Procedure completed
2010/2011(INI) Delivering a single market to consumers and citizens
Lead committee dossier: IMCO/7/01840
Legal Basis RoP 052
| Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | IMCO | GRECH Louis (S&D) | KARAS Othmar (PPE), ROCHEFORT Robert (ALDE), HARBOUR Malcolm (ECR), DE JONG Dennis (GUE/NGL) |
| Opinion | PETI |
Legal Basis RoP 052
Subjects
Activites
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2010/05/20
Results of vote in Parliament
- Results of vote in Parliament
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T7-0186/2010
summary
The European Parliament adopted by 578 votes to 28 with 16 abstentions a resolution on delivering a single market to consumers and citizens. It considers that the Union is facing a particularly problematic time in the history of single European market integration. Members stress that, notwithstanding the economic, technological and legislative weaknesses in its structure, the single European market, along with the eurozone, best illustrates the true meaning of EU economic integration and unity, and is certainly the most visible achievement of European integration for EU citizens. They underline; however, that the single market integration process is not irreversible.Members consider that the economic and financial crisis have damaged the single market integration process and that antagonism towards, and distrust of, the single market have increased as a result of shortcomings and inequalities emanating from Member States’ economic systems. They are concerned that the current crisis could actually be used to justify reviving protectionist measures in various Member States, whereas the downturn calls for common safeguard mechanisms instead. The single market is in dire need of a new momentum. Members emphasise that this process will necessitate firm authority and considerable initiative on the part of the European Commission, and political commitment from the Council, the Member States and the European Parliament.Need for a holistic and common approach: Members emphasise that a stronger, deeper and expanded single market is of vital importance for growth and job creation. The single market should provide benefits for consumers in terms of better quality, greater variety, reasonable prices, and safety of goods and services and it is a very important prerequisite for the success of the EU 2020 strategy. Parliament maintains that revitalisation of the single market requires effective implementation of more adequate checks and balances, and more dialogue. An evidence-based and citizen-based approach will help the Union to win back popular confidence in the single European market and to find the right formula for the adoption of initiatives to give the Union the competitive edge it needs, without prejudice to the social dimension. Challenges and opportunities: Members emphasise 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, which may involve 27 different legal systems for a single transaction. They highlight the importance of i) establishing a green single market for emerging low-carbon and environmental technologies, ii) the opportunities offered by the internet and e-commerce, the need to reform intellectual property rules and iii) the urgent need to resolve the outstanding issue of the Community patent.Citizens and consumers: Parliament is convinced that European citizens’ knowledge of the single market is low, non-existent, confused or even negative, in part because of a lack of political commitment and information and a low level of public awareness. The resolution sets out some of the difficulties encountered by consumers especially in the services sector, and highlights the need to organise the relevant websites, SOLVIT and contact points more effectively .It deplores the fact that only a small percentage of citizens, consumers and SMEs are aware of existing alternative redress mechanisms, or know how to register a complaint with the Commission. Problem-solving systems, such as SOLVIT, need to be strengthened in accordance with Parliament's report on SOLVIT. Parliament calls on the Commission to initiate an accelerated Treaty infringement procedure if an unresolved SOLVIT complaint reveals a prima facie breach of Community law.Small and medium-sized enterprises: Members emphasise that greater efforts must be made to improve access for SMEs to the single market. More of the obstacles which prevent SMEs from accessing public procurement markets should be removed in order to boost competitiveness in the single market, specifically by simplifying the requirements for SMEs in calls for tender by contracting authorities. Parliament encourages future joint initiatives by the Commission and the Member States to: (1) support small businesses operating across borders throughout the EU; (2) effect a tangible reduction in administrative, financial and regulatory burdens, particularly the administrative hurdles faced by SMEs, irrespective of whether they operate locally, nationally or at European level, in accordance with the principle of proportionality. In this regard it calls on the Member States and the Commission strictly to implement and apply the Think Small First principle as outlined in the Small Business Act.Stronger institutional role in establishing and implementing single market rules: Members ask the Commission to develop new ways, other than formal infringement procedures, to improve the transposition and enforcement of single market rules. They ask it to consider innovative mechanisms, such as the mutual evaluation procedure envisaged in the Services Directive, to encourage peer review and Member State ownership, and to improve informal problem-solving mechanisms such as SOLVIT and EU-PILOT. Parliament calls for the strengthening of Parliament’s role in the areas of application, enforcement and monitoring of single market legislation. It considers that the enhanced role for the EP and the national parliaments under the Lisbon Treaty must entail better synergism between the two parliamentary levels.Measures needed to empower citizens and SMEs more effectively: the resolution calls on the Commission and Member States to:develop a targeted communication strategy focusing on the day-to-day problems that citizens encounter when settling and taking up employment in another Member State, especially when undertaking cross-border transactions moving, shopping or selling across borders, and the social, health, consumer-protection and environmental-protection standards on which they can rely; This communication strategy should expressly include problem-solving methods, such as Solvit; step up their efforts to ensure that the product standards used within the single market become the main global standard, thus ensuring a level playing field for European companies, and in particular SMEs, wishing to operate beyond the single market; focus on prioritising ‘consumer-friendly’ legislation relating to the single market, which makes a difference to the daily lives of European citizens, when planning its yearly activities increase, through information campaigns and tougher checks, their efforts to raise citizens' confidence in the CE mark, a fundamental tool for ensuring consumer rights and quality standards in the single market. Strategic reports and proposals: Parliament makes a series of proposals on the strategy to be adopted and the need to adopt a ‘Single Market Act’, which should be presented’ by May 2011–- well ahead of the 20th anniversary of the 1992 Single Market Programme – putting citizens, consumers and SMEs at the heart of the single market. It emphasises that the Act should be looked upon as a blueprint for future action if we are to achieve a knowledge-based, highly competitive, social and environmentally friendly, green market economy which also ensures a credible level playing field. Parliament reiterates the importance of the Services directive in completing the single market, and the huge potential it has for delivering benefits to consumers and SME. Members call on the Commission, after the implementation phase, to undertake an evaluation of the Directive to determine whether it has achieved its main goals. They call for a clear involvement of Parliament in this work.The Commission is invited to i) during the current parliamentary term present a proposal for a regulation on a European Statute for Mutual Societies and Associations, ii) to take the requisite steps to propose, as soon as possible, a feasibility study and consultation process designed to lead to the introduction of a European Mutual Society Statute, iii) to focus more closely on market monitoring, especially in the areas of financial services, insurance, telephony, banking services and utilities.Lastly, Members invite the Commission to consider adopting a ‘Citizens’ Charter’ encompassing the various facets of the right to live and work anywhere in the EU, and states that this right must be readily available to all EU citizens.
- 2010/05/19 Debate in Parliament
- 2010/05/03 Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
-
2010/04/28
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
- #2999
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2010/03/01
Council Meeting
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2999
summary
The Council took note of the following three reports:the Internal Market Scoreboard No 20: state of play of implementation by Member States of internal market directives into national law;report on the SOLVIT system (an online internal market problem-solving network);report on the “Citizens Sign Post Service”, a service that provides personalised advice to individual citizens in relation to the rights they enjoy under single market rules.
-
2999
summary
- #2994
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2010/02/16
Council Meeting
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2010/01/21
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
Documents
- Debate in Council: 2999
- Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A7-0132/2010
- Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
- Results of vote in Parliament: Results of vote in Parliament
- Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T7-0186/2010
| Amendments | Dossier |
| 236 |
2010/2011(INI)
2010/04/14
IMCO
236 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas too many obstacles, resulting from a lack of information about rights and opportunities, fragmented
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E E. whereas, the EU 2020 Strategy should set realistic targets for achieving a
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. Considers that
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 25. Maintains that citizens are not being given the information they need on single market legislation and the availability and enforcement of their rights; highlights the fact that many of the relevant websites and the large number of information centres and
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 25. Maintains that
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 25. Maintains that citizens are not being given
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 25. Maintains that
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 25. Maintains that citizens are not being given
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 25.
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 a (new) 25a. Deplores the fact that the single market, among all other aspects, has not resulted reductions of prices in favour of the consumers; believes that consumers' rights should be reinforced and benefit from price reductions; highlights that these reductions should not be to the detriment of workers' rights;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 b (new) 25b. Stresses that the main responsibility for unfair pricing of products in the internal market lies with businesses and the practices they follow in order to maximise their profits; believes that a responsible approach by the business world with respect for the principle of corporate responsibility, the rules of competition and consumers' economic interests will help inspire confidence in consumers, the least that is required if consumer protection is to be enhanced;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 26 26. Maintains that economic integration initiatives will fail to take off unless citizens are convinced that their social and consumer rights are safeguarded and that internal market policies will not impact negatively on national social policies;
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E E. whereas, the EU 2020 Strategy should set realistic targets for achieving a green, knowledge-based social market economy and sustainable growth by 2020; whereas the cornerstone of the EU 2020 Strategy should be the single European market, with the challenges of social justice and economic growth and a focus on benefits to citizens, consumer protection and SMEs,
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 26 26. Maintains that economic integration initiatives
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 26 26. Maintains that economic integration initiatives will
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 26 Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 27 27. Deplores the fact that only a small percentage of citizens, consumers and SMEs are aware of existing alternative redress mechanisms, or know how to register a complaint with the Commission; regrets that, despite the Commission’s recommendations, alternative conflict resolution mechanisms have not yet been correctly set up or are not yet running satisfactorily;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 27 27. Deplores the fact that only a small percentage of citizens, consumers and SMEs are aware of existing alternative redress mechanisms, or know how to register a complaint with the Commission; points out that existing problem solving systems for citizens and businesses such as SOLVIT need to be strengthened in accordance with Parliament's report on SOLVIT of 2.3.2010 (2009/2138(INI)); calls on the Commission to initiate an accelerated Treaty infringement procedure if an unresolved SOLVIT complaint reveals a prima facie breach of Community law;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 27 a (new) 27a. Stresses the major role consumer associations play as regards circulating information to citizen consumers about their rights, in supporting consumers in consumer disputes, and in promoting consumer interests in the construction of the internal market;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution Subtitle Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution 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, innovation, 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;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution 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 innovative and competitive;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution 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 12 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E a (new) Ea. whereas, increasingly, single market and international trade issues are interdependent and affect each other,
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution 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
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 28 a (new) 28a. Considers that obstacles of SMEs to access public procurement markets should be further removed in order to boost further competitiveness in the single market; more precisely simplifying requirements for SMEs in calls for tender of contracting authorities
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 28 a (new) 28a. Supports the further implementation of the ‘Think Small First’ principle and its application as a general principle in the processes of economic policymaking and lawmaking at EU level;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 29 29. Will back future joint initiatives by the Commission and the Member States to: (1) support small businesses operating across borders throughout the EU; (2) effect a tangible reduction in administrative, financial and regulatory burdens, particularly the administrative hurdles faced by SMEs, in accordance with the principle of proportionality; in this regard calls on the Member States and the European Commission to strictly implement and apply the Think Small First principle as outlined in the Small Business Act.
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 29 29.
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 29 29. Will back future joint initiatives by the Commission and the Member States to: (1) support small businesses operating across borders throughout the EU; (2) effect a tangible reduction in administrative, financial and regulatory burdens, particularly the administrative hurdles faced by SMEs, irrespective of whether they operate locally, nationally or at European level, in accordance with the principle of proportionality;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 29 29. Will back future joint initiatives by the Commission and the Member States to: (1) support small businesses operating across borders throughout the EU; (2) effect a tangible reduction in administrative, financial and regulatory burdens, particularly the administrative hurdles faced by SMEs, in accordance with the
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 29 a (new) 29a. Asks the Commission to step up its efforts to help SMEs bridge the linguistic gap which often prevents them from doing business in Member States other than their own, by offering all information, and services, on the single market in all the official European Union languages;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 29 b (new) 29b. Remains committed to reduce Golden Plating in new Single Market legislation, and ask Member States, and in particular their parliaments, to remain committed to the fight against golden plating when transposing EU legislation, as these extra burdens are particularly taxing for SMEs;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 30 30. Agrees that proper implementation of the Small Business Act - in particular regarding a strict application of the SME test by the Commission when proposing new legislative internal market measures - and the introduction of a European private company statute will guarantee the practical integration of SMEs into a relevant and viable single European system;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E E. whereas,
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 30 – subparagraph a (new) a) Supports strongly the Regulation governing translation requirements for the future EU patent, which will finally make the EU Patent a reality and reinforce Europe as a driving force of innovation and competition in the world;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 30 a (new) 30a. Recognises that the introduction of a statute for a European Mutual Society would boost the single market in retail financial services by offering the many mutual companies operating in this sector the possibility of expanding beyond their borders;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 30 a (new) 30a. States that the most important problem for SMEs in times of economic crisis is their access to finance; regrets that as a result of the withdrawal of large banks from rural and under populated or economically weak areas a major problem for SME regarding access to finance has emerged; welcomes the important role of savings banks and various cooperative movements as regards financing the regional economy and their contribution to the social market economy due to their promotion of ethical and social projects.
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 30 b (new) 30b. Agrees that the notification procedure introduced by Directive 98/34/EC is a very efficient tool for improving national legislation on the one hand and for avoiding barriers in the single market particularly for SMEs on the other hand; believes that the Commission should reinforce the mechanism by starting a fast track infringement procedure if a Member State does not comply with a detailed opinion issued by the Commission or does not react to a detailed opinion issued by a Member State.
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 30 c (new) 30c. Supports strongly the Regulation governing translation requirements for the future EU patent, which will finally make the EU Patent a reality and reinforce Europe as a driving force of innovation and competition in the world; further supports the review of the Community Trade Mark system to achieve higher quality and better perspectives for this system;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 30 d (new) 30d. Believes that different economic and social policies such as budget, tax, education and research policies have to be coordinated at EU level;
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 31 31. Asserts that, under the principle of subsidiarity, a substantial part of the administrative and legal responsibility for the single market lies in the hands of the Member States and, where appropriate, of their regional and local authorities, which, together with other EU institutions, must therefore take real ownership of the single European market and its management;
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 32 32. Contends that the Internal Market Scoreboards
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 32 32. Contends that the Internal Market Scoreboards of July 2009 and March 2010 reveal clearly that Member States are still failing to meet their objectives for transposing, applying and enforcing single market legislation correctly and that there is a delay of transposition of European laws, which
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 33 33. Notes that a gradual fragmentation of rules and inconsistencies in the implementation of legislation in the EU are proving increasingly detrimental to the completion of the single market; notes that the EU has yet to adopt a set of internally coherent policies designed to
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E a (new) Ea. whereas many European citizens are not aware of their own practical benefits from the single market, as too little information on the single market is available and it is not explained properly,
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 33 a (new) 33 a. Underlines that the principal challenge is, therefore, proper transposition and enforcement by Member States of the single market directives and regulations; notes that in those areas where at least one Member State has failed to adequately implement legislation, the single market is practically non-existent; asks the Commission to consider introducing fast-track procedures to deal with severe problems in implementation and transposition of EU legislation;
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 34 a (new) 34a. Takes note of the new concept of 'smart regulation' as introduced in the Commission's communication on EU2020; asks for further clarification on the "smart regulation agenda" such as on the intention to a wider use of regulations instead of directives; considers it essential that this concept does not fall behind but goes beyond the concept of "better regulation" in terms of ambition; calls on the Commission to step up its efforts on reducing administrative burden, e.g. by introducing new reduction targets.
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 35. Proposes that, with a view to the
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 a (new) 35a. Calls on the Commission, in this context, to consider whether ‘sunrise clauses’ should be introduced, under which directives related to the EU single market could come into force automatically should Member States fail to transpose them in time;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 36 36. Invites the Commission to ensure proper implementation and transposition through more systematic, independent monitoring in order to speed up and expedite infringement proceedings; contends that delays in the settlement of
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 36 a (new) 36a. Asks the Commission to develop new ways, other than formal infringement procedures, to improve the transposition and enforcement of Single market rules; in this context, asks them to consider innovative mechanisms, such as the mutual evaluation procedure envisaged in the Services Directive, to encourage peer review and Member State ownership, as well as improve informal problem solving mechanisms such as SOLVIT and EU- PILOT which would have significant benefit for citizens facing every day frustrations in the single market;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution 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 147 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 37 37. Urges the Commission to ensure proper coordination and to work in collaboration with Parliament and the national governments of the Member States, as well as major trading partners and business and consumer associations, in surveillance of the goods market and in cross-border enforcement of consumer protection law and to control the undisciplined flow of information reaching European consumers and citizens;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 37 37. Urges the Commission to ensure proper coordination and to work in collaboration with Parliament and the national governments of the Member States, as well as major trading partners, in surveillance of the goods market and in cross-border enforcement of consumer protection law
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 37 a (new) 37a. Emphasises however that, wherever necessary for consumer safety, penalties should be proposed, bearing in mind the principle of the proportionality of measures taken, since the protection of citizens cannot depend on voluntary implementation of rules;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 1 1. Considers that the Union is facing a particularly problematic time in the history of single European market integration; takes the view that the current and future challenges must be addressed with coherence, determination, commitment and strength, necessarily coupled with sensitivity and practicality, in a spirit of cooperation and solidarity; emphasises that this process will necessitate firm authority and considerable initiative on the part of the European Commission, and political commitment from the Council, the Member States and the European Parliament;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 37 a (new) 37a. Stresses that violations of consumer rights are inextricably linked with the lack of accountability on the internal market; calls on the Commission to take steps to inform consumers in this area; calls on the Commission to adopt legislation that will help protect consumers' economic interests; calls on the Member States to strengthen the measures and the bodies responsible for supervision of the internal market;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 38 38. Recommends that the Commission conduct an independent exercise to identify the top 20 single-market-related sources of dissatisfaction and frustration which citizens encounter every day, in particular on the labour market, in relation to e- commerce, cross-border medical care, vehicle purchase and hire, portability of pensions, mutual recognition of professional qualifications, child custody, adoption and maintenance and allowances;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 38 38. Recommends that the Commission conduct an independent exercise to identify the top 20 single-market-related sources of dissatisfaction and frustration which citizens encounter every day, in particular in relation to cross-border e-business, the financial services, telephony, transport services, cross-border medical care, vehicle purchase and hire, portability of pensions, and mutual recognition of professional qualifications
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 38 38. Recommends that the Commission
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 40 40. Asks the Commission to give more assistance to Member States and, where appropriate, to their regional and local authorities so as to facilitate proper compliance with EU standards; stresses that the EU institutions as a whole must tighten the rules and encourage Member States to improve the transposition of laws in a correct and timely manner, in order to ensure that the same rules apply throughout the Union;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 41 41. Calls for the strengthening of Parliament’s role in the areas of
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 42 42. Calls on the Member States to ensure better coordination and exchange of best practices in the single market, particularly through
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 42 42. Calls on the Member States to ensure better coordination and exchange of best practices in the single market, particularly through strengthening of the "points of single contact" and training of single market and consumer protection
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 42 a (new) 42a. Calls on all the institutional actors- European institutions, National Parliaments and executives, local and regional authorities- to reorganise the policy process, and in particular the implementation, of all legislation dealing with the single market, so as to be able to deliver results faster and more efficiently; Calls on the Commission to set-up a framework for these national and local authorities to cooperate throughout this process, fully respecting the principle of subsidiarity;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 43 43. Insists that the Commission ensure: independent scrutiny of regulatory proposals for their quality and their impact on the real economy; the adoption of ex- ante and ex-post mechanisms for verifying the effectiveness of legislation; the use of benchmarking against international best practice; the use of conformity assessments to gauge social and environmental impact at both EU and national level;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 2. Emphasises that the single market is not only an economic structure, and single market legislation protects and preserves specific fundamental rights of citizens, such as security and privacy, and that for this reason a smoothly functioning single market is in the best interests of European citizens, consumers and SMEs, given the many economic and other challenges that the EU currently faces;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 42 42. Calls on the Member States with the support of the Commission to ensure better coordination and exchange of best practices in the single market, particularly through strengthening of the "single points of
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 43 43. Insists that the Commission ensure: independent scrutiny of regulatory proposals for their quality; the adoption of ex-ante and ex-post mechanisms for verifying the effectiveness of legislation
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution Subtitle 9 Measures needed to inform and empower citizens and SMEs more effectively in the single market
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 44 44. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to develop a targeted communication strategy focusing on the day-to-day problems that citizens encounter when settling and taking up employment in another Member State, moving, shopping or selling across borders, and the social, health, consumer-protection and environmental-protection standards on which they can rely;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 44 44. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to develop a targeted communication strategy focusing on the day-to-day problems that citizens
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 44 44. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to develop a targeted communication strategy focusing on the day-to-day problems that citizens encounter when moving, shopping or selling across borders, and the social, health, consumer-protection and environmental-protection standards on which they can rely; considers that this communication strategy should expressly include problem-solving methods such as Solvit;
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 44 a (new) 44a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to step-up their efforts to ensure that product standards used within the single market become the main global standard, thus ensuring a level playing- field for European companies, and in particular SMEs, wishing to operate beyond the single market;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 44 b (new) 44b. Urges the Commission to focus on prioritising "consumer-friendly" legislation relating to the single market, which makes a difference to the daily life of European citizens, when planning out its yearly activities; believes that these prioritisation must be followed by adequate information campaigns so as to bolster citizens' perceptions on the Single Market;
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 45 Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 45 45. Calls on the Commission, together with the Member States, to develop outreach activities
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 a (new) 2 a. Considers that the focus on "competitiveness" and "cost cutting" underlying the Lisbon Strategy also aggravated the severe economic imbalances within the euro-zone (countries with large export surplus against countries with large current account deficits) and within the EU more generally, undermining the EU's economic, social and territorial cohesion;
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 45 45. Calls on the Commission, together with the Member States, to develop outreach activities in Member States ("road shows") bringing together the various stakeholders (i.e. Commissioners, MEPs, national governments and parliamentarians) and attracting as much media attention as possible;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 45 45.
Amendment 172 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 45 45. Calls on the Commission, together with the Member States, to
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 45 45. Calls on the Commission, together with the Member States, to develop outreach activities ("road shows") bringing together the various stakeholders (i.e.
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 45 a (new) 45a. Asks the Commission to launch a regular series of studies exploring the relationship between the Single Market and the average European citizen, focusing in particular on the costs and the benefits arising from this relationship, as well as the day-to-day challenges that they face;
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 46 46. Calls on the Member States, with the support of the Commission, to improve the capacity of problem-solving mechanisms, in particular SOLVIT, by allocating additional financial and human resources
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 46 46. Calls on the Member States, with the support of the Commission, to improve the capacity of problem-solving mechanisms, in particular SOLVIT, by allocating additional financial and human resources;
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 46 a (new) 46a. Exhorts the Commission, and the Member States, to keep up and increase, through information campaigns and tougher checks, their efforts in raising citizens' confidence in the CE marking, a fundamental tool to ensure consumer rights and quality standards in the Single Market;
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 46 a (new) 46a. Calls on the Commission to complete the single market assistance services (SMAS) project as a matter of priority; Calls on the Commission and Member States to work together to ensure that the revamped Your Europe portal becomes a genuine one stop shop reference point for citizens and businesses in need of information and assistance about their rights in the single market;
Amendment 179 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 46 a (new) 46a. Highlights the key role played by the Enterprise Europe Network in enabling SMEs to make use of the opportunities offered by the single market; stresses that bureaucratic obligations tie up valuable resources and thereby hinder a stronger focus on the Enterprise Europe Network's core task of providing tailor-made support for SMEs; calls on the Commission to make more use of the Enterprise Europe Network for the targeted distribution of information and to reduce bureaucracy for the Enterprise Europe Network's partners;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Stresses that, notwithstanding the economic, technological and legislative
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 47 b (new) 47b. Believes that both financial services and access to finance have to be a part of the EU 2020 strategy.
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 47 47. Suggests to the Commission that the single market strategy should comprise four main stages: the first to include an evaluation or health check of the current situation to assess the degree of distortion and strain that the various stakeholders in the single market have suffered as a result of the crisis; the second to see the launch of a consolidation process, tying up loose ends; the third to entail development and improvement of the single market; and the fourth to concentrate on the longer-term vision of the market (EU 2020 Strategy) based on specific and measurable social goals (eradicating poverty and social exclusion, full employment with ‘decent work’, social and territorial cohesion across the EU, equity, social welfare) reflecting the interest of European citizens;
Amendment 182 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 47 47. Suggests to the Commission that the single market strategy should comprise four main stages: the first to include an evaluation or health check of the current situation to assess the degree of distortion and strain that the various stakeholders in the single market have suffered, notably as a result of the crisis; the second to see the launch of a consolidation process, tying up loose ends; the third to entail development and improvement of the single market; and the fourth to concentrate on the longer- term vision of the market (EU 2020 Strategy);
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 47 a (new) 47a. Suggests that in the first stage of the above mentioned healthcheck, the Commission should conduct a financial audit of the EU budget and allocate as a priority more funds on investments in education, innovation and research; calls on the Member States to set the same priorities in their budget spending.
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 48 48. Encourages the Commission to
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 48 48. Encourages the Commission to bring forward a proposal for a single market legislative package by May 2011 – well ahead of the adoption of its announced 2012 single market programme –
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 48 48. Encourages the Commission to bring forward a proposal for a single market legislative package by May 2011 – well ahead of the adoption of its announced 2012 single market programme – putting social policy and consumer protection at the centre of the single market to achieve the desired aim of a highly competitive social market economy, which would at the same time ensure a credible level playing field away from the focus on short-term profit of especially big enterprises;
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 48 48. Encourages the Commission to bring forward a proposal for a single market legislative package by May 2011 – well ahead of the adoption of its announced 2012 single market programme – putting social and ecological policy and consumer protection at the centre of the single market to achieve the desired aim of a highly competitive social market economy, which would at the same time ensure a credible level playing field;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 48 48. Encourages the Commission to bring forward a proposal for a single market legislative package by May 2011 – well ahead of the adoption of its announced 2012 single market programme – putting
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 48 48.
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution 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 190 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 48 48. Encourages the Commission to bring forward a proposal for a single market legislative package by May 2011 – well ahead of the adoption of its announced 2012 single market programme – putting
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 48 48. Encourages the Commission to bring forward a proposal for a single market legislative package by May 2011 – well ahead of the adoption of its announced 2012 single market programme – putting
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 49 Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 50 Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 50 Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 50 Amendment 196 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 50 50. Calls on the Commission to
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 50 50. Calls on the Commission to attach to its single market legislative package a working document on measures to develop a social single market based on Article 9 TFEU, including a framework
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 50 50. Calls on the Commission to attach to its single market legislative package a working document on measures to develop a social single market based on Article 9 TFEU, including
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 51 51. Calls on the Commission to attach to its single market legislative package a working document on measures to develop a low-carbon, green single market based on Article 11 TFEU, as well as on measures likely to further innovation in cleaner technologies and in products and services likely to reduce environmental risks and to minimise the use of raw materials;
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) Aa. Whereas at the same time, efforts to harmonise legislation to overcome these obstacles, have sometimes led to over- regulation from which the majority of SMEs, in particular the micro-entities who do not wish to operate at the European market but prefer to remain active locally, as well as local governments have had adverse effects, and therefore better regulation is called for with a minimum of administrative burdens,
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 4. Welcomes and fully supports the Commission’s intention to ‘put back at the heart of the internal market those who live in it and use it daily’ as well as its commitment to be a determined defender of the single market through full use of its enforcement powers and to come up with a social and environmental vision of the single market based on the Lisbon Treaty obligations;
Amendment 200 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 51 Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 51 a (new) 51a. Calls on the Commission to include to its single market legislative proposals for Member States specifically aimed at combating economic exploitation of consumers; such as restoring, at European level, the right of Member States to control the prices of basic goods;
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 52 52. Calls on the Commission – in preparing its single market legislative package – to identify carefully the existing priorities of the
Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 52 52. Calls on the Commission – in preparing
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 52 52. Calls on the Commission – in preparing its single market legislative package – to identify carefully the existing priorities of the individual Member States and those of the Union, particularly in areas that have given rise over the years to concerns about the workings of the internal market (e.g. public services, public procurement, bureaucratic rules affecting SMEs)
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 53 53. Calls on the Commission – in preparing
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 54 54. Calls on the Commission to ensure that there is better coordination within the Commission departments so that legislative proposals from the various DGs dealing with, or affecting, single market policy do not contradict one another and that the order of business in the Commission is revamped to provide citizens and businesses with a more coherent system;
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 54 54. Calls on the Commission to ensure that legislative proposals from the various DGs dealing with, or affecting, single market policy
Amendment 208 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 54 54. Calls on the Commission to ensure that legislative and non-legislative proposals from the various DGs dealing with, or affecting, single market policy
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 55 Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 a (new) 4 a. Stresses that the business-oriented functioning of the Internal Market, especially during the last decade, has contributed to increased social inequalities; highlights that the privatization of services, together with a policy that stimulates greed and a focus on short-term profits, has led to the current financial and economic crisis;
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 55 55. Recommends th
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 55 55. Recommends the commissioning of a study to identify ways and means of integrating consumer interest into all EU policies, thus enabling consumer protection to feature automatically as
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 56 Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 56 56. Is of the opinion that the Commission needs to initiate proceedings for infringement of the treaty against Member States that have not fully transposed the Service Directive; also considers that the Commission needs to undertake an evaluation of the Service Directive to determine whether it has achieved its main goals and to treat the issue as a matter of urgency;
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 56 56. Is of the opinion that the Commission needs to undertake an evaluation of the Service Directive to determine whether it has achieved its main goals
Amendment 215 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 56 56. Is of the opinion that the Commission needs to undertake an evaluation of the Services Directive to determine whether it has achieved its main goals and to treat the issue as a matter of urgency;
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 56 56. Is of the opinion that the Commission needs to undertake an evaluation of the Service Directive to determine whether it
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 56 56.
Amendment 218 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 56 56. Is of the opinion that the Commission needs to undertake an evaluation of the Service Directive to determine whether it has achieved its main goals, whether there have been any adverse side effects, in particular in the field of social rights and how these can be addressed, and to treat the issue as a matter of urgency;
Amendment 219 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 56 56. Is of the opinion that after the Commission
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 a (new) 4 a. Reiterates the importance of continuing the liberalisation process of the markets that still remain partially closed, in particular the transport, energy and telecom sectors;
Amendment 220 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 57 a (new) 57a. Believes that after ensuring appropriate implementation, the Commission should undertake an assessment of the Services Directive to determine whether its goals have been achieved as set out in Article 41 of the Directive; considers, also, that the Commission, taking into account the results of that analysis, should bring forward further proposals for removing barriers to the provision of services in the European Union;
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 58 Amendment 222 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 58 58.
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 58 58. Notes that different redress mechanisms a
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 58 58. Notes that redress mechanisms applicable across the Union have yielded limited results and therefore urges the Commission to bring forward a legislative proposal to ensure the implementation
Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 58 58. Notes that redress mechanisms applicable across the Union have yielded limited results and therefore
Amendment 226 #
Amendment 227 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 59 59. Invites the Commission to consider adopting a "Citizens" Charter" encompassing the various facets of the right to live and work anywhere in the EU; holds that this right must be readily available to all citizens;
Amendment 228 #
Amendment 229 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 59 a (new) 59a. Calls on the Commission to submit to Parliament and the Council during the current parliamentary term a proposal for a regulation on a European Statute for Mutual Societies and Associations;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 5. Emphasises that integration into the single market is not an irreversible process and that the continued existence of the single market should not be taken for granted;
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 59 a (new) Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 60 60. Calls on the Commission to focus more closely on market monitoring, especially in the areas of financial services (including banking services and investment), insurance, telephony,
Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 60 60. Calls on the Commission to focus more closely on market monitoring, especially in the areas of financial services, insurance, telephony, banking services and utilities, and believes that the effective monitoring of markets will strengthen fair competition and increase their efficiency, thus benefit
Amendment 233 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 60 a (new) 60a. Calls on the Commission to launch a feasibility study on the added value the internal market will derive from the European Mutual Society Statute;
Amendment 234 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 60 a (new) 60a. Takes the view that the quality of consumer protection in the financial services sector requires considerable improvement; is in favour of allowing market authorities to scrutinise or even prohibit toxic financial products;
Amendment 235 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 61 61. Maintains that continued sustainable development of the internal market depends on: (1) the Commission’s continued commitment to all market initiatives required to stimulate and improve significantly our standing and competitive edge in the global market; (2)
Amendment 236 #
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Expresses its concern that the re-
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Expresses its concern that the re- emergence of economic protectionism
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Expresses its concern that the re- emergence of economic protectionism at national level could result in fragmentation of the single market; is concerned that the current economic and financial debacle could be used
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Expresses its concern that the re- emergence of economic protectionism could result in fragmentation of the single market that the Union cannot afford; is concerned that the current economic and financial debacle could be used as a justification for reviving protectionist measures in various Member States;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Expresses its concern that the re- emergence of economic protectionism could result in fragmentation of the single market and therefore needs to be avoided; is concerned that the current economic and financial debacle could be used as a justification for reviving protectionist measures in various Member States;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas only a small percentage of workers, service providers and professionals take the step of moving to another Member State, inter alia because the red tape involved and the risk of losing social security rights make it too complicated and costly to do so,
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Considers that the crisis has substantially
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Considers that the policy for dealing with the crisis has substantially damaged the single market integration process and that antagonism towards, and distrust of, the single market have increased as a result of shortcomings and inequalities emanating from Member States’ economic systems;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Believes that the crisis should
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8.
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Believes that the crisis should provide a window of opportunity for reforming, consolidating and improving the current structure of the single market, releasing the job creation potential of a green economy and regaining the trust and confidence of citizens, especially consumers and SMEs;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Stresses that the relaunch of the single market must not be
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 a (new) 9a. Underlines that relaunch of the internal market should attain concrete, measurable, achievable, relevant and timed targets, which must be achieved by proper and effective policy instruments, based on the four freedoms of movement, available to all EU citizens;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 a (new) 9a. Believes that a human-centred approach should replace the exclusive emphasis of single market on business competiveness and labour-costs reduction policies that led to the gradual deterioration of peoples' income and rights.
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas few entrepreneurs and SMEs offer their goods and services outside their domestic markets, due to language barriers, lack of certainty regarding investments, payments and liability and to differences in the legal, administrative, social and cultural traditions of the different member states,
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution 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 41 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Highlights the fact that the single European market is in dire need of a new momentum, and that strong leadership from
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Takes the view that the old perception of the single market as being primarily tied to economic considerations needs revisiting; stresses that all those involved in shaping and implementing the single market need to adopt a more holistic approach, fully integrating citizens’ concerns, particularly in relation to economic, social, health and environmental issues and consumer protection so that the single market can function for the benefit of all;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Takes the view that the old perception of the single market as being primarily tied to economic considerations needs revisiting; stresses that all those involved in shaping and implementing the single market need to adopt a more holistic approach, fully integrating citizens’ concerns, particularly in relation to economic, social, fiscal, health and environmental issues and consumer protection;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Takes the view that the old perception of the single market as being primarily tied to economic considerations needs
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Takes the view that the old perception
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11.
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Takes the view that the old perception of the single market as being primarily tied to economic considerations needs
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11a. Emphasises that a stronger, deeper and expanded single market is of vital importance for growth and job creation;
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas the single market must not be seen in isolation from other horizontal policy areas, particularly health, consumer protection, environment, sustainable development and external polic
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12.
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13.
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 a (new) 13a. States that reducing debt and coping with extensive budget deficit procedures have to be coordinated and be in line with the EU2020 strategy;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution 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 54 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Calls for a new paradigm of political thinking, with citizens and consumers occupying a central role in the relaunch of the single European market; holds the view that this can be achieved by making the European citizen the main political
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Calls for a new paradigm of political thinking, with citizens
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Calls for a new paradigm of political thinking, with citizens and consumers occupying a central role in the relaunch of the single European market; holds the view that this can be achieved by making the European citizen
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Calls for a new paradigm of political thinking,
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Maintains that revitalisation of the single market requires the introduction of more adequate checks and balances to guarantee citizens
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Maintains that revitalisation of the single market requires the introduction of more adequate checks and balances to guarantee citizens and consumers the necessary protection; considers that a citizen-based approach will help the Union to win back popular confidence in the single European market and to find the right formula for the adoption of initiatives to give the Union the competitive edge it needs
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas the single market must not be seen in isolation from other horizontal policy areas, particularly health, social protection, labour law, the environment, sustainable development and external policy,
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Maintains that
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Maintains that revitalisation of the single market requires
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Maintains that revitalisation of the single market requires the introduction of more adequate checks and balances
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Reiterates that meaningful assessment of the social, consumer
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Reiterates that meaningful assessment of the social, consumer and environmental impacts of the single market
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 a (new) 16a. Believes that the abolition of borders in the single market boosted further the competitiveness of Europe in a globalised world;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 b (new) 16b. Stresses that the internal market and the common currency were a protective shield in Europe to reduce negative impact of the financial crisis on businesses and citizens in Europe.
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 a (new) 16a. Emphasises that the proper functioning of the internal market cannot be dissociated from the role Europe must play as a global economic actor; takes the view that the European Union must protect its social and environmental model by strictly enforcing its rules on imported products and services and firmly upholding the application of those rules, including in the context of multilateral bodies and of World Trade Organisation dispute settlement procedures in particular;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Takes the view that the major challenge facing the Union is to find a balance between an open economy, capable of stimulating economic growth and job creation and providing an integrated response to the major challenges of the future (such as competitiveness, research and development, industrial policy, demographic issues, the environment and new technologies), and an economic system which is equally up to the task of delivering consumer protection and the social and environmental safeguards that citizens need;
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas the single market must not be seen in isolation from other horizontal policy areas, particularly health, environment, sustainable development, consumer policy and external polic
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Takes the view that the major challenge facing the Union is to find
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution 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 72 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Highlights the importance of establishing a
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Highlights the importance of establishing a green single market for emerging low-carbon and environmental technologies, services and products by developing EU-wide standards for
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Highlights the importance of establishing a green single market for emerging low-carbon and environmental technologies, services and products by developing EU-wide standards for measuring and auditing carbon footprints; points out that clear standards and labelling for energy efficient products must become mandatory throughout the Union; notes that existing methodologies and standards should be taken into account when developing new standards for carbon footprints; emphasises that such standards must not create overly burdensome requirements in particular for SMEs;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 18. Highlights the importance of establishing a green single market for emerging low-carbon and environmental technologies, services and products by developing EU-wide standards for measuring and auditing carbon footprints and for labelling products which meet the required standards; points out that clear standards and labelling for energy efficient products must become mandatory throughout the Union;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 18 a (new) 18a. Emphasises the huge potential – for the single market – of developing economic activities that produce goods and services making it possible to measure, prevent, reduce, minimise or remedy environmental damage to the water, air and soil or problems relating to waste, noise or ecosystems; stresses, in this connection, the need for massive investment in innovation in the area of cleaner technologies and products and services that can reduce environmental hazards and minimise the use of primary materials;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Urges that, in the digital era, the Union must fully realise the potential and opportunities offered by the Internet and e- commerce for further development of the single market; emphasises that the development of new technologies must take into account the need to protect citizens
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Urges that, in the digital era, the Union must fully realise the potential and opportunities offered by the Internet
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Urges that, in the digital era, the Union
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D a (new) D a. whereas the liberalization in the single market has led to increased prices, lower quality and fewer services.
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 19. Urges that, in the digital era, the Union must fully realise the potential and opportunities offered by the Internet and e- commerce for further development of the single market and, together with Member States, take all necessary steps to overcome the digital divide and make internet available to all European citizens; emphasises that the development of new technologies must take into account the need to protect citizens, consumers and SMEs;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 a (new) 19a. Notes that, in the insurance segment of the financial services sector, 68% of companies are mutual societies, which have a combined market share of 25% and provide cover to 230 million Europeans; notes that European company law is not geared to the development of mutual societies in the internal market;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 19 a (new) 19a. Stresses the importance of establishing new business models where rightholders of copyright and related rights are rightly remunerated without creating unnecessary limits to the access to creative content online for consumers;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Endorses initiatives taken by the Commission to pr
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Endorses initiatives taken by the Commission to prioritise research, knowledge and innovation in any future strategy; expects that sufficient funds will be allocated in successive Union budgets in order to address these crucial matters; recalls, in this context, the urgent need to resolve the outstanding issue of the Community patent;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 20 20. Endorses initiatives taken by the Commission to prioritise research, knowledge and innovation in any future strategy; expects that sufficient funds will be allocated in successive Union budgets in order to address these crucial matters; proposes that the Commission starts to examine the possible ways to find concrete benchmarks in order to measure success in the areas of research, knowledge and innovation.
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 a (new) 21a. Takes the view that the functioning of the single market would be improved by introducing a genuine environmental tax, for instance in the form of a climate- energy contribution designed to ensure that environmental impact is incorporated into the cost of products and services, thereby reducing distortions of competition;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 a (new) 21a. Underlines that the EU is heavily dependent on trade with third countries; therefore stresses the need to ensure that the single market does not become a barrier in itself to imports from and exports to third countries;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 b (new) 21b. finds that the EU should consider as a longer term objective to extend the single market to include more countries from outside the EU borders building on the experiences of the EEA;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22. Is convinced that the
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution Recital E E. whereas
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22. Is convinced that the ordinary citizen's perception, understanding and knowledge of the single market are low, non-existent, confused or negative; is of the opinion that the majority of
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22. Is convinced that the ordinary citizen’s perception,
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 22 22. Is convinced that the ordinary citizen's perception, understanding and knowledge of the single market are low, non-existent, confused or negative;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 23. Emphasises that, in order to secure further social backing and cooperation of European citizens, the EU and national institutions must
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 23. Emphasises that, in order to secure the social backing and cooperation of European citizens, the EU and national institutions must
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 23. Emphasises that, in order to secure the political, economic and social backing and cooperation of European citizens, the EU and
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 23. Emphasises that, in order to secure the social backing and cooperation of European citizens,
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution 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
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution 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 99 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. Considers that some of the most evident problems encountered by consumers, especially in the services sector, are: (1) lack of access to comparable and objective information, including price comparisons; (2) complexity in contractual relations; (3) uncertainty concerning payment and redress;
source: PE-439.939
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