Fédération Générale du Travail de Belgique - Algemeen Belgisch Vakverbond FGTB-ABVV

What the Commission proposes

The European Commission proposes a revision of EU public procurement rules through a new regulation that repeals the existing 2014 directives on public procurement, utilities, and concessions. The initiative aims to modernize and simplify rules, reduce administrative burdens, and enable preferences for European products in strategic sectors to secure supply chains and add EU value. It also amends multiple sector-specific regulations and directives containing procurement provisions to improve coherence and transparency. Furthermore, the proposal addresses high administrative burdens and legal uncertainty identified in previous evaluations regarding public buyers and businesses.

• Revises and replaces Directives 2014/23/EU, 2014/24/EU, and 2014/25/EU with a single Public Procurement Act regulation.
• Enables preference for European products in strategic sectors to ensure security of supply and EU added value.
• Aims to modernize and simplify rules, specifically considering EU start-ups and innovators.
• Amends various sector-specific regulations and directives that contain public procurement provisions.
• Addresses administrative burdens and legal uncertainty that currently affect public buyers and businesses, including SMEs.

Summary written by AI from the Commission's document.

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1. They also highlighted the importance of promoting collective bargaining, quality jobs, and direct employment through public procurement, and ensuring that the general framework and sectoral acts ensure compliance with relevant collective agreements and sustainable procurement. The EU's horizontal legal framework on public procurement must ensure that taxpayers' money goes only to organisations that respect workers' and trade union rights, negotiate with trade unions, and whose workers (and subcontractors' workers) are covered by

   COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT..., page 293 (EN)

2. Public procurement procedures should be guided by the Union policy objectives, including strengthening the competitiveness of the internal market, supporting innovation and the clean industrial base, achieving climate and environmental targets, a fair and inclusive society, in particular fair working conditions, including as fostered by social dialogue, and enhancing the Union’s safety, security, resilience and economic security, including through strategic independence. Taking into account the diversity of national systems and respecting the autonomy of 4 Council Decision 94/800/EC of 22 December 1994 concerning the conclusion on behalf of the European Community, as regards matters within its competence, of the agreements reached in the Uruguay Round multilateral negotiations (1986-1994) (OJ L 336, 23.12.1994, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/1994/800/oj).

   Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE..., page 18 (EN)

3. EU NGOs, environmental organisations and trade unions Approximately half of EU NGOs, environmental organisations, and trade unions respondents provided comments on the likely impacts of further incentivizing the use of socially responsible public procurement, highlighting both positive and negative effects. Many respondents believe that incentivizing socially responsible public procurement can lead to various benefits, such as promoting fair working conditions, reducing social dumping, and encouraging sustainable practices. Some propose introducing social criteria, such as mandatory compliance with labour law, collective agreements, and

   COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT..., page 366 (EN)

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What the Commission proposes

The proposal introduces a Council Directive, known as the Omnibus on Taxation, which amends six existing directives in the field of direct taxation to simplify the EU corporate tax framework and support business growth and competitiveness. It aims to reduce administrative and compliance burdens for cross-border activities while maintaining high standards of protection against tax avoidance and abusive practices. The initiative aligns existing rules with international tax developments, such as the Pillar Two global minimum tax, and addresses procedural and legal obstacles in areas like withholding taxes and corporate reorganisations. Overall, the measures seek to improve legal certainty and ensure the coherent functioning of the internal market without lowering tax standards.

• Amends Directives 2003/49/EC, 2009/133/EC, 2011/96/EU, (EU) 2016/1164, (EU) 2017/1852, and (EU) 2025/50.
• Simplifies the Union framework on direct taxation to reduce compliance costs for businesses.
• Eliminates overlapping provisions and addresses practical issues arising from the interaction with the Pillar Two Directive.
• Removes procedural barriers and legal uncertainty linked to withholding tax relief.
• Maintains existing safeguards and high levels of protection against tax avoidance and evasion.

What is asked: Respondents expressed their views on simplifying existing EU tax rules to improve the functioning of the internal market and enhance Europe's attractiveness for investment and business.

Summary written by AI from the Commission's document.

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1. 3 These initiatives are therefore in line with the principle of subsidiarity, as laid down in Article 5(3) TEU, considering that their objectives cannot be achieved by each Member State alone, and a common approach for all Member States would have the highest chances for a successful outcome. (a) Are there significant/appreciable transnational/cross-border aspects to the problems being tackled? Have these been quantified? All Member States have their own domestic tax systems which are determined by different economic approaches, financial needs and policy choices. However, today’s business models increasingly involve economically integrated groups that operate globally, including across more than one Member State within the EU.

   COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Subsidiarity Grid Accompanying..., page 4 (EN)

2. It contributes to the Commission’s broader objective of strengthening the competitiveness of the Union by reducing unnecessary compliance burdens, improving legal certainty and facilitating cross-border investment and business activity within the internal market. In the area of withholding tax exemption on financial flows of interests, royalties and distribution of profits within the Union, the proposal builds on the progress initiated by FASTER, and addresses overlaps, fragmentation and outdated procedural or substantive requirements that generate disproportionate costs for businesses operating cross-border in the Union.

   Proposal for a COUNCIL DIRECTIVE amending Directives 2003/49/EC,..., page 3 (EN)

3. EN 1 EN EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 1. CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL • Reasons for and objectives of the proposal This initiative was announced in the Commission Work Programme 2026 as part of the Commission’s broader agenda to simplify Union legislation, reduce unnecessary administrative burdens and strengthen the competitiveness of the internal market. In recent decades, the Union’s framework on direct taxation has developed considerably in response to the growing impact of globalisation and the digital economy, the rise of aggressive tax planning strategies and practices and the need to strengthen the functioning of the internal market while safeguarding its integrity. In particular, the Union has adopted a broad range of directives aimed at ensuring fair taxation, preventing tax avoidance and facilitating cross-border activities within the internal market.

   Proposal for a COUNCIL DIRECTIVE amending Directives 2003/49/EC,..., page 2 (EN)

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