supports the adoption and early implementation of the proposed regulation, which would ensure continuity of supply of medicinal products for human use in Northern Ireland;
agrees that it is essential that the proposed regulation contains a provision enabling suspension of the specific rules by the Commission in the event of the UK's non-compliance;
encourages ongoing consultation with key stakeholders to help ensure timely implementation as well as monitoring for any future risks to the delivery of the objectives of the proposed regulation;
The EESC stresses that the Commission should look at successful national, regional and sectoral models of social dialogue and see why they worked so well;
points to the fact that the Recommendation does not include sectoral collective agreements as an important factor for improving collective bargaining coverage;
recommends establishing a common national framework for consultations with social partners, If the social partners are not meaningfully involved, the Commission should take action.
The EESC encourages the Commission to continue working towards including VAT deductions in the One Stop Shop (OSS) as soon as possible and towards timely VAT refunds;
points out that the current system treats goods and services in intra-Community trade differently. The EESC regrets that the comprehensive proposal from the Commission does not take the opportunity to align VAT treatment between goods and services;
is concerned that the considerable implementation costs for the measures in the comprehensive VAT package could lead to higher prices for consumers;
The EESC states that existing systems of indicators must be reviewed, complemented and made consistent with each other;
believes that the Country-Specific Recommendations (CSRs), one of the main instruments of the Semester, should cover a period of three years, with annual evaluations and reviews;
proposes that the social partners and civil society organisations be involved through a structured formal consultation procedure, which should take place in a specific body to which such functions are legally attributed;
Member States must provide support and assistance to victims, particularly those from vulnerable groups;
Comply with Directive 2004/81/EC on the residence permit issued to third-country nationals who are victims of trafficking and cooperate with the competent authorities.
Among the new challenges the Single Market is faced with, the EESC singles out the following:
the EU's open strategic autonomy is the number one new challenge facing the single market. Priority must be given to supply and trade, energy and critical raw materials.
the increasing emergence of national regulations "pre-empting" EU initiatives and preventing harmonization across the Member States is the most worrying trend affecting the competitiveness and sustainability of Europe's businesses;
The EESC sees a need to revise the rules as follows:
raising the current ceiling for state aid allocated to health and social services, which currently amounts to EUR 500 000 over three financial years. In the EESC's view, increases should go beyond the rate of inflation, in view of the strategic role played by health and social services across the EU and the worrying situation in many Member States when it comes to access to care. The Commission should support the Member States' efforts to invest in such areas.
clarifying the key concepts of reasonable profit margin, market failure and social housing.
The EESC agrees with the need for effective collection and transfer of advanced passenger information (API) and passenger name records (PNR) data for border management purposes, for combatting illegal immigration and for security reasons;
recognises the need for harmonised implementation and monitoring of the applicable legal framework to eliminate differences resulting from varied practices in Member States;
suggests further clarifying the norms on penalties imposed on private operators in the aviation industry and proposes a "threshold of tolerance" for errors at EU level ...
