Reacting to the failure of finance ministers to adopt a much needed reform of the seriously out-dated 1997 Code of Conduct for business taxation at today’s Council meeting, due to the blockage by some countries, the Socialists and Democrats reiterate their call to abandon unanimity voting on tax issues. The Code of Conduct is the EU’s main tool to combat tax evasion and avoidance.

Tomorrow, the Commission is set to adopt a proposal on improving the working conditions in platform work, acting on a European Parliament own-initiative report adopted on September 16, 2021. The Socialists and Democrats Group have been the driving force to enshrine a rebuttable assumption of an employment relationship in EU law. This means platform workers are in principle employees with all applicable rights in terms of pay, income taxes, social protection and health and safety protection, unionisation and collective bargaining.

The Conference on the Future of Europe is key to unlocking the way for a much needed reform of the European Union, starting from the very need to strengthen the quality and quantity of European democracy. A stronger EU is the solution. The Covid-19 crisis with the consequent Next Generation EU have only increased this awareness.

Brussels, 3 December 2021 – MedTech Europe, the European trade association representing the medical technology industry, elected its new Board at the association’s General Assembly today.

The newly elected Board will lead MedTech Europe’s work with policymakers and relevant stakeholders to address today’s healthcare challenges and to make healthcare delivery more patient-centric, innovative and financially sustainable.