### under the same conditions set out in paragraph 1 , carriers , travel agents and tour operators may require that a disabled person or person with reduced mobility be accompanied by another person who is capable of providing the assistance required by the disabled person or person with reduced mobility . as regards passenger services , such an accompanying person shall be carried free of charge . ### under the same conditions set out in paragraph 1 , carriers , travel agents and tour operators may require that a disabled person or person with reduced mobility be accompanied by another person who is capable of providing the assistance required by the disabled person or person with reduced mobility . as regards passenger services , such an accompanying person shall be carried free of charge and shall not be deemed to be an agent or to be working for the carrier .


### carriers , travel agents and tour operators shall ensure that all relevant information , including online reservation and information , concerning the conditions of carriage , journey information and access conditions is available in appropriate and accessible formats for disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility . ### carriers , travel agents and tour operators shall ensure that all relevant information , including online reservation and information , concerning the conditions of carriage , journey information and access conditions is available in appropriate and accessible formats for disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility . persons needing assistance shall receive written confirmation of such assistance .


### subject to the access conditions provided for in article 9 , carriers and terminal operators shall , within their respective areas of competence , provide assistance free of charge to disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility , as specified in annexes ii and iii , in ports , including embarkation and disembarkation , and on board ships . ### subject to the access conditions provided for in article 9 , carriers and terminal operators shall , within their respective areas of competence , provide assistance free of charge to disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility , as specified in annexes ii and iii , in ports , including embarkation and disembarkation , and on board ships . the assistance shall be adapted to the individual needs of the person with a disability or reduced mobility .


### the carrier or the terminal operator is notified of the person ' s need for such assistance at the latest two working days before the assistance is needed , and ; ### the carrier or the terminal operator is notified of the person ' s need for such assistance at the latest 48 hours before the assistance is needed , unless a shorter period is agreed between the passenger and the carrier , and with the exception of cruise journeys , where the need for assistance should be notified at the time of reservation ;


### at a time stipulated in writing by the carrier which shall be not&#160 ; more&#160 ; than 60&#160 ; minutes before the published embarkation time , or ### at a time stipulated in writing by the carrier &#8211 ; including under the access conditions set out in article 9 &#8211 ; which shall be not&#160 ; more&#160 ; than 60&#160 ; minutes before the published embarkation time , or


### re - routing to the final destination , under comparable conditions , as set out in the transport contract , at the earliest opportunity ; ### re - routing to the final destination , under comparable conditions , as set out in the transport contract , at the earliest opportunity and at no additional cost ;


### where a passenger service is cancelled or delayed in departure from a port for more than 120 minutes , passengers shall have the right of such re - routing or reimbursement of the ticket price from the carrier . ### where a passenger service is cancelled or delayed in departure from a port for more than 90 minutes , passengers shall have the right to choose such re - routing or reimbursement of the ticket price from the carrier .


### the payment of the reimbursement provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be made within seven days , in cash , by electronic bank transfer , bank order or bank cheque of the full cost of the ticket at the price at which it was purchased , for the part or parts of the journey not made , and for the part or parts already made if the journey no longer serves any purpose in relation to the passenger ' s original travel plan . ### the payment of the reimbursement provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be made within seven days , in cash , by electronic bank transfer , bank order or bank cheque of the full cost of the ticket at the price at which it was purchased , for the part or parts of the journey not made , and for the part or parts already made if the journey no longer serves any purpose in relation to the passenger ' s original travel plan . if the passenger agrees , the full reimbursement may also be paid in the form of vouchers and / or other services in an amount equivalent to the price for which the ticket was purchased , provided the conditions are flexible , particularly regarding its period of validity and the destination .


### without losing the right to transport , passengers may request compensation from the carrier if they are facing a delay in arrival at the final destination as set out in the transport contract . the minimum level of compensation shall be 25% of the ticket price for a delay of at least : ### without losing the right to transport , passengers may request compensation from the carrier if they are facing a delay in arrival at the final destination as set out in the transport contract . the minimum level of compensation shall be 50% of the ticket price for a delay of at least :


### articles 17 and 19 shall not apply if the passenger is informed of the cancellation or delay before the purchase of the ticket or if the cancellation or delay is caused by the fault of the passenger . ### articles 17 and 19 shall not apply if the passenger is reliably informed of the cancellation or delay before the purchase of the ticket or if the cancellation or delay is caused by the fault of the passenger .


### carriers shall set up or have in place a complaint handling mechanism for rights and obligations covered by this regulation . ### carriers and terminal operators shall set up or have in place independent complaint handling mechanisms in accessible formats and the customary languages for rights and obligations covered by this regulation . particular attention shall be paid to the needs of people with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility .


### if a passenger covered by this regulation wants to make a complaint to the carrier , he shall submit it within two months from the date on which the service was performed or when a service should have been performed . within one month of receiving the complaint , the carrier shall give notice to the passenger that his complaint has been substantiated , rejected or is still being considered . the time taken to provide the final reply shall not be longer than three months from the receipt of a complaint . ### if a passenger wants to make a complaint to the carrier concerning the rights and obligations covered by this regulation , he shall submit it within two months from the date on which the service was performed or when a service should have been performed . within one month of receiving the complaint , the carrier shall give notice to the passenger that his complaint has been substantiated , rejected or is still being considered . the time taken to provide the final reply shall not be longer than three months from the receipt of a complaint .


### paragraph 1 shall also apply to passengers whose journeys form part of a package , except for the right to reimbursement where such a right arises under directive 90 / 314 / eec . ### paragraph 1 shall also apply to passengers whose journeys form part of a package and / or a cruise , except for the right to reimbursement where such a right arises under directive 90 / 314 / eec .


### in order to ensure the long - term competitiveness of bio - based industrial sectors , and in line with the 2012 communication ‘ innovating for sustainable growth : a bioeconomy for europe’ and the roadmap to a resource efficient europe , promoting integrated and diversified biorefineries across europe , enhanced incentives under directive 2009 / 28 / ec should be set in a way that gives preference to the use of biomass feedstocks that do not have a high economic value for other uses than biofuels . ### in order to ensure the long - term competitiveness and investment security of bio - based industrial sectors , and in line with the 2012 communication ‘ innovating for sustainable growth : a bioeconomy for europe’ and the roadmap to a resource efficient europe , promoting integrated and diversified biorefineries across europe , enhanced incentives under directive 2009 / 28 / ec should be set in a way that promotes resource - efficient use of biomass feedstocks and gives preference to second - generation biofuels .


### paragraph 4 is amended as follows : in point , the following phrase is added : ' this indent shall be without prejudice to articles 17a and 3d ; ' the following point is added : for the calculation of biofuels in the numerator , the share of energy from biofuels produced from cereal and other starch rich crops , sugars and oil crops shall be no more than 5% , the estimated share at the end of 2011 , of the final consumption of energy in transport in 2020 . ### paragraph 4 is amended as follows : the first sentence is replaced by the following : each member state shall ensure that the share of energy from renewable sources in all forms of transport in 2020 is at least 10 % of the final consumption of energy in transport in that member state , in point , the following phrase is added : ' this indent shall be without prejudice to articles 17a and 3d ; ' the following point is added : for the calculation of biofuels in the numerator , the share of energy from biofuels produced from feedstock listed in annex ix shall be at least 2% of the final consumption of energy in transport in 2020 , and the share of energy from biofuels produced from food crops shall be at least 8% of the final consumption of energy .


### for the calculation of biofuels in the numerator , the share of energy from biofuels produced from cereal and other starch rich crops , sugars and oil crops shall be no more than 5% , the estimated share at the end of 2011 , of the final consumption of energy in transport in 2020 . ### for the calculation of biofuels in the numerator , the share of energy from biofuels produced from cereal and other starch rich crops , sugars and oil crops shall be no more than 3% , the estimated share at the end of 2011 , of the final consumption of energy in transport in 2020 .


### the trader should be liable to the consumer if the goods are not in conformity with the contract . the goods should be presumed to be in conformity with the contract if they satisfy a number of conditions concerning mainly the qualities of the goods . the quality and performance which consumers can reasonably expect will depend inter alia on whether the goods are new or second - hand as well as on the expected life - span of the goods . ### the trader should be liable to the consumer if the goods are not in conformity with the contract . the goods should be presumed to be in conformity with the contract if they satisfy a number of conditions concerning mainly the qualities of the goods . the quality and performance which consumers can reasonably expect will depend inter alia on whether the goods are new or second - hand as well as on the expected life - span of the goods . where it is particularly difficult to detect a lack of conformity in certain goods , such as construction material , an extended period of insuring goods for the trader is required .


### if the contract is concluded through a medium which allows limited space or time to display the information , the trader shall provide at least the information regarding the main characteristics of the product and the total price referred to in articles 5 and on that particular medium prior to the conclusion of such a contract . the other information referred to in articles 5 and 7 shall be provided by the trader to the consumer in an appropriate way in accordance with paragraph 1 . ### if the contract is concluded through a medium which allows limited space or time to display the information , the trader shall provide at least the information regarding the main characteristics of the product and the total price referred to in articles 5 , and on that particular medium prior to the conclusion of such a contract . the other information referred to in articles 5 and 7 shall be provided by the trader to the consumer in an appropriate way in accordance with paragraph 1 .


### when the trader has remedied the lack of conformity by replacement , he shall be held liable under article 25 where the lack of conformity becomes apparent within two years as from the time the consumer or a third party indicated by the consumer has acquired the material possession of the replaced goods . ### where a good , in accordance with article 24 and , is not fit for a particular purpose for which the consumer requires it or for the purpose for which goods of the same type are normally used , the trader shall be held liable under article 25 where the lack of conformity becomes apparent within ten years as from the time the risk passed on to the consumer .


### it is current practice for payment service providers to offer a payment account in a package with other financial products or services . this practice can be a means for payment service providers to diversify their offer and to compete against each other , and in the end it can be beneficial for consumers . however the commission study on tying practices in the financial sector conducted in 2009 as well as relevant consultations and consumer complaints have showed that payment service providers may offer bank accounts packaged with products not requested by consumers and which are not essential for payment accounts , such as household insurance . moreover , it has been observed that these practices may reduce transparency and comparability of prices , limit purchasing options for consumers and negatively impact upon their mobility . therefore , member states should ensure that when payment service providers offer packaged payment accounts consumers are provided with information on the applicable fees for the payment account and for each other financial service included in the package separately . these obligations should not apply to services which are naturally connected to the use of the payment account , such as withdrawals , wire transfers or payment cards . as a result , these services should be excluded from the scope of this provision . ### it is current practice for payment service providers to offer a payment account in a package with other financial products or services . this practice can be a means for payment service providers to diversify their offer and to compete against each other , and in the end it can be beneficial for consumers . however the commission study on tying practices in the financial sector conducted in 2009 as well as relevant consultations and consumer complaints have showed that payment service providers may offer bank accounts packaged with products not requested by consumers and which are not essential for payment accounts , such as household insurance . moreover , it has been observed that these practices may reduce transparency and comparability of prices , limit purchasing options for consumers and negatively impact upon their mobility . therefore , member states should ensure that when payment service providers offer packaged payment accounts consumers are provided with information whether it is possible to buy the components of the package separately and , if so shall provide information of the costs and charges of each financial service included in the package separately . these obligations should not apply to services which are naturally connected to the use of the payment account , such as withdrawals , wire transfers or payment cards . as a result , these services should be excluded from the scope of this provision .


### where one or more payment services referred to in paragraph 1 is offered as part of a package of financial services , the fee information document shall disclose which of the services referred to in paragraph 1 are included in the package , the fee for the entire package and the fee for any service that is not referred to in paragraph 1 . ### where one or more payment services referred to in paragraph 1 is offered as part of a package of financial services , the fee information document shall disclose which of the services referred to in paragraph 1 are included in the package , the fee for the entire package and if possible to buy the components separately , the fee for any service that is not referred to in paragraph 1 .


### since payment service providers from member states outside the euro area would need to undertake more preparatory work , such payment service providers should be allowed to defer the application of these technical requirements for a certain period . ### since payment service providers from member states outside the euro area would need to undertake more preparatory work , such payment service providers should be allowed to defer the application of these technical requirements for a certain period . member states outside the euro area should however comply with the technical requirements swiftly to create a true european payment area , which will strengthen the internal market .


### payment service providers located in a member state which does not have the euro as its currency shall comply with the requirements set out in article 4 and in points 1 and 2 of the annex for credit transfers denominated in euros and with the requirements set out in article 4 and in points 1 and 3 of the annex for direct debit transactions denominated in euros by [ insert concrete date month ) 4 years after entry into force of this regulation ] . if , however , the euro is introduced as the currency of any such member state before [ insert concrete date 3 years after entry into force of this regulation ] , the payment service provider located in that member state shall meet those requirements within one year of the date on which the member state concerned joined the euro area . ### payment service providers located in a member state which does not have the euro as its currency shall comply with the requirements set out in article 4 and in points 1 and 2 of the annex for credit transfers denominated in euros and with the requirements set out in article 4 and in points 1 and 3 of the annex for direct debit transactions denominated in euros by [ insert concrete date 36 months after entry into force of this regulation ] . if , however , the euro is introduced as the currency of any such member state , the payment service provider located in that member state shall comply with article 4 within the same time limit as for the member state already within the euro area .


### in accordance with article 148 of the treaty on the functioning of the european union , the council adopted guidelines for employment policies on 21 october 2010 , which , together with the broad guidelines for the economic policies of the member states and of the union adopted in accordance with article 121 of the treaty , comprise the europe 2020 integrated guidelines . the programme should contribute to applying the europe 2020 integrated guidelines , and in particular guidelines 7 , 8 and 10 , while supporting implementation of the flagship initiatives , with special regard to the european platform against poverty and social exclusion , an agenda for new skills and jobs , and youth on the move . ### in accordance with article 148 of the treaty on the functioning of the european union , the council adopted guidelines for employment policies on 21 october 2010 , which , together with the broad guidelines for the economic policies of the member states and of the union adopted in accordance with article 121 of the treaty , comprise the europe 2020 integrated guidelines . the programme should contribute to applying the europe 2020 integrated guidelines , and in particular guidelines 7 , 8 and 10 , while supporting implementation of the flagship initiatives , with special regard to the european platform against poverty and social exclusion , an agenda for new skills and jobs , the european strategy for gender equality 2010 - 2015 and youth on the move .


### the commission , in cooperation with the member states , shall ensure that activities carried out under the programme are consistent with , and complementary to other union action , in particular under the european social fund and in such areas as social dialogue , justice and fundamental rights , education , vocational training and youth policy , research and innovation , entrepreneurship , health , enlargement and external relations , and general economic policy . ### the commission , in cooperation with the member states , shall ensure that activities carried out under the programme are consistent with , and complementary to other union action , in particular under the european social fund and in such areas as social dialogue , justice and fundamental rights , education , vocational training and youth and gender equality policy , research and innovation , entrepreneurship , health , enlargement and external relations , and general economic policy .


### develop and disseminate high - quality comparative analytical knowledge in order to ensure that union employment and social policy and working conditions legislation are based on sound evidence and are relevant to needs , challenges and conditions in the individual member states and the other participating countries ; ### develop and disseminate high - quality comparative analytical knowledge which is properly designed to also measure the impact of horizontal policies , such as the promotion of gender equality , in order to ensure that union employment and social policy and working conditions legislation are based on sound evidence and are relevant to needs , challenges and conditions in the individual member states and the other participating countries ;


### specialist bodies provided for under union law ; ### specialist bodies provided for under union law , with particular focus on sectoral agencies linked to youth , training or gender equality issues , such as the european agency for safety and health at work or the european institute for gender equality ;


### the commission shall be assisted by a committee . that committee shall be a committee within the meaning of regulation no 182 / 2011 . ### the commission shall be assisted by a committee . that committee shall be a committee within the meaning of regulation no 182 / 2011 . the composition of the committee shall reflect gender balance .


### not all member states have provided for criminal sanctions for some forms of serious breaches of national legislation implementing directive 2003 / 6 / ec . these different approaches undermine the uniformity of conditions of operation in the internal market and may provide an incentive for persons to carry out market abuse in member states which do not provide for criminal sanctions for these offences . in addition , until now there has been no union - wide understanding on which conduct is considered to be such a serious breach . therefore , minimum rules concerning the definition of criminal offences committed by natural and legal persons and of sanctions should be set . common minimum rules would make it also possible to use more effective methods of investigation and effective cooperation within and between member states . convictions for market abuse offences under criminal law often result in extensive media coverage , which helps to deter potential offenders , as it draws public attention to the commitment of competent authorities to tackling market abuse . ### not all member states have provided for criminal sanctions for some forms of serious breaches of national legislation implementing directive 2003 / 6 / ec . these different approaches undermine the uniformity of conditions of operation in the internal market and may provide an incentive for persons to carry out market abuse in member states which do not provide for criminal sanctions for these offences . in addition , until now there has been no union - wide understanding on which conduct is considered to be such a serious breach . therefore , minimum rules concerning the definition of criminal offences committed by natural persons , of the liability of legal persons and of sanctions should be set . common minimum rules would make it also possible to use more effective methods of investigation and effective cooperation within and between member states . convictions for market abuse offences under criminal law often result in extensive media coverage , which helps to deter potential offenders , as it draws public attention to the commitment of competent authorities to tackling market abuse .


### in order to ensure effective implementation of the european policy for ensuring the integrity of the financial markets set out in regulation no…of the european parliament and the council on insider dealing and market manipulation , member states should also extend liability to legal persons , including , whenever possible , criminal liability of legal persons . ### in order to ensure effective implementation of the european policy for ensuring the integrity of the financial markets set out in regulation no…of the european parliament and the council on insider dealing and market manipulation , member states should also extend liability to legal persons , including , whenever possible , criminal liability of legal persons , where this is compatible with the national legislation applicable .


### this directive respects the fundamental rights and observes the principles recognised in the charter of fundamental rights of the european union as enshrined in the treaty . specifically , it should be applied with due respect for the freedom to conduct a business , the right to an effective remedy and to a fair trial , the presumption of innocence and right of defence , the principles of legality and proportionality of criminal offences and penalties , and the right not to be tried or punished twice for the same offence . ### this directive respects the fundamental rights and observes the principles recognised in the charter of fundamental rights of the european union as enshrined in the treaty . specifically , it should be applied with due respect for the freedom to conduct a business , the right to an effective remedy and to a fair trial , the presumption of innocence and right of defence , the principles of legality and proportionality of criminal offences and penalties , and the right not to be tried or punished twice for the same offence . in this respect , member states should ensure that the same offence is not punished by both criminal and administrative sanctions .


### member states shall take the necessary measures to ensure that legal persons held liable pursuant to article 7 are punishable by effective , proportionate and dissuasive sanctions . ### member states shall take the necessary measures to ensure that legal persons held liable pursuant to article 7 are punishable by effective , proportionate and dissuasive sanctions . in accordance with the applicable national law , these sanctions can also include criminal proceedings against legal persons .


### by [ 4 years after entry into force of this directive ] , the commission shall report to the european parliament and the council on the application of this directive and , if necessary , on the need to review it , in particular with regard to the appropriateness of introducing common minimum rules on types and levels of criminal sanctions . ### by [ 4 years after entry into force of this directive ] , the commission shall report to the european parliament and the council on the application of this directive and , if necessary , on the need to review it . it shall consider , in particular , the appropriateness of introducing common minimum rules on types and levels of criminal sanctions and whether criminalising the attempt , and making legal persons liable and punishable , have been valuable measures .


### additional bans on the placing on the market of new equipment for refrigeration , air - conditioning and fire protection that operate using specific fluorinated greenhouse gases should be introduced where suitable alternatives to the use of those substances are available . in the light of future technical developments and the availability of cost - efficient alternatives to the use of fluorinated greenhouse gases , the commission should be empowered to include other products and equipment or to exclude , also temporarily , certain categories of products or equipment for which alternative substances which fall below the specified global warming potential limit are not available for technical or economic reasons , including insufficient supply of alternative substances on the market to meet the demand , or due to applicable safety standards excluding the use of relevant alternatives . ### additional bans on the placing on the market of new equipment for refrigeration , air - conditioning and fire protection that operate using specific fluorinated greenhouse gases should be introduced where suitable alternatives to the use of those substances are available . in the light of future technical developments and the availability of cost - efficient alternatives to the use of fluorinated greenhouse gases , the commission should be empowered to include other products and equipment or to exclude , also temporarily , certain categories of products or equipment for which alternative substances which fall below the specified global warming potential limit are not available for technical or economic reasons , including insufficient supply of alternative substances on the market to meet the demand , taking into consideration the levels of energy consumption in relation to the current ones or due to applicable safety standards excluding the use of relevant alternatives .


### in order to take technological progress and the development of markets affected by this regulation into account , and to ensure compliance with international agreements , the power to adopt acts in accordance with article 290 of the treaty on the functioning of the european union should be delegated to the commission with regard to the following : specifying requirements for standard leakage checks ; extending the list of equipment subject to mandatory recovery of fluorinated greenhouse gases ; specifying minimum requirements and the conditions for the mutual recognition of training programmes for persons who install , maintain , repair or decommission the equipment and who check leaks and recover fluorinated greenhouse gases , and for the certification of those persons and of companies that perform such tasks ; amending labelling requirements ; prohibiting the placing on the market of more products and equipment that contain or rely on fluorinated greenhouse gases ; amending the maximum quantities of hydrofluorocarbons that may be placed on the market and exempting the supply of hydrofluorocarbons for specific critical uses from the quota requirement for health and safety reasons ; determining the rules for recalculating reference values for the placing on the market of hydrofluorocarbons by individual undertakings and amending or supplementing the mechanism for the allocation of quotas ; revising the thresholds for reporting requirements ; establishing requirements for the reporting systems on emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases and the use of the data on emissions collected by the member states ; including other substances with a significant global warming potential in the lists of substances covered by this regulation and updating the lists on the basis of new scientific findings , in particular the global warming potential of the substances listed in the annexes to the regulation . ### in order to take technological progress and the development of markets affected by this regulation into account , and to ensure compliance with international agreements , the power to adopt acts in accordance with article 290 of the treaty on the functioning of the european union should be delegated to the commission with regard to the following : specifying requirements for standard leakage checks ; amending the list of equipment subject to mandatory recovery of fluorinated greenhouse gases ; specifying minimum requirements and the conditions for the mutual recognition of training programmes for persons who install , maintain , repair or decommission the equipment and who check leaks and recover fluorinated greenhouse gases , and for the certification of those persons and of companies that perform such tasks ; amending labelling requirements ; amending the maximum quantities of hydrofluorocarbons that may be placed on the market and exempting the supply of hydrofluorocarbons for specific critical uses from the quota requirement for health and safety reasons ; determining the rules for recalculating reference values for the placing on the market of hydrofluorocarbons by individual undertakings and amending or supplementing the mechanism for the allocation of quotas ; revising the thresholds for reporting requirements ; establishing requirements for the reporting systems on emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases and the use of the data on emissions collected by the member states ; updating the list of substances covered by this regulation on the basis of new scientific findings , in particular the global warming potential of the substances listed in the annexes to the regulation .


### any person who assigns the task of installing , servicing , maintaining , repairing or decommissioning electrical switchgear that contains sf6 orequipment referred to in article 3 to another party shall ascertain that that other party holds the necessary certificates pursuant to article 8 for the required tasks . ### any person who assigns the task of installing , servicing , maintaining , repairing or decommissioning electrical switchgear that contains sf6 and requires it to be handledorequipment referred to in article 3 to another party shall ascertain that that other party holds the necessary certificates pursuant to article 8 for the required tasks .


### equipment that contains fluorinated greenhouse gases with a global warming potential equivalent to 5 tonnes of co2 or more but to less than 50 tonnes of co2 , shall be checked for leakage at least once every 12 months ; ### equipment that contains fluorinated greenhouse gases with a global warming potential equivalent to 5 tonnes of co2 or more but to less than 50 tonnes of co2 , shall be checked for leakage at least once every 12 months or where there is a leakage detection system installed , every 24 months ;


### equipment that contains fluorinated greenhouse gases with a global warming potential equivalent to 50 tonnes of co2 or more , but to less than 500 tonnes of co2 , shall be checked for leakage at least once every six months ; ### equipment that contains fluorinated greenhouse gases with a global warming potential equivalent to 50 tonnes of co2 or more , but to less than 500 tonnes of co2 , shall be checked for leakage at least once every six months or where there is a leakage detection system installed , every twelve months ;


### equipment that contains fluorinated greenhouse gases with a global warming potential equivalent to 500 tonnes of co2 or more shall be checked for leakage at least once every three months . ### equipment that contains fluorinated greenhouse gases with a global warming potential equivalent to 500 tonnes of co2 or more shall be checked for leakage at least once every three months or , where there is a leakage detection system installed , every six months .


### operators of equipment that contains fluorinated greenhouse gases not contained in foams , shall for each piece of equipment establish and maintain records of the following information identifying the equipment : ### operators of equipment listed in article 3 , that contains fluorinated greenhouse gases not contained in foams , shall for each piece of this equipment establish and maintain records of the following information identifying the equipment :


### the quantity and type of fluorinated greenhouse gases installed ; ### the quantity and type of fluorinated greenhouse gases installed when the equipment is installed for the first time and if possible the approximate quantity and type of fluorinated greenhouse gas , when the equipments is serviced ;


### prior to disposal of a fluorinated greenhouse gas container , the person who used the container for transport or storage shall arrange for the recovery of any residual gases to make sure they are recycled , reclaimed or destroyed . ### prior to disposal of a fluorinated greenhouse gas container , the operator who exercises actual power over the technical functioning of it , shall arrange for the recovery of any residual gases to make sure they are recycled , reclaimed or destroyed .


### member states shall establish training and certification programmes for the following persons : ### member states shall establish and maintain certification programmes for the following persons :


### the information referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 shall be included in instruction manuals for such products and equipment . in the case of products and equipment that contain fluorinated greenhouse gases with a global warming potential of 150 or more this information shall also be included in descriptions used for advertising . ### the information referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 shall be included in instruction manuals for such products and equipment . in the case of products and equipment that contain fluorinated greenhouse gases with a global warming potential of 150 or more .


### the commission shall ensure that the quantity of hydrofluorocarbons that producers and importers are entitled to place on the market in the union each year does not exceed the maximum quantity for the year in question calculated in accordance with annex v . each producer and importer shall ensure that the quantity of hydrofluorocarbons calculated in accordance with annex v that it places on the market does not exceed the quota allocated to it pursuant to article 14 or transferred to it pursuant to article 16 . ### the commission shall ensure that the quantity of hydrofluorocarbons that producers and importers are entitled to place on the market in the union each year does not exceed the maximum quantity for the year in question calculated in accordance with annex v . each producer and importer of hydrofluorocarbons and each producer and importer of products containing hydrofluorocarbons shall ensure that the quantity of hydrofluorocarbons calculated in accordance with annex v that it directly or indirectly places on the market does not exceed the quota allocated to it pursuant to article 14 or transferred to it pursuant to article 16 .


### if the council decides in accordance with article 126 of the treaty that the member state has not taken effective action in response to a council recommendation within the period laid down , the council , acting on a proposal from the commission , shall decide that the member state shall pay a fine . the decision shall be deemed adopted by the council unless it decides by qualified majority to reject the proposal within ten days of the commission adopting it . the council may amend the proposal in accordance with article 293 of the treaty . ### if the council decides in accordance with article 126 of the treaty that the member state has not taken effective action in response to a council recommendation within the period laid down , the council , acting on a proposal from the commission , shall decide that structural funds provided by the eu to the member state shall be suspended . the decision shall be deemed adopted by the council unless it decides by qualified majority to reject the proposal within ten days of the commission adopting it . the council may amend the proposal in accordance with article 293 of the treaty .


### adaptation of workers , enterprises and entrepreneurs to change ; ### professional adaptation of workers , enterprises and entrepreneurs to change ;


### ' standard ' means a technical specification for repeated or continuous application , with which compliance is not compulsory , and which is one of the following : ### ' standard ' means a technical specification established and approved by a recognised organisation , and in line with the principles set out by wto in the context of the technical barriers to trade agreement , for repeated or continuous application , with which compliance is not compulsory , and which is one of the following :


### the characteristics required of a service including levels of quality , performance , interoperability , safety , including the requirements applicable to the provider as regards the information to be made available to the recipient , as referred to in article 22 to of directive 2006 / 123 / ec ; ### the characteristics required of a service including levels of quality , performance , interoperability , protection of the environment and public health , safety , including the requirements applicable to the provider as regards the information to be made available to the recipient , as referred to in article 22 to of directive 2006 / 123 / ec ;


### no later than at the time of publication of its work programme , any european and national standardisation body shall notify the existence thereof to the other european and national standardisation bodies and to the commission . ### no later than two months prior to the publication of its work programme , any european and national standardisation body shall notify the existence thereof to the other european and national standardisation bodies and to the commission , which shall send their comments no later than one month after such communication .


### the commission shall adopt an annual european standardisation work programme which shall indicate the european standards and european standardisation deliverables that it intends to request from the european standardisation bodies in accordance with article 7 . ### after consultation with the european standardisation bodies and all relevant stakeholders , including the organisations referred to in annex iii , the commission shall adopt an annual european standardisation work programme which shall indicate the european standards and european standardisation deliverables that it intends to request from the european standardisation bodies in accordance with article 7


### the commission may request one or several european standardisation bodies to draft a european standard or european standardisation deliverable within a set deadline . they shall be market - driven , take into account the public interest and based on consensus . ### the commission may request one or several european standardisation bodies to draft a european standard or european standardisation deliverable within a set deadline . they shall be market - driven , comply with the principle of universal design , take into account the public interest and be based on consensus . european standardisation bodies shall observe this deadline without prejudice to the requirement referred to in article 5 .


### legal and technical expertise , including studies , in relation to assessment of the need for , and the development of , european standards and european standardisation deliverables ; ### legal and technical expertise , including studies , in relation to assessment of the need for , and the development of , european standards and european standardisation deliverables , and training of experts ;


### the commission shall organize regular meetings with the network of national agencies in order to ensure a coherent implementation of the programme across all participating countries . ### the commission shall organize regular meetings with the network of national agencies in order to ensure a coherent implementation of the programme across all participating countries , with particular focus on the maximum effective use of digitisation of platforms to simplify submission , evaluation and management processes and to minimize administrative burden .


### by way of derogation from directives 90 / 385 / eec and 93 / 42 / eec , conformity assessment bodies which comply with this regulation may be designated and notified before its date of application . notified bodies which are designated and notified in accordance with this regulation may apply the conformity assessment procedures laid down in this regulation and issue certificates in accordance with this regulation before its date of application . ### by way of derogation from directives 90 / 385 / eec and 93 / 42 / eec , conformity assessment bodies which comply with this regulation may be designated and notified before its date of application . notified bodies which are designated and notified in accordance with this regulation may apply the conformity assessment procedures laid down in this regulation and issue certificates in accordance with this regulation before its date of application provided that the relevant delegated and implementing acts have entered into force .


### citizens should benefit from wider access to online public sector services and should receive services and information which will facilitate the enjoyment of their rights across the union , notably their right to move and reside freely within the territory of the union and their freedom of establishment and to provide services . ### citizens should benefit from wider access to online public services and should receive services and information which will facilitate the enjoyment of their rights across the union , notably their right to move and reside freely within the territory of the union and their freedom of establishment and to provide services .


### this directive lays down web - accessibility requirements for certain types of public sector bodies ' websites . in order to facilitate the conformity of websites concerned with those requirements it is necessary to provide presumption of conformity for the websites concerned that meet harmonised standards that are drawn up and published in accordance with regulation no 1025 / 2012 of the european parliament and of the council on european standardisation , amending council directives 89 / 686 / eec and 93 / 15 / eec and directives 94 / 9 / ec , 94 / 25 / ec , 95 / 16 / ec 97 / 23 / ec , 98 / 34 / ec , 2004 / 22 / ec , 2007 / 23 / ec , 2009 / 23 / ec and 2009 / 105 / ec of the european parliament and of the council and repealing decision 87 / 95 / eec and decision no 1673 / 2006 / ec , for the purpose of expressing detailed technical specifications for those requirements . pursuant to this regulation , member states and the european parliament shall be able to object to the harmonised standards which they consider that do not entirely satisfy the web accessibility requirements laid down in this directive . ### this directive lays down web - accessibility requirements for all public sector bodies ' websites and websites operated by entities providing basic services . in order to facilitate the conformity of websites concerned with those requirements it is necessary to provide presumption of conformity for the websites concerned that meet harmonised standards that are drawn up and published in accordance with regulation no 1025 / 2012 of the european parliament and of the council on european standardisation for the purpose of expressing detailed technical specifications for those requirements . pursuant to this regulation , member states and the european parliament shall be able to object to the harmonised standards which they consider that do not entirely satisfy the web accessibility requirements laid down in this directive .


### in order to ensure that the websites concerned are made accessible in accordance with the requirements for web - accessibility laid down by this directive , the power to adopt acts in accordance with article 290 of the treaty on the functioning of the european union should be delegated to the commission to specify further , where appropriate , these requirements and to determine the european standard or parts thereof which , in the absence of harmonised standards , would provide presumption of conformity with the web - accessibility requirements for the websites concerned which meet such standard or parts thereof . it is of particular importance that the commission carries out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work , including at expert level . the commission , when preparing and drawing up delegated acts , should ensure a simultaneous , timely and appropriate transmission of relevant documents to the european parliament and to the council . ### in order to ensure that the websites concerned are made accessible in accordance with the requirements for web - accessibility laid down by this directive and to ensure that those requirements are clear and understandable for the stakeholders involved in the directive ' s implementation , including external web - developers and public administrations´ in - house staff , the power to adopt acts in accordance with article 290 of the treaty on the functioning of the european union should be delegated to the commission to provide further details , where appropriate , concerning those requirements , without amending them and to determine the european standards or parts thereof which , in the absence of harmonised standards , would provide presumption of conformity with the web - accessibility requirements for the websites concerned which meet such standard or parts thereof . it is of particular importance that the commission carries out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work , including at expert level . the commission , when preparing and drawing up delegated acts , should ensure a simultaneous , timely and appropriate transmission of relevant documents to the european parliament and to the council .


### the commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with article 8 , to specify further , where appropriate , the requirements for web - accessibility referred to in paragraph 1 . ### the commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with article 8 , to provide further details , where appropriate , concerning the requirements for web - accessibility referred to in paragraph 1 , without modifying the requirements .


### member states shall take measures to facilitate the application of the web - accessibility requirements as defined in article 3 to all public sector bodies ' websites beyond those concerned , in particular , to public sector bodies ' websites covered by existing national laws or relevant measures on web - accessibility . ### member states shall take measures to facilitate the application of the web - accessibility requirements set out in article 3 to all websites beyond those concerned , in particular , to websites covered by existing national laws or relevant measures on web - accessibility .


### monitoring and reporting ### monitoring


### the commission shall carry out a review of the application of this directive within three years from its entry into force . ### the commission shall review the application of this directive and transmit a report to the european parliament and the council not later than . . . * . that report shall assess whether this directive has achieved its objectives , in particular with regard to enhancing the accessibility of websites , taking into account the convergence of technologies and the use of other technologies and devices to access online content . ___________ * oj : please insert the date : three years after the date of entry into force of this directive .


### those provisions also ensure that the operations supported shall comply with applicable union and national laws , notably in regard to the safety of the goods that are distributed to the most deprived persons . ### those provisions should be consistent with the provisions of the financial regulation and also ensure that the operations supported shall comply with other applicable union and national laws , notably in regard to the safety of the goods that are distributed to the most deprived persons .


### in order to safeguard the union ' s financial interests , there should be measures limited in time that allow the authorising officer by delegation to interrupt payments where there is evidence to suggest a significant deficiency in the functioning of the management and control system , evidence of irregularities linked to a payment application , or a failure to submit documents for the purpose of the examination and acceptance of accounts . ### in order to safeguard the union ' s financial interests , there should be measures limited in time that allow the authorising officer by delegation to interrupt payments where there is evidence to suggest a significant deficiency in the functioning of the management and control system , evidence of irregularities linked to a payment application , or a failure to submit documents for the purpose of the examination and acceptance of accounts or serious delays in project implementation , with substantiated evidence that the objectives set for the projects in question are not being met .


### ' most deprived persons ' means physical persons , whether individuals , families , households or groups composed of such persons , whose need for assistance has been established according to the objective criteria adopted by the national competent authorities , or defined by the partner organisations and which are approved by those competent authorities ; ### ) ' most deprived persons ' means physical persons , whether individuals , families , households or groups composed of such persons , whose need for assistance has been established according to the objective criteria defined by the national competent authorities , in cooperation with the regional or local authorities concerned and with the partner organisations and which are approved by those competent authorities ;


### the commission and the member states and the beneficiaries shall apply the principle of sound financial management in accordance with article 26 of the financial regulation . ### the commission and the member states and the beneficiaries shall apply the principle of sound financial management in accordance with article 30 of the financial regulation .


### member states and the bodies designated by them for that purpose shall be responsible for implementing the operational programmes and carrying out their tasks under this regulation in accordance with the institutional , legal and financial framework of the member state and subject to compliance with this regulation . ### member states and the bodies designated by them for that purpose , or , where appropriate , the competent regional authorities , shall be responsible for implementing the operational programmes and carrying out their tasks under this regulation in accordance with the institutional , legal and financial framework of the member state and subject to compliance with this regulation .


### the commission and the member states shall ensure that equality between men and women and the integration of the gender perspective are promoted during the various stages of the implementation of the fund . the commission and the member states shall take appropriate steps to prevent any discrimination based on sex , racial or ethnic origin , religion or belief , disability , age or sexual orientation in obtaining access to the fund . ### the commission and the member states undertake to promote equality between men and women and the integration of the gender perspective during the various stages of the implementation of the fund . the commission and the member states shall take appropriate steps to prevent any discrimination based on sex , racial or ethnic origin , religion or belief , disability , age or sexual orientation in obtaining access to the fund .


### member states and beneficiaries shall choose the food products and the goods on the basis of objective criteria . the selection criteria for the food products , and where appropriate for goods , shall also take into consideration climatic and environmental aspects , in particular with a view to reduction of food waste . ### member states and beneficiaries shall choose the food products and the goods on the basis of objective criteria . the choice of food products shall be based on the principles of balanced nutrition and shall contribute to the health and well - being of end recipients . the selection criteria for the food products , and where appropriate for goods , shall take into consideration the proximity of the places of production and ensure that the production methods comply with the environmental objectives laid down by the union and contribute towards the transition to a low - carbon economy .


### an identification of and a justification for selecting the type of material deprivation to be addressed under the operational programme and a description for each type of material deprivation addressed of the main characteristics and the objectives of the distribution of food or goods and the accompanying measures to be provided , having regard to the results of the ex ante evaluation carried out in accordance with article 14 ; ### an identification of the type of material deprivation to be addressed under the operational programme and of the objectives in selecting them , and a description for each type of material deprivation addressed of the main characteristics and the objectives of the distribution of food or goods and the accompanying measures to be provided , having regard to the results of the ex ante evaluation carried out in accordance with article 14 ;


### in addition , the commission shall consult , at least once a year , the organisations which represent the partner organisations at union level on the implementation of support from the fund . ### in addition , the commission shall consult , at least once a year , the partner organisations on the implementation of support from the fund .


### at its own initiative and in close cooperation with the member states , the commission shall carry out , with the assistance of external experts , an ex - post evaluation , to assess the effectiveness and sustainability of results obtained as well as to measure the added value of the fund . this ex post evaluation shall be completed by 31 december 2023 . ### at its own initiative and in close cooperation with the member states , the commission shall carry out , with the assistance of external experts , an ex - post evaluation , to assess the effectiveness and sustainability of results obtained as well as to measure the added value of the fund , with regard to the newly deprived people with negative income and homeowners in negative equity . this ex post evaluation shall be completed by 31 december 2023 .


### the member states shall provide information on and promote the actions supported by the fund . the information shall be addressed to the most deprived persons , the media and the wider public . it shall highlight the role of the union and ensure that the contribution from the fund is visible . ### the member states shall provide information on and promote the actions supported by the fund . the information shall be addressed , in particular , to the most deprived persons , the wider public and the media . it shall convey a message of support and seek to ensure that the final beneficiaries are not stigmatised in any way . it shall highlight the role of the union and ensure that the contribution the fund makes toward meeting the union ' s social cohesion objectives is visible .


### the member state shall designate a national public authority or body , functionally independent from the managing authority and the certifying authority , as audit authority . ### the member state shall designate a national public authority or body , functionally independent from the managing authority and the certifying authority , as audit authority . the national audit office or the national court of auditors may be designated as the audit authority .


### draw up the management declaration and annual summary referred to in article 56 and of the financial regulation . ### draw up the management declaration and annual summary referred to in article 59 and of the financial regulation .


### drawing up the annual accounts referred to in article 56 of the financial regulation ; ### drawing up the annual accounts referred to in article 59 of the financial regulation ;


### keeping an account of amounts recoverable and of amounts withdrawn following cancellation of all or part of the contribution for an operation . amounts recovered shall be repaid to the general budget of the union prior to the closure of the operational programme by deducting them from the next statement of expenditure . ### keeping an account of amounts recoverable and of amounts withdrawn following cancellation of all or part of the contribution for an operation . amounts recovered shall be repaid to the fund prior to the closure of the operational programme by deducting them from the next statement of expenditure .


### the audit authority shall , within six months of adoption of the operational programme , prepare an audit strategy for performance of audits . the audit strategy shall set out the audit methodology , the sampling method for audits on operations and the planning of audits in relation to the current accounting year and the two subsequent accounting years . the audit strategy shall be updated annually from 2016 until and including 2022 . the audit authority shall submit the audit strategy to the commission upon request . ### the audit authority shall , within six months of adoption of the operational programme , prepare an audit strategy for performance of audits . the audit strategy shall set out the audit methodology , the sampling method for audits on operations and the planning of audits in relation to the current accounting year and the two subsequent accounting years . the audit strategy shall be updated annually from 2016 until and including 2022 . the audit authority shall submit the audit strategy to the commission . the commission shall be empowered to request that the audit authority introduces changes to its audit strategy , which , in its view , are necessary for ensuring that audits are carried out in a proper manner , in accordance with the internationally accepted audit standards . in doing so the commission shall ensure that performance audit has been sufficiently taken into account .


### an audit opinion in accordance with article 56 of the financial regulation ; ### an audit opinion in accordance with article 59 of the financial regulation ;


### the commission may require a member state to take the actions necessary to ensure the effective functioning of their management and control systems or the correctness of expenditure in accordance with this regulation . ### the commission shall require member states to take the actions necessary to ensure the effective functioning of their management and control systems or the correctness of expenditure in accordance with this regulation .


### the budget commitments of the union in respect of each operational programme shall be made in annual instalments during the period between 1 january 2014 and 31 december 2020 . the decision of the commission adopting the operational programme shall constitute the financing decision within the meaning of article 81 of the financial regulation and once notified to the member state concerned , a legal commitment within the meaning of that regulation . ### the budget commitments of the union in respect of each operational programme shall be made in annual instalments during the period between 1 january 2014 and 31 december 2020 . the decision of the commission adopting the operational programme shall constitute the financing decision within the meaning of article 84 of the financial regulation and once notified to the member state concerned , a legal commitment within the meaning of that regulation .


### for each year from 2015 until and including 2022 , by 15 february of the year following the end of the accounting period , the designated bodies shall submit to the commission the following documents and information in accordance with article 56 of the financial regulation : the certified annual accounts of the relevant bodies designated pursuant to article 32 as referred to in article 56 of the financial regulation ; the management declaration as referred to in article 56 of the financial regulation ; an annual summary of the final audit reports and of controls carried out , including an analysis of the nature and extent of errors and of weaknesses , as well as corrective actions taken or planned ; an audit opinion by the designated independent audit body as referred in article 56 of the financial regulation , accompanied by a control report setting out the findings of the audits carried out relating to the accounting year covered by the opinion . ### for each year from 2015 until and including 2022 , by 15 february of the year following the end of the accounting period , the designated bodies shall submit to the commission the following documents and information in accordance with article 59 of the financial regulation : the certified annual accounts of the relevant bodies designated pursuant to article 32 as referred to in article 59 of the financial regulation ; the management declaration as referred to in article 59 of the financial regulation ; an annual summary of the final audit reports and of controls carried out , including an analysis of the nature and extent of errors and of weaknesses , as well as corrective actions taken or planned ; an audit opinion by the designated independent audit body as referred in article 59 of the financial regulation , accompanied by a control report setting out the findings of the audits carried out relating to the accounting year covered by the opinion .


### the managing authority shall ensure that all supporting documents on operations are made available to the commission and the european court of auditors upon request for a period of three years . this three year period shall run from 31 december of the year of the decision on acceptance of accounts by the commission pursuant to article 47 or , at the latest , from the date of payment of the final balance . this three year period shall be interrupted either in the case of legal or administrative proceedings or by a duly justified request of the commission . ### the managing authority shall ensure that all supporting documents on operations are made available to the commission and the european court of auditors upon request for a period of five years . this five year period shall run from the date of payment of the final balance . this five year period shall be interrupted either in the case of legal or administrative proceedings or by a duly justified request of the commission .


### the objectives of the copernicus programme are to provide accurate and reliable information in the field of the environment and security , tailored to the needs of users and supporting other union ' s policies , in particular relating to the internal market , transport , environment , energy , civil protection , cooperation with third countries and humanitarian aid . it builds on capabilities existing in europe , complemented by new assets developed in common . ### the objectives of the copernicus programme are to provide accurate , reliable and up - to - date information in a timely manner in the field of the environment , climate change and security , tailored to the needs of users and supporting other union ' s policies , in particular relating to the internal market , transport , environment , energy , climate , civil protection , cooperation with third countries , risk prevention and management , and humanitarian aid . it builds on capabilities existing in europe , complemented by new assets developed in common .


### support activities consisting in measures to promote the use of operational services by users and downstream applications , as well as communication and dissemination activities . ### support activities consisting in measures to promote the use of operational services by users and downstream applications , as well as communication and dissemination activities , and incentives for the development of modern applications and raising awareness of copernicus ' potential to help address societal and global challenges .


### the growing proportion of older people in europe makes it more important than ever to promote healthy ageing . healthy ageing can help raise labour market participation of older people , enable them to be active in society for longer , improve their individual quality of life and curb the strains on health and social care systems . ### the growing proportion of older people in europe makes it more important than ever to promote healthy ageing and to sensitise the awareness of european citizens to problems connected with an ageing population . healthy ageing can help raise labour market participation of older people , enable them to be active in society for longer and to participate in socially beneficial activities such as volunteering , improve their individual quality of life and curb the strains on health , pension and social care systems and to live a decent life in old age .


### the commission presented its views on the demographic challenges the eu faces and on opportunities for tackling them in its communications on ‘ the demographic future of europe ‐from challenge to opportunity’ of 12 october 2006 and on ‘ dealing with the impact of an ageing population in the european union’ of 21 april 2009 . ### the commission presented its views on the demographic challenges the eu faces and on opportunities for tackling them in its communications on ‘ the demographic future of europe ‐from challenge to opportunity’ of 12 october 2006 and on ‘ dealing with the impact of an ageing population in the european union’ of 21 april 2009 . one of these challenges is the growing number of older people in need of care ; most of this care is being provided by unpaid carers . this important resource is under pressure .


### the council adopted on 22 february 2007 a resolution on ‘ opportunities and challenges of demographic change in europe : the contribution of older people to economic and social development’ , which emphasised the need to increase the possibilities of active participation by older people , the new economic opportunities created by the growing demand of older people for certain goods and services as well as the importance of a positive public image of older people . ### the council adopted on 22 february 2007 a resolution on ‘ opportunities and challenges of demographic change in europe : the contribution of older people to economic and social development’ , which emphasised the need to increase the possibilities of active participation by older people , including in the form of voluntary work , the new economic opportunities created by the growing demand of older people for certain goods and services as well as the importance of a positive public image of older people . in the context of the enlargement , neighbourhood and development policies , a ' senior service ' of retired experts , such as those which already exist in many countries , could prove extremely useful . the valuable voluntary work of older people is an excellent example of the essential contribution that the ageing population makes to society and the economy , and this should be further encouraged in the future .


### the council adopted on 8 june 2009 conclusions on ‘ equal opportunities for women and men : active and dignified ageing’ , which recognises that , throughout the eu , older women and men face serious challenges as they seek to live active lives and to age with dignity , and proposes a number of measures to member states and the commission . ### the council adopted on 8 june 2009 conclusions on ‘ equal opportunities for women and men : active and dignified ageing’ , which recognises that , throughout the eu , older women and men face serious challenges as they seek to live active lives and to age with dignity , and proposes a number of measures to member states and the commission . the measures planned for older people should include cultural activities and activities to promote general well - being , with a view to shielding older people against social exclusion and loneliness by including and involving them .


### active ageing is targeted by several union programmes , such as the european social fund , the european regional and development fund , the progress programme , the life long learning programme , the public health programme , the specific programmes on information and communication technologies and on socio - economic sciences and humanities in the seventh framework programme for research and development , the action plan on ‘ ageing well in the information society’ , the ambient assisted living joint programme for research and innovation , the competitiveness and innovation programme with pilot deployment projects on ict for ageing well and the action plan on urban mobility . union co - financing of european year activities will be in accordance with the priorities and rules applying , on an annual or multi - annual basis , to existing programmes and autonomous budget lines in the field of employment , social affairs and equal opportunities . where appropriate , programmes and policies in other fields , such as education and culture , health , research , the information society , regional policy and transport policy , may support the european year . ### active ageing is targeted by several union programmes , such as the european social fund , the european regional and development fund , the progress programme , the life long learning programme and in particular the grundtvig programme , the public health programme , the specific programmes on information and communication technologies and on socio - economic sciences and humanities in the seventh framework programme for research and development , the action plan on ‘ ageing well in the information society’ , the ambient assisted living joint programme for research and innovation , the competitiveness and innovation programme with pilot deployment projects on ict for ageing well , the calypso preparatory action on social tourism and the action plan on urban mobility . union co - financing of european year activities will be in accordance with the priorities and rules applying , on an annual or multi - annual basis , to existing programmes and autonomous budget lines in the field of employment , social affairs and equal opportunities . where appropriate , programmes and policies in other fields , such as education and culture , health , research , the information society , regional policy and transport policy , may support the european year .


### to raise general awareness of the value of active ageing in order to highlight the useful contribution older persons make to society and the economy , to promote active ageing and to do more to mobilise the potential of older persons ; ### to raise general awareness of the value of active ageing in order to highlight the useful contribution older persons make to society , family life and the economy , to promote active ageing and to do more to mobilise the potential of older persons , in order to counteract the adverse effects of the wave of retirements of baby - boomer children and the shrinkage of the active population ;


### to offer a framework for commitment and concrete action to enable member states and stakeholders at all levels to develop policies through specific activities and to commit to specific objectives related to active ageing . ### to offer a framework for commitment and concrete action to enable member states and stakeholders at all levels to develop policies through specific activities and to commit to specific and concrete objectives related to active ageing by devising long - term strategies , regularly assessing the effectiveness of the framework and the specific activities and objectives ,


### the commission shall convene meetings of the national coordinators for the purpose of coordination at union level and to exchange information , including on commitments made and their implementation in the member states . ### the commission shall convene meetings of the national coordinators for the purpose of coordination at union level and to exchange information and knowledge , including on commitments made and their implementation in the member states .


### to meet the needs of retail investors , it is necessary to ensure that information on investment products is accurate , fair , clear and not misleading for those investors . this regulation should therefore lay down common standards for the drafting of the key information document , in order to ensure that it is comprehensible for retail investors . given the difficulties many retail investors have in understanding specialist financial terminology , particular attention should be paid to the vocabulary and style of writing used in the document . rules should also be laid down on the language in which it should be drawn up . furthermore , retail investors should be able to understand the key information document on its own without referring to other information . ### to meet the needs of retail investors , it is necessary to ensure that information on prips is accurate , fair , clear and not misleading for those investors . this regulation should therefore lay down common standards for the drafting of the key information document , in order to ensure that it is understandable by retail investors . given the difficulties many retail investors have in understanding specialist financial terminology , particular attention should be paid to the vocabulary and style of writing . rules should also be laid down on the language in which it should be drawn up . furthermore , retail investors should be able to understand the key information document on its own without referring to other information . this does not however preclude further documents being used to personalise features of a prip to a client ' s specific characteristics or choices


### the key information document should be drawn up in a format which allows retail investors to compare different investment products , since consumer behaviours and capabilities are such that the format , presentation and content of information must be carefully calibrated to maximise understanding and use of information . the same order of items and headings for these items should be followed for each document . in addition , the details of the information to be included in the key information document for different products and the presentation of this information should be further harmonised through delegated acts that take into account existing and on - going research on consumer behaviour , including results from testing the effectiveness of different ways of presenting information with consumers . in addition , some investment products give the retail investor a choice between multiple underlying investments . those products should be taken into account when drawing up the format . ### the key information document should be drawn up in a standardised format which allows retail investors to compare different prips , since consumer behaviours and capabilities are such that the format , presentation and content of information must be carefully calibrated to maximise financial education , understanding and use of information . the same order of items and headings for these items should be followed for each document . in addition , the details of the information to be included in the key information document for different prips and the presentation of this information should be further harmonised through delegated acts that take into account existing and on - going research on consumer behaviour , including results from testing the effectiveness of different ways of presenting information to consumers . in addition , some prips give the retail investor a choice between multiple underlying investments and may have varied costs and charges depending on personal characteristics of the customer , such as their age or investment amount . those products should be taken into account when drawing up the format .


### so that the retail investor is able to take an informed investment decision , persons selling investment products should be required to provide the key information document in good time before any transaction is concluded . this requirement should generally apply irrespective of where or how the transaction takes place . persons selling include both distributors and the investment product manufacturer themselves where they choose to sell the product directly to retail investors . to ensure necessary flexibility and proportionality , retail investors who wish to conclude a transaction using a means of distance communication should be able to receive the key information document after the conclusion of the transaction . even in this case the key information document would be useful for the investor , for instance to allow the investor to compare the product purchased with that described in the key information document . this regulation is without prejudice to the directive 2002 / 65 / ec of the european parliament and the council . ### so that the retail investor is able to take an informed investment decision , persons selling investment products should be required to provide the key information document in good time before any transaction is concluded . the investor should provide a signature , in person or an electronic signature , to demonstrate that they have received and read the kid . this requirement should generally apply irrespective of where or how the transaction takes place . persons selling include both distributors and the investment product manufacturer themselves where they choose to sell the product directly to retail investors . this regulation is without prejudice to the directive 2002 / 65 / ec of the european parliament and the council . wherever possible , investors should be provided with a ' cooling off period ' in which they may decide to cancel the transaction .


### this regulation lays down uniform rules on the format and content of the key information document to be drawn up by investment product manufacturers and uniform rules on the provision of this document to retail investors . ### this regulation lays down uniform rules on the format and content of the key information document exclusively to be drawn up by the prip manufacturers and on the information to be provided to retail investors in accordance with [ recast mifid ] and [ recast imd ] by the persons selling investment products and uniform rules on the provision of these documents to retail investors .


### the investment product manufacturer shall draw up a key information document in accordance with the requirements laid down in this regulation for each investment product it produces and shall publish the document on a website of its choice before the investment product can be sold to retail investors . ### the investment product manufacturer shall draw up a key information document in accordance with the requirements laid down in this regulation for each investment product it produces and shall publish the document on a website of its choice before the investment product can be sold to retail investors . in derogation to subparagraph 1 , where no key information document is readily available , the retail investor may still invest in such a product , as long as the sale is based on the retail investor ' s own initiative , the retail investor explicitly consents to this and the intermediary selling the investment product advises the retail investor according to directive 2004 / 39 / ec or directive 2002 / 92 / ec .


### the investment product manufacturer shall draw up a key information document in accordance with the requirements laid down in this regulation for each investment product it produces and shall publish the document on a website of its choice before the investment product can be sold to retail investors . ### the prip manufacturer shall draw up a key information document in accordance with the requirements laid down in this regulation for each investment product it produces and shall publish the key information document on its website before the prip can be sold to retail investors . the key information document shall be complemented by the production of services documentation by the person selling the prip reflecting the services provided to the retail investor .


### the commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with article 23 laying down detailed rules for the review of the information contained in the key information document and the revision of the key information document , as regards : ### the european banking authority , the european insurance and occupational pensions authority and the european securities and markets authority shall develop draft regulatory standards laying down detailed rules for the review of the information contained in the key information document and the revision of the key information document , as regards : the european supervisory authorities shall submit those draft regulatory technical standards to the commission by [ . . . ] . power is conferred on the commission to adopt the regulatory technical standards in accordance with the procedure set out in articles 10 to 14 of regulation no 1093 / 2010 , articles 10 to 14 of regulation 1094 / 2010 and articles 10 to 14 of regulation no 1095 / 2010 .


### a person selling an investment product to retail investors shall provide them with the key information document in good time before the conclusion of a transaction relating to the investment product . ### a person selling a prip to retail investors shall provide them with the key information document and the key service document in good time before the conclusion of a transaction relating to the prip . where an investment is recommended to a client , the key information document and the key services document shall be provided without delay .


### by way of derogation from paragraph 1 , a person selling an investment product may provide the retail investor with the key information document immediately after the conclusion of the transaction where : ### by way of derogation from paragraph 1 , a person selling a prip may instead provide a retail investor who requests this with the key information document immediately after the conclusion of the transaction , but only where :


### the provision of the key information document in accordance with paragraph 1 is not possible , and ### the provision of the key information document in accordance with paragraph 1 is not possible , and where the person selling the prip has informed the retail investor about the situation , and


### where the person selling the investment product has informed the retail investor of this fact . ### the retail investor consents to receive the key information document straight after the conclusion of the transaction , rather than delaying the transaction in order to receive the document in advance


### the commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with article 23 specifying : ### the european banking authority , the european insurance and occupational pensions authority and the european securities and markets authority shall jointly develop technical standards in accordance with article 23 specifying :


### the investment product manufacturer shall establish appropriate procedures and arrangements which ensure that retail investors who have submitted a complaint in relation to the key information document receive a substantive reply in a timely and proper manner . ### the investment product manufacturer and the distributor shall establish appropriate procedures and arrangements which ensure that : retail investors have an effective way of submitting a complaint against the investment product manufacturer and hence of initiating a redress procedure ; retail investors who have submitted a complaint in relation to the key information document receive a substantive reply in a timely and proper manner ; and effective redress procedures are also available to retail investors in the event of cross - border disputes , in particular where the investment product manufacturer is located in another member state or in a third country .


### four years after the date of entry into force of this regulation , the commission shall review this regulation . the review shall include a general survey of the practical application of the rules laid down in this regulation , taking due account of developments in the market for retail investment products . as regards ucits as defined in article 1 of directive 2009 / 65 / ec , the review shall assess whether the transitional arrangements under article 24 of this regulation shall be prolonged , or whether , following the identification of any necessary adjustments , the provisions on key investor information in directive 2009 / 65 / ec might be replaced by or considered equivalent to the key investor document under this regulation . the review shall also reflect on a possible extension of the scope of this regulation to other financial products . ### after the entry into force of this regulation , the commission shall review the union legislation in the area of financial services with a view to assessing the merits of : introducing standardised key information documents in accordance with the rules introduced by this regulation in relation to classes of financial instruments not covered by this regulation , in particular in relation to the products covered by directive 2003 / 71 / ec and directive 2009 / 138 / ec ; introducing harmonised market conduct requirements relating to the selling of financial products ; and granting the european supervisory authorities and the national competent authorities powers to intervene in relation to specific categories of financial products , including through product prohibitions introduced in the interests of investor protection and financial stability , taking account of the powers introduced in this respect by regulation no xx / xx of the european parliament and of the council of [ date ] on markets in financial instruments and amending regulation [ emir ] on otc derivatives , central counterparties and trade repositories .


### therefore , a pilot phase for the europe 2020 project bond initiative should be launched during the current financial framework in order to develop debt capital market financing in the area of infrastructure more generally and to extend the range of financial instruments currently available for transport projects . ### therefore , a pilot phase for the europe 2020 project bond initiative should be launched during the current financial framework in order to develop debt capital market financing in the area of infrastructure more generally and to extend the range of financial instruments currently available for transport projects . the pilot phase should be followed by an evaluation carried out by the commission in cooperation with the eib . the commission , after consultation of stakeholders involved in pilot phase projects , should report to the european parliament and the council by the end of 2013 .


### in order to implement the pilot phase of the europe 2020 project bond initiative , decision no 1639 / 2006 / ec and regulation no 680 / 2007 should be amended . this pilot phase aims to support infrastructure projects with commercial potential in the transport , energy and ict sectors , while after 2013 the initiative may be extended to other sectors . ### in order to implement the pilot phase of the europe 2020 project bond initiative , decision no 1639 / 2006 / ec and regulation no 680 / 2007 should be amended . this pilot phase aims to support infrastructure projects of common european interest with commercial potential in the transport , energy and ict sectors , while after 2013 , subject to positive evaluation , the initiative may be extended to other sectors .


### takes the form of a loan or a guarantee granted by the eib in favour of financing provided to projects in the field of ict and broadband ; ### takes the form of a loan or a guarantee granted by the eib in favour of financing provided to projects of common european interest in the field of ict and broadband ;


### the erdf shall contribute to the financing of support which aims to reinforce economic , social and territorial cohesion by redressing the main regional imbalances through support for the development and structural adjustment of regional economies , including the conversion of declining industrial regions and regions lagging behind . ### the erdf shall contribute to the financing of support which aims to reinforce economic , social and territorial cohesion by redressing the main regional imbalances through support for the development and structural adjustment of regional economies , including the conversion of declining industrial regions and regions lagging behind , taking into account the difficulties affecting areas with permanent serious natural or demographic handicaps .


### at least 80% of the total erdf resources at national level shall be allocated to the thematic objectives set out in points 1 , 3 and 4 of article 9 of regulation no [ &#8230 ; ] / 2012 [ cpr ] ; ### at least 80% of the total erdf resources at national level shall be allocated to the thematic objectives set out in points 1 , 3 , 4 and 7 of article 9 of regulation no [ . . . ] / 2012 [ cpr ] ;


### adequate internal organisation of statutory auditors and audit firms should contribute to preventing any threats to their independence . thus , owners or shareholders of an audit firm , as well as those managing it , should not intervene in the carrying out of a statutory audit in any way which jeopardises the independence and objectivity of the statutory auditor who carries out the statutory audit on behalf of the audit firm . additionally , statutory auditors and audit firms should establish appropriate internal policies and procedures in relation to employees and other persons involved in the statutory audit activity within their organisations in order to ensure compliance with their statutory obligations . those policies and procedures should in particular seek to prevent and address any threats to independence and ensure the quality , integrity and thoroughness of the statutory audit . those policies and procedures should be proportionate in view of the scale and complexity of the business of the statutory auditor or audit firm . ### adequate internal organisation of statutory auditors and audit firms should contribute to preventing any threats to their independence . thus , owners or shareholders of an audit firm , as well as those managing it , should not intervene in the carrying out of a statutory audit in any way which jeopardises the independence and objectivity of the statutory auditor who carries out the statutory audit on behalf of the audit firm . additionally , statutory auditors and audit firms should establish appropriate internal policies and procedures in relation to employees and other persons involved in the statutory audit activity within their organisations in order to ensure compliance with their statutory obligations . those policies and procedures should in particular seek to prevent and address any threats to independence and ensure the quality , integrity and thoroughness of the statutory audit . those policies and procedures should be proportionate in view of the scale and complexity of the business of the statutory auditor or audit firm and the audited entities .


### the provision of services other than statutory audit to audited entities by statutory auditors , audit firms or members of their networks may compromise their independence . therefore , it is appropriate to require the statutory auditor , the audit firm and the members of their network not to provide non - audit services to their audited entities . the provision of non - audit services by an audit firm to a company would prevent that audit firm from carrying out statutory audit of that company , thus resulting in a reduction of the audit firms available to provide statutory audit , in particular with regard to the audit of large public - interest entities where the market is concentrated . as a result , in order to secure that a minimum number of audit firms is able to provide audit services to large public - interest entities , it is appropriate to request that audit firms of significant dimension focus their professional activity on the carrying out of statutory audit and are not allowed to undertake other services unconnected to their statutory audit function such as consultancy or advisory services . ### the provision of services other than statutory audit to audited entities by statutory auditors , audit firms or members of their networks may compromise their independence . therefore , it is appropriate to require the statutory auditor , the audit firm and the members of their network not to provide non - audit services to their audited entities . the provision of non - audit services by an audit firm to a company would prevent that audit firm from carrying out statutory audit of that company , thus resulting in a reduction of the audit firms available to provide statutory audit , in particular with regard to the audit of large public - interest entities where the market is concentrated . as a result , in order to secure that a minimum number of audit firms is able to provide audit services to large public - interest entities , it is appropriate to request that audit firms of significant dimension either focus their professional activity on the carrying out of statutory audit and are not allowed to undertake other services unconnected to their statutory audit function such as consultancy or advisory services or they partner with other audit firms in joint audits if they want to further expand their business activities .