{"change_dates":[],"dossier":{"amendments":[{"authors":"Monica Frassoni","changes":{},"committee":["DROI"],"date":"2008-07-11T00:00:00","id":"PE409.620-1","location":[["Motion for a resolution","Recital E a (new)"]],"meps":[4254],"meta":{"created":"2020-01-20T00:14:12"},"new":["Ea. whereas the principle of equality","before the law requires that European","citizens should enjoy equality in respect","not only of European Union legislation","but also of the national legislation","transposing it. It would therefore be","highly expedient if, on expiry of the","deadlines for transposing the European","law, the Member States not only included","an explicit reference in the transposition","provisions, but also indicated in their","Official Journals which national","provisions are intended to apply the law in","question and which national authorities","are responsible for their implementation,"],"orig_lang":"it","peid":"PE409.620v01-00","reference":"2008/2046(INI)","seq":"1","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-409.620+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN"},{"authors":"Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg","changes":{},"committee":["DROI"],"date":"2008-07-11T00:00:00","id":"PE409.620-2","location":[["Motion for a resolution","Recital J"]],"meps":[28377],"meta":{"created":"2020-01-20T00:14:12"},"new":["J. whereas the principle of non-","discrimination is one of the cornerstones of","the European integration process and is","directly linked to the operation of the","internal market, with particular reference to","the principle of the free movement of","persons, services, goods and capital, and","whereas it guarantees equal rights and","opportunities for all European Union","citizens,"],"old":["J. whereas the principle of non-","discrimination is one of the cornerstones of","the European integration process and is","directly linked to the operation of the","internal market, with particular reference to","the principle of the free movement of","persons, services, goods and capital,"],"orig_lang":"pl","peid":"PE409.620v01-00","reference":"2008/2046(INI)","seq":"2","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-409.620+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN"},{"authors":" Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg","changes":{},"committee":["DROI"],"date":"2008-07-11T00:00:00","id":"PE409.620-3","location":[[" Motion for a resolution","Recital Ka (new)"]],"meps":[28377],"meta":{"created":"2020-01-20T00:14:12"},"new":["Ka. whereas the deadline for transposing","Directive 2004/38/EC, concerning the","right of all citizens to move and reside","freely within the territory of the European","Union, was fixed at 2006,"],"orig_lang":"pl","peid":"PE409.620v01-00","reference":"2008/2046(INI)","seq":"3","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-409.620+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN"},{"authors":" Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg","changes":{},"committee":["DROI"],"date":"2008-07-11T00:00:00","id":"PE409.620-4","location":[[" Motion for a resolution","Recital Kb (new)"]],"meps":[28377],"meta":{"created":"2020-01-20T00:14:12"},"new":["Kb. whereas students continue to","experience difficulties in enjoying free","movement or gaining access to higher","education in other Member States of the","European Union, such as administrative","barriers or quota systems (which","discriminate against foreign students","wishing to register at universities) and","whereas the EU can intervene only in the","event of discrimination based on","nationality,"],"orig_lang":"pl","peid":"PE409.620v01-00","reference":"2008/2046(INI)","seq":"4","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-409.620+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN"},{"authors":"Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg","changes":{},"committee":["DROI"],"date":"2008-07-11T00:00:00","id":"PE409.620-5","location":[["Motion for a resolution","Recital Kc (new)"]],"meps":[28377],"meta":{"created":"2020-01-20T00:14:13"},"new":["Kc. whereas Article 39 of the Treaty","establishing the European Community","stipulates that the free movement of","workers entails the abolition of any","discrimination against workers from other","Member States as regards employment,","remuneration and other conditions of","work, and whereas secondary Community","law includes a series of provisions","designed to combat this type of","discrimination effectively,"],"orig_lang":"pl","peid":"PE409.620v01-00","reference":"2008/2046(INI)","seq":"5","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-409.620+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN"},{"authors":"Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg","changes":{},"committee":["DROI"],"date":"2008-07-11T00:00:00","id":"PE409.620-6","location":[["Motion for a resolution","Recital Kd (new)"]],"meps":[28377],"meta":{"created":"2020-01-20T00:14:13"},"new":["Kd. whereas, although the deadline for its","transposition expired in October 2005,","only one Member State - Spain - has fully","transposed the provisions of Directive","2002/73/EC on the implementation of the","principle of equal treatment for men and","women as regards access to employment,","vocational training and promotion, and","working conditions, and whereas the","Committee on Women's Rights and Equal","Opportunities is currently drawing up a","report on this matter,"],"orig_lang":"pl","peid":"PE409.620v01-00","reference":"2008/2046(INI)","seq":"6","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-409.620+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN"},{"authors":" Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg","changes":{},"committee":["DROI"],"date":"2008-07-11T00:00:00","id":"PE409.620-7","location":[[" Motion for a resolution","Recital Ke (new)"]],"meps":[28377],"meta":{"created":"2020-01-20T00:14:13"},"new":["Ke. whereas infringements of Community","law on equal treatment for men and","women relate essentially to problems","which arise as a result of inadequate","adaptation to existing legislation and","whereas the proceedings initiated by the","Commission in 2006 for infringement of","Community law and failure to notify","national transposition measures concern","Directives 86/378/EEC and 96/97/EC on","the implementation of the principle of","equal treatment for men and women in","occupational social security schemes, as","well as Directive 96/34/EC on parental","leave,"],"orig_lang":"pl","peid":"PE409.620v01-00","reference":"2008/2046(INI)","seq":"7","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-409.620+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN"},{"authors":" Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg","changes":{},"committee":["DROI"],"date":"2008-07-11T00:00:00","id":"PE409.620-8","location":[[" Motion for a resolution","Recital Kf (new)"]],"meps":[28377],"meta":{"created":"2020-01-20T00:14:13"},"new":["Kf. whereas, because of the lack of","harmonisation of direct taxation at","European level, the functioning of the","common market is affected by distortions","caused by the decision of some businesses","to establish their headquarters in another","Member State and by tax fraud,"],"orig_lang":"pl","peid":"PE409.620v01-00","reference":"2008/2046(INI)","seq":"8","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-409.620+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN"},{"authors":"Monica Frassoni","changes":{},"committee":["DROI"],"date":"2008-07-11T00:00:00","id":"PE409.620-9","location":[["Motion for a resolution","Paragraph 1a (new)"]],"meps":[4254],"meta":{"created":"2020-01-20T00:14:13"},"new":["1a. Points out that the Commission has","not yet responded to or acted upon","Parliament's resolution of 21 February","2008 on monitoring the application of","Community law - 23rd Annual Report - in","which Parliament calls on the","Commission to provide specific","information on various aspects of the","implementation of Community law, with","particular reference to the development of","the new working method initiated in the","2007 Communication;"],"orig_lang":"it","peid":"PE409.620v01-00","reference":"2008/2046(INI)","seq":"9","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-409.620+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN"},{"authors":"Monica Frassoni","changes":{},"committee":["DROI"],"date":"2008-07-11T00:00:00","id":"PE409.620-10","location":[["Motion for a resolution","Paragraph 2a (new)"]],"meps":[4254],"meta":{"created":"2020-01-20T00:14:13"},"new":["2a. Is deeply concerned that under the","new working method, which provides for","complaints received by the Commission to","be referred back to the Member State","concerned (which is the party responsible","for the incorrect application of","Community law in the first place), the","Commission may be failing to meet its","institutional responsibility for ensuring","the application of Community law as","'guardian of the treaties', in accordance","with Article 211 of the EC Treaty; notes","that the Commission is frequently the only","remaining body to which citizens can turn","to complain about the failure to apply","Community law; urges the Commission to","submit to Parliament as soon as possible a","specific report on the procedures followed","and results obtained in recent months","under the new working method;"],"old":[""],"orig_lang":"it","peid":"PE409.620v01-00","reference":"2008/2046(INI)","seq":"10","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-409.620+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN"},{"authors":" Monica Frassoni","changes":{},"committee":["DROI"],"date":"2008-07-11T00:00:00","id":"PE409.620-11","location":[[" Motion for a resolution","Paragraph 2b (new)"]],"meps":[4254],"meta":{"created":"2020-01-20T00:14:13"},"new":["2b. Urges the Commission to apply across","the board the principle whereby any","correspondence which may contain a","complaint about a genuine breach of","Community law must be registered as a","complaint unless it is covered by the","exceptional circumstances referred to in","point 3 of the annex to the","communication on 'relations with the","complainant in respect of infringements","of Community law'; calls on the","Commission to provide Parliament with","details of how this principle is observed,","including in cases where the new method","is applied; urges the Commission to","inform and consult Parliament on any","changes to the exceptional criteria for","failure to register complaints;"],"orig_lang":"it","peid":"PE409.620v01-00","reference":"2008/2046(INI)","seq":"11","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-409.620+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN"},{"authors":" Monica Frassoni","changes":{},"committee":["DROI"],"date":"2008-07-11T00:00:00","id":"PE409.620-12","location":[[" Motion for a resolution","Paragraph 3"]],"meps":[4254],"meta":{"created":"2020-01-20T00:14:13"},"new":["3. Calls on the Commission to apply","Article 228 of the Treaty establishing the","European Community with greater","firmness and transparency in order to","ensure due compliance with judgments of","the Court of Justice of the European","Communities; notes that in 2006 there","were two cases in which penalty payments","were imposed on Member States;"],"old":["3. Calls on the Commission to apply","Article 228 of the Treaty establishing the","European Community with greater","firmness in order to ensure due compliance","with judgments of the Court of Justice of","the European Communities; notes that in","2006 there were two cases in which penalty","payments were imposed on Member States;"],"orig_lang":"it","peid":"PE409.620v01-00","reference":"2008/2046(INI)","seq":"12","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-409.620+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN"},{"authors":"Monica Frassoni","changes":{},"committee":["DROI"],"date":"2008-07-11T00:00:00","id":"PE409.620-13","location":[["Motion for a resolution","Paragraph 4a (new)"]],"meps":[4254],"meta":{"created":"2020-01-20T00:14:13"},"new":["4a. Commends the efforts made by some","Commission Directorates General,","particularly DG Environment, to improve","the conformity checks on the relevant","directives, but is not satisfied with the","Commission's reply regarding the","confidentiality of the conformity studies;","calls once more on the Commission to","publish on its website the studies","requested by the various Directorates-","General on the evaluation of the","conformity of national implementation","measures with Community legislation;"],"orig_lang":"it","peid":"PE409.620v01-00","reference":"2008/2046(INI)","seq":"13","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-409.620+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN"},{"authors":"Diana Wallis","changes":{},"committee":["DROI"],"date":"2008-07-11T00:00:00","id":"PE409.620-14","location":[["Motion for a resolution","Paragraph 9a (new)"]],"meps":[4544],"meta":{"created":"2020-01-20T00:14:14"},"new":["9a. Suggests that the Commission should","continue to give consideration to the","feasibility of using its Representations in","Member States to observe and monitor","implementation on the ground;"],"orig_lang":"en","peid":"PE409.620v01-00","reference":"2008/2046(INI)","seq":"14","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-409.620+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN"},{"authors":" Diana Wallis","changes":{},"committee":["DROI"],"date":"2008-07-11T00:00:00","id":"PE409.620-15","location":[[" Motion for a resolution","Paragraph 9b (new)"]],"meps":[4544],"meta":{"created":"2020-01-20T00:14:14"},"new":["9b. Emphasises the need to give","consideration to the previously canvassed","idea of a common access point for all","citizens' complaints and problems relating","to the monitoring of the application of","Community law, given that the citizen is","currently faced with a plethora of options","(petitions, complaints, the Ombudsman,","SOLVIT, etc.) and therefore some form of","central signposting system could provide","more targeted and timely results;"],"orig_lang":"en","peid":"PE409.620v01-00","reference":"2008/2046(INI)","seq":"15","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-409.620+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN"},{"authors":" Monica Frassoni","changes":{},"committee":["DROI"],"date":"2008-07-11T00:00:00","id":"PE409.620-16","location":[[" Motion for a resolution","Paragraph 10 a (new)"]],"meps":[4254],"meta":{"created":"2020-01-20T00:14:14"},"new":["10a. Recognises that Parliament\u2019s","standing committees should play a more","active role in monitoring the application","of Community law; is convinced that the","committees should be given adequate","administrative support to enable them to","play this role effectively; calls on the","Working Party on Parliamentary Reform,","the Committee on Budgets and other","relevant Parliament bodies to examine the","feasibility of a special task force within","each committee\u2019s secretariat so as to","ensure the continuing and effective","monitoring of the application of","Community law;"],"old":["",""],"orig_lang":"it","peid":"PE409.620v01-00","reference":"2008/2046(INI)","seq":"16","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-409.620+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN"},{"authors":"Monica Frassoni","changes":{},"committee":["DROI"],"date":"2008-07-11T00:00:00","id":"PE409.620-17","location":[["Motion for a resolution","Paragraph 11 a (new)"]],"meps":[4254],"meta":{"created":"2020-01-20T00:14:14"},"new":["11a. Points out that, under the protocol on","the role of the national parliaments in the","European Union annexed to the Treaty of","Amsterdam, policies concerning the area","of freedom, security and justice should","entail special involvement by the national","parliaments and COSAC. This","involvement should take place during","both the decision-making phase and the","implementation of European legislation to","enable European and national legislators","to adopt amendments and revisions which","become necessary in sectors which are","and will remain subject to shared","competence; therefore invites the","competent parliamentary committees at","national and European level to establish","permanent contacts on individual pieces","of legislation, pooling all useful","information in the interests of a more","transparent and efficient legislative","process at European and national level;","welcomes the holding of special meetings","between European legislators, such as the","one recently held with national","parliaments to review the framework","decision on combating terrorism (6 April","2008), during which it was possible to","assess not only the problems of","implementing European legislation in","force but also the relevance of proposed","amendments under consideration by the","Council;"],"old":[""],"orig_lang":"it","peid":"PE409.620v01-00","reference":"2008/2046(INI)","seq":"17","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-409.620+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN"},{"authors":" Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg","changes":{},"committee":["DROI"],"date":"2008-07-11T00:00:00","id":"PE409.620-18","location":[[" Motion for a resolution","Paragraph 18"]],"meps":[28377],"meta":{"created":"2020-01-20T00:14:14"},"new":["18. Welcomes the Commission\u2019s adoption","on 2 July 2008, as provided for in the","annual policy strategy for 2008, of the","proposal for a horizontal directive","implementing the principle of equal","treatment outside the scope of employment","and ensuring equal access to goods,","services, housing, education, social","protection and social advantages, and takes","the view that this constitutes an important","addition to the current anti-discrimination","package;"],"old":["18. Calls on the Commission to submit, as","provided for in the annual policy strategy","for 2008, a proposal for a horizontal","directive implementing the principle of","equal treatment outside the scope of","employment and ensuring equal access to","goods, services, housing, education, social","protection and social advantages, and takes","the view that this would constitute an","important addition to the current anti-","discrimination package;"],"orig_lang":"pl","peid":"PE409.620v01-00","reference":"2008/2046(INI)","seq":"18","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-409.620+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN"},{"authors":" Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg","changes":{},"committee":["DROI"],"date":"2008-07-11T00:00:00","id":"PE409.620-19","location":[[" Motion for a resolution","Paragraph 19 a (new)"]],"meps":[28377],"meta":{"created":"2020-01-20T00:14:14"},"new":["19a. Points out that the problem of","discrimination should not be seen only in","the context of free movement of persons,","but also with due regard for other","freedoms set out in the Treaty establishing","the European Community, namely the","freedom of establishment and the free","movement of capital and that, in this","connection, the problem is also of concern","to European enterprises;"],"old":[""],"orig_lang":"pl","peid":"PE409.620v01-00","reference":"2008/2046(INI)","seq":"19","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-409.620+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN"},{"authors":"Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg","changes":{},"committee":["DROI"],"date":"2008-07-11T00:00:00","id":"PE409.620-20","location":[["Motion for a resolution","Paragraph 19 b (new)"]],"meps":[28377],"meta":{"created":"2020-01-20T00:14:14"},"new":["19b. Notes that, on the basis of the most","recent case law of the Court of Justice","and the petitions submitted to Parliament,","it is the problem of inadequate","harmonisation of direct taxation which","leads to discrimination against European","enterprises;"],"orig_lang":"pl","peid":"PE409.620v01-00","reference":"2008/2046(INI)","seq":"20","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-409.620+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN"}],"changes":{"2014-11-10T01:00:41":[{"data":[{"body":"EC","commission":[{"Commissioner":"BARROSO Jos\u00e9 Manuel","DG":{"title":"Secretariat General","url":"http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/secretariat_general/index_en.htm"}}],"date":"2007-07-17T00:00:00","docs":[{"celexid":"CELEX:52007DC0398:EN","text":["
PURPOSE: to\n present the 24th Annual Report on monitoring the application of\n Community Law for 2006.
CONTENT:\n pursuant to Article 221 of the EC Treaty the Commission is responsible for\n monitoring the uniform application of Community law by the Member States.\n Further, Article 226 allows the Commission to take action against a Member State which fails to fulfil their EU Treaty obligations. This may include, for\n example, adopting or maintaining national laws which run counter to Community\n Law. This, the 24th Annual Report prepared by the Commission on\n the application of Community Law for 2006 offers an account of Commission\n activities to monitor the application of Community law.
The main\n findings of the report, in summary, are as follows:
Infringement\n proceedings:
The total\n number of infringement proceedings initiated by the Commission fell slightly\n from 2653 in 2005 to 2518 in 2006. There was also a slight decrease in the\n number of complaints registered, from 1154 in 2005 to 1049. Complaints accounted for 41.7% of the total infringements detected in 2006. The number of\n infringement proceedings initiated by the Commission on the basis of its own\n investigations rose from 433 in 2005 to 565 in 2006 (24%) for the EU 25. For the whole of the EU the number of proceedings initiated for\n “failure to notify transposition measures” decreased by 16% compared to 2006\n from 1079 to 904 cases. This can, partially, be put down to two factors.\n Firstly, a reduction in the number of Directives with a deadline for the year\n (down from 123 to 108) and secondly, due to improved Member State notification.
Infringements\n relating to petitions presented to the European Parliament:
Petitions to\n Parliament are considered a valuable source of information for detecting\n breaches of Community law. In many cases petitions are presented at the same\n time as a complaint to the Commission. The highest number of reported cases\n refer to either the environment or the single market. As far as the\n environment is concerned, petitions are important given that the Commission\n itself has no “investigative” powers to check the practical implementation of\n EC law on the ground. Regarding the internal market, two specific issues\n continued to dominate petitions to Parliament. Firstly, the recognition of diplomas\n and secondly public procurement.
Main\n developments:
Agriculture: Two main objectives were pursued in 2006 namely removing barriers\n to the free movement of agricultural products and to ensure that agricultural\n Regulations are applied effectively. In addition, the Commission had to\n remind the Member States of their obligation to send annual reports to the\n Commission.
Competition\n policy: In 2006 the main priority was to monitor\n the transposition of the Directive concerning competition on the market for\n electronic communication as well as the Transparency Directive. A number of\n suspected infringement files relating to Article 86 were also initiated.
Education\n and culture: Obstacles continue to exist in the\n field of education. Concerning the recognition of academic qualifications the\n EU can only intervene in cases of discrimination on the ground of\n nationality. In 2006 two infringement procedures were launched. The first\n concerned Greece, which has since amended its legislation, and the second\n concerned Portugal.
Employment: In 2006 a number of cases concerned the presumed wrong\n application of Treaty articles and/or secondary legislation in the field of\n social security and the free movement of workers. Infringements in the field\n of equal treatment deal mostly with non-conformity issues.
Enterprise and industry: The Commission’s main\n objective is to guarantee the internal market for goods. In 2006, the\n Commission continued to reinforce preventive actions through Directive\n 98/34/EC by providing interpretation and guidance for many pieces of draft\n legislation. In the case of infringement proceedings priority was given to\n cases concerning national transposition measures and failure to implement ECJ\n judgements. In the EU as a whole it can be concluded that implementing rules\n relating to the internal market for goods has improved.
Environment: The environmental sector accounted for about one fifth of the\n total number of open cases involving non-compliance. It remains the sector\n with the highest number of open cases. Priority was given to cases dealing\n with the incorrect transposition of environmental Directives as well as cases\n relating to lack of compliance.
Fisheries: Particular attention was given to the correct application of\n conservation provisions and upholding standards relating to the functioning\n of national systems of control; to the control of technical conservation\n measures; to communicating data on catches; to feet capacity; and to\n driftnets.
Information\n Society and media: Attention has shifted away\n from the enforcement of electronic communication regulatory framework and\n onto transposition issues that ensure the full compliance and effective\n application of all 25 EU Member States. New proceedings focused on the\n non-availability of caller location information to emergency authorities for\n calls to 112 made from fixed and/or mobile phones.
Legal services:in the case of the Sellafield\n nuclear fuel reprocessing plant, the Court based its judgment partly on Article\n 292 of the EC Treaty. This was the first time that this article has been\n invoked and applied. The Court said that it had exclusive jurisdiction to\n decide any dispute regarding the interpretation and application of Community\n law, and held that Ireland had failed to fulfil its obligations when it\n brought a dispute between itself and the United Kingdom on questions that\n were essentially questions of Community law before an arbitral tribunal\n provided for in the Law of the Sea Convention.
Internal\n market: The main objective in 2006 was to further\n develop the Commission’s enforcement policies. Actions have focused on:\n follow-up to the 2004 Recommendation on good practices concerning\n transposition; the prioritisation of infringement proceedings; and the freedom\n of establishment and the free movement of services.
Health and\n consumer protection: The timely and correct\n implementation of EU health and consumer law remained a priority for the\n Commission in 2006. Inspections carried out by the Food and Veterinary Office\n were conducted on the bases of a close cooperation with the Member States.\n The Commission did not hesitate to act against Member States who delay the\n implementation of actions plans that seek to address deficiencies. The\n Commission also took swift actions against infringements in the field of\n tobacco products legislation.
Taxation\n and customs: An important number of potential\n infringements still exist in domestic legislation. Particular focus has been\n given to cross-border dividend payments and the withholding taxes on\n dividends in cases where dividends paid to residents are not taxed.
Energy and\n transport: In the case of energy, the correct\n application of the two 2003 Directives on the internal electricity and gas\n markets, were closely examined. The Commission also stepped up efforts\n against failures in the field of radiation protection as well as other\n obligations linked to nuclear safeguards, external relations and role of the\n Euratom Supply Agency.
The budget: The Commission has followed up all cases where the infringement\n of EU legislation could result in the incorrect or late payment of own\n resources and other receipts. It has taken legal action where preliminary\n correspondence or discussions in the Advisory Committee for Own Resources\n could not solve the problem.
Enlargement:\n A case concerning the incorrect application of\n the Association Agreement with Turkey was referred to the Court for\n discrimination against Turkish workers wishing to extend their residence\n permits.
\nThe Committee on Legal Affairs adopted an own initiative\n report by Lidia Joanna GERINGER de OEDENBERG (PES, PL) in response to\n the 24th annual report from the European Commission on monitoring the\n application of Community law in 2006.
Annual report for 2006 and action taken on Parliament's\n resolution of 21 February 2008:\n MEPs welcome the Commission's undertaking to improve current working methods\n regarding the application of Community law. However, they regret that the\n Commission has not yet responded to or acted upon Parliament's resolution\n of 21 February 2008, in which it calls on the Commission to provide specific\n information on various aspects of the implementation of Community law, with\n particular reference to the development of the new working method.
The committee is deeply concerned that, under the new\n working method, which provides for complaints received by the Commission to\n be referred back to the Member State concerned (which is the party\n responsible for the incorrect application of Community law in the first\n place), the Commission may be failing to meet its institutional\n responsibility for ensuring the application of Community law as 'guardian of the\n treaties', in accordance with Article 211 of the EC Treaty. MEPs call on the\n Commission to submit to Parliament a first report by November 2008 on the\n procedures followed and results obtained during the first six months of the\n pilot project which commenced on 15 April 2008 and which involves 15 Member\n States.
The Commission is called upon to:
Interinstitutional cooperation: according to MEPs, agreements on monitoring\n the application of Community law and close cooperation between the\n Commission, the Council, the European Ombudsman and the relevant EP\n committees are essential in order to ensure effective action in all cases\n where a petitioner has justifiably complained of an infringement of Community\n law.
MEPs stress the need for better provision of information\n to citizens with a view to directing anyone wishing to submit a complaint\n towards the body best qualified to deal with the matter and emphasise the\n need for consideration to be given to a common access point for all citizens'\n complaints and problems relating to the monitoring of the application of\n Community law. Furthermore, Parliament’s standing committees should play a\n more active role in monitoring the application of Community law and be given\n adequate administrative support to enable them to play this role effectively.
Cooperation between the European Parliament and the\n national parliaments: MEPs\n call for closer cooperation between the European Parliament and national\n parliaments with a view to promoting and increasing effective monitoring of\n the application of Community law at national, regional and local levels. To\n this end, the competent parliamentary committees at national and European\n level should establish permanent contacts on individual pieces of\n legislation, pooling all useful information in the interests of a more\n transparent and efficient legislative process at European and national level.
Combating discrimination in the European Union: MEPs call on the Member States to respect\n the rights deriving from EU citizenship, including the right to vote and\n stand as a candidate in elections to the European Parliament, which is of\n particular importance in the run-up to the 2009 elections. They also draw\n attention to the fact that directive 2004/38/EC is of fundamental importance\n to ensuring that EU citizens may move freely within the territory of the\n Member States. They also call on the Commission to carefully monitor the\n transposition of Directive 2000/43/EC on implementing the principle of equal\n treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin and\n Directive 2000/78/EC establishing a general framework for equal treatment in\n employment and occupation.
Lastly, the Commission is called upon to conduct a\n thorough analysis of cases where Member States apply non-nationality-based\n restrictions on access to education by students from other countries, with a\n view to ensuring that students are able to move freely and are afforded equal\n treatment within the higher education systems of those Member States.
\nThe European\n Parliament adopted by 613 votes to 29 with 38 against, a resolution in\n response to the 24th annual report from the European Commission on monitoring\n the application of Community law in 2006.
The\n own-initiative report had been tabled for consideration in plenary by Lidia\n Joanna GERINGER de OEDENBERG (PES, PL) on behalf of the Committee on\n Legal Affairs.
Annual\n report for 2006 and action taken on Parliament's resolution of 21 February\n 2008: MEPs welcome the Commission's undertaking\n to improve current working methods regarding the application of Community\n law. However, they regret that the Commission has not yet responded to or\n acted upon Parliament's resolution\n of 21 February 2008, in which it calls on the Commission to provide specific\n information on various aspects of the implementation of Community law, with\n particular reference to the development of the new working method.
The Parliament\n is deeply concerned that, under the new working method, which provides for\n complaints received by the Commission to be referred back to the Member State\n concerned (which is the party responsible for the incorrect application of\n Community law in the first place), the Commission may be failing to meet its\n institutional responsibility for ensuring the application of Community law as\n 'guardian of the treaties', in accordance with Article 211 of the EC Treaty.\n MEPs call on the Commission to submit to Parliament a first report by\n November 2008 on the procedures followed and results obtained during the\n first six months of the pilot project which commenced on 15 April 2008 and\n which involves 15 Member States.
The Commission\n is called upon to:
Drawing\n attention to the insufficient degree of cooperation with the Court of Justice\n by the national courts in most Member States and underlining the extremely\n important role played by the preliminary ruling procedure in the proper\n application of Community law, Parliament supports, in this connection, the\n Commission's efforts to determine the areas in which additional training in\n Community law could be useful for national judges, legal professionals and\n civil servants.
Interinstitutional\n cooperation: according to MEPs, agreements on\n monitoring the application of Community law and close cooperation between the\n Commission, the Council, the European Ombudsman and the relevant EP\n committees are essential in order to ensure effective action in all cases\n where a petitioner has justifiably complained of an infringement of Community\n law.
MEPs stress\n the need for better provision of information to citizens with a view to\n directing anyone wishing to submit a complaint towards the body best\n qualified to deal with the matter and emphasise the need for consideration to\n be given to a common access point for all citizens' complaints and problems\n relating to the monitoring of the application of Community law. Furthermore,\n Parliament’s standing committees should play a more active role in monitoring\n the application of Community law and be given adequate administrative support\n to enable them to play this role effectively. Parliament suggests that the\n Commission should continue to give consideration to the feasibility of using\n its Representations in Member States to observe and monitor implementation on\n the ground.
Cooperation\n between the European Parliament and the national parliaments: MEPs call for closer cooperation between the European Parliament\n and national parliaments with a view to promoting and increasing effective\n monitoring of the application of Community law at national, regional and\n local levels. To this end, the competent parliamentary committees at national\n and European level should establish permanent contacts on individual pieces\n of legislation, pooling all useful information in the interests of a more transparent\n and efficient legislative process at European and national level.
Combating\n discrimination in the European Union: MEPs call\n on the Member States to respect the rights deriving from EU citizenship,\n including the right to vote and stand as a candidate in elections to the\n European Parliament, which is of particular importance in the run-up to the\n 2009 elections. They also draw attention to the fact that directive\n 2004/38/EC is of fundamental importance to ensuring that EU citizens may move\n freely within the territory of the Member States. They also call on the\n Commission to carefully monitor the transposition of Directive 2000/43/EC on\n implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of\n racial or ethnic origin and Directive 2000/78/EC establishing a general\n framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation.
Lastly, the\n Commission is called upon to conduct a thorough analysis of cases where\n Member States apply non-nationality-based restrictions on access to education\n by students from other countries, with a view to ensuring that students are\n able to move freely and are afforded equal treatment within the higher\n education systems of those Member States.
\nPURPOSE: to\n present the 24th Annual Report on monitoring the application of\n Community Law for 2006.
CONTENT:\n pursuant to Article 221 of the EC Treaty the Commission is responsible for\n monitoring the uniform application of Community law by the Member States.\n Further, Article 226 allows the Commission to take action against a Member State which fails to fulfil their EU Treaty obligations. This may include, for\n example, adopting or maintaining national laws which run counter to Community\n Law. This, the 24th Annual Report prepared by the Commission on\n the application of Community Law for 2006 offers an account of Commission\n activities to monitor the application of Community law.
The main\n findings of the report, in summary, are as follows:
Infringement\n proceedings:
The total\n number of infringement proceedings initiated by the Commission fell slightly\n from 2653 in 2005 to 2518 in 2006. There was also a slight decrease in the\n number of complaints registered, from 1154 in 2005 to 1049. Complaints accounted for 41.7% of the total infringements detected in 2006. The number of\n infringement proceedings initiated by the Commission on the basis of its own\n investigations rose from 433 in 2005 to 565 in 2006 (24%) for the EU 25. For the whole of the EU the number of proceedings initiated for\n “failure to notify transposition measures” decreased by 16% compared to 2006\n from 1079 to 904 cases. This can, partially, be put down to two factors.\n Firstly, a reduction in the number of Directives with a deadline for the year\n (down from 123 to 108) and secondly, due to improved Member State notification.
Infringements\n relating to petitions presented to the European Parliament:
Petitions to\n Parliament are considered a valuable source of information for detecting\n breaches of Community law. In many cases petitions are presented at the same\n time as a complaint to the Commission. The highest number of reported cases\n refer to either the environment or the single market. As far as the\n environment is concerned, petitions are important given that the Commission\n itself has no “investigative” powers to check the practical implementation of\n EC law on the ground. Regarding the internal market, two specific issues\n continued to dominate petitions to Parliament. Firstly, the recognition of diplomas\n and secondly public procurement.
Main\n developments:
Agriculture: Two main objectives were pursued in 2006 namely removing barriers\n to the free movement of agricultural products and to ensure that agricultural\n Regulations are applied effectively. In addition, the Commission had to\n remind the Member States of their obligation to send annual reports to the\n Commission.
Competition\n policy: In 2006 the main priority was to monitor\n the transposition of the Directive concerning competition on the market for\n electronic communication as well as the Transparency Directive. A number of\n suspected infringement files relating to Article 86 were also initiated.
Education\n and culture: Obstacles continue to exist in the\n field of education. Concerning the recognition of academic qualifications the\n EU can only intervene in cases of discrimination on the ground of\n nationality. In 2006 two infringement procedures were launched. The first\n concerned Greece, which has since amended its legislation, and the second\n concerned Portugal.
Employment: In 2006 a number of cases concerned the presumed wrong\n application of Treaty articles and/or secondary legislation in the field of\n social security and the free movement of workers. Infringements in the field\n of equal treatment deal mostly with non-conformity issues.
Enterprise and industry: The Commission’s main\n objective is to guarantee the internal market for goods. In 2006, the\n Commission continued to reinforce preventive actions through Directive\n 98/34/EC by providing interpretation and guidance for many pieces of draft\n legislation. In the case of infringement proceedings priority was given to\n cases concerning national transposition measures and failure to implement ECJ\n judgements. In the EU as a whole it can be concluded that implementing rules\n relating to the internal market for goods has improved.
Environment: The environmental sector accounted for about one fifth of the\n total number of open cases involving non-compliance. It remains the sector\n with the highest number of open cases. Priority was given to cases dealing\n with the incorrect transposition of environmental Directives as well as cases\n relating to lack of compliance.
Fisheries: Particular attention was given to the correct application of\n conservation provisions and upholding standards relating to the functioning\n of national systems of control; to the control of technical conservation\n measures; to communicating data on catches; to feet capacity; and to\n driftnets.
Information\n Society and media: Attention has shifted away\n from the enforcement of electronic communication regulatory framework and\n onto transposition issues that ensure the full compliance and effective\n application of all 25 EU Member States. New proceedings focused on the\n non-availability of caller location information to emergency authorities for\n calls to 112 made from fixed and/or mobile phones.
Legal services:in the case of the Sellafield\n nuclear fuel reprocessing plant, the Court based its judgment partly on Article\n 292 of the EC Treaty. This was the first time that this article has been\n invoked and applied. The Court said that it had exclusive jurisdiction to\n decide any dispute regarding the interpretation and application of Community\n law, and held that Ireland had failed to fulfil its obligations when it\n brought a dispute between itself and the United Kingdom on questions that\n were essentially questions of Community law before an arbitral tribunal\n provided for in the Law of the Sea Convention.
Internal\n market: The main objective in 2006 was to further\n develop the Commission’s enforcement policies. Actions have focused on:\n follow-up to the 2004 Recommendation on good practices concerning\n transposition; the prioritisation of infringement proceedings; and the freedom\n of establishment and the free movement of services.
Health and\n consumer protection: The timely and correct\n implementation of EU health and consumer law remained a priority for the\n Commission in 2006. Inspections carried out by the Food and Veterinary Office\n were conducted on the bases of a close cooperation with the Member States.\n The Commission did not hesitate to act against Member States who delay the\n implementation of actions plans that seek to address deficiencies. The\n Commission also took swift actions against infringements in the field of\n tobacco products legislation.
Taxation\n and customs: An important number of potential\n infringements still exist in domestic legislation. Particular focus has been\n given to cross-border dividend payments and the withholding taxes on\n dividends in cases where dividends paid to residents are not taxed.
Energy and\n transport: In the case of energy, the correct\n application of the two 2003 Directives on the internal electricity and gas\n markets, were closely examined. The Commission also stepped up efforts\n against failures in the field of radiation protection as well as other\n obligations linked to nuclear safeguards, external relations and role of the\n Euratom Supply Agency.
The budget: The Commission has followed up all cases where the infringement\n of EU legislation could result in the incorrect or late payment of own\n resources and other receipts. It has taken legal action where preliminary\n correspondence or discussions in the Advisory Committee for Own Resources\n could not solve the problem.
Enlargement:\n A case concerning the incorrect application of\n the Association Agreement with Turkey was referred to the Court for\n discrimination against Turkish workers wishing to extend their residence\n permits.
\nThe Committee on Legal Affairs adopted an own initiative\n report by Lidia Joanna GERINGER de OEDENBERG (PES, PL) in response to\n the 24th annual report from the European Commission on monitoring the\n application of Community law in 2006.
Annual report for 2006 and action taken on Parliament's\n resolution of 21 February 2008:\n MEPs welcome the Commission's undertaking to improve current working methods\n regarding the application of Community law. However, they regret that the\n Commission has not yet responded to or acted upon Parliament's resolution\n of 21 February 2008, in which it calls on the Commission to provide specific\n information on various aspects of the implementation of Community law, with\n particular reference to the development of the new working method.
The committee is deeply concerned that, under the new\n working method, which provides for complaints received by the Commission to\n be referred back to the Member State concerned (which is the party\n responsible for the incorrect application of Community law in the first\n place), the Commission may be failing to meet its institutional\n responsibility for ensuring the application of Community law as 'guardian of the\n treaties', in accordance with Article 211 of the EC Treaty. MEPs call on the\n Commission to submit to Parliament a first report by November 2008 on the\n procedures followed and results obtained during the first six months of the\n pilot project which commenced on 15 April 2008 and which involves 15 Member\n States.
The Commission is called upon to:
Interinstitutional cooperation: according to MEPs, agreements on monitoring\n the application of Community law and close cooperation between the\n Commission, the Council, the European Ombudsman and the relevant EP\n committees are essential in order to ensure effective action in all cases\n where a petitioner has justifiably complained of an infringement of Community\n law.
MEPs stress the need for better provision of information\n to citizens with a view to directing anyone wishing to submit a complaint\n towards the body best qualified to deal with the matter and emphasise the\n need for consideration to be given to a common access point for all citizens'\n complaints and problems relating to the monitoring of the application of\n Community law. Furthermore, Parliament’s standing committees should play a\n more active role in monitoring the application of Community law and be given\n adequate administrative support to enable them to play this role effectively.
Cooperation between the European Parliament and the\n national parliaments: MEPs\n call for closer cooperation between the European Parliament and national\n parliaments with a view to promoting and increasing effective monitoring of\n the application of Community law at national, regional and local levels. To\n this end, the competent parliamentary committees at national and European\n level should establish permanent contacts on individual pieces of\n legislation, pooling all useful information in the interests of a more\n transparent and efficient legislative process at European and national level.
Combating discrimination in the European Union: MEPs call on the Member States to respect\n the rights deriving from EU citizenship, including the right to vote and\n stand as a candidate in elections to the European Parliament, which is of\n particular importance in the run-up to the 2009 elections. They also draw\n attention to the fact that directive 2004/38/EC is of fundamental importance\n to ensuring that EU citizens may move freely within the territory of the\n Member States. They also call on the Commission to carefully monitor the\n transposition of Directive 2000/43/EC on implementing the principle of equal\n treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin and\n Directive 2000/78/EC establishing a general framework for equal treatment in\n employment and occupation.
Lastly, the Commission is called upon to conduct a\n thorough analysis of cases where Member States apply non-nationality-based\n restrictions on access to education by students from other countries, with a\n view to ensuring that students are able to move freely and are afforded equal\n treatment within the higher education systems of those Member States.
\nThe European\n Parliament adopted by 613 votes to 29 with 38 against, a resolution in\n response to the 24th annual report from the European Commission on monitoring\n the application of Community law in 2006.
The\n own-initiative report had been tabled for consideration in plenary by Lidia\n Joanna GERINGER de OEDENBERG (PES, PL) on behalf of the Committee on\n Legal Affairs.
Annual\n report for 2006 and action taken on Parliament's resolution of 21 February\n 2008: MEPs welcome the Commission's undertaking\n to improve current working methods regarding the application of Community\n law. However, they regret that the Commission has not yet responded to or\n acted upon Parliament's resolution\n of 21 February 2008, in which it calls on the Commission to provide specific\n information on various aspects of the implementation of Community law, with\n particular reference to the development of the new working method.
The Parliament\n is deeply concerned that, under the new working method, which provides for\n complaints received by the Commission to be referred back to the Member State\n concerned (which is the party responsible for the incorrect application of\n Community law in the first place), the Commission may be failing to meet its\n institutional responsibility for ensuring the application of Community law as\n 'guardian of the treaties', in accordance with Article 211 of the EC Treaty.\n MEPs call on the Commission to submit to Parliament a first report by\n November 2008 on the procedures followed and results obtained during the\n first six months of the pilot project which commenced on 15 April 2008 and\n which involves 15 Member States.
The Commission\n is called upon to:
Drawing\n attention to the insufficient degree of cooperation with the Court of Justice\n by the national courts in most Member States and underlining the extremely\n important role played by the preliminary ruling procedure in the proper\n application of Community law, Parliament supports, in this connection, the\n Commission's efforts to determine the areas in which additional training in\n Community law could be useful for national judges, legal professionals and\n civil servants.
Interinstitutional\n cooperation: according to MEPs, agreements on\n monitoring the application of Community law and close cooperation between the\n Commission, the Council, the European Ombudsman and the relevant EP\n committees are essential in order to ensure effective action in all cases\n where a petitioner has justifiably complained of an infringement of Community\n law.
MEPs stress\n the need for better provision of information to citizens with a view to\n directing anyone wishing to submit a complaint towards the body best\n qualified to deal with the matter and emphasise the need for consideration to\n be given to a common access point for all citizens' complaints and problems\n relating to the monitoring of the application of Community law. Furthermore,\n Parliament’s standing committees should play a more active role in monitoring\n the application of Community law and be given adequate administrative support\n to enable them to play this role effectively. Parliament suggests that the\n Commission should continue to give consideration to the feasibility of using\n its Representations in Member States to observe and monitor implementation on\n the ground.
Cooperation\n between the European Parliament and the national parliaments: MEPs call for closer cooperation between the European Parliament\n and national parliaments with a view to promoting and increasing effective\n monitoring of the application of Community law at national, regional and\n local levels. To this end, the competent parliamentary committees at national\n and European level should establish permanent contacts on individual pieces\n of legislation, pooling all useful information in the interests of a more transparent\n and efficient legislative process at European and national level.
Combating\n discrimination in the European Union: MEPs call\n on the Member States to respect the rights deriving from EU citizenship,\n including the right to vote and stand as a candidate in elections to the\n European Parliament, which is of particular importance in the run-up to the\n 2009 elections. They also draw attention to the fact that directive\n 2004/38/EC is of fundamental importance to ensuring that EU citizens may move\n freely within the territory of the Member States. They also call on the\n Commission to carefully monitor the transposition of Directive 2000/43/EC on\n implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of\n racial or ethnic origin and Directive 2000/78/EC establishing a general\n framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation.
Lastly, the\n Commission is called upon to conduct a thorough analysis of cases where\n Member States apply non-nationality-based restrictions on access to education\n by students from other countries, with a view to ensuring that students are\n able to move freely and are afforded equal treatment within the higher\n education systems of those Member States.
\n