37. Considers that the rights of cross-border workers could be adequately protected under the relevant legislation if it were effectively implemented and that the aim of adopting a single definition of a worker and a self-employed person under Community law is extremely complex because of the very different social and economic realities and traditions in the individual Member States; at the same time, considers that there needs to be an initiative aimed at achieving the level of convergence necessary to guarantee that the implementation of the Community acquis is coherent and more efficient; this convergence should respect the rights o ...[+++]f the Member States to determine the existence of an employment relationship;

37. Considers that the rights of cross-border workers could be adequately protected under the relevant legislation if it were effectively implemented and that the aim of adopting a single definition of a worker and a self-employed person under Community law is extremely complex because of the very different social and economic realities and traditions in the individual Member States; at the same time, considers that there needs to be an initiative aimed at achieving the level of convergence necessary to guarantee that the implementation of the Community acquis is coherent and more efficient; this convergence should respect the rights o ...[+++]f the Member States to determine the existence of an employment relationship;

34. Considers that the rights of cross-border workers could be adequately protected under the relevant legislation if it were effectively implemented and that the aim of adopting a single definition of a worker and a self-employed person under Community law is extremely complex because of the very different social and economic realities and traditions in the individual Member States. At the same time, there needs to be an initiative aimed at raising a certain level of convergence necessary to guarantee that the implementation of the Community acquis is coherent and more efficient; this convergence should respect the rights of the Member ...[+++] States to determine the existence of an employment relationship;

The date on which the Commission must adopt the convergence report is determined, firstly, by when the Member State presents its request – the Commission cannot decide when a Member State is to present that request – and, secondly, by when the Commission has the reliable and rigorous data that it needs in order to carry out an appropriate, rigorous and accurate assessment of whether or not the convergence criteria have been fulfilled.

Verification, through partnership, of the principle of additionality should concentrate on the regions under the Convergence objective because of the extent of the financial resources allocated to them and may result in a financial correction if additionality is not observed.

Therefore, there is a role for Community action to facilitate convergence in the instruments used in the light of the need to ensure a proper functioning of the internal market and the preservation of a level playing field.