8ª legislatura Doru-Claudian FRUNZULICĂ

I welcome the Commission proposal for a regulation amending Council Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose citizens are exempt from that requirement, as regards the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union. The proposal is part of the legislative measures to adjust Union law to Brexit. It aims to clarify the situation of UK nationals when Union law ceases to apply to them as regards visa policy. The report recommends inserting the United Kingdom as regards British citizens into Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 (i.e. in the list of third countries whose nationals are exempt from the visa requirement).

. ‒ The purpose of the report is to adopt guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States. The instructions were first taken together in 2010, underpinning the Europe 2020 strategy. In 2018, they were aligned with the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights, to drive reforms at national level and to serve as a compass for a renewed process of convergence across Europe. I voted against the report while the validity of the broad economic policy guidelines is not limited to any specific period. The employment guidelines need to be drawn up each year. The Commission considers that the employment guidelines adopted in 2018 should remain stable to ensure a focus on their implementation.

The current evaluation of the social legislation in road transport in the EU has shown shortcomings in the current legal framework and problems regarding enforcement. Furthermore, several discrepancies exist between the Member States in interpretation, application, and implementation of the rules. This creates legal uncertainty and unequal treatment of drivers and operators, which is detrimental to the working, social and competition conditions in the sector. The Commission aims to amend the existing rules unsuccessfully to make the road transport sector fair, efficient and socially accountable, while at the same time to mitigate the excessive regulatory burdens on operators and preventing distortions of competition. Therefore I strongly oppose it since we need fair, equal conditions for all European drivers.

The Commission’s aim is to adapt and clarify the social rules in the Union in road transport to improve business and working conditions in the sector. I voted against the report since I strongly believe that it will lead to a significant reduction of international road freight transport with negative consequences for the Eastern European economy.
The most recent study by the European Commission highlights an acute shortage of secure parking places for trucks at the European level. It is clear evidence that negotiations on the mobility package are heading in the wrong direction, as the proposed rules on driving times and rest periods, and the banning of regular weekly rest in the cabin, will be impossible to observe.

I am not supporting the Commission’s proposal, which is part of the Mobility Package, and so I voted against it. I believe it will lead to a significant reduction of international road freight transport, with negative consequences for the Eastern European economy. The report restricts Eastern carriers’ access to the EU transport market and seriously affects the fundamental freedoms of movement within the EU single market. Restricting cabotage is an EU departure from the road to the free market, and the provision on the obligation to return home is unacceptable as it affects the fundamental freedom of movement in the EU with a negative impact on transport efficiency and the environment, which is contrary to the EU’s objectives of reducing CO2 emissions from transport. The report restricts the liberalisation of the road haulage market and introduces more restrictive conditions for carriers and a ‘waiting period’ in the country of origin before moving to another. Cabotage is a concern and will have a significant adverse economic impact on the Eastern transport market.

. ‒ I welcome the Commission proposal, which aims to extend common rules for the internal market in natural gas to gas pipelines from third countries. An integrated gas market is the cornerstone of the Energy Union and a key Commission priority. Directive 2009/73/EC (the Gas Directive) has made a significant contribution towards the creation of the internal market in natural gas. However, it does not explicitly set out a legal framework for gas pipelines to and from third countries. I voted in favour of the provisional agreement.

. ‒ The proposal establishes the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund for the period 2021-2027 and ensures that the Union budget will continue to support fisheries and maritime affairs policies.
Europe’s maritime sector employs more than 5 million people, generating almost EUR 500 billion a year, with the potential to create many more jobs. The output of the global ocean economy is estimated at EUR 1.3 trillion, and that figure could more than double by 2030. Fisheries are vital to the livelihood of many coastal communities in the EU and are an essential part of their cultural heritage. Along with aquaculture, the fisheries sector also contributes to food security and nutrition. Therefore I voted in favour of the report.

. ‒ I welcome the Commission proposal, for which I voted, since its purpose is to establish a multiannual plan for fisheries exploiting demersal stocks in the Western Mediterranean Sea. The Western Mediterranean is one of the most developed sub-regions in terms of fishing in the Mediterranean. It accounts for around 31% of its total landing (EUR 1.35 billion out of a total of EUR 4.76 billion) and about 19% of the officially reported Mediterranean fishing fleet. Demersal fisheries are highly sought after by fishermen due to their high commercial value. They are complex and involve many species of fish and crustaceans. The main demersal species caught in the Western Mediterranean are hake, red mullet, giant red shrimp, deep-water rose shrimp, blue and red shrimp and Norway lobster.

I welcome the Commission proposal for which I voted in favour of the provisional agreement. The purpose of the report targets strengthening the security standards applicable to identity cards and residence documents issued by the Member States to European Union citizens and their family members respectively. Identity card ownership is compulsory in 15 Member States from twenty-six EU Member States.
In line with Directive 2004/38/EC, mobile citizens and their family members, who are not nationals of a Member State, also receive documents proving their residence in their host Member State. While these residence documents are not travel documents, residence cards for those family members of mobile EU citizens, who themselves are not nationals of a Member State, used together with a passport grant the holders the right to enter the EU without a visa when they accompany or join an EU citizen.

I welcome the report for which I voted in favour of the provisional agreement. The report establishes a renewed framework to strengthen equality between men and women to labour market opportunities and treatment at work across the Union and to repeal Directive 2010/18/EC. This proposal for a Directive is part of a package of measures to deliver on the Commission’s commitment. It aims at addressing women’s under-representation in employment and support their career progression through improved conditions to reconcile their working and private duties. The current legal framework at the Union and Member States’ level provides limited provisions for men to assume an equal share of caring responsibilities with women. Reducing the gap is crucial to achieving greater gender equality.

The purpose of the proposal is to provide a base for the governance of further automation of processes defined by Union excise legislation. Decision No 1152/2003/EC is the founding decision for the computerised system (Excise Movement and Control System – EMCS). At the moment, it covers only movements of excise goods under excise duty suspension.
In order to allow the automation of the procedure for the movement of excise goods which have been released for consumption in the territory of one Member State and moved to the area of another Member State to be delivered for commercial purposes in that other Member State, Decision No 1152/2003/EC has to be modified. Since most provisions of the Decision are affected by that modification, the Decision should be recast in the interests of clarity. Given the objectives of the proposal, which I fully support, I voted in favour.

The public sector information (PSI), e.g., meteorological data, digital maps, statistics, and legal information is a valuable resource for the digital economy. Therefore, the EU has been promoting the re-use of public sector information for several years. Directive 2003/98/EC on the re-use of public sector information (‘PSI Directive’) aims to facilitate the re-use of PSI throughout the Union by harmonizing the basic conditions for reuse and removing major barriers to re-use in the internal market. I voted in favour of the report which aims overall to contribute to the strengthening of the EU’s data-economy by increasing the amount of public sector data available for re-use, ensuring fair competition and easy access to markets based on public sector information, and enhancing cross-border innovation based on data.

During the 2016 ICCAT Annual Meeting held in Vilamoura (Portugal), the contracting parties and cooperating non-contracting parties, entities or fishing entities to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) took a decisive step to address the alarming situation of Mediterranean swordfish (Xiphias gladius) by adopting a 15-year recovery plan in the ICCAT Recommendation 16-05. The proposal for a Regulation lays down rules for the conservation, management, and control of the Mediterranean stock of swordfish as to achieve a biomass corresponding to a maximum sustainable yield by 2031 with at least 60% probability of achieving that objective, therefore, I voted in favour of the report.

I strongly support the Commission proposal that aims to maintain a high level of maritime safety and pollution prevention at sea, and it is essential to improve the level of knowledge and skills of the Union’s seafarers by developing marine training and certification in line with international rules.
The training and certification of seafarers were regulated at the international level by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers 1978 (‘STCW Convention’), which was revised in 2010. Further amendments to the STCW Convention were adopted in 2015 and 2016. An evaluation was carried out and concluded that the Directives are fit for purpose and, to a great extent, met the initial objectives and expectations. However, it also identified elements that have hindered the effectiveness and efficiency of the legislative framework.

I voted in favour of the own-initiative report on the tax treatment of pension products, including the pan-European Personal Pension Product (PEPP). The internal market for individual retirement savings products remains highly fragmented, particularly concerning tax reliefs. However, a study on the feasibility of a European Personal Pension Framework of June 2017 demonstrated that fiscal incentives are critical to the uptake of the PEPP.
The report calls on the Council to elaborate proposals regarding incentives for PEPP savers to enhance the uptake of the PEPP.

. ‒ The proposal to have an EU cross-border mechanism was first put forward by the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council in 2015, leading to the creation of an informal working group of Member States to develop this tool. Following an EU-wide cross-border review in 2015-2017, the Commission published a Communication on Boosting Growth and Cohesion in EU Border Regions on 20 September 2017, setting out a 10 point action plan, with the Commission stating it would consider the options to take this new instrument forward.
It is necessary to find a balanced approach and reduce legal burdens in order to boost and promote cross-border projects, make them easier for citizens and private and public authorities. Therefore, in favour of the report, I share the opinion that the latter foresees for the EU to reduce bureaucracy and legal obstacles for cross-border regions with the aim to create jobs and puts forward projects for citizens, leading to further social, territorial and economic cohesion.

The Eurojust-Georgia Cooperation Agreement follows the model of similar agreements concluded by Eurojust in the past (for example, Eurojust-FYROM, Eurojust-US, Eurojust-Norway, Eurojust-Switzerland, and most recently Eurojust-Albania). The purpose of such agreements is to foster cooperation as regards combating serious crime, especially organised crime and terrorism.
In favour of the report, I support the approval by the European Parliament of the Council’s draft implementing decision approving the conclusion by Eurojust of the agreement on cooperation between Eurojust and Georgia.

In favour of the report, the proposed Regulation will define a support framework and procedures for cooperation on clinical assessment of health technologies at Union level and common methodologies for the clinical assessment of health technologies. However, pricing and reimbursement of medicines will fall within the exclusive national competence of the Member States.
I share the opinion that HTA shall be used to promote innovations that produce the best results for patients and society in general. It should enable health professionals, patients and health institutions to know whether or not a new health technology represents an improvement of existing health technologies in terms of benefits and risks.
A coordination group composed of representatives from Member States’ health technology assessment authorities and bodies should be established with responsibility and proven expertise for overseeing the carrying out of joint clinical assessments and other joint work within the scope of this regulation. In order to ensure the high quality of work, members of the Coordination Group will be drawn from national or regional health technology assessment agencies or bodies responsible for that field.

There is currently no comprehensive framework at Union level for the screening of foreign direct investments on the grounds of security or public order, while the major trading partners of the Union have already developed such frameworks.
In favour of the report, the proposed regulation establishes a framework for the screening by Member States of foreign direct investments into the Union on the grounds of security or public order, for a cooperation mechanism between Member States, and between Member States and the Commission, with regard to foreign direct investments likely to affect security or public order. It also includes the possibility for the Commission to issue opinions on such investments.
The Regulation is without prejudice to each Member State having sole responsibility for its national security and to the right of each Member State to protect its essential security interests. Nothing in this Regulation shall limit the right of each Member State to decide whether or not to screen a particular foreign direct investment within the framework of this Regulation.

I voted in favour as the objective of the proposal is to ensure the interoperability of electronic road toll systems on the entire road network, urban and interurban motorways, major and minor roads, and various structures such as tunnels, bridges and ferries. I consider that it is very important to facilitate the cross-border exchange of information on the failure to pay road fees in the Union. The revised proposal for a directive should finally bring the deployment of the European electronic toll service, which will allow drivers to use only one on-board piece of equipment for paying road fees across the entire EU. Until now, Member States have not been able to enforce unpaid road fees by foreign drivers. This will change now, since the revised Directive establishes a mechanism that will enable it. Air quality in cities is a big concern for our citizens. Cities tried to cope with this through the establishment of Clean Air Zones, which only clean vehicles can access, previously having faced huge difficulties in terms of penalising non-compliant foreign vehicles because there was no legal base for cross-border data exchange.