14. Welcomes the Commission’s recognition that the impact of fiscal consolidation measures, – taken to ensure not only the sustainability of some Member States’ economies, but the sustainability of the EU economy as a whole – on the EU employment and social situation has been severe and far-reaching; calls for increased efforts to fulfil the employment and social obligations set out in the Treaties and in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights; calls on the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights to assess thoroughly the impact of these measures on fundamental rights and to issue recommendations in the event of breaches of the Charter;

68. Welcomes the Commission’s recognition that the impact of fiscal consolidation measures, – taken to ensure not only the sustainability of some Member States’ economies, but the sustainability of the EU economy as a whole – on the EU employment and social situation has been severe and far-reaching; calls for increased efforts to fulfil the employment and social obligations set out in the Treaties and in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights; calls on the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights to assess thoroughly the impact of these measures on fundamental rights and to issue recommendations in the event of breaches of the Charter;

With regard to the professions of doctor, dentist, midwife, general nurse, pharmacist and veterinary surgeon, the Council shall adopt in accordance with Article 203 TFEU the list of professional qualifications specific to the OCTs which are to be recognised in the Member States.

The legislative arsenal of the European Union on social issues is clearly insufficient and there are still European political leaders, in particular within the Convention, who say that the European Union must not intervene in social policy matters.

The democratic values that everyone in this Chamber shares must be the very ones that govern our deeds and works, in order to forge a European Union based on solidarity and social commitment and not on policing and repression.

16. Points out that, with the prospect of enlargement of the European Union, social convergence is needed as a way of strengthening the European social model and of eliminating the threat of social dumping;