urges the Commission to adopt far more ambitious measures to address the structural housing crisis, including better framework conditions, a right to adequate and affordable housing in EU primary law, a fundamental reform of the energy market design, sufficient funding and a stronger focus on young people, families and sustainability.
calls on the co-legislators to support the objectives and measures set out in the European Commission’s proposals, particularly on central supervision by ESMA;
ensure that any simplification of sustainable finance legislation, including disclosure requirements, does not weaken the contribution of the financial system and its credit and investment products to achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal within the legally bound timelines, and does not weaken measures against greenwashing;
supports the revision of the Tobacco Taxation Directive, recognising the need to adapt the excise framework to market developments, new products and public health objectives, while stressing that the reform must remain proportionate, predictable and economically sustainable;
fully supports the Commission’s efforts to promote a more comprehensive and holistic approach to tackling VAT fraud by enabling the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) to access value added tax (VAT) data under Council Regulation (EU) No 904/2010;
regrets that the Commission has once again refrained from presenting the Annual Sustainable Growth Survey (ASGS) and stresses that sustainable economic growth is a necessary condition for Europe to meet its multiple commitments, welcomes the European Macroeconomic Report, which provides a deep dive into the underlying structural challenges facing the EU and the new recommendation on human capital, which is a crucial element in filling the EU technological gap, also taking into account the EU demographic challenge;
welcomes the Strategy for European Life Sciences, and stresses that ensuring a holistic approach and a nourishing environment can make Europe a global leader in the life science (especially for rare diseases and genomics). Such an approach involves:
o comprehensive scientific and data-based methods to diagnose and understand the causes of diseases (e.g. genetics, unhealthy habits and lifestyles, pollution, stress, etc.);
o disseminating information on prevention and early diagnosis;
o screening, effective and accessible treatment;
o high-quality care and accessible support infrastructure for patients and their families.
stresses that the European electricity sector must have the capacity to plan the needs of the electricity system at EU level and in partner countries, based on a common energy scenario set out by the Commission and national system operators.
considers that the programme in question pursues the right strategy by devising measures and support aimed at increasing and improving cooperation between the Commission and Member States, and among the Member States, in matters pertaining to the single market, Customs Union, taxation and efforts to combat fraud;
urges the European Commission to encourage Member States to boost human resources in customs authorities and in services collecting customs duties and taxes, especially in those Member States that receive the most imports from Asia, and with regard to parcels sent via digital platforms that are located there;
calls for the simplification of EU regulations to be accompanied by similar changes in each Member State’s legislation, so that national laws do not make it difficult for individuals and businesses to apply the rules;
recommends that digitalisation of the procedures to be followed by individuals and businesses should not result in greater complexity or in an increase in their reporting or other obligations;
considers it important to support consumer associations, given the key role they play in consumer dispute resolution arrangements, in monitoring the compliance of products circulating on the single market, and in efforts to boost financial literacy.
