Documents

In its advisory report on the categories of people covered by certain employed persons insurance schemes [Personenkring werknemersverzekeringen], the Social and Economic Council discusses the boundaries of such categories and the types of employment relationshipcovered. The Council considers these matters from a pragmatic point of view, with its focus being on solving practical problems and limiting the administrative burden.

The ESC approved this preliminary draft law because it provides a new legal framework that makes a joint approach to the promotion of reading and the initiative of providing a new legal framework that makes a joint approach to the promotion of reading, books and libraries.The preliminary draft law systematises and brings coherence to the general regulation of books and reading in Spain. The need to approach the amendment of Act 9/1975 was particularly well known, bearing in mind both its pre-constitutional character and the changes brought about in society and in the sector itself since it was adopted. However, even though it shares the purpose of providing an appropriate legal framework for the promotion of reading, books and libraries, the Decision considers that the preliminary draft law does not show sufficient commitment by public authorities to approaching the problem, where a greater commitment and consideration by the said authorities in a number of fundamental areas are necessary for the promotion of reading and libraries.

In its report, the ESC outlines the European Action Plan for combating discrimination, provides data on the population groups concerned by the law, and gives details and comments from international organisations and bodies on the state of equal treatment in Greece. It also makes particular reference to the work of the Greek Ombudsman, the Labour Inspectorate and the Equal Treatment Committee, which work to promote the principle of equal treatment. Lastly, the ESC makes proposals for the proper implementation of the principle of equal treatment and suggestions for legislative reform.

In its report, the ESC outlines the European Action Plan for combating discrimination, provides data on the population groups concerned by the law, and gives details and comments from international organisations and bodies on the state of equal treatment in Greece. It also makes particular reference to the work of the Greek Ombudsman, the Labour Inspectorate and the Equal Treatment Committee, which work to promote the principle of equal treatment. Lastly, the ESC makes proposals for the proper implementation of the principle of equal treatment and suggestions for legislative reform.

The ESC considers the preliminary draft law appropriate, albeit true that its immediate predecessor, the 1998 Ground Space and Valuations System Act has been an important source of conflict in competency with regional governments, as occurred with the previous Act, as well as the subject of significant discrepancies concerning the classification of ground space and the valuation system. Beyond inter-administrative coordination, the ESC approves open consultation with the social and professional players involved concerning the preliminary draft law on ground space to reach a preliminary consensus that is as broad as possible to guarantee a legal framework for ground space aimed at stability and permanence.For the ESC, this can be seen in the adoption by the preliminary draft law of a language that avoids the use of technical terms so as not to foreshadow a specific town planning model and regulate the basic conditions and criteria for the classification of ground space exclusively for the intents and purposes of the state Act, where the regional governments shall be responsible for developing matters concerning territorial planning, town planning and housing in the framework of their legislative competencies.Based on the definition of a statute of citizen rights and obligations governing ground space and the determination of territorial and town planning as public functions, the preliminary draft law includes various objectives:? Increased transparency, effectiveness and public participation in the management and planning of ground space.? The demand for greater planning and information about the infrastructures and natural resources available and affected during urban transformation processes.? Greater efficiency in ground space markets and a better guarantee and regulation of the participation of private initiative in the transformation processes affecting this resource.? The obtaining of more ground space for the development of housing policies by the competent Administrations.The ESC considers appropriate the establishment of a transition period for the application of the 1998 Act. However, in the case of land deemed appropriate for building development without a term set for the development, the transition period (three years) may be short if the current circumstances affecting the ground space and housing markets undergo slight change. Consequently, it would be recommendable to include a clause to enable the extension of the said term as necessary.

In June 2006, the Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands (SER) issued an advisory report containing recommendations to improve the coordination between EU and Dutch regulations and policymaking on nature and environmental issues. With reference to three EU environmental directives, the report examines why problems have arisen in the Netherlands and how these problems can be avoided in future.

In this report the Social and Economic Council issues an advisory report on the feasibility, enforceability and consequences of cofinancing the income payments made under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The Council looks specifically at the long-term consequences of co-financing.

With its 2005 monitoring report, the European Commission acknowledged the economic progress made by the Republic of Bulgaria and confirmed the development of a functioning market economy in the country. In this respect, the industrial policy conducted in the recent years has made a significant contribution. As of 31 December 2005, over 89% of the state-owned assets have been privatized, economic stability and predictability are established in Bulgaria, the legislative basis for economic development is constantly developing and improving, there is a better business environment, a number of national and sectorial strategies and programs are being developed and generally implemented.<br>Regardless of this, the economic and industrial development of Bulgaria is still facing a great number of severe problems and regional, sector and product discrepancies which cannot be solved fast and efficiently without a fundamentally new active industrial policy. The forthcoming full membership of the Republic of Bulgaria from 1 January 2007 and the “New beginning for the Lisbon strategy” announced in March 2005 are altering substantially the environment and the requirements for social and economic development of the country. It is necessary to improve the coordination in the legislation and among institutions, simplifying and reducing administrative barriers to business, accomplishing practical results through focusing on national priorities, substantially new national action programs and better management for the implementation of the main objectives of the Lisbon strategy.

This draft law aims to clarify the provisions relating to renewable sources of energy (RES), to bring the various categories of RES within a single frame of reference, to regulate the high yield cogeneration of heat and power and hybrid power stations, simplifying licensing procedures and improving the timeframe for their completion.