19. Bearing in mind the enrichment of a society through the development of genuine and independent civil society, expresses its deep concern at the deteriorating state of human rights, including the rights of freedom of expression, association and assembly and the rights of LGBTI people, and the rule of law in Russia and in Crimea following its illegal annexation; strongly condemns the government's continued crackdown on dissent by targeting independent NGOs through the so-called "foreign agents law" and the persistent and multiform repression of activists, political opponents and critics of the regime; draws particular attention to th ...[+++]e assassinations of Anna Politkovskaya, Natalya Estemirova, Boris Nemtsov, Sergey Magnitsky, Alexander Litvinenko and others; demands that all assassinations of political activists, journalists and whistleblowers be investigated properly and independently, that those responsible be brought to justice as a sign of the uncompromising fight against impunity, and that targeted restrictive measures be considered if the investigations carried out are not in line with international standards; reiterates its call on the Council to deliver on its commitment to defend these principles, and to adopt, upon a proposal which should be submitted without delay by the VP/HR, restrictive measures for the officials involved in the well-documented Magnitsky case; underlines that the obligation for Russia to comply with human rights and the rule of law standards proceeds directly from its membership of the UN, the Council of Europe and the OSCE;

For the purpose of this Regulation, ‘civil society organisations’ are non-State, non-profit making actors operating on an independent and accountable basis which include: non governmental organisations, organisations representing indigenous peoples, organisations representing national and/or ethnic minorities, diaspora organisations, migrants' organisations in partner countries, local traders' associations and citizens' groups, cooperatives, employers associations and trade unions (social partners), organisations representing economic and social interests, organisations fighting corruption and fraud and promoting good governance, civil r ...[+++]ights organisations and organisations combating discrimination, local organisations (including networks) involved in decentralised regional cooperation and integration, consumer organisations, women's and youth organisations, environmental, teaching, cultural, research and scientific organisations, universities, churches and religious associations and communities, the media and any non governmental associations and independent foundations, including independent political foundations, likely to contribute to the implementation of the objectives of this Regulation.

12. Insists also that independent brands should be placed alongside retailers’ own brands on supermarket shelves so that the consumer is given as wide a choice as possible and rejects unfair in-store marketing practices which favour own brands against independent brands; calls for greater transparency and fairness in pricing practices for own and independent brands; insists that there must be rules in place to prevent parasite-style copying of independent brands by large retailers to create their own brands;

The proposal for a directive provided for significant advances from the point of view of guaranteeing equal treatment of men and women engaged in an activity in a self-employed capacity, assisting spouses included. It sought, for example, to deal with the obstacles preventing women from taking up a self-employed occupation and to that end made provision for positive action or specific measures to enable the underrepresented sex to engage in such activity more readily. As regards the establishment of companies, Member States were called upon to take binding measures to ensure that national law would no longer rule out the possibility for ...[+++]businesses to be set up between spouses or life partners. Maternity protection was to be granted to self-employed women and assisting spouses or recognised partners (they were to be entitled to the maternity leave provided for in Directive 92/85/EEC and to an allowance at least equivalent to any sickness allowance payable under national law; and temporary replacement services were to be offered as an alternative to the allowance). Assisting spouses were to enjoy a level of social security at least equal to the provision for self-employed workers, and it was to be granted on the same terms. However, the proposal did not alter the system allowing the spouses of self-employed workers to join contribution-based schemes on a voluntary basis.

89. Recommends that consideration be given to changes in public policy regarding public funding for truly independent and basic research that would ensure the existence of a vigorous and independent public scientific research enterprise;

6. The Centre's Management Board will consist of one independent person appointed by each Member State, together with one independent person appointed by the European Parliament, another independent person appointed by the Council of Europe, and a representative of the Commission.