Alarming political decisions have shown that the EU lacks adequate instruments to safeguard fundamental values and the rule of law. A new European mechanism on the rule of law and fundamental rights is needed. The mechanism should include a regular assessment of Member States in a governance "policy coordination cycle", similar to the European Semester. The EESC should play an active role, as this will make for strong civil society involvement. The mechanism must be based on indicators, taking into account the indivisibility of fundamental economic, social and cultural rights and civil and political rights.
Download — Parecer do CESE: European control mechanism on the rule of law and fundamental rights (own-initiative opinion)
The CPC Regulation harmonises the cooperation framework between national authorities in the EU so that their enforcement action can cover the full dimension of the Single Market. The primary aim of the CPC Regulation is to ensure legal certainty in the Single Market via coherent enforcement of key Union consumer acquis. The EESC supports this proposal, considering it to be timely and its content to be well-argued and developed by applying the proposal to all stakeholders - consumers, businesses and national authorities and calling on the Commission to launch the coordination with the Member States needed to implement the measures and to extend the scope of the coordinated actions.
Download — Parecer do CESE: Consumer protection laws
In September 2015 world leaders adopted the UN agenda Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, establishing a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet, ensure protection of human rights and guarantee prosperity for all. As an initial step the Commission is carrying out an internal "mapping" exercise in order to identify which existing EU policies already address the challenges set by the SDGs. The Commission has asked the Committee to contribute to that process with the present exploratory opinion.
Download — Parecer do CESE: Sustainable development: a mapping of the EU's internal and external policies
(exploratory opinion requested by the European Commission)
The EESC welcomes the "Action Plan on VAT", and calls for a definitive VAT system that is clear, consistent, robust and comprehensive, as well as proportionate and future-proof. The Committee welcomes the strong focus on closing the VAT gap and tackling the susceptibility of VAT to fraud. There should be results delivered without delay, including by improving cooperation between tax administrations. “Bona fide” enterprises should be protected and no new excessive measures should be imposed on them. The future system of reduced rates must combine flexibility and legal certainty, be transparent, and for the sake of simplicity the number of reduced rates and exemptions must be limited.
VAT Action Plan - Measures to modernise VAT in the EU - Bertrand LAPALUS - DG TAXUD
Download — Parecer do CESE: Building a coalition of civil society and subnational authorities to deliver commitments of the Paris Agreement (own-initiative opinion)
