MEPs Must Defend National Interests Despite Their Fractions

Revision of Posting of Workers Directive that is based on the principle of the same wage for the same work will divide the EU, distort the unity of EU member states and increase legal uncertainty for companies. The European Commission can’t interfere with competences of EU member states and adopt decisions that don’t respect proportionality and reciprocity principles.

Eleven “yellow cards” sent to the Commission from national Parliaments are a significant signal that the proposal is in line with reality and it is necessary to act. In this regard, CEBRE – Czech Business Representation to the EU founders pointed out once again at a meeting with Czech MEPs on the 16th of May in Prague that one-sided legislative activities of individual member states, as for example German minimum wage law, rather distort EU single market functioning and they call for initiation of infringement procedure with France that puts absurd requirements on foreign haulers. “In addition, posting of Workers Directive shouldn’t be revised as the Enforcement Directive from 2014 hasn’t been fully implemented yet. The real problem here is insufficient convergence of member states that won’t be solved by the revision”, said Vice- Chair of Culture and Education Committee of the European Parliament Michaela Šojdrová. Apart from posting of workers, participants of the meeting discussed China market economy status and welcomed the constructive approach of the European Parliament that supported the recent resolution which is going against granting China market economy status.

“The key question is what will happen with EU anti-dumping measures after 11th of December 2016 when China should be granted market economy status by World Trade Organization. I hope EU will put in place sector- oriented measures that won’t be protectionist, but will ensure level playing field”, stressed Member of Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee of the European Parliament Luděk Niedermayer. As for current and future legislative initiatives in energy sector, CEBRE founders expressed their hope that the upcoming Slovak presidency in cooperation with Vice-President of the European Commission Maroš Šefčovič find business friendly solutions.

Participating members of the European Parliament welcomed cooperation with CEBRE and expressed the importance of dialogue with business representatives in order to find arguments necessary for forming majority in the European Parliament and promised to defend economic interests of the Czech Republic. At the same time, CEBRE founders regret that many MEPs usually don’t participate at regular meetings with them because it is part of their mandate to protect interests of businesses operating in the Czech Republic.