; calls on all stakeholders to intensify their efforts to make the Europe 2020 strategy a success;
Amendment 139 #
2011/2067(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Regrets that for many workers the reconciliation of work and family life remains a difficult task; calls on the Member States to give all parents, especially single-parent families, opportunities for integration not only into working life but also into lifelong learning processes; stresses, as a prerequisite, that childcare structures should be made more effective at national level by increasing access to them;
Amendment 161 #
2011/2067(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 α (new)
Paragraph 9 α (new)
9a. Stresses the utmost importance of effective cooperation between public employment services, education and training providers and the social partners in order correctly to determine training requirements and improve education and training, with a view to facilitating access to and participation in lifelong learning;
Amendment 162 #
2011/2067(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 β (new)
Paragraph 9 β (new)
9b. Stresses the importance of increasing participation in lifelong learning, in particular in vocational education and training, by providing incentives for both employees and employers, with particular focus on SMEs, as part of a socially effective response to corporate restructuring with a shift to sustainable development, the creation of a skilled workforce, combating unemployment and strengthening competitiveness;
Amendment 298 #
2011/2067(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 α (new)
Paragraph 21 α (new)
21a. Highlights the need for the protection and promotion of decent, quality employment, as the linchpin of the European social model, and urges Member States to redouble their efforts effectively to tackle the phenomenon of the working poor;
Amendment 68 #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas poverty is a multi-faceted problem requiring an integrated response which is tailored to different stages of life and to people's multi-dimensional needs, and which is based on guaranteeing access to rights, resources and services, to cover basic needs and prevent social exclusion
Amendment EE #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas poverty is a multi-faceted problem requiring an integrated response which is tailored to different stages of life and to people’s multi-dimensional needs, and which is based on guaranteeing access to rights, resources and services, as reflected in the Common Objectives of the open method of coordination on social protection and social inclusion (2006), in order to cover basic needs and prevent social exclusion,
Amendment FF #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas employmentgrowth and employment, even in a decent job, alone isare not sufficient to lift people out of poverty, and whereas the problem of the working poor has gained increasing recognition in recent years, and whereas the segmentation of the labour market has increased, working and living conditions have very much worsened, particularly during the financial crisis, and work has become much less secure – a trend which must be combated; whereas the problem of the working poor has gained increasing recognition in recent years but is not yet being addressed to an extent commensurate with the challenges it represents for our societies; whereas the number of the working poor has grown considerably in recent years, with 8% of the working population suffering in-work poverty and where 22% of those at risk of poverty are in work1; whereas the fact of people having access to decent, egalitarian working conditions constitutes an advance in terms of reducing poverty and social exclusion among families and people living alone, __________________ 1 EUROSTAT (2009), SPC Report: SPC Assessment of the social dimension of the Europe 2020 Strategy (10 Feb. 2011)
Amendment I #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls forWelcomes the Commission’s announcement of a Communication on implementing the Commission’s 2008 recommendation concerning the active inclusion strategy and calls for it to include, in particular, a timetable for implementing thits three Ccommission’s 2008 recommendation concerning the active inclusion strategyponent strands, specifying a multi-annual work programme for delivery at national and EU level; expresses its concern at the postponement of the Communication on Active Inclusion to 2012, and asks the Commission to advance the publication of the Communication to 2011; calls for an explicit commitment by the Council, Commission and Parliament to mobilise all policies to reduce poverty, ensuring that economic, employment and social inclusion policies contribute to the eradication of poverty rather than to its increase;
Amendment KK #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas, because our society is ageing, the number of dependent people will increase considerably in the near future; whereas elderly people, in particular women, are at greater risk of poverty than the general population, in several countries, as a result of their loss of income on retirement and other factors such as physical dependence, solitude and social exclusion; whereas the breakdown of intergenerational social bonds is a major problem facing our societies,
Amendment 75 #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas employment alone is not sufficienta decent job allows to lift people out of poverty, and whereas the problem of the working poor has gained increasing recognition in recent years,
Amendment LL #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas women are in general more vulnerable to poverty than men owing to various factors such as gender discrimination at work, which results in the persistent gender pay gap, the resulting pension disparities, and labour market discriminationbut also career breaks in order to care for dependants and labour market discrimination; whereas only 63% of women work in Europe, compared to 76% of men, and having regard to the lack of support networks and concrete measures to help parents achieve a work/life balance, including affordable care services,
Amendment N #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Ccalls for equal rights and equal social protection for all workers in each Member State, with due regard for differing practices, collective labour agreements and legislation in the various Member States and for the subsidiarity principle, for respect for equal rights and equal social protection for all in each Member State, whether they are Union citizens or third- country nationals; calls on Member States to fight against illegal and undeclared work;
Amendment P #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Acknowledges the need to assess the impact of EU funds in terms of achieving the poverty reduction target, even where this is not their primary objective, where possible, the effectiveness, impact, coordination and value for money of EU funds, especially of the European Social Fund (ESF) in terms of achieving the poverty reduction target, even where this is not their primary objective, reducing the economic discrepancies, prosperity imbalances and differences in living standard levels across EU Member States and regions, and therefore promoting economic and social cohesion; maintains that priority must be given to projects that combine employment targets and strategies with integrated active inclusion approaches, such as projects designed to strengthen intergenerational solidarity at regional and local level or which specifically contribute to realising gender equality and the active inclusion of vulnerable groups; stresses the importance of effective action for solidarity, including reinforcement, anticipation of transfer and reduction of cofinancing in respect of budgetary funding for creating decent jobs, supporting productive sectors and fighting poverty and social exclusion, rather than creating new forms of dependence; stresses the importance of supporting the combat of poverty and social exclusion, and access to quality employment and non discrimination, ensuring adequate income and promoting access to quality services;
Amendment R #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the Commission to initiate a horizontal anti-discrimination directive with a view to further eradicating discrimination; Urges the Member States to agree and adopt as soon as possible the proposal for a Council directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation (COM(2008)0426); calls on the Commission to continue to support the overcoming of technical difficulties within the Council in order to ensure a swift agreement is reached, and to close gaps in the existing anti-discrimination legislation which is currently not covering all relevant aspects, with a view to further eradicating discrimination, including social discrimination; Note: A citation referring to the Kosa report will be added by oral amendment.
Amendment T #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. AdvocatesRecommends the Member States to adopt a proactive decent housing policy in order to ensure universal access to decent, affordable housingquality housing at affordable prices or on preferential terms of purchase, and to prevent the loss thereof, with guaranteed access to services essential to health and safety, the lack of such housing being a serious affront to dignity, along with a proactive energy policy that steps up the use of renewable energies and boosts energy efficiency in order to combat energy poverty; calls for more attention to be paid to housing for migrants, who are often exploited and forced to live in sub- standard housing; recalls Protocol 26 annexed to the Treaty of Lisbon on social housing and calls for the provisions contained therein to be respected, in particular on the Member States’ freedom to organise social housing, including the question of financing; encourages the Member States to implement special housing programmes and opportunities for homeless people, in view of guaranteeing the most basic standards of living for the most vulnerable in society;
Amendment W #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Wishes the Commission to initiate a framework directive on minimum incomelaunch, in full compliance with the principle of subsidiarity, a consultation on the possibility of a legislative initiative on a sensible minimum income that will allow economic development, designed to prevent poverty and serve as a basis for people to live in dignity, play their full part in society and make headway with finding employment or identifying training opportunities and playing an automatic stabilising role for the economy, with due regard for differing practices, collective labour agreements and legislation in the various Member States, the definition of a minimum income being the prerogative of the Member State; wishes the Commission to help Member States share best practice on minimum income levels and encourages Member States to develop minimum income schemes based on an average of 60% of the median income in each Member State;
Amendment 104 #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas elderly people, in particular women, are at greater risk of poverty than the general population as a result of their loss of income on retirement and other factors such as physical dependence, solitude and social exclusion; whereas the breakdown of intergenerational social bonds is a major problem facing our societies,
Amendment 108 #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas womensingle parent families are more vulnerable to poverty owing to various factors such as the persistent gender pay gap, the resulting pension disparities, and labour market discrimination,
Amendment 114 #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas 20% of children are at risk of poverty, compared with 17% of the EU'’s overall population, and low-income families are amongst the categories most exposed to poverty
Amendment 205 #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls for a timetable for implementing the Commission's 2008 recommendation concerning the active inclusion strategyn integrated EU anti-poverty strategy based on human rights, in particular economic and social rights;
Amendment 229 #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Urges Member States to enhance the effectiveness of public employment offices, including through a more effective diagnosis of the needs of the labour market, since employment is the first step in preventing and combating poverty and social exclusion;
Amendment 235 #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Recommends that Member States, in implementing the principles of flexicurity in the labour market, ensure, after consultation with the social partners, that equal weight is given in practice to the flexibility and security of workers and, by providing incentives, increase the participation of these workers in vocational education;
Amendment 243 #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls for equalnsuring the respect of enshrined rights and adequalte social protection for all workers in each Member State; calls on Member States to fight against illegal and undeclared work;
Amendment 248 #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Urges Member States to step up their efforts to substantially and effectively combat the phenomenon of undeclared employment, which, in addition to the enormous adverse economic consequences it has for the viability of social security systems, is incompatible with the principles of decent work and denies access to social security systems, thereby creating a severe risk of poverty;
Amendment 263 #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Highlights, in view of the importance of welfare policies in combating poverty and social exclusion, the importance of the existence of socially effective and adequate social security benefits to support vulnerable social groups (e.g. the disabled, single-parent families, the unemployed, etc. ) as well as specific population groups (e.g. large families);
Amendment 268 #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Urges Member States, as part of measures to support participation in employment, especially of women, through the reconciliation of work and family life, to facilitate access to quality and affordable care facilities, since a large proportion of EU citizens remain outside the labour market as they are taking care of a family member, which increases the risk that they will fall into poverty;
Amendment 270 #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Acknowledges the need to assess the impact ofinvest more effectively EU funds in terms ofhe view to achievinge the poverty reduction target, even where this is not their primary obfor example by mainstreaming social inclusion through all ESF-funded projectives; maintains that priority must be given to projects that combinpursue employment targets and strategies with ain an Active iInclusion approach;
Amendment 303 #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the Commission to initiate a horizontal anti-discrimination directive with a view to further eradicating discrimination;close gaps in the existing anti-discrimination legislation which is currently not covering all relevant aspects.
Amendment 332 #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Advocates a proactive housing policy in order to ensure universal access to decent, affordable housing, along with a proactive energy policy that steps up the use of renewable energies and boosts energy efficiency; Member States shall be encouraged to implement special housing programs and opportunities for homeless people, in view of guaranteeing the most basic standards of living for the most vulnerable in society;
Amendment 358 #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Emphasizes that the fight against poverty requires a holistic and consistent approach, embracing all policy areas; it is particularly important to reinforce actions at both European and national level in terms of both prevention and intervention to address this phenomenon;
Amendment 370 #
2011/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Wishes the Commission to initiate a framework directive on minimum incomeEncourages Member States to develop minimum income schemes at Member States level, designed to prevent poverty and serve as a basis for people to live in dignity and make headway with finding employment or identifying training opportunities, with due regard for differing practices, collective labour agreements and legislation in the various Member States;
Amendment 65 #
2011/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Underlines the need to ensure reciprocity and equal access to public procurement markets in the EU and in third countries in order to guarantee fair and effective competition;
Amendment 80 #
2011/2048(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Takes the view that, in order to develop the full potential of public procurement, the criterion of the lowest price should be removed, and that in principle there should be only one option for the award of contracts: the most economically advantageous tender – including the entire life-cycle costs of the relevant goods, services or works – should be chosentaken into account along with the criterion of the lowest price, and choice should be left to public authorities to decide which criterion should apply eventually;
Amendment 75 #
2011/2035(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6α. Stresses that, in ensuring the maximum effectiveness of cohesion policy, both in terms of development and strengthening social cohesion, the level of co-funding should be reviewed so that it better reflects the level of development of action plans and the specific characteristics of beneficiaries;
Amendment 77 #
2011/2035(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Believes that, in strengthening the social effectiveness of cohesion policy, it is necessary to strengthen the representation of local and regional stakeholders and social partners in both the design and implementation of cohesion policy at national level and encourages Member States to work to this end;
Amendment 17 #
2011/2024(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Urges the Commission to draw up a single European database, which will be supplied by Member States, regarding the job profiles that are either enshrined in law or applied in practice in Member States, which will be used by the unemployed and by workers, professionals, businesses, public authorities, etc., thereby facilitating mobility within the EU;
Amendment 17 #
2011/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that the recognition process under the general system and the automatic system based on professional experience is overly cumbersome and time-consuming for both competent authorities and professionals ; expresses its regret also that a number of Member States do not have structured arrangements (methodology, instruments, certification bodies, etc) for the recognition and certification of professional experience and that a number of Member States have no system in place for the certification of qualifications acquired through non- formal learning;
Amendment 18 #
2011/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Urges the Commission to issue specific guidelines or indicate procedures to the competent authorities, enabling Member States to plan and implement common procedures for the certification and recognition of qualifications, leading to acknowledgement of professional experience and non-formal learning; notes that this will make procedures less bureaucratic, complex and time- consuming in those Member States which already have such a system, while enabling those which do not to programme efficient arrangements from the outset;
Amendment 20 #
2011/2024(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Calls on Member States to improve the efficiency of public authorities in providing information both about workers' rights and about procedures for the recognition of professional qualifications, thereby reducing the deterrent effect of bureaucracy, as part of measures to boost mobility;
Amendment 28 #
2011/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 α (new)
Paragraph 3 α (new)
3a. Stresses, however, that this online portal for the consolidation of information and databases could be further enhanced through the introduction of a summary certification procedure in each Member State, accompanied by summary forms setting out curricula vitae or standards used as a basis for the certification of qualifications; stresses that such an online portal will be extremely useful for EU citizens, employers and employees, as well as promoting direct information, transparency and mobility;
Amendment 60 #
2011/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 α (new)
Paragraph 7 α (new)
7a. Stresses that the participation of professional bodies, and the social partners in the certification of professional experience and non-formal learning will help to ensure transparency, information and efficiency with regard to these arrangements;
Amendment 3 #
2011/2010(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Believes that the adoption of a common Insurance Guarantee Scheme (IGS) at EU level and the adjustment of the diverse IGS regimes existing in Member States would effectively improve citizens' confidence, protect consumers' and taxpayers' rights and enhance market stability, in the insurance sector in particular and in internal market and financial services in general; therefore welcomes the Commission's initiative to establish an IGS at European level minimum harmonisation framework regarding IGS;
Amendment 14 #
2011/2010(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Argues that in order to ensure comprehensive protection for policyholders and beneficiaries, the IGS should not be the last-resupervisorty mechanism, and asurges the Commission to retain and take into account other existing protectionallowed under Solvency II should be applied first and IGS should be the last- resort mechanisms;
Amendment 22 #
2011/2010(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Notes that there is no guarantee scheme for second pillar pensions managed by pension funds whilst insurers providing pensions would be subject to an IGS; therefore insists that second pillar pension products shall be covered by distinct and separate schemes leading to equivalence levels of protection for pensioners;
Amendment 46 #
2011/0459(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex – chapter I – point 1.1 – paragraph 1
Annex – chapter I – point 1.1 – paragraph 1
Endorsement of the Europe 2020 strategy for ‘smart, sustainable and inclusive’ growth by the June 2010 European Council has shaped to a large extent the strategic agenda for the European Union and national policies in the years ahead. This agenda establishes a number of headline targets and flagship initiatives for which statistical indicators have to be delivered by the ESS in a number of areas (i.e. improving the conditions for innovation, research and development, promoting employment, promoting the quality of employment, meeting EU climate change and energy objectives, resource efficiency, improving education levels, including learning mobility, active and healthy ageing, and promoting social inclusion through the reduction of poverty).
Amendment 47 #
2011/0459(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex – chapter I – point 1.1 – paragraph 3 – indent 1
Annex – chapter I – point 1.1 – paragraph 3 – indent 1
Updated headline target indicators for Europe 2020 (in the area of employment, research and development, innovation, energy/climate change, education, environment, social protection and social inclusion and combating poverty) available on the Eurostat website;
Amendment 56 #
2011/0459(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex – chapter I – point 2.1 – paragraph 1
Annex – chapter I – point 2.1 – paragraph 1
The economic crisis has reinforced the need to have a set of high-quality macroeconomic indicators to better understand and analyse economic fluctuations also in relation to social consequences and unrest and thereby facilitate the decision-making process. Increasingly globalised production makes it necessary to develop a consistent framework that facilitates the interpretation and integration of statistics from different domains.
Amendment 68 #
2011/0459(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex – chapter I – point 3.2 – paragraph 1
Annex – chapter I – point 3.2 – paragraph 1
European citizens are at the heart of a large number of EU policies. Consequently, social statistics in the broad sense are in heavy demand to support the decision- making process, in particular by relating them to economic indicators, but also to help European citizens assess the impact of these policies on their lives.
Amendment 71 #
2011/0459(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex – chapter I – point 3.2 – paragraph 2
Annex – chapter I – point 3.2 – paragraph 2
Provide quality statistics on key areas of social policy where the citizen is the centre of interest, such as social cohesion, poverty, including the phenomenon of poor workers, demographic challenges (elderly people and migration in particular), the labour market, unemployment, education and training, including learning mobility of young people, culture, physical activity, quality of life, safety, health, disability, consumption, free movement and the single market, mobility of young people, technological innovation and new lifestyle choices.
Amendment 82 #
2011/0459(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex – chapter II – point 4 – paragraph 1
Annex – chapter II – point 4 – paragraph 1
Make the ESS the first data source on EU statistics for all users and, in particular, for public and private decision-makers, by providing a quality statistical information service based on the principles of free and easy access to European statistics.
Amendment 813 #
2011/0439(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 79 b (new)
Article 79 b (new)
Amendment 219 #
2011/0438(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) There is a widespread need for additional flexibility and in particular for wider access to a procurement procedure providing for negotiations, as is explicitly foreseen in the Agreement, where negotiation is allowed in all procedures. Contracting authorities should, unless otherwise provided in the legislation of the Member State concerned, be able to use a competitive procedure with negotiation as provided for in this Directive, in various situations where open or restricted procedures without negotiations are not likely to lead to satisfactory procurement outcomes. This procedure should be accompanied by adequate safeguards ensuring observance of the principles of equal treatment and transparency. This will give greater leeway to contracting authorities to buy works, supplies and services perfectly adapted to their specific needs. At the same time, it should also increase cross-border trade, as the evaluation has shown that contracts awarded by negotiated procedure with prior publication have a particularly high success rate of cross-border tenders.
Amendment 234 #
2011/0438(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) There is a strong trend emerging across Union public procurement markets towards the aggregation of demand by public purchasers, with a view to obtaining economies of scale, including lower prices and transaction costs, and to improving and professionalising procurement management. This can be achieved by concentrating purchases either by the number of contracting authorities involved or by volume and value over time. However, the aggregation and centralisation of purchases should be carefully monitored in order to avoid excessive concentration of purchasing power and collusion, and to preserve transparency and competition, as well as market access opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises. The Commission should provide guidance to Member States and contracting authorities on the required monitoring of aggregated and centralised purchases to avoid excessive concentration of purchasing power and collusion. Such guidance should be provided by way of implementing act.
Amendment 265 #
2011/0438(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 38
Recital 38
(38) Where contracting authorities choose to award a contract to the most economically advantageous tender, they must determine the award criteria on the basis of which they will assess tenders in order to identify which one offers the best value for money. The determination of these criteria depends on the subject-matter of the contract since they must allow the level of performance offered by each tender to be assessed in the light of the subject-matter of the contract, as defined in the technical specifications, and the value for money of each tender to be measured. Furthermore, the chosen award criteria should not confer an unrestricted freedom of choice on the contracting authority and they should ensure the possibility of effective competition and be accompanied by requirements that allow the information provided by the tenderers to be effectively verified.
Amendment 274 #
2011/0438(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 40
Recital 40
(40) These sector-specific measures must be complemented by an adaptation of the public procurement Directives empowering contracting authorities to pursue the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy in their purchasing strategies. It should hence be made clear that contracting authorities can determine the most economically advantageous tender and the lowest cost using a life-cycle costing approach, provided that the methodology to be used is established in an objective and non- discriminatory manner and accessible to all interested parties. The notion of life-cycle costing includes all costs over the life cycle of works, supplies or services, both their internal costs (such as research, development, production, use, maintenance and end-of- life disposal costs) and their external costs, provided they can be monetised and monitored. Common methodologies should be developed at the level of the Union for the calculation of life-cycle costs for specific categories of supplies or services; whenever such a methodology is developed its use should be made compulsory.
Amendment 363 #
2011/0438(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 22
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 22
(22) ‘'life cycle’' means all consecutive and/or interlinked stages, including research, development, production, transport, use and maintenance, throughout the existence of a product or a works or the provision of a service, from raw material acquisition or generation of resources to disposal, clearance and finalisation.
Amendment 606 #
2011/0438(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 18 – paragraph 1
Article 18 – paragraph 1
1. Unless otherwise provided in this Directive or in the national law concerning access to information, and without prejudice to the obligations relating to the advertising of awarded contracts and to the information to candidates and tenderers set out in Articles 48 and 53 of this Directive, the contracting authority shall not disclose information and details of tenders forwarded to it by economic operators which they have designated as confidential, including, but not limited to, technical or trade secrets and the confidential aspects of tenders.
Amendment 610 #
2011/0438(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 18 – paragraph 2
Article 18 – paragraph 2
2. CNontracting authorities may impose on economic operators requirements aimed at protecting the confidential nature of information which the contracting authorities make available throughout the procurement procedur-compliance with this obligation shall render the contracting authority or entity liable.
Amendment 757 #
2011/0438(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3
Article 28 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3
Only those economic operators invited by the contracting authority following the assessment of the requested information may participate in the dialogue. Contracting authorities may limit the number of suitable candidates to be invited to participate in the procedure in accordance with Article 64. The contract shall be awarded on the sole basis of the award criterion of the most economically advantageous tendershall have the option of appointing from among their staff a project leader to guarantee compliance with reasonable deadlines by means of effective coordination at each stage of the dialogue. The number of suitable candidates to be invited to participate in the procedure may be limited in accordance with Article 66(1)(a)4.
Amendment 762 #
2011/0438(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 3
Article 28 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 3
Contracting authorities shall notmay not under any circumstances reveal to the other participants solutions proposed or other confidential information communicated by a candidate participating in the dialogue without its agreement, and such agreement may not be imposed as a condition governing participation in the competitive dialogue. Such agreement shall not take the form of a general waiver but shall be given with reference to the intended communication of specific solutions or other specific confidential information.
Amendment 766 #
2011/0438(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 3 a (new)
Article 28 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 3 a (new)
Non-compliance with subparagraph 3 of this paragraph shall render the contracting entity liable.
Amendment 1123 #
2011/0438(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 66 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Article 66 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
1. Without prejudice to national laws, regulations or administrative provisions concerning the remuneration of certain services, the criteriaon on which contracting authorities shall base the award of public contracts shall be one of the following:the most economically advantageous tender.
Amendment 1152 #
2011/0438(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 66 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 66 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. The most economically advantageous tender referred to in point (a) of paragraph 1 from the point of view of the contracting authority shall be identified on the basis of criteria linked to the subject-matter of the public contract in question. Those criteria shallmay include, in addition to the price or costs referred to in point (b) of paragraph 1, other criteria linked to the subject-matter of the public contract in question, such as. Costs shall be assessed using a cost- effectiveness approach, such as a life- cycle costing approach, under the conditions set out in Article 67. Price shall be the decisive award criterion in the case of highly standardised products and services. Other criteria may include:
Amendment 1302 #
2011/0438(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 69 b (new)
Article 69 b (new)
Article 69b Relations with third countries as regards works, supplies and service contracts 1. Member States shall inform the Commission of any general difficulties, in law or in fact, encountered and reported by their undertakings in securing the award of service contracts in third countries. 2. The Commission shall report to the European Parliament and to the Council before 31 December 2014, and periodically thereafter, on the opening up of service contracts in third countries and on progress in negotiations with these countries on this subject, particularly within the framework of the WTO. 3. The Commission shall endeavour, by approaching the third country concerned, to remedy any situation whereby it finds, on the basis either of the reports referred to in paragraph 2 or of other information, that, in the context of the award of service contracts, a third country: (a) does not grant Union undertakings effective access comparable to that granted by the Union to undertakings from that country; or (b) does not grant Union undertakings national treatment or the same competitive opportunities as are available to national undertakings; or (c) grants undertakings from other third countries more favourable treatment than Union undertakings. 4. Member States shall inform the Commission of any difficulties, in law or in fact, encountered and reported by their undertakings and which are due to the non-observance of the international social and environmental law provisions listed in Annex XI when these undertakings have tried to secure the award of contracts in third countries. 5. In the circumstances referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4, the Commission may at any time propose that the Council decide to suspend or restrict, over a period to be laid down in the decision, the award of service contracts to: (a) undertakings governed by the law of the third country in question; (b) undertakings affiliated to the undertakings specified in point (a) and having their registered office in the Union but having no direct and effective link with the economy of a Member State; (c) undertakings submitting tenders which have as their subject-matter services originating in the third country in question. The Council shall act, by qualified majority, as soon as possible. The Commission may propose these measures on its own initiative or at the request of a Member State. 6. This Article shall be without prejudice to the commitments of the Union in relation to third countries ensuing from international agreements on public procurement, particularly within the framework of the WTO.
Amendment 1573 #
2011/0438(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 13 – paragraph 1 – point a
Annex 13 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) Identification of the economic operator; company registration number, name, address, bank;
Amendment 1575 #
2011/0438(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 13 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Annex 13 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(ca) Certification that the economic operator has fulfilled its obligations in relation to payment of taxes or social security systems according to individual Member States laws;
Amendment 94 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) In order to promote the free movement of professionals, while ensuring a more efficient and transparent recognition of qualifications it is necessary, mainly for professions falling under the automatic recognition procedure, to provide for a European Professional Card, where these professions so request. In particular that card is necessary to facilitate temporary mobility and recognition under the automatic recognition system, as well as to promote a simplified recognition process under the general system. The card should be issued upon request from a professional and after submission of necessary documents and completion of related review and verification procedures by the competent authorities. The functioning of the card should be supported by the Internal Market Information System (IMI) established by Regulation (EU) No […] on administrative cooperation through the Internal Market Information System23. This mechanism should help enhance synergies and trust among competent authorities, while at the same time eliminating duplication of administrative work for the authorities and creating more transparency and certainty for professionals. The process for the application and issuing of the card should be clearly structured and incorporate safeguards and the corresponding rights of appeal for the applicant. The card and the related workflow within IMI should ensure the integrity, authenticity and confidentiality of the data stored and avoid unlawful and unauthorised access to information contained therein.
Amendment 106 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) Directive 2005/36/EC only applies to professionals who want to pursue the same profession in another Member State. There are cases where the activities concerned are part of a profession with a larger scope of activities in the host Member State. If the differences between the fields of activity are so large that in reality a full programme of education and training is required from the professional to compensate for shortcomings and if the professional so requests, athose host Member State shoulds that authorise it may under these particular circumstances grant partial access. However, in case of overriding reasons of general interest, such as in the case of a doctor of medicine or other health professionals or in the case of professions with a particular geographical character, a Member State should be able to refuse partial access.
Amendment 120 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) In the absence of harmonisation of the minimum training conditions for access to the professions governed by the general system, it should remain possible for the host Member State to impose a compensation measure. This measure should be proportionate and, in particular, take account of the knowledge, skills and competences gained by the applicant in the course of his professional experience or through lifelong learning certified by the competent authorities. The decision imposing a compensatory measure should be justified in detail in order to enable the applicant to better understand his situation and to seek legal scrutiny before national courts under Directive 2005/36/EC.
Amendment 142 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 20
Recital 20
Amendment 170 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 26
Recital 26
(26) The advisory procedure should be used for the adoption of implementing acts in order to lay down common and uniform rules regarding the specification of European Professional Cards for specific professions that so request, the format of the European Professional Card, the translations necessary to support an application for issuing a European Professional Card, details for the assessment of the applications for a European Professional Card, the technical specifications and the measures necessary to ensure integrity, confidentiality and accuracy of information contained in the European Professional Card and in the IMI file, the conditions and the procedures for making available a European Professional Card, the conditions of access to the IMI file, the technical means and the procedures for the verification of the authenticity and validity of a European Professional Card and the implementation of the alert mechanism, due to the technical nature of those implementing acts.
Amendment 184 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Directive 2005/36/EC
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2
This Directive also establishes rules concerning partial access to a regulated profession and access to and recognition of remunerated traineeships pursued in another Member Statein Member States that authorise it to certain regulated professions for reasons of health, public safety and geographical specificity.
Amendment 190 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Directive 2005/36/EC
Article 2 – Paragraph 1
Article 2 – Paragraph 1
1. This Directive shall apply to all nationals of a Member State wishing to pursue a regulated profession or a remunerated traineeship in a Member State, including those belonging to the liberal professions, other than that in which they obtained their professional qualifications, on either a self-employed or employed basis.
Amendment 194 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Directive 2005/36/EC
Article 2 – Paragraph 2 (new)
Article 2 – Paragraph 2 (new)
2. Each Member State may authorize, in accordance with its regulations, the pursuit of a regulated profession on its territory, within the meaning of Article 3, paragraph 1 (a), by nationals of Member States who hold professional qualifications not obtained in a Member State. For the professions covered by Title III, Chapter III, this initial recognition must take place within the framework of the minimum training conditions laid down in the Chapter in question.
Amendment 196 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 (new)
Directive 2005/36/EC
Article 2 – Paragraph 3a (new)
Article 2 – Paragraph 3a (new)
1 a. 3a (new) The specificity of the geographical nature of some professions should be taken into account where possible in implementing this Directive.
Amendment 197 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point a – point ii
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point a – point ii
Directive 2005/36/EC
Article 3 – Paragraph 1 – point i
Article 3 – Paragraph 1 – point i
Amendment 238 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Directive 2005/36/EC
Article 4a – Paragraph 6
Article 4a – Paragraph 6
6. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts specifying European Professional Cards for specific, mainly for professions falling under the automatic recognition procedure, where these professions so request, establishing the format of the European Professional Card, the translations necessary to support any application for issuing a European Professional Card and details for the assessment of applications, taking into account the particularities of each profession concerned. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 58.
Amendment 330 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5
2005/36/ΕΚ
Article 4 f – Paragraph 1
Article 4 f – Paragraph 1
1. TWhere the competent authority of the host Member State shall grants partial access to a professional activity in its territory provided that, the following conditions armust be fulfilled:
Amendment 404 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – point c
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – point c
2005/36/ΕΚ
Article 4 a – Paragraph 6
Article 4 a – Paragraph 6
Where there is a substantial difference between the professional qualifications of the service provider and the training required in the host Member State, to the extent that that difference is such as to be harmful to public health or safety, and that it cannot be compensated by professional experience or lifelong learning of the service provider certified by competent bodies, the host Member State shall give the service provider the opportunity to show, in particular by means of an aptitude test, that he has acquired the lacking knowledge or competence. In any case, it must be possible to provide the service within one month of a decision being taken in accordance with the third subparagraph.
Amendment 412 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9 – point c
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9 – point c
Directive 2005/36/EC
Article 11 – point d
Article 11 – point d
(d) a diploma certifying successful completion of training at post-secondary level of at least three and not more than four years' duration, or of an equivalent duration on a part-time basis, orwhich, if applicable in the home Member State, corresponds tof an equivalent number of European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) credits, at a university or establishment of higher education or another establishment of equivalent level and, where appropriate, that he has successfully completed the professional training required in addition to the post- secondary course;
Amendment 414 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9 – point c
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9 – point c
Directive 2005/36/EC
Article 11 – point e
Article 11 – point e
(e) diploma certifying that the holder has successfully completed a post-secondary course of more than four years' duration, or of an equivalent duration on a part-time basis, orwhich, if applicable in the home Member State, corresponds tof an equivalent number of ECTS credits, at a university or establishment of higher education or another establishment of equivalent level and, where appropriate, that he has successfully completed the professional training required in addition to the post-secondary course.
Amendment 418 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11
Directive 2005/36/EC
Article 13 – paragraph 2
Article 13 – paragraph 2
Access to and pursuit of the profession referred to in paragraph 1 shall also be granted to applicants possessing an attestation of competence or evidence of formal qualifications referredwho have pursued the profession referred to in that paragraph on a full-time basis for two in Article 11 issued byyears during the previous 10 years, in another Member State which does not regulate that profession, providing they possess one or more attestations of competence or documents providing evidence of formal qualifications.
Amendment 428 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – point b
Directive 2005/36/EC
Article 14 – paragraph 2 –subparagraph 3
Article 14 – paragraph 2 –subparagraph 3
Where the Commission, after receiving all the necessary information, considers that the derogation referred to in the second subparagraph is inappropriate or that it is not in accordance with Union law, it shall adopt an implementing decision, within six months of receiving all necessary information, to ask the relevant Member Staterequest the home Member State within three months to refrain from taking the envisaged measure. In the absence of a response from the Commission withinat the expiry of that deadline, the derogation may be applied.
Amendment 437 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – point e
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – point e
Directive 2005/36/EC
Article 14 – Paragraph 6 – point e
Article 14 – Paragraph 6 – point e
(e) explain why these substantial differences cannot be compensated by the applicants knowledge, skills and competences gained in the course of his professional experience and through lifelong learning certified by competent authorities.
Amendment 621 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 39
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 39
Directive 2005/36/EC
Article 55 a
Article 55 a
Amendment 672 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 43
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 43
Directive 2005/36/EC
Article 57 – Paragraph 1
Article 57 – Paragraph 1
1. Member States shall ensure that the following information is available online and regularly updated through the points of single contact, which must have specialised support staff to provide advice to citizens, including advice provided in person:
Amendment 679 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 43 (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 43 (new)
Directive 2005/36/EC
Article 57 a – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 57 a – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. The authorities responsible for the recognition of qualifications may request the originals of the qualifications in question.
Amendment 687 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 44
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 44
Directive 2005/36/EC
Article 57 a – paragraph 4
Article 57 a – paragraph 4
4. All procedures shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Directive 2006/123/EC relating to the points of single contact. Any time limits for Member States to be complied with procedures or formalities set out in this Directive shall commence at the point when an completed application has been submitted by a citizen to the competent authorities at a point of single contact.
Amendment 704 #
2011/0435(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 46
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 46
Directive 2005/36/EC
Article 58 – paragraph 1
Article 58 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall be assisted by a Committee on the recognition of professional qualifications in which both national and European experts are represented. That Committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011.
Amendment 22 #
2011/0405(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Furthermore, it is important to foster and facilitate cooperation for the common benefit of Union and its partners, notably through the best and most effective coordination of resources provided and the pooling of contributions from internal and external instruments of the Union budget, in particular for Cross- Border Cooperation, infrastructure projects of Union interest that will pass through Neighbourhood countries and other areas of cooperation.
Amendment 25 #
2011/0405(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) European Union external support has increasing financing needs but the economic and budgetary situation of the Union limits the resources available for such support. The Commission must therefore seek the most efficient and transparent use of available resources by using financial instruments with leverage effect. Such effect could be increased by enabling the use and re-use of funds invested and generated by financial instruments.
Amendment 29 #
2011/0405(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) The Union is committed to promote in relations with its partners worldwide decent work and social dialogue, as well as ratification and effective implementation of the internationally recognised labour standards and multilateral environment agreements, in relations with its partners worldwide.
Amendment 34 #
2011/0405(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms, the rule of law, principles of equality, establishing deep and sustainable democracy, promoting good governance and transparent procedures and developing a thriving civil society including social partners;
Amendment 47 #
2011/0405(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) sustainable and inclusive development in all aspects, poverty reduction, including through private-sector developreduction and prevention of poverty and unemployment, including through private-sector development for the creation of decent and sustainable employment; promotion of internal economic, social and territorial cohesion, rural development, climate action and disaster resilience;
Amendment 59 #
2011/0394(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) As outlined in the Commission Communication of 30 June 2010, entitled "Europe, the world's No 1 tourist destination – a new political framework for tourism in Europe", which was endorsed by the European Council Conclusions of October 2010, tourism is an important sector of the Union economy. Enterprises in this sector make a substantially contribute toion amounting to over 5% of the Union's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and job creation and have significant potential for the development of entrepreneurial activity, since it is run mainly by SMEs. The Lisbon Treaty acknowledges the importance of tourism outlin figure ensuring steady growth. The sector also contributes to entrepreneurial activity capable of generating growth and employment ing the Union, specific competeinces in this field which complement the actions of Member States. There is clear added value for the tourism initiative at Union level, especially in providing data and analysis, in developing transnational promotion strategies and in exchanging best practicest is run mainly by SMEs, contributing also to growth and to economic and social integration, primarily in rural, mountain, coastal, island and remote and outlying areas or areas in the process of convergence.
Amendment 62 #
2011/0394(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18 b (new)
Recital 18 b (new)
(18b) Under the Lisbon Treaty, the fundamental objective of EU policy in the tourism sector is to make it more competitive, bearing in mind that, in the long term, this closely depends on its sustainable development. The Lisbon Treaty also acknowledges the importance of tourism, referring to the EU’s specific terms of reference in this area, complementing the actions of the Member States. Such an initiative in this sector has a clear added value at Union level, especially in terms of data supply and analysis, the development of cross-border promotion strategies and exchanges of best practice.
Amendment 68 #
2011/0394(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
α) strengthening the competitiveness and sustainability of the Union’s enterprises, especially SMEs, including in the tourism sector, given that the large majority of tourist companies are small and medium- sized enterprises;
Amendment 74 #
2011/0394(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
α) To improve framework conditions for the competitiveness, growth, internationalisation and sustainability of Union enterprises, especially SMEs, including in the tourism sector, and with regard to services and public procurement;
Amendment 28 #
2011/0386(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) Strong public finances are best ensured at the planning stage and gross errors should be identified as early as possible. Member States should benefit not just from the setting of guiding principles and budgetary targets but also from a synchronised monitoring of their budgetary and growth policies.
Amendment 34 #
2011/0386(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) There is strong evidence showing the effectiveness of rules-based fiscal frameworks in supporting sound and sustainable fiscal policies. The introduction of national fiscal rules that are consistent with the budgetary, employment and sustainable growth objectives set at Union level should be a crucial element to ensure the respect of the Stability and Growth Pact provisions. In particular, Member States should put in place structural balanced budget rules which transpose into national legislation the main principles of the Union fiscal framework. This transposition should be effective through binding rules preferably of a constitutional nature so as to demonstrate the strongest commitment of national authorities in relation to the Stability and Growth Pact.
Amendment 41 #
2011/0386(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Member States whose currency is the euro and which are subject to an excessive deficit procedure should be monitored more closely to secure a full and timely correction of the excessive deficit. A closer monitoring should ensure early correction of any deviations from the Council recommendations to correct the excessive deficit, promoting sustainable growth. Such monitoring should complement the provisions set out in Regulation (EC) No 1467/97. The modalities of this closer monitoring should be graduated depending on the stage of the procedure the Member State is subject to, as provided for in Article 126 of the Treaty.
Amendment 87 #
2011/0386(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Member State shall report regularly to the Commission and to the Economic and Financial Committee or any sub-committee it will designate for that purpose, for the general government and its sub-sectors, the in-year budgetary execution, the budgetary and social impact of discretionary measures taken on both the expenditure and the revenue side, targets for the government expenditure and revenues, as well as information on the measures adopted and the nature of those envisaged to achieve the targets. The report shall be made public.
Amendment 117 #
2011/0374(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) An ODR system at European level should build on existing ADR entities in the Member States and respect Member States' legal traditions. ADR entities to which a complaint has been transmitted via the ODR platform should therefore apply their own rules of procedure, including rules on cost. However, this Regulation intends to establish some common rules applicable to those procedures that will » safeguard their effectiveness. This should include rules ensuring that such dispute resolution is accomplished expeditiously. «, without the physical presence of the parties or their representatives being required before the ADR body. However, the parties may decide that their physical presence is essential.
Amendment 151 #
2011/0374(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 3 – point b a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 3 – point b a (new)
b a) notifying the trader of the complaint lodged against him;
Amendment 159 #
2011/0374(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 3 – point f a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 3 – point f a (new)
f a) providing, without charge, an electronic case management tool, which allows the parties and the ADR entity to conduct the dispute resolution process electronically through the platform;
Amendment 161 #
2011/0374(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 3 – point g
Article 5 – paragraph 3 – point g
g) publishing information on ADR entities notified to the Commission in accordance with Article 17(2) of Directive …./…/EU [Office of Publications please insert number of Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on alternative dispute resolution for consumer disputes and amending Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 and Directive 2009/22/EC (Directive on consumer ADR)] which deal with disputes covered by this Regulation; the information must be available online in a clear and comprehensible form, easily accessible and constantly updated.
Amendment 164 #
2011/0374(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 5
Article 5 – paragraph 5
5. The Commission shall be responsible for the ODR platform as regards its development, its operation, its maintenancencluding translation, maintenance and funding and as regards data security.
Amendment 177 #
2011/0374(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point a a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point a a (new)
a a) providing information to the complainant about the operation of the ODR platform, by submitting the electronic complaint form, if necessary with the relevant documentation. .
Amendment 183 #
2011/0374(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. The Commission, in cooperation with Member States, shall provide appropriate training for online dispute resolution facilitators for consumers in order to acquire the necessary expertise to perform their duties in accordance with paragraph 2.
Amendment 196 #
2011/0374(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point -a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point -a (new)
- a) the nature and reasons for the complaint;
Amendment 134 #
2011/0373(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4 a (new)
Recital 4 a (new)
(4a) The inconsistencies in the ADR mechanisms of Member States in terms of coverage, quality and public awareness constitute a barrier for the Single Market. As a result, many consumers refrain from cross-border trading and show a lack of confidence, since disputes with traders could be solved easily, rapidly and inexpensively. Furthermore, for the same reasons, where there is insufficient access to quality ADR procedures, traders may refrain from cross-border transactions with consumers. Moreover, traders established in a Member State where the quality of ADR procedures is inadequate are placed at a competitive disadvantage compared to those who have access to quality ADR procedures, since the latter are able to resolve consumer disputes more rapidly and at less expense.
Amendment 139 #
2011/0373(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) This Directive should apply to contractual disputes between consumers and traders that are arising from the sale of goods or provision of services in all economic sectors, including all public and private-sector suppliers. This should include complaints submitted by consumers against traders but also complaints submitted by traders against consumers. This Directive should not apply to disputes between traders; however, it should not prevent Member States from adopting or maintaining in force provisions on procedures for the out-of-court resolution of such disputes.
Amendment 145 #
2011/0373(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
(10a) In order to facilitate the implementation of this Directive, the Commission is urged to draw up guidelines in close cooperation with Member States on the relationship between this Directive and other EU legislation.
Amendment 174 #
2011/0373(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 19 a (new)
Recital 19 a (new)
(19a) Consumers cannot always take advantage of the amicable resolution of disputes either because they are unaware of the existence of ADR entities or simply because they do not wish to do so. At the same time, it is likely that some unfair or misleading commercial practices exist covertly and systematically, potentially having a very adverse effect on a large number of consumers, without these practices being denounced and addressed. In these cases, an ADR entity should have the competence to decide to launch investigative procedures, based on its experience with commercial practices which have not necessarily been the subject of complaints by consumers, but in respect of which there exists a reasonable suspicion or evidence that they constitute a significant violation of consumers' rights and therefore require special scrutiny. The ADR entity should also be able to inform the public about the findings of these investigations and address public recommendations to traders to correct their offending behaviour.
Amendment 187 #
2011/0373(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 21 a (new)
Recital 21 a (new)
(21a) Given the increasing importance of the concept of corporate social responsibility and the social impact and credibility of a company, the publication of unfair or misleading commercial practices may cause more damage than financial penalties. The prospect of the publication of proposed solutions by an ADR entity, by which disputes can be resolved more effectively, may constitute for traders who systematically refuse to apply them, a valuable tool for motivating them vigorously to pursue a consensual resolution of disputes and also for preventing such conduct in future, while safeguarding consumers' interests.
Amendment 191 #
2011/0373(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 21 b (new)
Recital 21 b (new)
(21b) In order to reconcile, on the one hand, the need for consumer access to ADR procedures and, on the other, the need to protect traders from unfair or unfounded complaints, it is indispensable that such complaints be submitted to an ADR entity in good faith, namely: (a) from a procedural standpoint, the consumer should accompany the complaint with sufficient evidence constituting the basis of the dispute in question, (b) from an ethical standpoint, the trader should be cognisant of the allegations against him and have the opportunity to express his opinion, possibly as part of an internal complaints handling procedure, before the complaint reaches the ADR entity, and (c) from a legal standpoint, it should not be possible to refer a dispute for resolution by an ADR entity, unless all means to bring about an amicable agreement directly between trader and consumer have previously been exhausted without success.
Amendment 266 #
2011/0373(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 294 #
2011/0373(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point a
a) the natural persons in charge of alternative dispute resolution, their academic and professional qualifications, the method of their appointment and the length of their mandate;
Amendment 321 #
2011/0373(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 1 a (new)
An ADR entity may decide to launch an investigation into trade practices which have not necessarily been referred to it, but in respect of which there exists a reasonable suspicion or evidence that they are unfair and misleading for a large numbers of consumers. The findings of these investigations may be published and provide a basis for direct recommendations to traders.
Amendment 323 #
2011/0373(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Consumers may resort to ADR procedures within a period of time that may not be less than one year of their becoming fully aware of the aggressive acts or omissions which form the basis of their dispute with the trader, in order to ensure easy access to ADR entities and thus avoid making the solution even more difficult.
Amendment 326 #
2011/0373(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
aa) the dispute between the parties is adequately documented with evidence showing the need for a solution;
Amendment 333 #
2011/0373(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point a – introductory part
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point a – introductory part
a) the consumerparties, before agreeing to a suggested solution, is informedare first and foremost informed about their rights under existing legislation that:
Amendment 349 #
2011/0373(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
b a) if the parties decide to reject the proposed solution, the ADR entity may publish this solution;
Amendment 374 #
2011/0373(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 1 a (new)
The Commission and Member States shall ensure the proper dissemination of information on the possibilities for consumers to receive compensation in the event of a contractual dispute with a trader, as stated in Article 2.
Amendment 99 #
2011/0340(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b – point 6
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b – point 6
(6) enhancing the transparency of consumerthe internal markets and consumer information; , including through access to reliable information allowing consumers to compare not only prices, but also quality and sustainability of goods and services;
Amendment 100 #
2011/0340(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b – point 7
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b – point 7
(7) enhancmpower consumers to make free and informed choices by raising consumer educationawareness;
Amendment 102 #
2011/0340(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b – point 7 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b – point 7 a (new)
(7a) ensure that vulnerable consumers also have access to information on goods and services, in order to have equal opportunities to make free and informed choices;
Amendment 119 #
2011/0340(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – point 6 – point c
Annex I – point 6 – point c
(c) actions increasing consumers' access to relevant information on products and marketsgoods and services in the internal market, enabling consumers to compare not only prices but also quality, both online and offline, including cross-border;
Amendment 120 #
2011/0340(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – point 6 – point g a (new)
Annex I – point 6 – point g a (new)
(ga) development and monitoring of the implementation of a certification label for price comparison websites utilising a harmonised methodology for price comparisons;
Amendment 121 #
2011/0340(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – point 6 – point h
Annex I – point 6 – point h
(h) support for communication on consumer issues, including through support to the media to drive consumer empowerment and enforcement.by encouraging the media to take responsibility in providing correct information, raising awareness and empowering consumers;
Amendment 122 #
2011/0340(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – point 6 – point h a (new)
Annex I – point 6 – point h a (new)
(ha) paying particular attention to information to minors, ensuring responsible advertising by refraining from aggressive or misleading TV and online advertising;
Amendment 123 #
2011/0340(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – point 6 – point h b (new)
Annex I – point 6 – point h b (new)
(hb) paying particular attention to vulnerable consumers that have difficulties in accessing and comprehending consumer information, in order to ensure that they are not misled;
Amendment 131 #
2011/0340(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II - Objective 2 – row 1 a (new)
Annex II - Objective 2 – row 1 a (new)
Number of Consumer Pages n/a 500 % Unique visitors on Your Europe increase in 7 Online Portal years (http://europa.eu/ youreurope/citize ns/shopping/inde x_en.htm)
Amendment 19 #
2011/0300(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point c
Amendment 21 #
2011/0300(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point a – indent 3
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point a – indent 3
– security of supply, for example through interoperability and secure and reliable system operation;
Amendment 25 #
2011/0300(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 1
1. When a project of common interest encounters significant implementation difficulties, the Commission may, after agreement with the Member States concerned, designate a European coordinator for a period of up to one year renewable twice.
Amendment 30 #
2011/0300(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 – part 1 – point 3 – introductory part
Annex 1 – part 1 – point 3 – introductory part
(3) North-South electricity interconnections in Central Eastern and South Eastern Europe ("NSI East Electricity"): interconnections and internal lines in North-South and East-West directions to complete the internal market and integrate generation from renewable energy sources. Linking power supplies on remote islands with the mainland with a view to completion of the internal market in electricity, increasing renewable energy input and facilitating the transmission of power generated from renewable sources on the mainland.
Amendment 34 #
2011/0294(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) The comprehensive network should be a European-wide transport network ensuring the accessibility of all regions in the Union, including the remote, island and outermost regions, as also pursued by the Integrated Maritime Policy, and strengthening economic and social cohesion between them. The guidelines should set the requirements for the infrastructure of the comprehensive network, in order to achieve a high-quality network throughout the Union by 2050.
Amendment 49 #
2011/0294(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) provide appropriate accessibility of all regions of the Union, including outermost, island and mountain regions, thereby promoting social, economic and territorial cohesion and supporting inclusive growth.
Amendment 55 #
2011/0294(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
Amendment 62 #
2011/0294(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
(da) recognise the physical and geographical constraints affecting transport infrastructures in the Member States as referred to by the Technical Standards for Interoperability.
Amendment 68 #
2011/0294(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(ca) compliance with infrastructural standards and enhanced interoperability.
Amendment 73 #
2011/0294(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 2
Article 20 – paragraph 2
2. The high quality roads referred to in point (a) of paragraph 1 are those which play an important role in long-distance freight and passenger traffic, integrate the main urban and economic centres, interconnect with other transport modes and link mountain, remote, landlocked and peripheral NUTS 2 regions to central regions of the Union.
Amendment 91 #
2011/0294(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 44 – paragraph 1
Article 44 – paragraph 1
1. The core network shall consist of those parts of the comprehensive network which are of the highest strategic importance for achieving the objectives of the trans- European transport network policy. The core network shall in particular contribute to coping with increasing mobility and, while ensuring that transport is fully accessible to elderly passengers and those with disabilities and limited mobility, as well as to the development of a low-carbon transport system.
Amendment 141 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) In line with the Europe 2020 Strategy, the Programme should pursue a coherent approach to promoting employment and combating social exclusion and poverty. Its implementation should be rationalised and simplified, notably through a set of common provisions including, inter allia, general objectives, typology of actions, monitoring and evaluation arrangements. The Programme should also focus on large projects with clear EU added value in order to reach critical mass and reduce administrative burden for both the beneficiaries and the Commission, while at the same time ensuring transparency of proceedings. In addition, greater use should be made of simplified cost options (lump-sum and flat- rate financing) in particular for the implementation of mobility schemes. The Programme should be a one-stop shop for microfinance providers, providing financing for micro- credit, capacity building and technical assistance. Lastly, the Programme should provide for budgetary flexibility through the establishment of a reserve to be allocated on an annual basis in order to respond to policy priorities.
Amendment 143 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) The Union should equip itself with a sound analytical basis to support policy- making in the employment and social area. Such an evidence base adds value to national action by providing a Union dimension and comparison for data- gathering and the development of statistical tools and methods and common indicators with a view to composing a full picture of the situation in the fields of employment, social policy and working conditions across the Union and ensuring high-quality evaluation of the efficiency and effectiveness of programmes and policies with a view to achieving the Europe 2020 Strategy objectives.
Amendment 148 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Ensuring that minimum acceptable standards are in place and that working conditions improve constantly in the Union is a central feature of Union social policy. The Union has an important role to play both in ensuring that the legislative framework is adapted, in line with ‘Smart Regulation’ principles, to evolving work patterns and new health and safety risks and in financing measures to improve compliance with Union rules on the protection of workers' rights.
Amendment 233 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) Modernise Union law in line with the Smart Regulation principles – and not at the expense of transparency – and ensure that Union law on matters relating to working conditions is effectively applied;
Amendment 250 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) Ensure that the requirements linked to the promotion of a high-level of employment, measures to prevent and combat long-term unemployment, a guarantee of adequate social protection and the fight against social exclusion are taken into account in defining and implementing of the Union's policies and activities.
Amendment 275 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point c
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point c
(c) Evaluations and impact assessments and an appraisal of the effectiveness of measures relating to objectives in the areas of employment, social cohesion and progress;;
Amendment 330 #
2011/0270(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) Develop and disseminate high-quality comparative analytical knowledge in order to ensure that Union employment and social policy and working conditions legislation are based on sound evidence and are relevant toeffectively correspond to the needs, challenges and conditions in the individual Member States and the other participating countries;
Amendment 31 #
2011/0217(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) In particular, free movement and workers' mobility help addressing the consequences of demographic change on the labour market, combating unemployment, creating jobs and increasing and improving educational and vocational training opportunities, while also increasing the employability of people and improving the competitiveness of European industries. At the same time, free movement either enables, as an essential condition, or stimulates the exercise by citizens of a broad range of rights available to them under Union law, such as their rights as consumers to access goods and services or their rights as passengers and tourists. Facilitating free movement has therefore the potential to enhance citizens' possibilities to fully benefit from the single market, whilst being a key driver for growth and a linchpin regarding efforts to achieve social cohesion.
Amendment 45 #
2011/0217(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Despite the fact that the right to free movement and residence is firmly anchored in primary Union law and substantially developed in secondary law, a gap still remains between the applicable legal rules and the reality confronting citizens when they seek to exercise this right in practice. Aside from an uncertainty over the advantages of being mobile, Union citizens perceive too many practical obstacles with regard to living and working elsewhere in the Union, including lack of access to information regarding their rights and the procedures to be followed.
Amendment 53 #
2011/0217(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) However, to enable Union citizens to make informed decisions about whether to exercise their right to free movement, it does not suffice to raise their awareness about the right to free movement itself; it is essential that Union citizens are also adequately informed about other rights available to them under Union law in a cross-border context. Adequate information and increased awareness of the benefits of mobility could accordingly prove to be of vital importance in attempting to contain the brain drain from the EU. This information will also enable them to fully enjoy these rights, if they decide to make use of their right to free movement.
Amendment 60 #
2011/0217(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) In particular, Union citizens considering whether to make use of their right to free movement should be informed about their rights to acquire or preserve social security rights by virtue of the Union rules on coordination of social security systems; these rules ensure that they will not lose out on their social security rights when choosing to move within Europe. They should further be informed about their right to obtain recognition of their professional qualifications and about the social and civic competences which form part of the European framework of "Key Competences for lifelong learning" and which can equip them to fully participate in civic life and empower them to exercise their rights under Union law. In order to achieve this objective - better information and greater awareness- it is necessary to mobilise all the organisations involved as well as the social partners.
Amendment 79 #
2011/0217(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – indent 3
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – indent 3
– to stimulate a debate about the impact and potential of the right to free movement, as an inalienable aspect of Union citizenship, in particular in terms of strengthening societal cohesion, social integration, employment, quality education and mutual understanding between Union citizens and the bond between citizens and the Union.
Amendment 85 #
2011/0217(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 1
– information, education and awareness raising campaigns targeted at the general public and more specific audiences, with the active participation of the social partners;
Amendment 156 #
2011/0187(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 1
1. The average wholesale charge that the operator of a visited network may levy from the customer's home provider for the provision of a regulated roaming call originating on that visited network, inclusive inter alia of origination, transit and termination costs, shall not exceed EUR 0,140 per minute as of 1 July 2012.
Amendment 165 #
2011/0187(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 2
2. The average wholesale charge referred to in paragraph 1 shall apply between any pair of operators and shall be calculated over a twelve-month period or any such shorter period as may remain before the end of the period of application of a maximum average wholesale charge as provided for in this paragraph or the expiry of this Regulation. The maximum average wholesale charge shall decrease to EUR 0,107 and EUR 0,064, on 1 July 2013 and on 1 July 2014 respectively. Without prejudice to Article 139, the maximum average wholesale charge shall remain at EUR 0,064 for the duration of this Regulation.
Amendment 177 #
2011/0187(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
The retail charge (excluding VAT) of a Eurotariff which a home provider may levy from its roaming customer for the provision of a regulated roaming call may vary for any roaming call but shall not exceed EUR 0,320 per minute for any call made or EUR 0,1107 per minute for any call received as of 1 July 2012. The price ceiling for calls made shall decrease to EUR 0,2815 and EUR 0,2410 on 1 July 2013 and on 1 July 2014 respectively, and for calls received to EUR 0,106 on 1 July 2013 and EUR 0,05 on 1 July 2014. Without prejudice to Articles 13 and 19 these regulated maximum retail charges for the Eurotariff shall remain valid until 30 June 20167.
Amendment 186 #
2011/0187(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
1. With effect from 1 July 2012, the average wholesale charge that the operator of a visited network may levy from the customer's home provider, for the provision of a regulated roaming SMS message originating on that visited network, shall not exceed EUR 0,03 per SMS message. The maximum average wholesale charge for the provision of a regulated roaming SMS message shall decrease and shall decrease to EUR 0,02 on 1 July 2013 and to EUR 0,021 on 1 July 2014. Without prejudice to Article 139 the regulated wholesale charge for the provision of regulated roaming SMS messages shall remain at EUR 0,021 for the duration of this Regulation.
Amendment 197 #
2011/0187(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2
Article 9 – paragraph 2
2. With effect from 1 July 2012, the retail charge (excluding VAT) of a Euro-SMS tariff which a home provider may levy from its roaming customer for a regulated roaming SMS message sent by that roaming customer may vary for any roaming SMS message but shall not exceed EUR 0,10shall be reduced to EUR 0,07 on 1 July 2012, EUR 0,06 on 1 July 2013 and EUR 0,05 on 1 July 2014. Without prejudice to Articles 13 and 19, the regulated maximum retail charge for the Euro-SMS tariff shall remain at EUR 0,105 until 30 June 20167.
Amendment 208 #
2011/0187(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1
Article 11 – paragraph 1
1. With effect from 1 July 2012 the average wholesale charge that the operator of a visited network may levy from the roaming customer's home provider for the provision of regulated data roaming services by means of that visited network shall not exceed a safeguard limit of EUR 0,3025, EUR 0,2015 as of 1 July 2013 and EUR 0,10 as of 1 July 2014 per megabyte of data transmitted. Without prejudice to Article 139 the maximum average wholesale charge for the provision of regulated data roaming services shall remain at EUR 0,10 per megabyte of data transmitted for the duration of this Regulation.
Amendment 223 #
2011/0187(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
With effect from 1 July 2012, the retail charge (excluding VAT) of a Euro-data tariff which a home provider may levy from its roaming customer for the provision of a regulated roaming data shall not exceed EUR 0,950 per megabyte. The price ceiling for data used shall decrease to EUR 0,730 and EUR 0,520, per megabyte used on 1 July 2013 and on 1 July 2014 respectively. Without prejudice to Articles 13 and 19, the regulated maximum retail charge shall remain at EUR 0,520, per megabyte used until 30 June 20167.
Amendment 85 #
2011/0150(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) Standards can contribute to helping European policy address the major societal challenges such as climate change, sustainable resource use, ageing, the integration of persons with disabilities, social integration and innovation in general. By driving the development of European or international standards for goods and technologies in these expanding markets, Europe could create a competitive advantage for its companies and facilitate trade.
Amendment 92 #
2011/0150(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) Standards are important tools for the competitiveness of undertakings and especially small and medium-sized enterprises (hereinafter 'SME') which, however, are not adequately represented or involved in the standardisation system so that the risk exists that standards do not take into account the needs and concerns of SME. Consequently, it is essentialnecessary to improve their representation and participation in the standardisation process, particularly in the technical committeeparticipation at national level, where they can be more effective thanks to lower costs and the absence of language barriers, under the principle of national delegation. Standardisation rules should encourage SMEs to contribute actively to developing innovative technological solutions for the standardisation process. Consequently, it is important for this regulation to improve their representation and participation in national technical committees and ensure that they have effective access to standards.
Amendment 194 #
2011/0150(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission may request one or several European standardisation bodies to draft a European standard or European standardisation deliverable within a set deadline. They shall be market-driven, take into account the public interest, including accessibility for persons with disabilities, and based on consensus.
Amendment 230 #
2011/0150(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) the translation, where required, of European standards or European standardisation deliverables used in support of Union policies and legislation into the official Union languages other than the working languages of the European standardisation bodies or, in duly justified cases into languages other than the official Union languages,
Amendment 234 #
2011/0150(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point f
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point f
(f) the drawing up of information to explain, interpret and simplifypresent in a simplified manner European standards or European standardisation deliverables, includfor example ing the drawing upform of user guides, summaries of standards, best practice informcompilation ands, awareness-building actionstrategies and training programmes;
Amendment 273 #
2011/0150(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 3 – paragraph d – point ii
Annex 3 – paragraph d – point ii
(ii) has as its statutory objectives and activities to represent the social interests of vulnerable groups, such as persons with disabilities, in the standardisation process at European level;
Amendment 231 #
2011/0137(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Article 23 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Customs authorities may donate non- hazardous manufactured products such as clothes and shoes to schools, nursing homes, orphanages, non-governmental organisations or any other social or welfare services. In such cases, no duties or other national taxes should be levied.
Amendment 99 #
2010/2307(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Takes the view that measures must be taken to reinforce the role of the family and social environment of young people and of their school in guiding them in their career choices and towards finding an occupation; calls on the Member States to incorporate career guidance seminars into secondary education, the content thereof being based on employment market requirements and also taking account of regional factors, as well as the individual profile (aptitudes) of each pupil; the seminars should be planned by the national education and employment authorities in cooperation with the social partners;
Amendment 110 #
2010/2307(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses the importance in terms of corporate social responsibility of helping young people make sound career choices, taking account of the needs of both the national and the European employment market. Such initiatives could be accompanied by work experience placements;
Amendment 122 #
2010/2307(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls on the Member States, in cooperation with the social partners, to incorporate vocational training more effectively into secondary education, given the major disparities between the Member States regarding the level of participation and organisation in this field; notes that this could contribute significantly to achieving the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy by reducing school dropout rates and unemployment levels; stresses the need to encourage exchanges of good practice by means of open-ended coordination;
Amendment 123 #
2010/2307(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Stresses the importance of flexible training arrangements such as open universities and greater use of online further education facilities, thereby giving all young people access to a high standard of education to an advanced level and ensuring that they are not deprived of this opportunity for reasons of distance or scheduling; given the delayed entry of young people on the employment market and problems of ensuring the sustainability of social security schemes, it is extremely important to create suitable conditions for combining study and work;
Amendment 137 #
2010/2307(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Stresses the importance of improving public placement services for jobs and vocational training in order to combat youth unemployment on the one hand and extend to the unemployed access to training schemes tailored to the needs of the employment market on the other;
Amendment 153 #
2010/2307(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Stresses the need for measures to clarify fully the situation at national and European level regarding young people who are unemployed and not taking part in education or training; calls on the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, to identify the reasons for the marginalisation of young people and recommend ways of reintegrating them, as well as taking action to remedy the problem through achievement of the relevant objectives over the next ten years with regard to the employability and competitiveness of the European workforce and a reduction in school dropout rates;
Amendment 161 #
2010/2307(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Emphasises that training places are an appropriate aid in making the right career choice at all stages of the process of choosing an occupation, but must not be allowed to replace regular jobs and must provide sufficient income and, social protection and social security arrangements; stresses that a European quality framework for traineeships must be introduced;
Amendment 6 #
2010/2278(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the Single Market is one of the main drivers of European growth and should be a real economic pillar of the EU by overcoming economic and competitiveness divergences, distortions and the uneven treatment of European enterprises and citizenscompletion of the Single Market is a necessary condition to enable the European Union to reach its full potential for economic growth and strengthen its highly competitive social market economy,
Amendment 9 #
2010/2278(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the Single Market Act concerns Europeans as active participants in the European economy,
Amendment 12 #
2010/2278(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the Single Market is not only an institutional structure, facing economic, financial and social challenges legal framework, but also a way of protecting specific fundamental rights of citizens, consumers, workers and small businesses (, entrepreneurs and businesses, in particular SMEs),
Amendment 15 #
2010/2278(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas too many obstacles stand in the way of citizens and SMEs wishing to move, work, shop, sell or trade across borders, and a lack of port; whereas they are caused by insufficiently harmonised national legislations, low transferability inof social security rights, corporatism and red tape reduce the free movement of workers, service providers and professionals as well as excessive red tape; whereas they end up impeding upon the free movement of people, goods, services and capital within the Union,
Amendment 21 #
2010/2278(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the lack of a holistic vision for other horizMario Monti report showed that a holistic vision supposes that many policies, traditiontal policies,ly not regarded as being linked to the Single Market - such as health, social and consumer protection, labour law, the environment and sustainable development, - hampers the Single Market enlargementve to be integrated into the Single Market strategic objective in order to reach a high level of integration,
Amendment 45 #
2010/2278(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Considers that efforts to achievcomplete the Single Market need to concentrate on the concerns and rights of citizens, consumers and SMEs in order to overcome the current ‘European fatigue’regain their full confidence in the Single Market;
Amendment 54 #
2010/2278(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Points out that the confidence of citizens and consumers cannot be taken for granted but needs to be nurturedis crucial for the functioning of the Single Market;
Amendment 62 #
2010/2278(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that the Communication’s proposals are still too weak to put citizens at the heart of the Single Market, and the proliferating number of EU initiatives without clear prioritisation creates a need for consistencygenerally in line with the European Parliament’s expectations but needs to be refocused to put citizens at the heart of the Single Market; Regrets that the Single Market Act Communication has been divided into 3 chapters separating Europeans, businesses and good governance to ensure the coherence of European integration measur, instead of according to subject-matter lines;
Amendment 67 #
2010/2278(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Highlights the priorities set out in the 19 proposals in accordance with five criteria – basic social rights, consumer rights, free movement of workers, free movement of goods and socially oriented corporate institutions – to provideConsiders that 19 actions proposed by the Commission should be prioritised according to their impact on job creation and their delivery of tangible benefits forto European citizens and enterpribusinesses in a freasionable period of time;
Amendment 89 #
2010/2278(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Notes that issues related to product safety and market surveillance are of the utmost importance to European citizens. Therefore welcomes the Commission’s multiannual action plan for the development of European market surveillance;
Amendment 121 #
2010/2278(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls upon theUrges Member States and the Commission to promote communication with citizens to ensure their rightjoin forces to communicate the Single Market to citizens to ensure that its benefits are recognised and that their rights as consumers are widely understood and enforced;
Amendment 126 #
2010/2278(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls on the Commission to revise the rules and adapt the practices on public consultations and take necessary measures in order to attract more citizens to participate in the policy-making process;
Amendment 136 #
2010/2278(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Welcomes the Commission’s proposal for a decision establishing a European Radio Spectrum Action Programme; calls on the Council and the Parliament to reach an agreement, taking into account the interests of businesses and consumers, as soon as possible, in order to help the wireless broadband market grow rapidly;
Amendment 158 #
2010/2278(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Welcomes the Commission’s wish to take into account the social impact of proposed legislation concerning the Single Market whenever necessary in order to lead to better informed and more evidence-based political decisions; encourages the Commission to propose a set of indicators which could assess the social impact of legislation; considers that this impact assessment should be undertaken as part of an integrated assessment that considers all relevant impacts of a proposal (i.e. financial, environmental, competitivity, job creation and growth);
Amendment 160 #
2010/2278(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Amendment 161 #
2010/2278(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)
Paragraph 10 c (new)
Amendment 162 #
2010/2278(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 d (new)
Paragraph 10 d (new)
10d. Calls on the Commission to identify and eliminate tax obstacles still facing European citizens;
Amendment 167 #
2010/2278(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Regrets that no action on roaming charges has been envisaged in the Single Market Act, despite the tangible nature of such measures and the high expectations of citizens in this domain; However, notes that the Commission has made a considerable effort to reduce the costs of roaming for consumers in recent years and therefore, points out that to achieve digital agenda goals, this initiative should be included in the scope of the Single Market Act;
Amendment 168 #
2010/2278(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Points out that the existing legislative framework regulating air passengers’ rights needs better enforcement measures, so that citizens can fully avail of their rights, particularly in the context of passengers with reduced mobility (PRM); Calls on the Commission to adopt a proposal amending the regulation on the rights of air passengers in order to increase consumer protection measures;
Amendment 169 #
2010/2278(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Paragraph 11 c (new)
11c. Welcomes the Commission’s initiative to launch a public consultation on corporate governance and improving transparency of information provided by businesses on social and environmental matters and respect for human rights;
Amendment 170 #
2010/2278(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 d (new)
Paragraph 11 d (new)
11d. Notes the proposal of the Commission on social business initiative and recommends launching a consultation on this project in order to assess the potential of this measure in terms of economic growth and job creation;
Amendment 192 #
2010/2278(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Considers that the Communication does not stress the importance of social services; considers this is far from the quality framework promised by the Commission PresidentEncourages the Commission efforts to define a quality framework for services of general interest by providing public authorities with a ‘tool-kit’ to evaluate the quality of these services and make sectoral and transnational comparisons;
Amendment 199 #
2010/2278(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Welcomes the Commission’s initiative to adopt a legislative proposal aimed at improving the implementation of the Posting of Workers Directive and encourages the Commission to clarify the exercise of fundamental social rights within the context of the economic freedoms of the Single Market;
Amendment 221 #
2010/2278(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 – subparagraph a (new)
Paragraph 17 – subparagraph a (new)
(a) Calls on the Commission to submit before June 2011 a proposal for amending the Roaming Regulation in order to extend the existing regulation in time and in scope to cover retail prices for data as well,
Amendment 6 #
2010/2277(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas it is important to restorincrease confidence in the Single Market at all levels and to eliminate existing barriers to enterprises entering business; whereas high administrative burdens discourage new entrepreneurs,
Amendment 14 #
2010/2277(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Underlines that the further development, integration and deepening of the single market will reinforce even more the European social market economy, creating more and better jobs and an environment more friendly to enterprises;
Amendment 18 #
2010/2277(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Considers that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the basis of the European economy and the main drivers of sustainable and quality job creation, employment, economic growth and social cohesion in Europe; emphasises that greater efforts must be made to improve SMEs‘’ access to and participation in the Single Market, including the removal of all barriers to the development of e-commerce as identified in the 2010 ’‘Digital Agenda‘’;
Amendment 19 #
2010/2277(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Considers that language learning should be promoted through life-long learning (vocational training), mostly for SMEs employees, as a means of reinforcing the access of SMEs to the single market, which constitutes their main competitive advantage;
Amendment 34 #
2010/2277(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Strongly supports the efforts to pursue international trade negotiations and the promotion of corporate social responsibility within the context of these negotiations; reiterates in this respect the importance of including social and environmental standards in all trade agreements concluded between the EU and third countries;
Amendment 51 #
2010/2277(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Reiterates the need to create a more SME-friendly regulatory environment by carefully assessing the impact of any new regulatory or legislative measures on SMEs towards the reduction of red tape, the enhancement of competitiveness and the promotion of quality employment;
Amendment 57 #
2010/2277(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Emphasizes that the introduction of both an EU patent and a unified patent litigation system will give a major boost to European competitiveness, since they will promote technology, provide an incentive for investment in research and development, help create new businesses and jobs, attract foreign investment capital and assist in technology transfer;
Amendment 80 #
2010/2277(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Calls on the Commission to take initiatives to significantly increase the participation of SMEs in public procurement by removing bureaucratic obstacles and barriers, thereby facilitating their access to it;
Amendment 132 #
2010/2277(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to provide more comprehensive protection of intellectual property rights in the internal market by also addressing the new challenges posed by Internet piracy; stresses, as a basic prerequisite, that bodies and citizens must be alerted to the consequences of counterfeiting and piracy through education and information campaigns emphasizing the importance of intellectual property rights;
Amendment 142 #
2010/2277(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Believes that the pluralistic structure of the European banking market meets best the variety of financing needs of SMEs and that the diversity of legal models and business objectives improves access to finance;
Amendment 149 #
2010/2277(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. points out the importance of interconnected business registers and calls on the Commission to develop a clear legal framework ensuring that information in such business registers is complete and correct;
Amendment 160 #
2010/2277(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. points out the importance of interconnected business registers and calls on the Commission to develop a clear legal framework ensuring that information in such business registers is complete and correct;
Amendment 162 #
2010/2277(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Calls on the European Commission to include within the Single Market Act a proposal for a European retail strategy that identifies and addresses the numerous challenges faced by European businesses looking to retail their products both within the Single Market and to an international customer base. This strategy should consider the specific requirements of individual retail sectors including digital, high-street and travel retail.
Amendment 179 #
2010/2277(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Notes that the Single Market is primarily a solid basis for the activity of European companies, while also supporting their global commercial activities; stresses that, in international procurement, the Commission should make further efforts to establish a level playing field as regards competition for European companies and companies from third countries participating in public procurement;
Amendment 198 #
2010/2277(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the Commission to encourage the development of the business services sector and to take the necessary regulatory measures in order to protect especially SMEs from unfair commercial practices by larger enterprises in the retail sector; recalls its Resolution 2008/2126 (INI) and urges the Commission again to come up with a proposal to prevent the fraudulent practices of Misleading Business Directories;
Amendment 23 #
2010/2276(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recognising that most Roma are employed in undeclared jobs, and given the need to ensure the sustainability of the social security systems, calls on the Member States, in cooperation with the social partners, to effectively combat this phenomenon, inter alia by providing the Roma with incentives to join the social security system;
Amendment 60 #
2010/2276(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls on the Member States to make it easier for Roma to obtain information concerning European and national funding programmes to support entrepreneurship and employment; considers that public services and non- governmental organisations could assist in providing advice to enable Roma to submit the relevant applications;
Amendment 73 #
2010/2276(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Calls on the Member States, given the high drop-out rate from school among the Roma and, consequently, the existence of an unskilled workforce, to help Roma gain access to secondary education; considers that the Member States, with the assistance of Roma leaders and the responsible local educational bodies, could draw up educational programmes geared both to Roma culture and to the needs of the labour market, thus facilitating the transition into the labour market;
Amendment 31 #
2010/2273(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls on the Commission to enhance the mobility of the workforce by planning and promoting further strategies to provide simplified information concerning the rights of migrant workers and the benefits of mobility for the overall process of development and for the economies of both the EU and its Member States. Raising the awareness of employees, members of their families and interested parties about their rights and opportunities and the tools available as regards freedom of movement is a key factor for effectively implementing EU legislation;
Amendment 37 #
2010/2273(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 α (new)
Paragraph 5 α (new)
Amendment 114 #
2010/2273(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to take the necessary steps to make cooperation between EURES and the corresponding national public authorities more productive and effective;
Amendment 115 #
2010/2273(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Encourages Member States, in cooperation with the Commission, to promote EURES among citizens, by providing relevant documentation and advice on using it through public job centres, but also by organizing meetings to promote mobility in the framework of higher education;
Amendment 120 #
2010/2273(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Calls on the Commission, in cooperation with Member States, to promote the active involvement of the social partners so as to ensure the practical implementation and strengthening of the rights of migrant workers;
Amendment 149 #
2010/2273(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a.Encourages Member States to boost the participation of small and medium- sized enterprises in lifelong learning by providing incentives for their respective employees and employers, with particular emphasis on learning languages and the new technologies, in line also with labour market requirements, as most of Europe's workforce is employed in SMEs and in this way it will become more competitive, but this will also strengthen mobility in order to address the failure to fill job vacancies in a number of Member States;
Amendment 151 #
2010/2273(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Encourages Member States, with the assistance of the Commission and the social partners, to create structures for language learning support and also for teaching the cultural traditions of the host Member States for the families of migrant workers, especially since these factors continue to hinder the mobility of European citizens;
Amendment 105 #
2010/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Stresses the need for action at both national and European level to promote the transition from institutional to local community care, making use of the structural funds accompanied by measures to heighten public awareness of the situation of people with disabilities resident in institutions;
Amendment 164 #
2010/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Calls on the Member States, with the help of the Commission, to encourage the integration and acceptance within society of people with disabilities by improving access for them to sports, leisure and cultural facilities and activities;
Amendment 196 #
2010/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Calls on the Member States to consolidate and improve active employment policies adopted with a view to assimilating people with disabilities at the workplace and increase the effectiveness of the national bodies responsible;
Amendment 254 #
2010/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Amendment 268 #
2010/2272(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Calls on the Member States to avoid any cuts in social protection for people with disabilities under the austerity policies introduced in response to the economic crisis, since it is necessary to ensure an acceptable standard of living for them as their inalienable right;
Amendment 28 #
2010/2245(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Stresses the importance of creating, at both European and national level, favourable conditions and incentives to boost participation in doctoral studies, as well as participation in innovative research, so as to prevent the brain drain and enable the EU to derive substantial benefits, strengthening its competitiveness through advanced, innovative research and studies;
Amendment 29 #
2010/2245(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Underlines the importance of integrating innovation both in education in general and in lifelong learning, with a view to creating a workforce that is capable of responding to the changing needs of a sustainable and innovative social market economy that will offer new, high-quality and lasting jobs;
Amendment 6 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas people are entering the labour force at a later age due to unemployment rates that particularly affect poorly qualified young people, or due to longer and higher education, and on average people leave the labour market earlier than the legal pension age, and longevity is increasing,
Amendment 32 #
2010/2239(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Amendment 80 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers that long-term investment in pension systems requires a positive approach as part of economic governance and more particularly in the Stability and Growth Pact; calls on the competent bodies in the Member States to promote social inclusion and combat undeclared work in order to improve the balance of pension systems;
Amendment 116 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Regrets that the Green Paper does not devote any attention to the gender issue, particularly bearing in mind that, because of disparities in careers, women have smaller pensions on average; wants specific attention to therefore be paid to the situation of women and in particular to considering maternity leave as time actually worked providing entitlement to retirement benefits;
Amendment 117 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Given that a large proportion of female workers are employed in atypical and very atypical forms of work, whilst there continues to be a 17% wage gap between men and women, because of which female workers receive lower pensions on average, calls on the Member States, with the assistance of the Commission, to intensify their efforts to effectively combat discrimination in relation to work and, consequently, pension benefits;
Amendment 147 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Considers that effectively tackling unemployment and creating new, sustainable, high-quality jobs are important factors in ensuring that pension funds are adequate;
Amendment 157 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Considers that Member States are themselves responsible for making adequate pension provision for their citizens as part of their social and economic policies and that those Member States should be encouraged to put in place a minimum old-age pension for all, putting the emphasis on those who are most vulnerable, especially disabled people;
Amendment 212 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 α. Calls on the Commission to set up a pensions observatory to study and assess the economic and social impact of the structural changes introduced in the Member States, as well as the effectiveness of each pension system in the light of the objective of ensuring that pension benefits are adequate and pension funds are financially sustainable;
Amendment 236 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Considers that, in view of demographic trends and the need to ensure that pensions can be paid for, it is necessary for more people to participate in the labour market and to do so for longer; observes that life expectancy is growing and calls on Member States to consider linking the statutory retirement age to life expectancy, together with quality of life and health, in an effort to achieve a balance between the length of working life and the length of retirement;
Amendment 239 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 α. Considers it would be useful, given that more and more young people are entering the labour market later because of the longer duration of higher education, for there to be a formula linking practice, study and work experience programmes with the social security systems;
Amendment 270 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Considers that, for older employees performing physically and/or mentally demanding work during or towards the end of their career, a labour market geared to flexibility and security must offer creative solutions such as greater flexibility in the statutory retirement age, part-time pensions or adapted working conditions, with the emphasis on ability to work, promoting transitional measures and versatility to enable people to transfer from one job to another, with the effective support of lifelong learning programmes, to strike a lasting balance between the requirements of employment and the capacities of workers; considers there to be a need for an active policy to prevent discrimination on grounds of age;
Amendment 278 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 α. Calls on the Member States to combat effectively the practice of making workers approaching retirement redundant by providing more support for job-seeking services and training to enhance their employability, and to examine the possibility of subsidising, jointly with employers, part of their insurance contributions under certain terms and conditions, such as age, possibility of reintegration into the labour market, etc.;
Amendment 283 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18 b. Calls on the Member States, in the context of the reforms and the extension of working life, and with the assistance of the Commission, to intensify their efforts to promote health at work through more effective implementation of the directives on health and safety at work, and by creating a culture which promotes health among the workforce, with the emphasis on small and medium-sized businesses;
Amendment 284 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 c (new)
Paragraph 18 c (new)
18 c. Stresses that, in the case of intellectually and physically demanding jobs, lifelong learning is a useful tool for giving older workers the opportunity to carry on working by performing other tasks;
Amendment 300 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Considers that there is a need to reinforce mutual recognition between the Member States of training courses which could improve the match between supply and demand on the job market at European level, thus helping to meet the EU 2020 strategy target of a 75% employment rate;
Amendment 301 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 α. Considers that, in the light of the marked differences between the Member States' individual pension systems, greater use should be made of the open coordination method for the exchange of best practice and experience in relation to pension systems, particularly in the context of the structural changes which are in progress to ensure that pension systems are sustainable and pension benefits are adequate;
Amendment 311 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21 α. Calls on the Member States, with the assistance of the Commission, to adopt effective policies to help the disabled gain access to employment and training and to activate that section of the population, which will both increase the revenue of the funds and secure a decent standard of living for the disabled;
Amendment 315 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Calls on the Member States to put measures in place to protect workers' health and safety at work as soon as they enter the job market;
Amendment 317 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21 b. Calls on the Member States, with the assistance of the Commission, to support efforts to promote the economic integration of immigrants by combating undeclared work and improving the employability of the immigrant section of the population;
Amendment 319 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 c (new)
Paragraph 21 c (new)
21 c. Calls on the Member States, in cooperation with the EU, to take initiatives to facilitate access to the labour market for students who wish to work while pursuing their studies;
Amendment 331 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Considers therefore that there is a need to improve information and advice to members of pension schemes by setting up, where needed, one-stop-shops to give an efficient and precise response to the requests of those who have worked in several Member States;
Amendment 458 #
2010/2239(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35 α. Stresses that correct information and transparency in relation to pension systems is extremely important; proposes that one-stop-shops should be set up to provide information on the operation of the pension systems, and obligations and benefits in order to create a workforce that knows its rights and obligations, whilst at the same time facilitating workers' mobility;
Amendment 18 #
2010/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas, in view of the great differences in the levels of participation of pupils in vocational training in Member States, exchanges of best practices are important in order to increase the number and improve the quality of pupils who opt for technical training in Member States which fares poorly as far as pupil numbers and quality are concerned;
Amendment 41 #
2010/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on Member States, with the active participation of the social partners, to help modernise vocational programmes and the know-how provided by jointly designing the vocational templates which will form the basis for educational curricula and be renewed every two to three years according to scientific and technological developments in each area;
Amendment 55 #
2010/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Stresses the importance of strengthening the procedure for identifying needs at local, national and European level so as to achieve the closest possible match between the skills offered and labour market requirements;
Amendment 59 #
2010/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls on Member States, given the reorientation towards a sustainable economy and sustainable growth, to strengthen the institution of vocational education and training since it has the potential to become a means of addressing the social consequences of corporate restructuring for workers, by increasing their employability;
Amendment 64 #
2010/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls on Member States, with the assistance of the Commission, to promote through the relevant university programmes, models for managing and exploiting human resources based on the recognition of vocational education and training, within the framework of lifelong learning, as an added value and competitive advantage for an enterprise;
Amendment 67 #
2010/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Calls on the Commission to draw up a study on the consequences of participating in vocational education and training both for the productivity of workers and for the competitiveness of enterprises and the quality of the work;
Amendment 74 #
2010/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Emphasises the need to boost efforts, both at European and at national level, to increase the participation of SMEs in professional training and lifelong learning and to increase the participation of low-skilled workers whose registered participation is particularly low;
Amendment 75 #
2010/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Emphasises that, as part of efforts to attain the objective of flexibility with security, it is urgently necessary effectively to increase the participation of workers involved in flexible forms of employment in vocational training; calls, therefore, on Member States to take the relevant initiatives;
Amendment 84 #
2010/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Calls on Member States to encourage synergies at local level between the social partners, local professional associations, universities and school management bodies and educational units in order, through scientific studies and systematic consultations, to draw up a medium-term plan for future skill requirements and to calculate the number of pupils needed per area, which would increase the effectiveness of vocational training in effecting a direct and durable transition to the labour market;
Amendment 98 #
2010/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Calls on Member States, in cooperation with the social partners, to adopt initiatives to effectively assist elderly workers in lifelong learning and vocational training;
Amendment 106 #
2010/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Calls on Member States, with the assistance of the Commission, and in cooperation with the social partners, to introduce systems for certifying vocational qualifications within the framework of lifelong learning and professional training;
Amendment 110 #
2010/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Calls on the Member States to take into account the acquisition of foreign language skills in vocational education and training with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises, thereby creating the conditions for increasing their competitiveness as part of the single market;
Amendment 37 #
2010/2206(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Stresses the need to develop a European 'Quality Tourism' label based on national experience to date with the purpose of boosting consumer confidence and security regarding tourist products and, at the same time, rewarding entrepreneurs in this sector and enterprises which help improve services and satisfy customers;
Amendment 43 #
2010/2206(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission to support barrier-free and age-adapted tourism and introduce a European quality label for tourist destinations which make barrier- free travel possible for the elderly and persons with special needs; notes that with this aim in view the Calypso programme should be assessed, in conjunction with stakeholders, and, if appropriate, continued;
Amendment 51 #
2010/2206(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls on Member States to cooperate, as part of the exchange of best practices, in order to boost European tourism and promote alternative forms of tourism;
Amendment 28 #
2010/2162(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point 2
Paragraph 1 – point 2
2. Underlines that financing for the European Social Fund should be significantly increased in order to provide adequate resources for measures and activities under the Social Inclusion Strategy and the ‘Europe 2020’ flagship initiative on combating poverty and social exclusion so as to strengthen measures to improve education and training with a view to improving labour market access and combating unemployment;
Amendment 59 #
2010/2162(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point 5 a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point 5 a (new)
5a. Given that finding employment is a motor for combating poverty, stresses the need to establish a transparent regulatory framework for atypical forms of employment, in which women are more widely employed, in order to ensure proper working conditions and decent pay;
Amendment 65 #
2010/2162(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point 5 b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point 5 b (new)
5b. Stresses the need for measures to be taken at European and national level to reconcile family and working life as part of efforts to combat poverty and improve women’s access to decent employment; calls therefore on the Member States to improve public childcare facilities and provide firms with incentives to set up in-house facilities;
Amendment 69 #
2010/2162(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point 5 c (new)
Paragraph 1 – point 5 c (new)
5c. As part of the fight against poverty, child poverty and social exclusion, stresses the need to develop appropriate employment integration and training policies at national level, together with special tax arrangements for mothers in one-parent families;
Amendment 70 #
2010/2162(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point 5 d (new)
Paragraph 1 – point 5 d (new)
5d. Stresses the need for measures to be taken at national and European level to combat discrimination as regards job market opportunities and wages policies, as part of efforts to combat poverty among women;
Amendment 73 #
2010/2162(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point 5 e (new)
Paragraph 1 – point 5 e (new)
5e. Calls on the Member States, in cooperation with the Commission and the s social partners, to take steps to prevent the unequal treatment of female dependents by social welfare systems, since, in the case of widows, for example, the pension to which they are entitled is not sufficient to provide them with a decent living;
Amendment 74 #
2010/2162(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point 5 f (new)
Paragraph 1 – point 5 f (new)
5f. In order to combat poverty among women effectively, stresses the importance of coordinating policies to fight unemployment and social exclusion at all levels of government;
Amendment 77 #
2010/2162(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point 5 g (new)
Paragraph 1 – point 5 g (new)
5g. Calls on the Member States, in cooperation with the Commission and the social partners, to draw up plans to increase women’s participation in life-long learning and training, especially women from minority groups;
Amendment 2 #
2010/2156(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Emphasises – given that the creative industries represent an important part of the European economy and will contribute significantly to achieving the Union’s employment targets under the Europe 2020 strategy, especially through the initiatives for new jobs and the ‘industrial policy for the globalisation era’ – the need to reduce the inequalities faced by practitioners in the cultural and creative sector and to fight discrimination in these sectors, especially as regards pay, jobs that match the level of qualifications, and social security; calls on the Member States to introduce changes to their social security systems to meet the needs of practitioners in the cultural and creative sectors;
Amendment 28 #
2010/2156(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Commission to respect and acknowledge actions taken by cultural services and not-for-profit organisations involved in the development of a creative inclusive economyencourage cooperation involving universities, companies and arts initiatives that enables access to cultural services and contributes to the development of a creative economy in the EU; stresses the importance, in terms of the creative sector’s economic development in the EU, of implementing job-preservation and job-creation policies;
Amendment 34 #
2010/2156(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Favours initiatives on mobility, particularly for students and young creators whether qualified or notin training, as well as the development of residencies and workshops for artists, and calls on the Member States to remove barriers to free movement, particularly with reference to exchanges between EU artists and between EU and non-EU countries; calls on the Commission to ensure that the right, while ensuring compliance with laws on entry and with regulations to combat trafficking in human beings; calls on the Commission to do more to combat impediments to free movement can be exercisedd to remove any barriers in the way of young people considering a career in the creative sector;
Amendment 43 #
2010/2156(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Encourages the Member States to guarantee that, in terms of preferential arrangements for access to culture (e.g. reduced prices, free entry on certain days), all young people are treated equally irrespective of their status (as students, apprentices, trainees or job seekers, etc.);
Amendment 56 #
2010/2156(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Advocates the mobilisation of EU funds and programmes for the development of the cultural and creative sectorCalls on the Commission to promote joint research between the cultural and creative industries and the education and training sector, so as to facilitate the use of creative techniques and tools in the education sector; and to step up lifelong education and training, specifically through use of the European Social Fund, given the pace of technological change in this field;
Amendment 72 #
2010/2156(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that a highEncourages the Member States to provide an appropriate level of social protection, and in particular unemployment insurance, which is necessary to provide a guaranteed income for those periods without employment natural to the cultural and creative sector, and enable personal and collective emancipation.
Amendment 4 #
2010/2138(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Stresses that the Lisbon Strategy aims to integrate 60% of women able to work into the labour market, while efforts at the demographic level should strive to promote a rise in the birth rate with a view to meeting the challenges of the future;
Amendment 13 #
2010/2138(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Considers that access to childcare services and services for the elderly and other dependent persons is vital if there is to be equal participation of women and men on the labour market and in education and training;
Amendment 17 #
2010/2138(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that demographic change makes it necessary to realise the potential of women, to make up for the increasing shortage of skilled labour, in conjunction with efforts to ensure the sustainability of the social security systems;
Amendment 19 #
2010/2138(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Points out that employment rates for both men and women are lower in rural areas and this is to the detriment of the countryside in terms of lack of availability of quality jobs; in addition, many women are not part of the official labour market and therefore do not count as registered unemployed, and are thus faced with financial and legal problems regarding maternity rights, sick leave and acquisition of pension rights;
Amendment 22 #
2010/2138(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)
Paragraph 3 d (new)
3d. Stresses that realising the potential of the female workforce is also consistent with the objective of the EU-2020 strategy to reduce poverty, and that access to employment is a key factor in efforts to combat poverty;
Amendment 24 #
2010/2138(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 f (new)
Paragraph 3 f (new)
3f. Urges the Council, the Commission and the Member States to defend social rights and to ensure that the economic and financial crisis does not lead to cuts in benefits or social services in the field of childcare and care of the elderly; stresses that policy on care and the provision of care services are closely bound up with achieving gender equality;
Amendment 40 #
2010/2138(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on the Member States, with the assistance of the Commission, to encourage women - by stepping up existing measures - to participate in vocational training in the context of lifelong learning, in response to the switch towards a sustainable economy, with the emphasis on SMEs, thereby enhancing the employability of female workers;
Amendment 42 #
2010/2138(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Calls on the Member States to promote entrepreneurship among women and to offer financial support and professional counselling to women starting up businesses, as well as appropriate training;
Amendment 43 #
2010/2138(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5d. Calls on the Member States to support employment for the disadvantaged category of 'pregnant women or mothers performing domestic tasks on their own', encouraging the provision of jobs for this group that are decent, stable and compatible with a proper work-life balance;
Amendment 12 #
2010/2137(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Stresses the need for closer cooperation between the Commission and national competition authorities with a view to adopting a joint approach to competition issues on the food market based on an ongoing exchange of information, rapid problem diagnosis and effective sharing of responsibility between the members of the European Competition Network (ECN), given that food markets tend to have a more national dimension, operating under different legal, economic and cultural conditions;
Amendment 13 #
2010/2137(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Stresses that the purpose of this closer cooperation should be a consistent approach to the defence, monitoring and implementation of competition rules and action to ensure equal terms of competition on the food markets and an optimally efficient food supply chain for the benefit of consumers;
Amendment 62 #
2010/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 d (new)
Paragraph 14 d (new)
14d. Calls on the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, to draw up a survey of the impact and possible consequences of the creation of hypermarkets or shopping malls with regard to the employment market, SMEs and consumers;
Amendment 67 #
2010/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. CStresses that access to retail outlets is of major importance to all EU citizens and that local businesses, in particular SMEs, contribute to achieving this objective; considers that accessibility must be addressed in full respect of subsidiarity; underlines, however, that local planning must not circumvent the Services Directive and create hidden barriers to the establishment of retailers;·
Amendment 70 #
2010/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15c. Takes the view, therefore, that the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, should propose specific measures to assist SMEs and local markets which are being adversely affected by large shopping centres;
Amendment 104 #
2010/2109(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 c (new)
Paragraph 21 c (new)
21c. Stresses that, to ensure proper implementation of competition rules and prevent abuse of a dominant position, it is first and foremost necessary to strengthen the local competition watchdog authorities and ensure continuous and uninterrupted lines of communication and cooperation between them and the Commission’s Directorate-General for Competition;
Amendment 13 #
2010/2099(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. In all budgetary assessments, structural reforms undertaken by Member States should be taken into account, in particular pension and heath care reforms, and an assessment should also be made of the social impact of those reforms, especially on vulnerable social groups and in relation to social security, taking equal account of both sustainability and adequacy.
Amendment 21 #
2010/2099(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Make provision for the EP to be appropriately involved in the surveillance cycle of economic and employment policies and the assessment of the social impact of those policies.
Amendment 24 #
2010/2099(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Introduce a sound and transparent monitoring and evaluation framework for Employment Guidelines based on EU headline targets, to be followed up with appropriate sub-targets, indicators and scoreboards, taking account of the specific features arising for each Member State in line with the different starting points for each country.
Amendment 26 #
2010/2099(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Introduce a sound and transparent monitoring and evaluation framework for Member States' development policies, in terms of boosting competitiveness and the creation of new permanent, high-quality jobs.
Amendment 27 #
2010/2089(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Stresses that the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, should, by means of a system of indicators, support the further development, the collection of data and monitoring of the health sector both at EU and national level, as there are significant inequalities in that sector within the Member States (e.g. marked differences between the cities and the regions);
Amendment 43 #
2010/2089(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a.Stresses that health inequalities are in large measure attributable to a shortage of staff and medical equipment; calls on the Member States to take the necessary measures to tackle these issues and ensure that the health sector is adequately staffed and equipped;
Amendment 9 #
2010/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A
Recital A
Α. whereas GDP, while an important indicator of economic growth, is totally inadequate, if not taken together with other social and environmental indicators, as an instrument for guiding policy to meet the challenges of the 21st century,
Amendment 26 #
2010/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses the need to engage society in order to build a consensus which can provide the legitimacy that is necessary to develop a shared view of societal goals, through the combined use also of alternative indicators concerning the environment, social inclusion and social well-being;
Amendment 28 #
2010/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls for both qualitative and quantitative metrics to be issued in a timely manner in order to enhance policy making, with a view to achieving the best possible balance between financial consolidation, development and social cohesion;
Amendment 40 #
2010/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines the need to measure quality of life in societies and notes that such measurement will require systematic social studies, impact assessments and metrics from at least the following categories: health, education, employment, connectedness, political engagement, material wellbeing and environment;
Amendment 44 #
2010/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that, as well as measuring quality of life and wellbeing, we also need to measure progress, which is multidimensional and dynamic, and incorporates both material and non- material aspects such as education, life- expectancy, quality of life, etc.;
Amendment 50 #
2010/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses the need to measure ‘coping with income’ and the degree to which people are living well in terms of financial and material assets, including minimum income, indebtedness, quality of housing and the adequacy of social security systems, as well as access to education and training, unemployment benefit and health care;
Amendment 52 #
2010/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Points out that the relevant indicators exist and calls on the Commission and Member States to take account of measurements and results on the basis of these indicators in conjunction with GDP data for the introduction, planning and evaluation of social policies;
Amendment 58 #
2010/2088(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Stresses the need to measure both unpaid domestic or voluntary work and paid work;
Amendment 12 #
2010/2085(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls on the Commission to play a more active role in coordinating the activities of the European market surveillance authorities, customs authorities and the competent authorities of Member States in order to increase the effectiveness of market surveillance and allow the immediate recall and withdrawal from the European market of products which constitute a threat to the health and safety of consumers;
Amendment 25 #
2010/2085(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls on the Commission with the participation of market surveillance authorities and of the customs authorities to co-fund further joint market surveillance actions;
Amendment 55 #
2010/2085(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Emphasizes the need to improve and further strengthen RAPEX exchanges of information in respect of dangerous products from Third countries (China/India) and for its latest studies to be evaluated.
Amendment 17 #
2010/2053(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recalls that the implementation of the Services Directive must not be viewed by most Member States simply as a matter of processing, whereby rules and special provisions will be abolished mechanically and horizontally, but rather as an opportunity to update and simplify legislation and substantively to restructure the services economy, taking into account the objectives of safeguarding the public interest, as also set out in the directive itself;
Amendment 19 #
2010/2053(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Stresses that there have been long delays in transposing the Services Directive into the national law of Member States, which has made it difficult to assess its results in all sectors; calls on the Commission, in cooperation with Member States, to draw up a study on the results of the directive in the employment sector both in each Member State separately and in the EU as a whole;
Amendment 26 #
2010/2053(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Points out that the Member States can maintain their authorisation schemes and certain requirements if the latter are non- discriminatory, necessary and proportionate; emphasises that in this connection the Member States have maintained a number of authorisation schemes by making them more accessible and more transparent to service providers; Regrets that some Member States have not fully used the potential of the Services Directive in terms of administrative and regulatory simplification;
Amendment 34 #
2010/2053(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Notes the Member States’ efforts to implement the mutual evaluation process; considers that the state of progress with the process does not yet allow its effectiveness to be evaluatedevaluation process is an important tool in determining how implementation of the directive is progressing in Member States, considers that the state of progress with the process does not yet allow its effectiveness to be evaluated; stresses that the process in question must examine whether the rules in force in Member States correspond to the specifications of the internal market and do not create new obstacles; wishes the Commission to carry out a thorough investigation of the potential of this new method in the context of the Single Market Act; regrets that the European Parliament and the national parliaments are not more closely involved in the mutual evaluation process;
Amendment 35 #
2010/2053(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Regrets the fact that the European Parliament and national parliaments are not more involved in the mutual evaluation process;
Amendment 45 #
2010/2053(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Member States to continue improving the accessibility of PSCs and the quality and relevance of the information and the practical guidance given to service providers; calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that the information given by PSCs is available in several languages and in electronic form;
Amendment 48 #
2010/2053(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Stresses that in order to provide cross-border linguistic/services, the points of single contact must provide information in several languages different from those of the Member State in question, which is expected to lead to an increase in cross-border investments and cross-border mobility in the EU in general;
Amendment 50 #
2010/2053(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11 b. Recognizes the problems encountered with the functioning of the PSC related to proving of the identity, use of e-signatures, submission of original documents or certified copies, especially in the cross - border context; asks the Commission to propose measures to resolve these issues in order to enable SMEs to benefit from the single market and avoid any legal and technical uncertainties;
Amendment 58 #
2010/2053(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Believes that a dialogue and an exchange of best practices between Member States are very important if the PSCs are to improve and develop; stresses the need for urgent action in those countries in which ‘Points of Single Contact’ either do not yet exist or are not operating properly; urges most Member States to redouble their efforts to allow the completion of all procedures and formalities through the ‘Points of Single Contact’;
Amendment 61 #
2010/2053(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the Member States to provide the statistical and comparable data required to evaluate the workfunctioning of the PSCs and their impact at national and European level;
Amendment 64 #
2010/2053(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Takes the view, since it is a logical approach, that Points of Single Contact could additionally provide information, under the directive, on the employment law in force, insurance rights and workers' rights and financial information (for instance the VAT regulatory framework);
Amendment 71 #
2010/2053(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Underlines the need to develop training schemes for the officials of national and regional administrations responsible for monitoring services; recognises the efforts Member States have already taken to that effect and calls on Member States to further consolidate the national IMI networks by continuously monitoring its practical working and ensuring adequate training; recalls that the sustainable success of IMI depends on adequate investment at Community level; therefore calls on the Commission to set up a multiannual programme for that purpose;
Amendment 39 #
2010/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that differences in its interpretation and implementation at national level have precluded the desired level of harmonisation and consumer protection and calls on the Commission to harmonise the infringement procedure in respect of Member States which fail correctly to implement the Directive in question;
Amendment 46 #
2010/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the joint investigations undertaken by the Member States (‘EU sweeps’); calls for further such investigations, the scope of which should be broadened; calls on the Commission to consider the feasibility of integrating sweeps into the consumer scoreboard monitoring mechanisms;
Amendment 65 #
2010/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Deplores the development of ‘hidden’ internet advertising that is not covered by the UCPD (C2C relationships), in the form of comments posted on social networks, forums and blogs, the content of which is difficult to distinguish from mere opinion; considers that there is therefore a risk that consumers will make wrong decisions in the belief that the information on which they are based stems from an objective source;
Amendment 87 #
2010/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 – indent 3
Paragraph 16 – indent 3
- prohibit the content of private e-mails being read by a third party for advertising purposesensure that advertising practices respect the confidentiality of private correspondence and legislation applicable in this area;
Amendment 88 #
2010/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 – indent 3 a (new)
Paragraph 16 – indent 3 a (new)
- prohibit the sending of spam, i.e. advertising e-mails, unless the consumer has explicitly given his or her consent and unless the identity of the sender is clearly and conspicuously mentioned together with a valid address which the recipient of the message can contact, requesting that communications cease;
Amendment 117 #
2010/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 c (new)
Paragraph 17 c (new)
17c. Stresses that the issue of ‘children and advertising’ should be addressed as a moral issue, since children do not form a mature segment of the market, since they are the most inexperienced of all consumers and the easiest to influence by means of various advertising practices;
Amendment 118 #
2010/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 d (new)
Paragraph 17 d (new)
17d. Urges Member States to promote greater protection of vulnerable consumers, such as children, to encourage the media to restrict TV advertising addressed at children during TV programmes watched mainly by the young (such as children’s educational programmes, cartoons, etc.), given that similar measures are already being implemented in some Member States;
Amendment 127 #
2010/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 – indent 4
Paragraph 20 – indent 4
- insert the words ‘behavioural advertisement’ into the relevant online advertisements, along with a window containing a basic explanation of this practicesince transparency is a basic precondition for users to be able to give their consent to the gathering and further processing of their data; bearing in mind that within the framework of behavioural advertising, users may not be familiar with or understand the technology on which behavioural advertising is based or even that such kinds of advertising practices are being used with them as targets; stresses that it is exceptionally important that a window containing a basic explanation of this practice should appear, since only where users are informed are they truly able to make conscious choices;
Amendment 33 #
2010/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Stresses that, in order to further strengthen consumer protection, the procedure for implementing standards relating to the General Product Safety Directive should be speeded up;
Amendment 80 #
2010/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Stresses that national standards bodies in some Member States are encountering problems with the national legislative body, since in many cases the significance of standardisation and the correct use of standards in legislation is misinterpreted;
Amendment 81 #
2010/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Recognises that limited resources in both national and European bodies may hamper the effective involvement of these bodies in the standard-setting process;
Amendment 103 #
2010/2051(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 c (new)
Paragraph 25 c (new)
25c. Recognises that European standardisation is an important tool for promoting innovation, research and development, contributing to the EU's competitiveness and the completion of the internal market;
Amendment 73 #
2010/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Highlights the need to attach particular importance to lifelong learning programmes as a basic tool with which to combat poverty and social exclusion, by boosting employability and access to knowledge and the labour market; considers it necessary to provide incentives for increased participation in lifelong learning by workers, unemployed people and all vulnerable social groups, and to take effective action against the factors that lead people to drop out, as well as improving the level of professional qualifications and acquisition of new skills, which may lead to faster reintegration in the labour market, increase productivity and help people to find a better job;
Amendment 76 #
2010/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Highlights the need to establish a transparent and fair tax system that will guarantee full harmonisation between tax burdens and ability to pay, and that will make provision for tax cuts for families, socially vulnerable groups (elderly people, people with disabilities, etc.) and the middle and lower classes so that they are not faced with the risk of poverty;
Amendment 77 #
2010/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Highlights the need for action at both European and national level to protect citizens and consumers against unfair terms relating to the repayment of loans and credit cards, and to lay down conditions governing access to loans aimed at preventing households from falling into excessive debt and hence into poverty and social exclusion;
Amendment 112 #
2010/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Points out that the school drop-out rate and restricted access to higher and university-level education are basic factors in the emergence of a high long- term unemployment rate and represent a blight on social cohesion; given that action to combat these two problems figures among the Commission's priority objectives in the document on the 2020 Strategy, a basis will have to be created for the introduction of specific actions and policies on young people's access to education through scholarships, student grants, student loans and initiatives to make school education more dynamic;
Amendment 151 #
2010/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Stresses the need to introduce a minimum wage in all the Member States, in line with the specific characteristics of each individual Member State, so as to ensure a guaranteed minimum income as a way of combating the phenomenon of the working poor, social exclusion and educational inequalities; stresses the need for compliance with the wage limits laid down in collective and sectoral labour agreements as a means of ensuring a minimum income for workers;
Amendment 154 #
2010/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Stresses the need to adopt specific provisions at both European and national level to ensure, by setting a minimum working time, that all workers in flexible and atypical forms of employment receive a guaranteed minimum income, given that the number of 'working poor' in the EU, a large proportion of whom are 'flexible' workers, now exceeds 19 million;
Amendment 156 #
2010/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Stresses the importance of the existence of unemployment benefit that guarantees a decent standard of living for beneficiaries, and also the need to reduce the length of absences from work, inter alia by making state employment services more efficient;
Amendment 157 #
2010/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5d. Stresses the need to adopt rules on insurance so as to establish a link between the minimum pension paid in each Member State and the corresponding poverty threshold;
Amendment 181 #
2010/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Insists that the social partners should be fully involved on an equal footing in drawing up national action plans to combat poverty and setting reference targets at each level of governance;
Amendment 182 #
2010/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Stresses the need to plan and implement targeted interventions, through active employment policies at geographical, sectoral and business level, and with the active involvement of the social partners, in order to boost access to the labour market for people from sectors or geographical regions with particularly high rates of unemployment;
Amendment 183 #
2010/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Stresses the need to focus on selected sections of the population (migrants, women, unemployed people of pre- retirement age, etc.) with the aim of improving skills, preventing unemployment and strengthening the fabric of social integration;
Amendment 98 #
2010/2027(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Proposes the systematic monitoring and statistical representation of the participation of older workers in life-long learning structures;
Amendment 99 #
2010/2027(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Proposes that additional incentives be provided for older workers and unemployed persons to participate in life- long learning programmes in order either to strengthen their position or to ensure their successful return to the labour market;
Amendment 108 #
2010/2027(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Emphasises that youth unemployment is one of our most pressing problems because it leads to denial of opportunities, exclusion, decline in the birth rate and an aggravation of the demographic problem, rising social costs and a waste of valuable human resources;
Amendment 111 #
2010/2027(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Stresses that youth unemployment, and in particular development disparities between regions, are an obstacle to achieving territorial cohesion;
Amendment 150 #
2010/2027(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Proposes that specific initiatives be taken to create a new entrepreneurial culture for the management of human resources, so as to bring about a switch towards employing older workers with linkage to Corporate Social Responsibility;
Amendment 151 #
2010/2027(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Is convinced that Member States could increase the effectiveness of public job centres for older unemployed persons, including the options of social/charity work;
Amendment 173 #
2010/2027(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Calls on the Commission to draw up a study on the effectiveness and benefits of the active participation of older workers in the labour market, with regard to the sustainability of social protection systems, the promotion of productivity and growth and measures to combat social exclusion;
Amendment 190 #
2010/2027(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Advocates flexible working hours, and appropriate arrangements regarding maternity, pregnancy, parental leave, child benefits and job sharing as measures that contribute to compatibility between family life and work;
Amendment 229 #
2010/2027(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32a. Believes that the creation of a climate among the population of the host country which accepts immigrants depends directly on proper and comprehensive information and the creation of a culture against xenophobia;
Amendment 247 #
2010/2027(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35a. Recognises that a large number of women migrants are engaged in caring for the elderly and proposes, on the one hand, that Member States intensify controls to curb the phenomenon of undeclared work in this particular sector and, on the other, measures to facilitate access by these workers to the relevant training courses, as part of life-long learning, in order to ensure high quality care;
Amendment 115 #
2010/2012(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Emphasises the need to the make the e- commerce supply chain more transparent so that the consumer always knows the identity of the supplier, as well as the latter’s business name, geographical address, contact details and tax registration number, and whether the supplier is an intermediary or an end supplier;
Amendment 155 #
2010/2012(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Calls for a grant programme to be established and for use to be made of existing financial instruments for projects to increase users’ confidence in e- commerce, including educational and information campaigns, at both European and national level, and projects verifying online services in practice (such as 'mystery shopping'); emphasises the need to create an electronic learning module based on the Dolceta project (Development of On-Line Consumer Education Tools for Adults);
Amendment 19 #
2010/2011(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Emphasises that the single market should open new horizons in the research and innovation sector, doing more to promote the development of goods and services with an emphasis on knowledge and technology which constitute a driving force for future economic development;
Amendment 40 #
2010/2011(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Highlights the fact that the single European market is in dire need of a new momentum, and that strong leadership from the Commission is required to restore credibility and confidence in the single market, thereby enabling citizens, consumers and SMEs fully to exercise their rights;
Amendment 49 #
2010/2011(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Emphasises that a stronger, deeper and expanded single market is of vital importance for growth and job creation;
Amendment 53 #
2010/2011(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Emphasises that the single market must continue to provide benefits for consumers in terms of lower prices, better quality, greater variety, reasonable prices and safety of goods and services;
Amendment 71 #
2010/2011(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Emphasises that implementation of the single market rules remains uneven, since market networks are not sufficiently interlinked, which means that enterprises and citizens have to face the daily reality of continuing difficulties in their cross- border activities involving 27 different legal systems for a single transaction;
Amendment 98 #
2010/2011(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Emphasises that, in order to secure the social backing and cooperation of European citizens, the EU and national institutions must radically change popular perceptions of the single market by making people aware of and able to understand the benefits it offers them, and sectors which have a direct impact on the daily lives of citizens and consumers’ needs must therefore continue to lie at the very heart of the single market;
Amendment 119 #
2010/2011(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Affirms that SMEs form an essential part of the backbone of the European economy and are the main drivers for job creation, economic growth and social cohesion in Europe; contends that the active participation of SMEs in an enlarged EU is imperative in making the single market more competitive and emphasises that greater efforts must be made to improve the access of SMEs to the single market, to facilitate their development and to take full advantage of their entrepreneurial potential;
Amendment 146 #
2010/2011(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Calls on the Commission to pay greater attention to the systematic evaluation and simplification of existing single market legislation, cutting red tape wherever feasible, which will benefit citizens and enterprises alike;
Amendment 34 #
2010/2010(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Notes the need for cooperation between the Member States, the social partners and tertiary education providers with a view to setting up undergraduate and postgraduate courses and to creating subject areas geared towards the ecological transformation of economies;
Amendment 35 #
2010/2010(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Amendment 42 #
2010/2010(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for the development of a European job strategy for a sustainable economy, aiming at optimising job potential whilst paying special attention to decent work, employees’ health and safety, skills needs and a socially just transition; stresses that a sustainable economy combines social and ecological objectives;
Amendment 46 #
2010/2010(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission, the Member States and the social partners to ensure that everyone across the EU benefits from a sustainable jobs strategy; calls for attention to be focused on people furthest from the labour market, the most vulnerable and low-skilled workers, especially disabled people and low-skilled workers, as well as on protecting these people;
Amendment 74 #
2010/2010(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Calls on the Member States, in cooperation with the social partners, to draw up integrated plans for evaluating ecological transformation operations at both local and national levels;
Amendment 75 #
2010/2010(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Underlines the need to reinforce the open method of cooperation and exchanges of best practice with regard to sustainable development, green jobs and lifelong learning, so as to ensure successful and effective management of the economy's transformation and, by extension, of the new training needs and adverse social consequences resulting from this kind of transition;
Amendment 76 #
2010/2010(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)
Paragraph 12 c (new)
12c. Calls on the social partners to establish mechanisms for evaluating employees' participation in the sustainable development strategy, proposing and then adopting policies to reinforce effective participation with regard to sustainable mobility for workers and green growth;
Amendment 90 #
2010/2010(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls on the Member States and the social partners jointly to devise and implement targeted action plans for retraining workers in sectors which will be affected by the ecological transformation of local economies, to ensure that they have access to new green jobs;
Amendment 91 #
2010/2010(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls for an employment monitoring centre to be set up to carry out a detailed assessment of future jobs with a view to making basic vocational training and lifelong learning more relevant;
Amendment 107 #
2010/2010(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Notes the need for additional funding to carry out targeted studies in the most disadvantaged regions of the EU, so as to set strategic objectives and determine the type of measures required to establish favourable conditions for the development of sustainable local economies, with the specific objectives of creating new green jobs and integrated measures to attract new green companies and support those which already exist;·
Amendment 108 #
2010/2010(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21b. Stresses that targeted investment for the ecological transformation of the EU's disadvantaged regions is one of the most useful instruments for achieving the strategic objectives of regional convergence and territorial cohesion;
Amendment 114 #
2010/2010(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Calls on the Member States to incorporate the concept of a sustainable economy into basic training, education and lifelong learning;
Amendment 121 #
2010/2010(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Underlines the need to integrate the sustainable economy in the framework of corporate and social environmental liability, and the possibility of promoting a culture of sustainable development and a sustainable economy through training programmes in the context of corporate social responsibility;
Amendment 124 #
2010/2010(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Calls on the Commission to provide EU-level support for research into the careers of the future so as to prevent redundancies and retain jobs in the European Union;
Amendment 125 #
2010/2010(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25α. Calls on the Commission, the Member States and the social partners to include essential environmental issues in the social dialogue, at all levels of consultation, with emphasis on sectoral negotiations;
Amendment 126 #
2010/2010(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)
Paragraph 25 b (new)
25b. Calls on the Commission, the Member States and the social partners to contribute to the development of training programmes at all levels, with emphasis on consumers and workers, in order to promote a culture of sustainable development and environmental awareness;
Amendment 127 #
2010/2010(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 c (new)
Paragraph 25 c (new)
25c. Underlines the need for close and effective cooperation and complementarity between international organisations, and calls on the World Trade Organisation to take action concerning the social and environmental dimensions of investment and trade;
Amendment 135 #
2010/2010(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Calls on the EU, with the assistance of the social partners, to begin a systematic dialogue in its external relations, with a view to a similar approach to sustainable development in other parts of the world, so as to secure the same development conditions and ensure that industrial competitiveness is not at risk. Ensuring fair competition in green manufacturing sectors will have a beneficial effect in terms of improving protection and working conditions for green workers;
Amendment 136 #
2010/2010(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)
Paragraph 27 b (new)
27b. Calls on the Commission, the Member States and the social partners to step up their efforts to deal effectively with the adverse effects of restructuring, both in the local economy and in employment. Underlines the need for the dissemination of guidelines on managing change and its social consequences;
Amendment 35 #
2010/0242(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) Successive European Councils have recognised the need to tackle the effect of ageing populations on European social models. A key response to this rapid change in the age structure consists in promoting active ageing and thus ensuring that the baby boom cohorts, who are, on the whole, healthier and better educated than any such cohort before them, have good opportunities for employment and active participation in society. Active ageing accordingly requires the adoption of a multidimensional approach and a commitment to measures applicable on a lifelong basis rather than to a specific age group.
Amendment 43 #
2010/0242(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The growing proportion of older people in Europe makes it more important than ever to promote healthy ageing. Healthy ageing can help raise labour market participation of older people, enable them to be active in society for longer, improve their individual quality of life and curb the strains on health and social care systems. The comprehensive integration of older people in society is vital in order to avoid any form of segregation which might lead the elderly to consider themselves or be perceived as second-class citizens.
Amendment 52 #
2010/0242(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) The promotion and planning of an active ageing strategy must, in view of problems such as the severe economic and social crisis affecting many countries of Europe, take account of vulnerable sections of society and the workforce so as to avoid any fragmentation of the employment market and any increase in poverty levels.
Amendment 108 #
2010/0242(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – point 1
Article 2 – point 1
(1) to raise general awareness of the value of active ageing in order to highlight the useful contribution older persons make to society and the economy, to promote active ageing and to do more to mobilise the potential of older persons; it is important for higher education and vocational training programmes to encourage a management culture reflecting an awareness of the valuable contribution which can be made by older members of staff and for measures to be adopted with the specific intention of keeping both workers and employers properly informed;
Amendment 114 #
2010/0242(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – point 2
Article 2 – point 2
(2) to stimulate debate and develop mutual learning between Member States and stakeholders – particularly the social partners –at all levels in order to promote active ageing policies, to identify and disseminate good practice and to encourage cooperation and synergies;
Amendment 122 #
2010/0242(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – point 3
Article 2 – point 3
(3) to offer a framework for commitment and concrete action to enable Member States and stakeholders at all levels to develop policies through specific activities and to commit to specific objectives related to active ageing, with particular emphasis on promoting information strategies and encouraging the correct implementation of health and safety at work guidelines, this being of key importance for an active ageing policy.
Amendment 140 #
2010/0242(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 4
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 4
– research and surveys on a Union or national scale, and dissemination of the results – with emphasis on the economic and social impact of an active ageing policy.
Amendment 70 #
2010/0115(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Within the Europe 2020 strategy, Member States should implement reforms aimed at ‘smart growth’, i.e. growth driven by knowledge and innovation. Reforms should aim at improving the quality of education, ensuring access for all, and strengthening research and business performance in order to promote innovation and knowledge transfer throughout the EU. They should encourage entrepreneurship and help to turn creative ideas into innovative products, services and processes that can create growth, quality and long-term sustainable jobs, territorial, economic and social cohesion, and address more efficiently European and global societal challenges. Making the most of information and communication technologies is, the sound and efficient management of EU human resources to achieve greater competitiveness and the provision of incentives for effective action to counter the brain drain are essential in this context.
Amendment 89 #
2010/0115(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Member States’ reform programmes should also aim at ‘inclusive growth’. Inclusive growth means building a cohesive society in which people are empowered to anticipate and manage change, thus to actively participate in society and economy. Member States’ reforms should therefore ensure access and opportunities for all throughout the lifecycle, thus reducing poverty and social exclusion, through removing barriers to labour market participation especially for women, older workers, young people, disabled and legal migrants. They should also make sure that the benefits of economic growth reach all citizens and all regions. Ensuring effective functioning of the labour markets through investing in successful transitions, appropriate skills development, rising job quality and fighting segmentation, structural unemployment and inactivity, for example by promoting cooperation between businesses and universities to facilitate closer alignment between labour market requirements and workforce skills, while ensuring adequate, sustainable social protection and active inclusion to reduce poverty should therefore be at the heart of Member States’ reform programmes.
Amendment 108 #
2010/0115(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) The EU's and Member States' structural reforms can effectively contribute to growth and sustainable and quality jobs if they enhance the EU's competitiveness in the global economy, open up new opportunities for Europe's exporters and provide competitive access to vital imports. Reforms should therefore take into account their external competitiveness implications to foster European growth and participation in open and fair markets worldwide.
Amendment 124 #
2010/0115(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) The Europe 2020 strategy is underpinned by a smaller set of guidelines, replacing the previous set of 24 and addressing employment, consolidation of social cohesion, and broad economic policy issues in a coherent manner. The guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States, annexed to this Decision, are intrinsically linked with the guidelines for the economic policies of the Member States and of the Union, annexed to Council Recommendation […] of […]. Together, they form the Europe 2020 integrated guidelines.
Amendment 128 #
2010/0115(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) These new integrated guidelines reflect the conclusions of the European Council. They give precise guidance to the Member States on defining their national reform programmes and implementing reforms, reflecting interdependence and in line with the Stability and Growth Pact. These guidelines will form the basis for any country-specific recommendations that the Council may address to the Member States, taking account of the different points of departure of the Member States. They will also form the basis for the establishment of the Joint Employment Report sent annually by the Council and Commission to the European Council.
Amendment 283 #
2010/0115(NLE)
Proposal for a decision
Annex – Guideline 10 – paragraph 1
Annex – Guideline 10 – paragraph 1
Member States’ efforts to reduce poverty should be aimed at promoting full participation in society and economy and extending employment opportunities, improving the welfare safety net by stepping up passive employment policies, making full use of the European Social Fund. Efforts should also concentrate on ensuring equal opportunities, including through access to affordable, sustainable and high quality services and public services (including online services, in line with guideline 4) and in particular health care. Member States should put in place effective anti-discrimination measures. Equally, to fight social exclusion, empower people and promote labour market participation, social protection systems, lifelong learning and active inclusion policies should be enhanced to create opportunities at different stages of people’s lives and shield them from the risk of exclusion. Social security and pension systems must be modernised to ensure that they can be fully deployed to ensure adequate income support and access to healthcare, thus providing social cohesion whilst at the same time remaining financially sustainable. Benefit systems should focus on ensuring income security during transitions and reducing poverty, in particular among groups most at risk from social exclusion, such as one-parent families, minorities, people with disabilities, children and young people, elderly women and men, legal migrants and the homeless. Member States should also actively promote the social economy and social innovation in support of the most vulnerable.
Amendment 6 #
2009/2225(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Calls on the Commission, in cooperation with Member States, to expand its policy for promoting digital literacy so that all citizens are able to use online technologies in their daily lives with the objective of developing new social, economic and entrepreneurial opportunities;
Amendment 10 #
2009/2225(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Stresses that the Commission and Member States should continue to take action to improve digital security with the aim of informing citizens about ways of preventing digital hazards and boosting their confidence about the new technological resources;
Amendment 15 #
2009/2225(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Stresses that Member States must promote the use Of Information And Communication Technologies (ICT) and use high-speed internet connections at all levels of education;
Amendment 36 #
2009/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Invites Member States to create efficient incentives for public and private employers to hire young people, to invest both in job creation for young people and in continuous training and upgrading of their skills during employment and to support entrepreneurship among youth;
Amendment 63 #
2009/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Member States to intensify efforts to reduce early school leaving in order to achieve the Lisbon goal of no more than 10 % of early school leavers by 2012; invites the Member States to make use of a wide range of measures to fight early school leaving, e.g. lowering the number of students in each class, increasing the emphasis on practical aspects in the syllabus, introducing mentors at all schools, establishing an immediate follow up of early school leavers; points to Finland which has succeeded in reducing the number of early school leavers; invites the Commission to coordinate a project on best practices;
Amendment 74 #
2009/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls for more and better traineeships; calls on the Commission and the Council to set up a European Quality Charter on Traineeships and introduce of uniform traineeship arrangements for the Member States to ensure their educational value and avoid exploitation; ·
Amendment 79 #
2009/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls for young people to be protected from employers - in the public and private sector – who, through work experience, apprenticeship and traineeship schemes, are able to cover their essential and basic needs at little or no cost, exploiting the willingness of young people to learn without any future prospect of becoming fully established as part of their workforce;
Amendment 84 #
2009/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Amendment 99 #
2009/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Urges the Commission to revise the flexicurity strategy in order to place transition security at the top of the agenda while creating mobility and easier access for young people; underlines that flexibility without social security is not a sustainable way of combating the problems young people face on the labour market, on the contrary it is a way of evading young people’s labour and social security rights;
Amendment 113 #
2009/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Calls on the Member States and the social partners to implement strategies to inform and educate young people on their rights at work and the various alternative routes to their integration in the labour market;
Amendment 115 #
2009/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Calls on the Member States and the social partners to undertake more intensive planning and implementation of programmes to increase young people’s access to the labour market, through active employment policies, particularly in those regions and sectors with high youth unemployment;
Amendment 117 #
2009/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)
Paragraph 13 c (new)
13c. Calls on the social partners to intensify their efforts to inform young people of their right to participate in the social dialogue, and to boost the participation of this large section of the economically active population in the structures of their representative bodies;
Amendment 124 #
2009/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on Member States and the Commission to provide better childcare opportunities for young parents, thussuch as all-day schools, and incentives for employers, in both public and private sectors, to set up child care structures, facilitating the possibility for young mothers to participate in the labour market;
Amendment 14 #
2009/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas globalisation and rapid technological developments are causing far-reaching economic restructuring, giving rise to changes in employment relationships and in the content of workers’ tasks, creating the need for a redefinition of employment relationships, with the aim of avoiding distortions (such as the phenomenon of ‘false’ self-employed persons),
Amendment 24 #
2009/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Dα. that the basic form of employment should be full-time, stable employment,
Amendment 52 #
2009/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls upon the 2010 spring European Council for clear guidance and concrete measures towards safeguarding employment and creating job opportunities that are sustainable in the long term in the framework of an ambitious EU2020 Strategy;
Amendment 58 #
2009/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The open method of coordination, in its current form, has been shown to be inadequate and will therefore have to be revised and reorganised, in order to become more effective;
Amendment 67 #
2009/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the wide variety of labour traditions, contractual forms and business models existing in labour markets, highlighting the need in this framework of diversity to prioritise protecting the European model and established labour rights;
Amendment 73 #
2009/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recommends that the priorities for labour law reform, where it is needed, should focus on: extension of the protection of workers in atypical forms of employment; clarification of the situation of dependent employment; action against undeclared work; and the facilitation of transitions between various situations of employment and unemployment, through the promotion of active and passive forms of employment such as special employment allowances, lifelong learning, retraining and on-the-job training;
Amendment 106 #
2009/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses that non-standard forms of work must go hand in hand with support for workers who find themselves in situations of transition from one job or employment status to another, through targeted active employment policies;
Amendment 115 #
2009/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls upon the Commission, with the help of the social partners, to analyse and monitor the different types of instrument developed within national activation policies;
Amendment 124 #
2009/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls upon the Union and the Member States, with the help of the social partners, to eradicate illicit employment and believes that implementation of flexicurity strategies can help in fighting illicit employment and in making ‘very atypical’ forms of work less precarious;
Amendment 129 #
2009/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses the need to create high-quality, sustainable and secure jobs, including green jobs, and to ensure social cohesion; considers, therefore, that people are more likely to accept the efforts required of them if those efforts are perceived to be fair and to facilitate employment and social integration;
Amendment 154 #
2009/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Believes that, especially in the context of the present economic situation, implementing flexicurity, within a clear and transparent institutional framework, is even more necessary, recalls that application of flexibility principles requires ambitious structural reforms based on a solid consensus;
Amendment 234 #
2009/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Notes that the involvement of the social partners in policymaking and implementation varies widely across the Member States, but that generally the trend is towards the use of a wider mix of instruments to pursue policy objectives; believes that the quality of the social and institutional support which the social partners enjoy should be further enhanced at national level and should be more substantial in nature, since it is probably the major determinant of the quality of their contribution;
Amendment 242 #
2009/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Believes that collective bargaining has proven to be an effective instrument for maintaining employment and that it allows companies to find flexible solutions to deal with the economic downturn, and for that reason the system of collective agreements must be supported, both at national and sectoral level, while there must be penalties for employers who infringe them;
Amendment 246 #
2009/2220(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Is convinced that the role of governments is decisive in providing the preconditions for inclusive and effective collective bargaining and encompassing tripartite structures to involve the social partners in an institutionally established and substantial way, and on an equal basis, in public policy-making, in accordance with national practice and traditions;
Amendment 18 #
2009/2201(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers CSR to be an effective tool for improving competitiveness, occupational safety and the working environment, although it clearly cannot supplant labour regulations or general or sectoral collective agreements, but must serve as an adjunct thereto;
Amendment 25 #
2009/2201(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls for companies to be urged to apply CSR with a view to safeguarding their workers’ physical integrity, safety, physical and mental wellbeing, labour rights and human rights of both their own and other workers, through the influence they exert on their wider circle of associates;
Amendment 29 #
2009/2201(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Points out that CSR should address new areas such as the organisation of work, equal opportunities and, social inclusion and the development of lifelong education and training;
Amendment 38 #
2009/2201(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Takes the view that common minimum standards for the adoption of CSR policies should be established, following consultation with all stakeholders, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the EMSF (European Multi-stakeholder Forum on CSR);
Amendment 42 #
2009/2201(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Takes the view that emphasis should be placed on the active involvement of all stakeholders in the company and on the development of consumer awareness;
Amendment 43 #
2009/2201(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Considers it important to cultivate and spread the culture of CSR through training and awareness-raising in a business setting as well as in those branches of the higher and university education sector focusing primarily on the study of administration;
Amendment 43 #
2009/2175(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Emphasises the need to encourage SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) to take part in public contracts for third country procurements and calls on the Commission to take effective measures that will ensure that enterprises in the Union enjoy genuine access to third country procurements;
Amendment 45 #
2009/2175(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. calls on the Commission to explore the possibility of using green public contracts as a tool to promote sustainable development;
Amendment 76 #
2009/2175(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Stresses that the award of public contracts must be done under conditions of transparency and equal treatment of all interested parties with the relationship of price to performance of the project as the ultimate criterion, so as to take into account the best tender and not solely and exclusively the lowest financial tender;
Amendment 102 #
2009/2175(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Ddraws attention to the great importance of public procurement for climate protection, energy efficiency, the environment and innovation and reiterates that public authorities should be encouraged and put in a position to base public procurement on ecological, social and other criteriaplace special emphasis on taking into account environmental and social criteria during the award of public contracts; welcomes the practical assistance given to public authorities and other public bodies in connection with sustainable procurement and urges the Commission and the Member States to organise training courses and campaigns to raise awareness of this issue; supports the idea of a transparent process, involving the Member States, to develop the relevant criteria further; points out that in the area of social criteria in particular such a process offers good prospects for improvements;
Amendment 8 #
2009/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Emphasises that experiences from SOLVIT should be fed into national and EU policy-making, resulting in structural or regulatory changes where necessary;
Amendment 18 #
2009/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls on Member States to ensure that their SOLVIT centre has strong political support so that it can persuade the authorities about whom complaints are made to cooperate actively within the SOLVIT procedure and the relevant deadlines;
Amendment 19 #
2009/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Considers that Member States should enhance the efficient cooperation among national, regional and local authorities and SOLVIT; considers in addition that Member States should initiate a more intensive and substantial exchange of best practices;
Amendment 26 #
2009/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls on the Member States to ensure that SOLVIT centres have proper access to legal expertise within their administration; is of the opinion that the Commission should speed up the provision of informal legal assessments to SOLVIT centres on request;
Amendment 37 #
2009/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to jointly examine and analyze the causes of the low success rates of certain SOLVIT Centres, as well as the causes of their relatively long case- handling times, in order to provide useful information as a foundation for the design of a better problem-solving strategy to the benefit of citizens and businesses in the internal market;
Amendment 29 #
2009/2137(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to strengthen consumer awareness and, education and training in order to empower consumers; encourages Member States to include consumer aspects in their national curricula at all levels of education to equip children with the necessary skills to take complex decisions later in life, with the longer term aim of developing and consolidating consumer awareness; points out that these programmes should be geared to educational requirements and student capabilities at each level while making use of modern teaching methods based on real life experience and examples; recalls that educated consumers who are aware of their rights and know where to turn in the event of non-compliance are also important for detecting non-compliant behaviour;
Amendment 32 #
2009/2137(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Stresses the need to promote sustainable consumption, emphasising the fact that service providers and retailers, as well as consumers, must be better educated and informed with regard to the concept of sustainable consumption so that they can adapt their behaviour accordingly;
Amendment 43 #
2009/2137(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Suggests that, in the future, the Commission develop indicators relating to market shares, quality, advertising, transparency and comparability of offers, as well as indicators related to enforcement (including data on inspections, non- compliance notifications, court cases), consumer empowerment (skills, assertiveness, education, information), coverage of consumer issues in the media, and indicators to measure redress and consumer detriment; believes that the new indicators should be included in the Scoreboard when a satisfactory level of development of the five basic indicators is reached; considers, however, that this should be done progressively in order to ensure a focused Scoreboard in the interests of a more comprehensive approach to consumer protection to enable consumers to benefit fully from the advantages offered by the internal market;
Amendment 57 #
2009/2137(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Believes that the available price data are not sufficient to monitor the internal market properly and calls on the Commission, in cooperation with national statistical services, to provide more data and to further develop its methodology for collecting average prices of comparable and representative goods and services; stresses that the provision of more transparent price data would inspire greater confidence in consumers and also show them that their everyday concerns are being addressed;
Amendment 61 #
2009/2137(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Urges all Member States, in the interests of improving consumer safety, to systematically collect and record details of accidents or injuries in a common database;
Amendment 65 #
2009/2137(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Recalls that several Member States have developed tools to monitor their national markets from the consumer perspective such as price observatories or comprehensive complaints systems for policymaking, whereas other Member States do not use data to monitor consumer markets and have difficulties in aggregating data; encourages all Member States to carry out a broad market monitoring exercise on an annual basis in order to identify markets which are failing for consumers and provide complete data which will allow the Commission to monitor and compare the problems faced by consumers in the internal marketwith this in view, stresses the need for exchange of best practice between Member States;
Amendment 67 #
2009/2137(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Encourages all Member States to carry out a broad market monitoring exercise on an annual basis in order to identify markets which are failing for consumers and provide complete data which will allow the Commission to monitor and compare the problems faced by consumers in the internal market;
Amendment 80 #
2009/2137(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)
Paragraph 38 a (new)
38a. Urges all Member States to consider the benefits of introducing a consumers' ombudsman; points out that this institution exists in some Member States as an extrajudicial body for the amicable settlement of consumer disputes, but also as a consultative body working alongside the State to resolve problems falling within its remit;
Amendment 49 #
2009/0099(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) In drawing up the points and objectives on the basis of which long-term performance will be evaluated, account should be taken not only of performances and the related risks, but also of the performance and objectives in the field of social responsibility, which would to some extent make acceptable the payment of deferred variable remuneration;
Amendment 50 #
2009/0099(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 5 b (new)
Recital 5 b (new)
(5b) Guaranteed variable remuneration is incompatible with sound risk management and the principle of performance-based remuneration and should not be included in planning remunerations strategy. By way of exception, guaranteed variable remuneration may be granted in a very small number of cases and only in the event of the recruitment of new staff and must be restricted to the first year of employment.
Amendment 64 #
2009/0099(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Annex 1 – point 1
Annex 1 – point 1
Directive 2006/48/EC
Annex V – Section 11 – point 22 – point i a (new)
Annex V – Section 11 – point 22 – point i a (new)
(ia) Existing contractual remuneration linked to the termination of employment must be reviewed and only maintained if it can be clearly concluded that it is compatible with the creation of long-term value and reasonable risk-taking. Any such remuneration must be linked to the performance during the year and planned in such a way that failure is not rewarded.
Amendment 43 #
2009/0054(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 17
Recital 17
Late payment is particularly regrettable if it occurs despite the debtor’s solvency. Surveys show that public authorities often pay invoices very late after expiration of the applicable payment period. Public authorities may face lighter financing constraints because they may benefit from more secure, predictable and continuous revenue streams than private undertakings. At the same time, they depend less than private undertakings on building stable commercial relationships for the achievement of their aims. Consequently, some public authorities may have less incentive to pay on time. In addition, many public authorities can obtain financing at more attractive conditions than private undertakings. In many cases, however, payments by public authorities which are not subject to the central administration, particularly local government authorities, are dependent on the prior transfer of State funds from the central administration. Therefore, late payment by public authorities not onlmay leads to unjustified costs for private undertakings, butand to inefficiency in general. It is therefore appropriate to introduce correspondingly higher dissuasive compensation in case of late payment by public authorities. When payment on the prescribed date is dependent on the prior transfer of State funds from the central administration, which has not been effected, and where a public authority not subject to the central administration is not responsible for the delay, the creditor shall not be entitled to the abovementioned lump sum compensation.
Amendment 179 #
2009/0054(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 5
Article 5 – paragraph 5
Amendment 92 #
2009/0006(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 3
Article 17 – paragraph 3
3. Any laboratory responsibleaccredited and approved by the Member State authorities for the testing of textile mixtures for which there is no uniform method of analysis at Community level shall determine the fibre composition of such mixtures by using any valid method at its disposal, indicating in the analysis report the result obtained and, in so far as this is known,, the method used and the degree of accuracy of theis method used.
Amendment 19 #
2008/0261(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) In order to take account of new risk profiles, while at the same time ensuring the functioning of the internal market for medicinal products, safety features designed to ensure the identification, authentication and traceability of prescription medicinal products should be established at Community level. When introducing obligatory safety features for prescription medicinal products, due account should be taken of the particularities of certain products or categories of products, such as generic medicines. This includes the risk of falsifications in view of their price and past incidences in the Community and abroad, as well as the consequences of falsifications for public health in view of the specific characteristics of the products concerned or of the severity of the conditions intended to be treated.
Amendment 20 #
2008/0261(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 7 a (new)
Recital 7 a (new)
Amendment 25 #
2008/0261(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) In particular the Commission should be empowered to adopt measures regarding safety features that shall appear on the packaging of medicinal products subject to medical prescription and to adopt detailed rules for medicinal products introduced without being placed on the market. Since those measures are of general scope and are designed to amend non- essential elements by supplementing it, they must be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny provided for in Article 5a of Decision 1999/468/EC.
Amendment 26 #
2008/0261(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 18 a (new)
Recital 18 a (new)
(18a) Member States should cooperate with Europol, inter alia, in order to strengthen the application of existing restrictions regarding the illegal supply of medicinal products on the internet.
Amendment 34 #
2008/0261(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 8
Article 1 – point 8
Directive 2001/83(EC)
Article 54 – point o
Article 54 – point o
safety features making it possible to ascertain identification, authenticity and traceability of medicinal products, other than radiopharmaceuticals, subject to medical prescription as defined in Title VI.’
Amendment 40 #
2008/0261(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 9
Article 1 – point 9
Directive 2001/83(EC)
Article 54a – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
Article 54a – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
(4) The Commission shall adopt the measures necessary for the implementation of point (o) of Article 54 and of paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Article. However, before proposing specific measures in accordance with point (o) of Article 54, the Commission shall undertake a public cost-benefit evaluation of existing safety features and consult the stakeholder parties involved in applying and using the safety features.
Amendment 45 #
2008/0261(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 9
Article 1 – point 9
Directive 2001/83(EC)
Article 54a – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 5
Article 54a – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 5
The measures referred to in this paragraph shall take due account of the legitimate interests to protect information of a commercially confidential nature and of the protection of industrial and commercial property rights. Member States shall ensure that the ownership and confidentiality of the data resulting from the use of safety features with the object of demonstrating the authenticity of pharmaceutical products are respected.’
Amendment 56 #
2008/0261(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 2 – paragraph 2
Article 2 – paragraph 2
Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive. This Directive shall not affect the right of Member States to restrict or ban the sale of prescription drugs via the internet.
Amendment 297 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) CThe consumers should be entitled to recegiven comprehensive information before the conclusion of the contract. However traders should not have to provide the information when already apparent from the context. For example in an on-premises transaction, the main characteristics of a product, the identity of the trader and the arrangements for delivery may be apparent from the context. In distance andis committed to a distance contract, an off- premises transactions, the trader should always provide the information on arrangements for payment, delivery, performance and the complaint handling policy, since these might not be apparent from the contextcontract or a corresponding contract offer.
Amendment 301 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) Consumers should be entitled to receive information before the conclusion of the contract in a language they understand. However traders should not have to provide the information when already apparent from the context, but should be required to draw the attention of consumers to such information and answer any queries or provide explanations. For example in an on- premises transaction, the main characteristics of a product, the identity of the trader and the arrangements for delivery may be apparent from the context. In distance and off-premises transactions, the trader should always provide the information on arrangements for payment, delivery, performance and the complaint handling policy, since these might not be apparent from the context.
Amendment 305 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) In the case of distance contracts, the information requirements should be adapted to take into account the technical constraints of certain media, such as the restrictions of the number of characters on certain mobile telephone screens or the time constraint on television sales spots. In this case the trader should comply with a minimum set of information requirements and refer the consumer to another source of information, for instance by providing a toll free telephone number or a hypertext link to a webpage of the trader where the relevant information is directly available and, easily accessible, clear and in a language which the consumer understands.
Amendment 313 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) The rules on distance contracts should be without prejudice to the provisions on the conclusion of e-contracts and the placing of e-orders as set out by Articles 9 and 11 of Directive 2000/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2000 on certain legal aspects of information society services, in particular electronic commerce, in the Internal Market (Directive on electronic commerce), and in any case consumers should not be bound by the contract unless he or she has received all the information set out in Article 5 of this directive.
Amendment 315 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) If the trader has not informed the consumer on the right of withdrawal prior to the conclusion of a distance or off- premises contract, the withdrawal period should be extended. However, in order to ensure legal certainty over time, a three- monthone-year limitation period should be introduced, provided that the trader has fully performed his contractual obligations. The trader should be regarded as having fully performed his obligations when he has delivered the goods or has fully provided the services ordered by the consumer.
Amendment 335 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 37 a (new)
Recital 37 a (new)
Amendment 346 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 40
Recital 40
(40) If the good is not in conformity with the contract, firstly, the consumer should have the possibility to require the trader to repair the goods or to replace them at the trader's choice unless the trader proves that those remedies are unlawful, impossible or causes the trader disproportionate effort. The trader's effort should be determined objectively considering costs incurred by the trader when remedying the lack of conformity, the value of the goods and the significance of the lack of conformity. The lack of spare parts should not be a valid ground to justify the trader's failure to remedy the lack of conformity within a reasonable time or without a disproportionate effort.
Amendment 365 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 44
Recital 44
(44) Some traders or producers offer consumers commercial guarantees. In order to ensure that consumers are not misled, the commercial guarantees should include certain information, including their duration, territorial scope and a statement that the commercial guarantee does not affect the consumer's legal rights. This information should be provided in a language which the consumer understands.
Amendment 373 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 47
Recital 47
(47) Consumer contracts should be drafted in plain, intelligible language and be legible, be legible and at all events be available at least in the language of the consumer. Traders should be free to choose the font type or size in which the contract terms are drafted, providing they meet the above conditions and comply with any requirements of Member States. Furthermore, terms of contracts should also appear prominently in the contract and be available in the language in which the contract has been drawn up. Member States may maintain or introduce in their national law additional requirements concerning better presentation of the terms. The consumer should be given an opportunity to read the terms before concluding the contract. This opportunity could be given to the consumer by providing him with the terms on request (for on-premises contracts) or making those terms otherwise available (e.g. on the trader's website in respect of distance contracts) or attaching standard terms to the order form (in respect of off-premises contracts). The trader should seek the consumer's express consent to any payment in addition to the remuneration for the trader's main contractual obligation. Inferring consent by using opt-out systems, such as pre-ticked boxes online should be prohibited.
Amendment 382 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 52
Recital 52
Amendment 386 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 53
Recital 53
Amendment 388 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 55
Recital 55
(55) The Member States should ensure that their courts or administrative authorities have at their disposal adequate and effective means of preventing the continued application of unfair terms in consumer contracts.
Amendment 391 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 57
Recital 57
(57) Persons or organisations regarded under national law as having a legitimate interest in protecting consumer contractual rights should be able to initiate collective protection proceedings and afforded legal remedies for initiating proceedings, either before a court or before an administrative authority which is competent to decide upon complaints or to initiate appropriate legal proceedings.
Amendment 394 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 60
Recital 60
(60) The European Commission will look into the most appropriate way to ensure that all consumers are made aware of their rights at the point of sale and in so far as possible elsewhere.
Amendment 395 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 63
Recital 63
(63) It is appropriate to review this Directive if consumer protection problems and some barriers to the internal market were identified. The review could lead to a Commission proposal to amend this Directive, which may include amendments to other consumer protection legislation reflecting the Commission's Consumer Policy Strategy commitment to review the acquis in order to achieve a high, common level of consumer protection.
Amendment 396 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 65
Recital 65
(65) Since the objectives of this Directive cannot be sufficiently achieved only by the Member States and can therefore in some circumstances be better achieved at Community level, the Community may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Directive does not go beyond what is necessary in order to eliminate the internal market barriers and achieve a high common level of consumer protection.
Amendment 406 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1
1) 'consumer' means any natural person who, in contracts covered by this Directive, is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft oor legal person for whom the products or services offered on the market are intended or who uses such products or services in so far as he or she is the final recipient. ‘Consumer’ also means any recipient of the advertising message. Member States may not maintain or introduce, in their national law, provisions diverging from those laid down in this Article, including more or less stringent provisions intended to ensure a different level of consumer professtection;.
Amendment 422 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3
(3) 'sales contract' means any contract for the sale of goods by the trader to the consumer including any mixed-purpose contract having as its object both goods and serviceswhereby a trader grants ownership of goods to a consumer in accordance with the applicable national law, or undertakes to grant such ownership, and whereby the consumer undertakes to pay the price. Contracts for the supply of goods to be manufactured or produced shall also be defined as sales contracts for the purposes of this Directive;
Amendment 587 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c
c) the price inclusive of taxes, or where the nature of the productgood or service means that the price cannot reasonably be calculated in advance, the manner in which the price is calculated, as well as, where appropriate, all additional freight, delivery or postal charges and any other cost or, where these charges cannot reasonably be calculated in advance, the fact that such additional charges may be payable;
Amendment 678 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 3 e (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 3 e (new)
3e. Article 5 is without prejudice to Directive 2000/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council.
Amendment 695 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. Prior to the conclusion of the contract, the intermediary shall disclose to the consumer, that he is acting in the name of or on behalf of another consumer and that the contract concluded, shall not be regarded as a contract between the consumer and the trader but rather as a contract between two consumers and as suchit shall be made clear to the consumer that as such the contract fallings outside the scope of this Directive and that the consumer therefore does not enjoy the protection afforded under the provisions thereof.
Amendment 731 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – title
Article 10 – title
Formal requirements forpreliminary contract requirements regarding fulfilment of obligations concerning the provision of information in off-premises contracts.
Amendment 735 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1
1. With respect to off-premises contracts, the information provided for in Article 9 shall be given in the order form in plain and intelligible language, including the language of the consumer, and be legible. The order form shall include the standard withdrawal form set out in Annex I(B).
Amendment 750 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 2
Article 10 – paragraph 2
2. An off-premises contract shall only be valid if the consumer signs an order form received by him prior to completion of the contract and in cases where the order form is not on paper, receives a copy of the order form on another durable medium.
Amendment 766 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – title
Article 11 – title
Formal preliminary contract requirements for distance contracts
Amendment 772 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1
Article 11 – paragraph 1
1. With respect to distance contracts, the information provided for in Article 9(a) shall be given or made available to the consumer prior toin time for the conclusion of the contract, in plain and intelligible languagebefore the consumer is bound by the distance contract or offer. The information shall be provided in plain and intelligible language, including the language of the consumer, and be legible and clear, in a way appropriate to the means of distance communication used.
Amendment 780 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Online contracts requiring the consumer to make payment shall only be binding on the consumer following express confirmation of the information provided for under Article 5(1)(c).
Amendment 781 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. If a distance contract for services concluded on the internet places the consumer under an obligation to make a payment, the consumer shall only be bound by the contract if the trader has (a) made the consumer aware in a clear and highly visible manner of the total price, including all related price components, and (b) designed his website in such a way that a binding order cannot be placed until the consumer has confirmed that he has read and understood the statement required under letter (a).
Amendment 827 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Save as otherwise provided, the withdrawal period shall begin from the day of the conclusion of the contract or on the day on which the consumer receives a copy of the signed contract on a durable medium, if this is not the day of conclusion of the contract.
Amendment 869 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 13
Article 13
If the trader has not provided the consumer with the information on the right of withdrawal in breach of Articles 9(b5(1)(e), 10(1) and 11(4), the withdrawal period shall expire three months after the trader has fully performed his other contractual obligationsone year from the day determined in Article 12(1a) and (2).
Amendment 902 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 1
Article 16 – paragraph 1
1. The trader shall reimburse anyll payments received from the consumer within thirtyout delay and at the latest fourteen days from the day on which he receives the communication of withdrawal. .
Amendment 955 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. In respect of distance contracts, and off- premises contracts, the consumer shall not enjoy the right of withdrawal shall not applyfrom the contract as regards the following:
Amendment 965 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point a
Amendment 973 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) the supply of goods made to the consumer's specifications or clearly personalized or which are liable to deteriorate or expire rapidly;
Amendment 975 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Amendment 994 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) the supply of sealed audio or video recordings or computer software which were unsealed by the consumer unless, on unsealing the goods, the consumer ascertains non-conformity under the provisions of Article 17(2);
Amendment 1011 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point h
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point h
(h) contracts concluded at an public auction.
Amendment 1074 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 3
Article 21 – paragraph 3
Amendment 1080 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 a (new)
Article 21 a (new)
Article 21a With regard to Articles 21 to 29, unless otherwise stated in this Directive, Member States may enact or maintain in force more stringent provisions, in accordance with the Treaty, in the area covered by this Directive, so as to ensure a higher level of protection for consumers.
Amendment 1088 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 1
Article 22 – paragraph 1
» 1. Unless the parties have agreed otherwise, the trader shall deliver the goods by transferring the material possession of the goods to the consumer or to a third party, other than the carrier and indicated by the consumer, immediately after the conclusion of the contract and in any case within a maximum of thirty days from the day of the conclusion of the contract. In case of agreement on the day of delivery, the consumer may choose the day of delivery which shall not exceed a period of thirty days from the day of the conclusion of the contract.
Amendment 1101 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 2
Article 22 – paragraph 2
2. Where the trader has failed to fulfil his obligations to deliver, the consumer shall be entitled to a refund of any sums paid within seven days from the date of delivery provided for in paragraph 1. on time as provided for in paragraph 1 and where responsibility for this clearly lies with the trader, the consumer shall be entitled under national law to rescind the contract and seek a refund of any sums paid within a reasonable period of time and in no case later than seven days from the date on which the trader was informed of the consumer's decision to rescind the contract.+
Amendment 1163 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 24 – paragraph 3
Article 24 – paragraph 3
3. There shall be no lack of conformity for the purposes of this Article if, at the time the contract was concluded, the consumer was aware, or should reasonably have been aware of, the lack of conformity, or if the lack of conformity has its origin in materials supplied by the consumer.
Amendment 1190 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 26 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 26 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. As provided forIn accordance with the conditions laid down in paragraphs 2 to 5, where the goods do not conform to the contract, the consumer is entitled to: Member States may, where necessary in order to ensure a higher level of consumer protection, maintain or introduce, in their national law, provisions diverging from those laid down in this Article.
Amendment 1203 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 26 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 26 – paragraph 1 – point a
a) have the lack of conformity remedied by repair or replacement, , Member States may, where necessary in order to ensure a higher level of consumer protection, maintain or introduce, in their national law, provisions diverging from those laid down in this Article.
Amendment 1209 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 26 – paragraph 1 – point aa (new)
Article 26 – paragraph 1 – point aa (new)
αα) have the lack of conformity remedied by replacement, Member States may, where necessary in order to ensure a higher level of consumer protection, maintain or introduce, in their national law, provisions diverging from those laid down in this Article.
Amendment 1238 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 26 – paragraph 2
Article 26 – paragraph 2
2. The trader shall remedy the lack of conformity by either repair or replacement according to his choice. the consumer's choice. Member States may, where necessary in order to ensure a higher level of consumer protection, maintain or introduce, in their national law, provisions diverging from those laid down in this Article.
Amendment 1317 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 27 – paragraph 2
Article 27 – paragraph 2
2. Without prejudice to the provisions of this Chapter, the consumer may claim damages in accordance with national legislation for any loss not remedied in accordance with Article 26.
Amendment 1326 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 1
Article 28 – paragraph 1
1. The trader shall be held liable under Article 25 where the lack of conformity becomes apparent within twohree years as from the time the risk passed to the consumer.
Amendment 1340 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 2
Article 28 – paragraph 2
2. When the tradconsumer has remediedobjective difficulties in identifying the lack of conformity byand it is replacement, heted to the purpose for which goods of the same type are normally used, as provided in Article 24, paragraph 2(c), the trader shall be held liable under Article 25 where the lack of conformity becomes apparent within twoen years as from the time the consumer or a third party indicatrisk passed byto the consumer has acquired the material possession of the replaced goods.
Amendment 1351 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 3
Article 28 – paragraph 3
3. In the case of second-hand goods, the trader and the consumer may agree on a shorter liability period, which may not be less than one year from the time the risk passed to the consumer.
Amendment 1367 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 5
Article 28 – paragraph 5
5. Unless proved otherwise, any lack of conformity which becomes apparent within six monthsone year of the time when the risk passed to the consumer, shall be presumed to have existed at that time unless this presumption is incompatible with the nature of the goods and the nature of the lack of conformity.
Amendment 1383 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 29 – paragraph 1
Article 29 – paragraph 1
1. A commercial guarantee shall be binding on the guarantor under the conditions laid down in the guarantee statement. The trader shall provide the consumer with a guarantee statement in writing or by any other technical means of reproduction which may be available and accessible to the consumer. In the absence of the guarantee statement, the commercial guarantee shall be binding under the conditions laid down in the advertising on the commercial guarantee.
Amendment 1384 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 29 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Article 29 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 (new)
The guarantee shall be in accordance with the rules of good faith and shall not be subject to unreasonable exemption clauses.
Amendment 1385 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 29 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 (new)
Article 29 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 (new)
The duration of the guarantee shall be reasonable in relation to the probable life of the product. With particular regard to hi-tech products, the duration of the guarantee shall be reasonable in relation to the time it is expected that they will remain up-to-date from a technological point of view, if that period of time is shorter than their probable life.
Amendment 1386 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 29 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3 (new)
Article 29 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3 (new)
Where new, long-life products (consumer durables) are supplied, the provision of a written guarantee shall be mandatory.
Amendment 1391 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 29 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 29 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. The guarantee statement shall be drafted in plain intelligible language and in any case at least in the official languages of the EU and be legible. It shall include the following:
Amendment 1395 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 29 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 29 – paragraph 2 – point a
a) legal rights of the consumer, as provided for in Articles 26 and 28, and by any additional provisions of current national legislation, and a clear statement that those rights are not affected by the commercial guarantee,
Amendment 1397 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 29 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 29 – paragraph 2 – point c
Amendment 1403 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 29 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 29 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 1434 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 30 a (new)
Article 30 a (new)
In relation to Articles 30-39, except where otherwise provided in this directive, Member States may adopt or retain in force more stringent provisions, which are consistent with the Treaty in the area governed by this directive, in order to ensure a higher level of consumer protection.
Amendment 1445 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 31 – paragraph 2
Article 31 – paragraph 2
2. Contract terms shall be made available to the consumer at a time and in a manner which gives him a real opportunity of becoming acquainted with them before the conclusion of the contract, with due regard to the circumstances and the means of communication used.
Amendment 1473 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 32 – paragraph 2
Article 32 – paragraph 2
2. Without prejudice to Articles 34 and 38, the unfairness of a contract term shall be assessed, taking into account the nature of the products for which the contract was concluded and by referring, before, at the time of and after the conclusion of the contract, to all the circumstances attending the conclusion and to all the other terms of the contract or of another contract on which the former is dependent. When assessing the fairness of a contract term, the competent national authority shall also take into account the manner in which the contract was drafted and communicated to the consumer by the trader in accordance with Article 31.
Amendment 1506 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 37 – paragraph 1
Article 37 – paragraph 1
Contract terms, which are unfair and are not compatible with the transparency requirements laid down in Article 31, paragraphs 1 and 2, of the present directive, shall not be binding on the consumer. The contract shall continue to bind the parties if it can remain in force without the unfair and non-transparent terms.
Amendment 1513 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 39
Article 39
Amendment 1528 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 44 – paragraph 1
Article 44 – paragraph 1
Member States and the Commission shall take appropriate measures to inform consumers of the national provisions transposing this Directive and shall, where appropriate, encourage traders and code owners to inform consumers of their codes of conduct.
Amendment 1551 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – subpoint a (new)
Annex 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – subpoint a (new)
Amendment 1552 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – subpoint b (new)
Annex 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – subpoint b (new)
Amendment 1553 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – subpoint c (new)
Annex 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – subpoint c (new)
Amendment 1554 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – subpoint d (new)
Annex 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – subpoint d (new)
Amendment 1555 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – subpoint e (new)
Annex 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – subpoint e (new)
Amendment 1556 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – subpoint f (new)
Annex 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – subpoint f (new)
Amendment 1557 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – subpoint g (new)
Annex 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – subpoint g (new)
Amendment 1558 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – subpoint h (new)
Annex 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – subpoint h (new)
Amendment 1559 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – subpoint i (new)
Annex 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – subpoint i (new)
Amendment 1560 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – subpoint j (new)
Annex 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – subpoint j (new)
Amendment 1561 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – subpoint k (new)
Annex 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – subpoint k (new)
Amendment 1562 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – subpoint l (new)
Annex 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – subpoint l (new)
Amendment 1563 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – subpoint m (new)
Annex 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – subpoint m (new)
Amendment 1564 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
Amendment 1566 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point b
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point b
Amendment 1567 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point c
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point c
Amendment 1570 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point d
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point d
d) allowing the trader to terminate the contract at will where the same right is not granted to the consumer; eleted Or.el (move to Annex II)
Amendment 1572 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point e
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point e
Amendment 1573 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point f
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point f
Amendment 1574 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point g
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point g
Amendment 1577 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point i
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point i
Amendment 1579 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point k
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point k
Amendment 1585 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – subpoint a (new)
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – subpoint a (new)
Amendment 1586 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – subpoint b (new)
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – subpoint b (new)
Amendment 1587 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – subpoint c (new)
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – subpoint c (new)
Amendment 1588 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – subpoint d (new)
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – subpoint d (new)
Amendment 1589 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – subpoint e (new)
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – subpoint e (new)
Amendment 1590 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – subpoint f (new)
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – subpoint f (new)
Amendment 1591 #
2008/0196(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – subpoint g (new)
Annex 3 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – subpoint g (new)
Amendment 23 #
2008/0195(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 6 a (new)
Recital 6 a (new)
(6a) The appearance and increase of the phenomenon of ‘false’ self-employed drivers should be noted. This constitutes a major obstacle to efforts to ensure a level playing field in the employment market and also exacerbates the phenomenon of undeclared employment, since the employers involved do not pay the relevant employers’ contributions. Appropriate measures must be taken to combat this phenomenon at national and European level, by strengthening controls and imposing penalties on the employers involved in such cases.
Amendment 43 #
2008/0195(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) The Community legislation is only efficient and effective if it is implemented by all Member States, applied equally to all actors concerned and assessed and controlled on a regular basis and in an efficient manner.
Amendment 46 #
2008/0195(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11 a (new)
Recital 11 a (new)
(11a) The Member States must ensure active and substantial participation by the social partners both in monitoring compliance with Directive 2002/15/EC and in the procedure to assess the results of such monitoring, and also in the information procedure.
Amendment 47 #
2008/0195(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) It is therefore appropriate to modernise Directive 2002/15/EC in order effectively to remedy shortcomings in the implementation, application and enforcement of the rules by clarifying its scope, substantially reinforcing administrative cooperation among Member States to minimise unnecessary administrative burdens and promoting the exchange of information and goodbest practice.
Amendment 72 #
2008/0195(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point 2 – subpoint b
Article 1 – point 2 – subpoint b
Directive 2002/15/EC
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point d
(b) The following sentence is added to point (d): "'mobile worker' shall also include any person who is not tied to an employer by an employment contract or by any other type of working hierarchical relationship, but: i who does not have the freedom to organise the relevant working activities;, and/or ii whose income does not depend directly on the profits made; , and/or iii who does not have the freedom, individually or through a cooperation between self-employed drivers, to have relations with several customers."
Amendment 85 #
2008/0195(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point 2 – subpoint e
Article 1 – point 2 – subpoint e
Directive2002/15/EC
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point i
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point i
Amendment 106 #
2008/0195(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point 6
Article 1 – point 6
Directive 2002/15/EC
Article 11 a – paragraph 3
Article 11 a – paragraph 3
Amendment 54 #
2008/0193(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) The vulnerability of pregnant workers and of workers who have recently given birth or who are breastfeeding makes it necessary for them to be granted the right to maternity leave of at least 18 continuous weeks, allocated before and/or after confinement, and renders necessary the compulsory nature of maternity leave of at least six weeks allocated after confinement and at least four weeks before confinement.
Amendment 61 #
2008/0193(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 19 a (new)
Recital 19 a (new)
(19a) It will be necessary for Member States to encourage and promote active participation by the social partners to ensure better information for those concerned and more effective arrangements. Through encouraging dialogue with the above-mentioned bodies, Member States could obtain more feedback and a greater insight into the implementation of the directive in practice, and of problems likely to arise, with a view to eradicating discrimination.
Amendment 90 #
2008/0193(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 1
Article 1 – point 1
Directive 92/85/EEC
Article 8 – paragraph 2
Article 8 – paragraph 2
2. The maternity leave stipulated in paragraph 1 shall include compulsory leave of at least six weeks after childbirth, as well as compulsory maternity leave four weeks before childbirth. The Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that workers within the meaning of Article 2 are entitled to choose freely the time at which the non- compulsory portion of the maternity leave is taken, before or after childbirth.
Amendment 126 #
2008/0193(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 3 – point d)
Article 1 – point 3 – point d)
Directive 92/85/EEC
Article 11 – point 5
Article 11 – point 5
5. Member States shall take the measures necessary to ensure that workers, within the meaning of Article 2, may, duringas well as workers who are the intended mothers in the case of surrogate maternity leave orshall, when returning from maternity leave, as provided for in Article 8, request changes to their working hours and patterns, and that employers shall be obliged to consider such requests, taking employers' and workers' needs into accountevery day for a period of 30 months be entitled either to arrive at work one (1) hour later or to leave work one (1) hour earlier. Alternatively, with the agreement of their employer, their daily working timetable may be reduced by two (2) hours for the first twelve months and by one (1) hour for the next six months. These arrangements shall not in any way affect their pay.
Amendment 132 #
2008/0193(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 4
Article 1 – point 4
Directive 92/85/EEC
Article 12 a – paragraph 4
Article 12 a – paragraph 4
Amendment 134 #
2008/0193(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 4
Article 1 – point 4
Directive 92/85/EEC
Article 12 a – paragraph 5
Article 12 a – paragraph 5
5. Paragraphs 1 to 43 shall also apply to any legal proceedings commenced according to Article 12.
Amendment 135 #
2008/0193(COD)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 5
Article 1 – point 5
Directive 92/85/EEC
Article 12 b
Article 12 b
Member States shall introduce into their national legal systems such measures as are necessary to protect individuals including witnesses from any adverse treatment or adverse consequence resulting from a complaint they have lodged or proceedings they have initiated with the aim of enforcing compliance with the rights granted under this Directive.