### eligible actions developed in the context of permanent structured cooperation in the institutional framework of the union would ensure enhanced cooperation between undertakings in the different member states on a continuous basis and thus directly contribute to the aims of the programme . such projects should thus be eligible for an increased funding rate . ### eligible actions developed in the context of the permanent structured cooperation in the institutional framework of the union that was agreed and signed by the foreign ministers and defence ministers of 23 member states on 13 november 2017 would ensure enhanced cooperation between undertakings in the different member states on a continuous basis and thus directly contribute to the aims of the programme . such projects should thus be eligible for an increased funding rate .


### the commission should draw up an implementation report at the end of the programme , examining the financial activities in terms of financial implementation results and where possible , impact . this report should also analyse the cross border participation of smes in projects under the programme as well as the participation of smes to the global value chain . ### the commission should draw up an interim progress report by the end of the first year of implementation and an implementation report at the end of the programme . these reports should analyse the development of industrial expertise and defence capacity , as well as coherence with the foreign policy objectives of the union and its member states and the financial activities in terms of financial implementation results and where possible , impact . they should also analyse and promote the cross - border participation of smes and mid - caps in projects under the programme as well as their participation to the global value chain . the reports should also include information on the origin of beneficiaries .


### the promotion of innovation and technological development in the union defence industry should take place in a manner coherent with the security interests of the union . accordingly , the action ' s contribution to those interests and to the defence capability priorities commonly agreed by member states should serve as an award criterion . within the union , common defence capability priorities are identified notably through the capability development plan . other union processes such as the coordinated annual review on defence and the permanent structured cooperation will support the implementation of relevant priorities through enhanced cooperation . where appropriate regional or international cooperative initiatives , such as in the nato context , and serving the union security and defence interest , may also be taken into account . ### the promotion of innovation and technological development in the defence industry in the member states should take place in a manner coherent with the security interests of the union as defined within the context of the common foreign and security policy and the common security and defence policy . it should also allow the maintenance and development of the skills and knowhow of the defence industry in the member states and contribute to strengthening the union ' s technological and industrial autonomy . accordingly , the action ' s contribution to those interests and to the defence capability priorities commonly agreed by member states should serve as an award criterion . within the union , common defence capability priorities are identified notably through the capability development plan . other union processes such as the coordinated annual review on defence and the permanent structured cooperation will support the implementation of relevant priorities through enhanced cooperation . member states ' pesco national implementation plans comprising of concrete actions should be coordinated with the programme . where appropriate regional or international cooperative capability initiatives , such as in the nato context , and serving the union security and defence interest , should also be taken into account and should not lead to duplicated efforts .


### beneficiaries shall be undertakings established in the union , in which member states and / or nationals of member states own more than 50% of the undertaking and effectively control it within the meaning of article 6 , whether directly or indirectly through one or more intermediate undertakings . in addition , all infrastructure , facilities , assets and resources used by the participants , including subcontractors and other third parties , in actions funded under the programme shall not be located on the territory of non - member states during the entire duration of the action . ### beneficiaries and their subcontractors shall be public or private undertakings established in the union and their executive management structures shall be located in the union . all infrastructure , facilities , and assets used by the beneficiaries , including subcontractors and other third parties , for the purposes of the actions funded under the programme shall be located on the territory of the member states during the entire duration of the action . the beneficiaries and their subcontractors shall not be subject to control by third countries or by third country entities .


### the commission shall not own the products or technologies resulting from the action nor shall it have any ipr claim pertaining to the action . ### the union shall not own the products or technologies resulting from the action nor shall it have any ipr claim pertaining to the action .


### given that the programme aims particularly at enhancing cooperation between undertakings across member states , an action should be eligible for funding under the programme only if it is undertaken by a cooperation of at least three undertakings based in at least two different member states . ### given that the programme aims particularly at enhancing cooperation between public or private undertakings across member states , an action should be eligible for funding under the programme only if it is undertaken by a cooperation of at least three undertakings based in at least three different member states .


### in case an action supported by the programme is managed by a project manager appointed by member states , the commission should inform the project manager prior to executing the payment to the beneficiary of the eligible action so that the project manager can ensure that the time - frames are respected by the beneficiaries . ### in case an action supported by the programme is managed by a project manager appointed by member states , the commission should consult the project manager on the progress made on the action prior to executing the payment to the beneficiary of the eligible action so that the project manager can ensure that the time - frames are respected by the beneficiaries .


### as the union support aims at enhancing the competitiveness of the sector and concerns only the specific development phase , the commission should not have ownership or intellectual property rights over the products or technologies resulting from the funded actions . the applicable intellectual property rights regime will be defined contractually by the beneficiaries . ### as the union support aims at enhancing the competitiveness of the sector and concerns only the specific development phase , the union should not have ownership or intellectual property rights over the products or technologies resulting from the funded actions . the applicable intellectual property rights regime will be defined contractually by the beneficiaries . the results of actions which receive funding under the programme should not be subject to any control or restriction by a third country or a third country entity .


### the financial assistance of the union under the programme should not exceed 20% of the total eligible cost of the action when it relates to prototyping which is often the most costly action in the development phase . the totality of the eligible costs should however be covered for other actions in the development phase . ### the financial assistance of the union under the programme should not exceed 20% of the total cost of the actions related to prototyping . the totality of the eligible costs should however be covered for other actions in the development phase .


### in case a project manager is appointed by member states , the commission shall execute the payment to the eligible beneficiaries after informing the project manager . ### member states shall appoint a project manager who shall follow the contract on their behalf and inform the commission when the payment to the eligible beneficiaries is to be executed . the eligible beneficiaries , in the consortium , shall appoint their own project manager who shall cooperate with the project manager appointed by the member states .


### the financial assistance of the union under the programme should not exceed 20% of the total eligible cost of the action when it relates to prototyping which is often the most costly action in the development phase . the totality of the eligible costs should however be covered for other actions in the development phase . ### the financial assistance of the union under the programme should not exceed 30% of the total eligible cost of the action , including part of the indirect cost of the action , within the meaning of article 126 of regulation no 966 / 2012 , when it relates to system prototyping which is often the most costly action in the development phase . the totality of the eligible costs should however be covered for other actions in the development phase .


### in view of the specificities of the sector , in practice no collaborative project between undertakings will be launched if the member states have not first agreed to support such projects . after having defined common defence capability priorities at union - level and also taking into account where appropriate collaborative initiatives on a regional basis , member states identify and consolidate military requirements and define the technical specifications of the project . they may also appoint a project manager in charge of leading the work related to the development of a collaborative project . ### after having defined common defence capability priorities at union level through the capability development plan , also taking into account the coordinated annual review on defence , and with a view to fulfilling the union ' s level of ambition as agreed by the council in its conclusions of 14 november 2016 and endorsed by the european council on 15 december 2016 , member states identify and consolidate military requirements and define the technical specifications of the project . they may also appoint a project manager in charge of leading the work related to the development of a collaborative project .


### in the european defence action plan , adopted on 30 november 2016 , the commission committed to complement , leverage and consolidate collaborative efforts by member states in developing defence capabilities to respond to security challenges , as well as to foster a competitive and innovative european defence industry . it proposed in particular to launch a european defence fund to support investment in joint research and the joint development of defence equipment and technologies . the fund would support cooperation during the whole cycle of defence product and technology development . ### in the european defence action plan , adopted on 30 november 2016 , the commission committed to complement , leverage and consolidate collaborative efforts by member states in developing defence capabilities to respond to security challenges , as well as to foster a competitive , innovative and balanced european defence industry . it proposed in particular to launch a european defence fund to support investment in joint research and the joint development of defence equipment and technologies and to promote the member states ' joint purchase and maintenance of defence equipment . the fund would complement national budgets already used for this purpose and should act as an incentive for member states to invest more in defence . the fund would support cooperation during the whole cycle of defence product and technology development by enhancing synergies and budgetary efficiency .


### as the union support aims at enhancing the competitiveness of the sector and concerns only the specific development phase , the commission should not have ownership or intellectual property rights over the products or technologies resulting from the funded actions . the applicable intellectual property rights regime will be defined contractually by the beneficiaries . ### as the union support aims at enhancing the competitiveness of the sector and concerns only the specific development phase , the commission should not have ownership or intellectual property rights over the products or technologies resulting from the funded actions . the applicable intellectual property rights regime will be defined contractually by the beneficiaries in accordance with national law .


### as the programme aims at enhancing the competitiveness of the union ' s defence industry , only entities established in the union and effectively controlled by member states or their nationals should be eligible for support . additionally , in order to ensure the protection of essential security interests of the union and its member states , the infrastructure , facilities , assets and resources used by the beneficiaries and subcontractors in actions funded under the programme , shall not be located on the territory of non - member states . ### as the programme aims at enhancing the efficient cooperation and competitiveness of the union ' s defence industry and consolidating the union’s strategic defence autonomy , only entities which are established in the union and have their executive management structures there should be eligible for financial support . undertakings located in third countries should be able to participate in the projects by cooperating with beneficiaries , where they are located in a third country identified in the work programme . additionally , in order to ensure the protection of essential defence and security interests of the union and its member states , the infrastructure , facilities and assets used by the beneficiaries and subcontractors in actions funded under the programme , should not be located on the territory of third countries . the beneficiaries and their subcontractors should not be subject to control by third countries or by third country entities , as control is understood , for example , in competition policy .


### the work programme shall ensure that a credible proportion of the overall budget will benefit actions enabling the cross - border participation of smes . ### the work programme , whose objective is to promote european cooperation , shall ensure that a relevant proportion of at least 20 % of the overall budget is earmarked for specific actions enabling the cross - border participation of smes and / or mid - caps ; a specific category of projects dedicated to smes and / or mid - caps shall be established by the work programme .


### cross - border collaboration in the development of defence products and technologies has often been hampered by the difficulty to agree on common technical specifications . the absence or limited level of common technical specifications have led to increased complexity , delays and inflated costs in the development phase . the agreement on common technical specifications should be a condition in order to benefit from the union ' s support under this programme . actions aiming at supporting the creation of a common definition of technical specifications should also be eligible for support under the programme . ### cross - border collaboration in the development of defence products and technologies has often been hampered by the difficulty to agree on common technical specifications that promote interoperability . the absence or limited level of common technical specifications have led to increased complexity , delays and inflated costs in the development phase . the agreement on common technical specifications should be a condition in order to benefit from the union ' s support under this programme . actions aiming at supporting the creation of a common definition of technical specifications should also be eligible for support under the programme .


### article 10 award criteria actions proposed for funding under the programme shall be evaluated on the basis of the following cumulative criteria : excellence contribution to the innovation and technological development of defence industries and thus to fostering the industrial autonomy of the union in the field of defence technologies ; and , contribution to the security and defence interests of the union by enhancing defence technologies which contribute to implement defence capability priorities commonly agreed by member states within the union ; and , viability notably via a demonstration by the beneficiaries that the remaining costs of the eligible action are covered by other means of financing such as member states’ contributions ; and for actions described in points to of article 6 , the contribution to the competitiveness of the european defence industry through the demonstration by the beneficiaries that member states have committed to jointly produce and procure the final product or technology in a coordinated way , including joint procurement where applicable . ### article 10 award criteria actions proposed for funding under the programme shall be evaluated in a transparent manner , based on objective and measurable parameters , taking into account the overall aim of the programme and in particular to support , leverage and level - up the cross - border cooperation between undertakings on the basis of the following criteria : contribution to the security and defence interests of the union by enhancing defence technologies which contribute to the implementation of defence capability priorities commonly agreed by member states within the union in the context of the capability development plan or the coordinated annual review on defence and , where appropriate , in the context of regional and international cooperative agreements ; and , contribution to excellence , industrial performance and competition by showing that the proposed work achieves measurable enhancements and significant advantages over existing products or technologies , or when the project aims at the development of a critical or a breakthrough technology ; and , viability , notably via a demonstration by the beneficiaries that the remaining costs of the eligible action are covered by other means of financing such as member states’ contributions and private sources of funding ; and , contribution to innovation in particular by showing that the proposed actions include ground - breaking or novel concepts and approaches , new promising future technological improvements or the application of technologies or concepts previously not applied in defence sector and thus to the technological development of defence industries and to fostering the industrial autonomy of the union in relation to the capability requirements under the common security and defence policy ; contribution to the unification of technical specifications ; the proportion of the overall budget for the action that is to be allocated in such a way as to enable participation by smes established in the european union that provide added value , whether as members of the consortium or as subcontractors , and in particular to smes that are not established in the member states in which the undertakings in the consortium are established ; contribution to greater efficiency and lower costs in the european defence industry by reducing duplication and overlaps ; increased or new cross - border cooperation ; for actions described in points to of article 6 , the contribution to a more efficient and further integrated european defence sector through the demonstration by the beneficiaries that member states have declared to jointly produce and procure or intend to jointly use , own or maintain the final product or technology in a coordinated way .


### as the objective of the programme is to support the competitiveness of the union defence industry by de - risking the development phase of cooperative projects , actions related to the development of a defence product or technology , namely definition of common technical specifications , design , prototyping , testing , qualification , certification as well feasibility studies and other supporting measures , should be eligible to benefit from it . this will also apply to the upgrade of existing defence products and technologies . ### as the objective of the programme is to support the progressive framing of a common defence policy and the competitiveness of the union defence industry by de - risking the development phase of cooperative projects , actions related to the development of a defence product or technology , namely definition of common technical specifications , design , prototyping , testing , qualification , certification as well feasibility studies and other supporting measures , should be eligible to benefit from it . this will also apply to the upgrade of existing defence products and european defence technologies .


### moreover , in order to eliminate potential existing barriers , during a transitional period of 12 months , member states should carry out a review of existing national data localisation requirements and notify to the commission , together with a justification , any data localisation requirement that they consider being in compliance with this regulation . these notifications should enable the commission to assess the compliance of any remaining data localisation requirements . ### moreover , in order to eliminate potential existing barriers , during a transitional period of 12 months , member states should carry out a review of existing national legislation , administrative procedures and rules establishing data localisation requirements and communicate to the commission , together with a justification , any data localisation requirement that they consider being in compliance with this regulation . these communications should enable the commission to assess the compliance of any remaining data localisation requirements .


### the freedom of establishment and the freedom to provide services under the treaty on the functioning of the european union apply to data storage or other processing services . however , the provision of those services is hampered or sometimes prevented by certain national requirements to locate data in a specific territory . ### the freedom of establishment and the freedom to provide services under the treaty on the functioning of the european union apply to data storage or other processing services . however , the provision of those services is hampered or sometimes prevented by certain national , regional and local requirements to locate data in a specific territory .


### location of data for storage or other processing within the union shall not be restricted to the territory of a specific member state , and storage or other processing in any other member state shall not be prohibited or restricted , unless it is justified on grounds of public security . ### location of data for storage or other processing within the union shall not be restricted to the territory of a specific member state , and storage or other processing in any other member state shall not be prohibited or restricted , unless it is justified on grounds of a high threat to public security and is in keeping with the principle of proportionality .


### location of data for storage or other processing within the union shall not be restricted to the territory of a specific member state , and storage or other processing in any other member state shall not be prohibited or restricted , unless it is justified on grounds of public security . ### data localisation requirements shall be prohibited , unless they are justified by a documented and serious threat to public security and constitute adequate and proportionate measures .


### data localisation requirements represent a clear barrier to the free provision of data storage or other processing services across the union and to the internal market . as such , they should be banned unless they are justified based on the grounds of public security , as defined by union law , in particular article 52 of the treaty on the functioning of the european union , and satisfy the principle of proportionality enshrined in article 5 of the treaty on european union . in order to give effect to the principle of free flow of non - personal data across borders , to ensure the swift removal of existing data localisation requirements and to enable for operational reasons storage or other processing of data in multiple locations across the eu , and since this regulation provides for measures to ensure data availability for regulatory control purposes , member states should not be able to invoke justifications other than public security . ### data localisation requirements represent a clear barrier to the free provision of data storage or other processing services across the union and to the internal market . as such , they should be banned unless they relate to the public archives or are justified based on the grounds of public security , public order or public health , as defined by union law , in particular article 52 of the treaty on the functioning of the european union , and satisfy the principle of proportionality enshrined in article 5 of the treaty on european union . in order to give effect to the principle of free flow of non - personal data across borders , to ensure the swift removal of existing data localisation requirements and to enable for operational reasons storage or other processing of data in multiple locations across the eu , and since this regulation provides for measures to ensure data availability for regulatory control purposes , member states shall not be able to invoke justifications other than public archives , public security , public order or public health , in which case they can require that data be kept within their territory so that they can guarantee the provision of essential public services .


### member states shall notify to the commission any draft act which introduces a new data localisation requirement or makes changes to an existing data localisation requirement in accordance with the procedures set out in the national law implementing directive 2015 / 1535 . ### member states shall immediately communicate to the commission any draft act which introduces a new data localisation requirement or makes changes to an existing data localisation requirement in accordance with the procedures set out in the national law implementing directive 2015 / 1535 .


### data localisation requirements represent a clear barrier to the free provision of data storage or other processing services across the union and to the internal market . as such , they should be banned unless they are justified based on the grounds of public security , as defined by union law , in particular article 52 of the treaty on the functioning of the european union , and satisfy the principle of proportionality enshrined in article 5 of the treaty on european union . in order to give effect to the principle of free flow of non - personal data across borders , to ensure the swift removal of existing data localisation requirements and to enable for operational reasons storage or other processing of data in multiple locations across the eu , and since this regulation provides for measures to ensure data availability for regulatory control purposes , member states should not be able to invoke justifications other than public security . ### data localisation requirements represent a clear barrier to the free provision of data storage or other processing services across the union and to the internal market . as such , they should be banned unless they are justified based on the grounds of a high threat to public security , as defined by union law , in particular article 52 of the treaty on the functioning of the european union , and satisfy the principle of proportionality enshrined in article 5 of the treaty on european union . in order to give effect to the principle of free flow of non - personal data across borders , to ensure the swift removal of existing data localisation requirements and to enable for operational reasons storage or other processing of data in multiple locations across the eu , and since this regulation provides for measures to ensure data availability for regulatory control purposes , member states should not be able to invoke justifications other than public security .


### in order to ensure the effective application of the principle of free flow of non - personal data across borders , and to prevent the emergence of new barriers to the smooth functioning of the internal market , member states should notify to the commission any draft act that contains a new data localisation requirement or modifies an existing data localisation requirement . those notifications should be submitted and assessed in accordance with the procedure laid down in directive 2015 / 153533 . _________________ 33directive 2015 / 1535 of the european parliament and of the council of 9 september 2015 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical regulations and of rules on information society services . ### in order to ensure the effective application of the principle of free flow of non - personal data across borders , and to prevent the emergence of new barriers to the smooth functioning of the internal market , member states should immediately communicate to the commission any draft act that contains a new data localisation requirement or modifies an existing data localisation requirement . those notifications should be submitted and assessed in accordance with the procedure laid down in directive 2015 / 153533 . _________________ 33directive 2015 / 1535 of the european parliament and of the council of 9 september 2015 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical regulations and of rules on information society services .


### data localisation requirements represent a clear barrier to the free provision of data storage or other processing services across the union and to the internal market . as such , they should be banned unless they are justified based on the grounds of public security , as defined by union law , in particular article 52 of the treaty on the functioning of the european union , and satisfy the principle of proportionality enshrined in article 5 of the treaty on european union . in order to give effect to the principle of free flow of non - personal data across borders , to ensure the swift removal of existing data localisation requirements and to enable for operational reasons storage or other processing of data in multiple locations across the eu , and since this regulation provides for measures to ensure data availability for regulatory control purposes , member states should not be able to invoke justifications other than public security . ### data localisation requirements represent a clear barrier to the free provision of data storage or other processing services across the union and to the internal market . as such , they should be banned unless they are justified based on the grounds of ensuring the security and defence of a member state or of public security within the meaning of article 52 of the treaty on the functioning of the european union , and satisfy the principle of proportionality enshrined in article 5 of the treaty on european union . in order to give effect to the principle of free flow of non - personal data across borders , to ensure the swift removal of existing data localisation requirements and to enable for operational reasons storage or other processing of data in multiple locations across the eu , and since this regulation provides for measures to ensure data availability for regulatory control purposes , member states should not be able to invoke justifications other than ensuring the security and defence of a member state or public security .


### in order to meet the objectives of the programme and to facilitate the lives of citizens and businesses , high - quality user - centric public services need to be put in place . this implies that public administrations will need to start working in new ways , bring down silos between the different parts of their administrations , and to engage in the co - creation of these public services with citizens and businesses . moreover , the continuous and steady increase of cross - border activities in the internal market requires provision of up - to - date information on the rights of businesses and citizens , but also information explaining the administrative formalities . in addition , provision of legal advice and helping to solve problems which occur at cross national level becomes essential . furthermore , connecting national administrations in a simple and efficient manner as well as evaluating how the internal market works on the ground is necessary . the programme should therefore support the following existing internal market governance tools : the your europe portal which should be a backbone of the upcoming single digital gateway , your europe advice , solvit , the internal market information system and the single market scoreboard in order to improve citizens ' daily lives and businesses ' ability to trade across borders . ### in order to meet the objectives of the programme and to facilitate the lives of citizens and businesses , high - quality user - centric public services need to be put in place in all fields . this implies that public administrations will need to start working in new ways , bring down silos between the different parts of their administrations , and to engage in the co - creation of these public services with citizens and businesses at local , regional , cross - border and national level and ensuring more accessible government websites where essential information can be more easily found . moreover , the continuous and steady increase of cross - border activities in the internal market requires the regular provision of up - to - date information on the rights and obligations of businesses and citizens , but also information explaining the administrative formalities and taxes inherent in the respective activities . in addition , provision of legal advice and helping to solve problems which occur at cross national level becomes essential . furthermore , connecting regional and national administrations , where appropriate , in a simple and efficient manner as well as evaluating how the internal market works on the ground is necessary . the programme should therefore support the following existing internal market governance tools : the your europe portal which should be a backbone of the upcoming single digital gateway , your europe advice , solvit , the internal market information system and the single market scoreboard in order to improve citizens ' daily lives and businesses ' ability to trade across borders .


### several programmes for union action exist currently in the fields of competitiveness of enterprises including smes , consumer protection , customers and end - users in financial services , policy making in financial services and food chain . some additional activities are financed directly under the internal market budget lines . it is necessary to streamline and exploit synergies between various actions and provide for a more flexible and agile framework to finance activities aiming to achieve a well - functioning internal market in the most cost - efficient manner . it is therefore necessary to establish a new programme bringing together activities financed previously under those other programmes and other relevant budget lines . the programme should also include new initiatives which aim to improve the functioning of the internal market . ### several programmes for union action exist currently in the fields of competitiveness of enterprises including smes , consumer protection , customers and end - users in financial services , policy making in financial services and food chain . some additional activities are financed directly under the internal market budget lines . without prejudice to the existing level of transparency and democratic scrutiny by the co - legislators , it is necessary to streamline and exploit synergies between various actions and provide for a more flexible and agile framework to finance activities aiming to achieve a well - functioning internal market in the most cost - efficient manner . it is therefore necessary to establish a new programme bringing together activities financed previously under those other programmes and other relevant budget lines . the programme should also include new initiatives which aim to improve the functioning of the internal market and its development .


### official controls carried out by the member states are an essential tool for verifying and monitoring that relevant union requirements are being implemented , complied with and enforced . the effectiveness and efficiency of official control systems is vital for maintaining a high level of safety for humans , animals and plants along the food chain whilst ensuring a high level of protection of the environment and of animal welfare . union financial support should be made available for such control measures . in particular , a financial contribution should be available to union reference laboratories in order to help them bear the costs arising from the implementation of work programmes approved by the commission . moreover , since the effectiveness of official controls also depends on the availability to the control authorities of well trained staff with an appropriate knowledge of union law , the union should be able to contribute to their training and relevant exchange programmes organised by competent authorities . ### in view of an increasingly globalised food chain , official controls carried out by the member states are now more than ever an essential tool for verifying and monitoring that relevant union requirements are being implemented , complied with and enforced , especially as regards imported food products . the effectiveness and efficiency of official control systems is vital for maintaining a high level of safety for humans , animals and plants along the food chain , as well as consumer confidence , whilst ensuring a high level of protection of the environment and of animal welfare . union financial support should be made available for such control measures . in particular , a financial contribution should be available to union reference laboratories in order to help them bear the costs arising from the implementation of work programmes approved by the commission . financial contribution should also be available to increase the level of controls on imports , in order to tackle phenomena such as illegal imports of bush meat which can put human health at risk and causes biodiversity loss . since the effectiveness of official controls also depends on the availability to the control authorities of well trained staff with an appropriate knowledge of union law , the union should be able to contribute to their training and relevant exchange programmes organised by competent authorities .


### the interim evaluation of the programme shall be performed once there is sufficient information available about the implementation of the programme , but no later than four years after the start of the programme implementation . ### by . . . [ three years after the start of the implementation of the programme ] , the commission shall establish an interim evaluation report of the programme on the achievement of the objectives of the actions supported under it , on the results and impacts , on the efficiency of the use of resources and on its union added value .


### activities to support the improvement of the welfare of animals . ### activities to support the improvement of the welfare of animals , including measures to ensure compliance with animal welfare standards and traceability including during animal transport .


### activities supporting a sustainable food production and consumption . ### activities supporting agroecological production , sustainable food consumption , which does not cause harm to the environment and biodiversity , and promotion of direct sales and short supply chains .


### the commission shall communicate the conclusions of the evaluations accompanied by its observations , to the european parliament , the council , the european economic and social committee and the committee of the regions . ### the commission shall submit the reports referred to in paragraphs 2 and 5 accompanied by its observations , to the european parliament , the council , the european economic and social committee and the committee of the regions and make them publicly available . the results of those evaluations shall be accompanied , where appropriate , by legislative proposals for revision of the programme .


### measures to eradicate a union quarantine pest , taken by the competent authority of a member state pursuant to article 16 of regulation 2016 / 2031 of the european parliament and of the council105or pursuant to the union measures adopted in accordance with article 28 of that regulation ; _________________ 105 regulation 2016 / 2031 of the european parliament and of the council of 26 october 2016 on protective measures against pests of plants , amending regulations no 228 / 2013 , no 652 / 2014 and no 1143 / 2014 of the european parliament and of the council and repealing council directives 69 / 464 / eec , 74 / 647 / eec , 93 / 85 / eec , 98 / 57 / ec , 2000 / 29 / ec , 2006 / 91 / ec and 2007 / 33 / ec . ### measures to prevent , contain and / or eradicate a union quarantine pest , taken by the competent authority of a member state pursuant to article 16 of regulation 2016 / 2031 of the european parliament and of the council105 or pursuant to the union measures adopted in accordance with article 28 of that regulation ; _________________ 105 regulation 2016 / 2031 of the european parliament and of the council of 26 october 2016 on protective measures against pests of plants , amending regulations no 228 / 2013 , no 652 / 2014 and no 1143 / 2014 of the european parliament and of the council and repealing council directives 69 / 464 / eec , 74 / 647 / eec , 93 / 85 / eec , 98 / 57 / ec , 2000 / 29 / ec , 2006 / 91 / ec and 2007 / 33 / ec .


### measures to eradicate a pest , not listed as union quarantine pests , taken by the competent authority of a member state pursuant to article 29 of regulation 2016 / 2031 and which may qualify as union quarantine pests in accordance with the criteria referred to in that article or article 30 of that regulation ; ### measures to prevent , contain and / or eradicate a pest , not listed as union quarantine pests , taken by the competent authority of a member state pursuant to article 29 of regulation 2016 / 2031 and which may qualify as union quarantine pests in accordance with the criteria referred to in that article or article 30 of that regulation ;


### to improve the functioning of the internal market , and especially to protect and empower citizens , consumers and businesses , in particular micro , small and medium - sized enterprises , by enforcement of union law , facilitation of market access , standard setting , and by promoting human , animal and plant health and animal welfare ; as well as to enhance cooperation between the competent authorities of member states and between the competent authorities of member states and the commission and the decentralised union agencies ; ### to improve the functioning of the internal market , promoting the territorial cohesion and especially to protect and empower citizens , consumers and businesses , in particular micro , small and medium - sized enterprises , by supporting their sustainability , enforcement of union law , guaranteeing a level playing field , facilitation of market access , standard setting , and by protecting and strengthening human , animal and plant health and animal welfare and respect for the environment ; as well as to enhance cooperation between the competent authorities of member states and between the competent authorities of member states and the commission and the decentralised union agencies ;


### improving the competitiveness of enterprises with special emphasis on smes and achieving additionally through the provision of measures that provide various forms of support to smes , access to markets including the internationalisation of smes , favourable business environment for smes , the competitiveness of sectors , the modernisation of industry and the promotion of entrepreneurship ; ### improving the competitiveness of enterprises with special emphasis on smes and achieving additionally through the provision of measures that provide various forms of support to smes , access to markets including the internationalisation of smes , favourable business environment for smes , the competitiveness of sectors , the modernisation of industry and the promotion of entrepreneurship , notably : by supporting and expanding advisory services to provide integrated business support services to union smes that seek to explore opportunities in the internal market and in third countries , and by monitoring that a comparable level of quality of service is provided by the latter throughout all the member states ; ii . by supporting and expanding mobility programmes for new entrepreneurs to improve their ability to develop their entrepreneurial know - how , skills and attitudes and to improve their technological capacity and enterprise management


### making the internal market more effective , facilitating the prevention and removal of obstacles , supporting the development , implementation and enforcement of the union law in the areas of the internal market for goods and services , public procurement , market surveillance as well as in the areas of company law and contract and extra - contractual law , anti - money laundering , free movement of capital , financial services and competition , including the development of governance tools ; ### making the internal market more effective , promoting local economic development , facilitating the prevention and removal of obstacles , supporting the development , implementation and enforcement of the union law in the areas of the internal market for goods and services , , public procurement , market surveillance as well as in the areas of company law and contract and extra - contractual law , anti - money laundering , free movement of capital , financial services and competition , including the development of governance tools ;


### additional protective measures taken against the spread of a pest , against which union measures have been adopted pursuant to article 28 and article 30 of regulation 2016 / 2031 , other than the eradication measures referred to in point of this point and the containment measures referred to in point of this point , where those measures are essential to protect the union against further spread of that pest . ### additional protective measures taken against the spread of a pest , against which union measures have been adopted pursuant to article 28 and article 30 of regulation 2016 / 2031 , other than the measures referred to in points and of this point , where those measures are essential to protect the union against further spread of that pest , restricting where necessary the free movement of carriers in the surrounding member states .


### considering the specific nature of the actions concerning a high level of health for humans , animals and plants along the food chain special eligibility criteria concerning provision of grants and use of public procurement need to be provided in this regulation . in particular , by way of derogation from regulation of the european parliament and of the council61 , as an exception to the principle of non - retroactivity , the costs for the emergency measures , due to their urgent and unforeseeable nature , should be eligible and include also costs incurred as a result of a suspected occurrence of a disease or pest provided that that occurrence is subsequently confirmed and notified to the commission . the corresponding budgetary commitments and the payment of eligible expenditure should be made by the commission , after signature of the legal commitments and after assessment of the payment applications submitted by the member states . costs should also be eligible for protection measures taken in the case of a direct threat to the status of health in the union as a result of the occurrence or development , in the territory of a third country , a member state or overseas countries and territories , of certain animal diseases and zoonoses as well as in respect of protection measures , or other relevant activities , taken in support of the health status of plants in the union . _________________ 61 [ to add ] ### considering the specific nature of the actions concerning a high level of health for humans , animals and plants along the food chain special eligibility criteria concerning provision of grants and use of public procurement need to be provided in this regulation . in particular , by way of derogation from regulation of the european parliament and of the council61 , as an exception to the principle of non - retroactivity , the costs for the emergency measures , due to their urgent and unforeseeable nature , should be eligible and include also costs incurred as a result of a suspected occurrence of a disease or pest provided that that occurrence is subsequently confirmed and notified to the commission . the corresponding budgetary commitments and the payment of eligible expenditure should be made by the commission , after signature of the legal commitments and after assessment of the payment applications submitted by the member states . costs should also be eligible for prevention and protection measures taken in the case of a direct threat to the status of health in the union as a result of the occurrence or development , in the territory of a third country , a member state or overseas countries and territories , of certain animal diseases and zoonoses as well as in respect of protection measures , or other relevant activities , taken in support of the health status of plants in the union . _________________ 61 [ to add ]


### to improve the functioning of the internal market , and especially to protect and empower citizens , consumers and businesses , in particular micro , small and medium - sized enterprises , by enforcement of union law , facilitation of market access , standard setting , and by promoting human , animal and plant health and animal welfare ; as well as to enhance cooperation between the competent authorities of member states and between the competent authorities of member states and the commission and the decentralised union agencies ; ### to improve the functioning of the internal market , and especially to protect and empower citizens , consumers and businesses , in particular micro , small and medium - sized enterprises , by enforcement of union law , facilitation of market access , standard setting , as well as to enhance cooperation between the competent authorities of member states and between the competent authorities of member states and the commission and the decentralised union agencies ;


### the internal market has to continuously adapt to a rapidly changing environment of digital revolution and globalisation . a new era of digital innovation continues to provide opportunities for businesses and individuals , creates new products and business models but equally constitutes a challenge to regulation and enforcement . ### the internal market has to continuously adapt to a rapidly changing environment of digital revolution and globalisation . a new era of digital innovation continues to provide opportunities for businesses and individuals , by ensuring access to finance for the latest generation of technologies creates new products and business models but equally constitutes a challenge to regulation and enforcement . on the other hand , all market players require more transparency in the supply chain .


### measures to eradicate a union quarantine pest , taken by the competent authority of a member state pursuant to article 16 of regulation 2016 / 2031 of the european parliament and of the council105or pursuant to the union measures adopted in accordance with article 28 of that regulation ; _________________ 105 regulation 2016 / 2031 of the european parliament and of the council of 26 october 2016 on protective measures against pests of plants , amending regulations no 228 / 2013 , no 652 / 2014 and no 1143 / 2014 of the european parliament and of the council and repealing council directives 69 / 464 / eec , 74 / 647 / eec , 93 / 85 / eec , 98 / 57 / ec , 2000 / 29 / ec , 2006 / 91 / ec and 2007 / 33 / ec . ### measures to prevent , contain and / or eradicate a union quarantine pest , taken by the competent authority of a member state pursuant to article&#160 ; 16 of regulation 2016 / 2031 of the european parliament and of the council105 or pursuant to the union measures adopted in accordance with article 28 of that regulation ; _________________ 105 regulation 2016 / 2031 of the european parliament and of the council of 26 october 2016 on protective measures against pests of plants , amending regulations no 228 / 2013 , no 652 / 2014 and no 1143 / 2014 of the european parliament and of the council and repealing council directives 69 / 464 / eec , 74 / 647 / eec , 93 / 85 / eec , 98 / 57 / ec , 2000 / 29 / ec , 2006 / 91 / ec and 2007 / 33 / ec .


### additional protective measures taken against the spread of a pest , against which union measures have been adopted pursuant to article 28 and article 30 of regulation 2016 / 2031 , other than the eradication measures referred to in point of this point and the containment measures referred to in point of this point , where those measures are essential to protect the union against further spread of that pest . ### additional protective measures taken against the spread of a pest , against which union measures have been adopted pursuant to article 28 and article 30 of regulation 2016 / 2031 , other than the measures referred to in points and of this point , where those measures are essential to protect the union against further spread of that pest .


### contributing to a high level of health for humans , animals and plants along the food chain and in related areas , including by preventing and eradicating diseases and pests , and to support the improvement of the welfare of animals as well as a sustainable food production and consumption ; ### contributing to a high level of health for humans , animals and plants along the agricultural and food supply chain and in related areas , including by preventing and eradicating diseases and pests , also by means of emergency measures in the event of large - scale crisis situations and unforeseeable events affecting animal or plant health , and to support the improvement of the welfare of animals as well as a sustainable agri - food production and consumption at affordable prices , reducing food waste , raising consumer awareness and capitalising on the benefits of the circular economy ; thereby focusing on stimulating research , innovation and the exchange of best practices between stakeholders in all the above mentioned fields ;


### for the purposes of flexibility to the european agricultural statistical system , and simplification and modernisation of the agricultural statistics , the variables to be collected should be allocated to different collection groups varying in frequency or representativeness , or both . ### for the purposes of flexibility to the european agricultural statistical system , and simplification and modernisation of the agricultural statistics , the variables to be collected should be allocated to different collection groups varying in frequency or representativeness , or both . member states may not compel farmers to participate in surveys with the aim of ensuring their representativeness by disproportionate means , such as fines .


### in order to reduce the burden on respondents , the national statistical institutes and other national authorities should have access to administrative data , to the extent that those data are necessary for the development , production and dissemination of european statistics . ### in order to reduce the burden on respondents , the national statistical institutes and other national authorities should have access to administrative data , to the extent that those data are necessary for the development , production and dissemination of european statistics . in order to collect these data , nsis and other national authorities may on no account make use of disproportionate means , such as introducing fines for farmers who are not prepared to assist with a survey .


### at the same time , seal hunting is an integral part of the culture and identity of the inuit and other indigenous communities and makes a major contribution to their subsistence . for those reasons , seal hunts traditionally conducted by inuit and other indigenous communities do not raise the same public moral concerns as the hunts conducted primarily for commercial purposes . moreover , it is broadly recognised that the fundamental and social interests of inuit and other indigenous communities should not be adversely affected , in accordance with united nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples and other relevant international instruments . for those reasons , by way of exception , regulation no 1007 / 2009 allows the placing on the market of seal products which result from hunts traditionally conducted by inuit and other indigenous communities and which contribute to their subsistence . ### at the same time , seal hunting is an integral part of the culture and identity of the inuit and other indigenous communities making a major contribution to their subsistence , providing food and income to support the life and sustainable livelihood of the community , preserving and continuing the traditional existence of the community and the cultural heritage of bartering . for those reasons , seal hunts traditionally conducted by inuit and other indigenous communities do not raise the same public moral concerns as the hunts conducted primarily for commercial purposes . moreover , it is broadly recognised that the fundamental and social interests of inuit and other indigenous communities should not be adversely affected , in accordance with the united nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples and other relevant international instruments . for those reasons , by way of exception , regulation no 1007 / 2009 allows the placing on the market of seal products which result from hunts traditionally and sustainably conducted by inuit and other indigenous communities and which contribute to their subsistence . the commission should consider developing appropriate measures to counter the potential negative effects that the implementation of regulation no 1007 / 2009 can have on the inuit and other indigenous communities .


### a genuinely humane killing method cannot be effectively and consistently applied in the hunts conducted by the inuit and other indigenous communities , just like in the other seal hunts . nonetheless , it is appropriate , in light of the objective pursued by regulation no 1007 / 2009 , to make the placing in the union market of products resulting from hunts by the inuit and other indigenous communities conditional upon those hunts being conducted in a manner which reduces pain , distress , fear or other forms of suffering of the animals hunted to the extent possible , while having regard to the traditional way of life and the subsistence needs of the inuit and other indigenous communities . the exception granted in respect of seal products resulting from hunts conducted by inuit and other indigenous communities should be limited to hunts that contribute to the subsistence need of those communities and are therefore not conducted primarily for commercial purposes . thus , the commission should be enabled to limit , if necessary , the quantity of seal products placed on the market under that exception in order to prevent the use of the exception by products resulting from hunts which are conducted primarily for commercial purposes . ### it is appropriate , in light of the objective pursued by regulation no 1007 / 2009 , to make the placing in the union market of products resulting from hunts by the inuit and other indigenous communities conditional upon those hunts being conducted in a sustainable manner , while having regard to the traditional way of life and the subsistence needs of the inuit and other indigenous communities . accordingly , the commission should take measures to inform the public about the objective of regulation no 1007 / 2009 and its exemption concerning products resulting from hunts conducted by indigenous communities , thereby restoring consumer confidence . the exception granted in respect of seal products resulting from hunts conducted by inuit and other indigenous communities should be limited to hunts that contribute to the subsistence need of those communities and are therefore not conducted primarily for commercial purposes . thus , in order to prevent the use of that exception for products resulting from hunts which are conducted primarily for commercial purposes , the power to adopt acts in accordance with article 290 of the treaty should be delegated to the commission in respect of limiting the quantity of seal products placed on the market under that exception and in respect of prohibiting , if necessary , seal products from certain hunts from being placed on the market under that exception . that delegation should be exercised only if necessary , when relevant evidence is presented and where considered appropriate after a consultation with relevant stakeholders .


### article 7 reporting by 20 november 2011 and thereafter every 4 years , member states shall submit to the commission a report outlining the actions taken to implement this regulation . 2 . on the basis of the reports referred to in paragraph 1 , the commission shall report to the european parliament and to the council on the implementation of this regulation within 12 months of the end of each reporting period concerned . ### article 7 is replaced by the following : ' article 7 reporting by 31 december 2016 and every four years thereafter member states shall submit to the commission a report outlining the actions taken to implement this regulation . 2 . the commission shall submit to the european parliament and to the council a report on the implementation of this regulation within 12 months of the end of each reporting period referred to in paragraph 1 . the first report shall be submitted not later than 31 november 2017 . 2a . in its report submitted in accordance with paragraph 2 , the commission shall assess the functioning and effectiveness of this regulation in achieving its objectives . in its assessment the commission shall , in particular , consider the socio - economic development , economic activities and development , nutrition , culture and identity of the inuit and other indigenous communities as well as the effects of this regulation on coastal communities where seal hunts forms part of maritime resource management and contributes to the maritime biodiversity . '


### a genuinely humane killing method cannot be effectively and consistently applied in the hunts conducted by the inuit and other indigenous communities , just like in the other seal hunts . nonetheless , it is appropriate , in light of the objective pursued by regulation no 1007 / 2009 , to make the placing in the union market of products resulting from hunts by the inuit and other indigenous communities conditional upon those hunts being conducted in a manner which reduces pain , distress , fear or other forms of suffering of the animals hunted to the extent possible , while having regard to the traditional way of life and the subsistence needs of the inuit and other indigenous communities . the exception granted in respect of seal products resulting from hunts conducted by inuit and other indigenous communities should be limited to hunts that contribute to the subsistence need of those communities and are therefore not conducted primarily for commercial purposes . thus , the commission should be enabled to limit , if necessary , the quantity of seal products placed on the market under that exception in order to prevent the use of the exception by products resulting from hunts which are conducted primarily for commercial purposes . ### a genuinely humane killing method cannot be effectively and consistently applied in the hunts conducted by the inuit and other indigenous communities , just like in the other seal hunts . nonetheless , it is appropriate , in light of the objective pursued by regulation no 1007 / 2009 , to make the placing in the union market of products resulting from hunts by the inuit and other indigenous communities conditional upon those hunts being conducted in a sustainable manner which reduces pain , distress , fear or other forms of suffering of the animals hunted to the extent possible , while having regard to the traditional way of life and the subsistence needs of the inuit and other indigenous communities and without endangering the particular habitat and the ecosystem as a whole . the exception granted in respect of seal products resulting from hunts conducted by inuit and other indigenous communities should be limited to hunts that contribute to the subsistence need of those communities and are therefore not conducted primarily for commercial purposes . to restore consumer confidence the commission should accordingly take steps to inform the public about this regulation and the exception made under it for products resulting from hunts conducted by indigenous communities . thus , where there is material evidence and after consultation of the entities involved , the commission should be enabled , if necessary , to limit the permitted quantity of seal products or prohibit such products where these have been placed on the market by means of hunting methods contravening the principles underlying the exception , this in order to prevent the use of the exception by products resulting from hunts which are conducted primarily for commercial purposes .


### a genuinely humane killing method cannot be effectively and consistently applied in the hunts conducted by the inuit and other indigenous communities , just like in the other seal hunts . nonetheless , it is appropriate , in light of the objective pursued by regulation no 1007 / 2009 , to make the placing in the union market of products resulting from hunts by the inuit and other indigenous communities conditional upon those hunts being conducted in a manner which reduces pain , distress , fear or other forms of suffering of the animals hunted to the extent possible , while having regard to the traditional way of life and the subsistence needs of the inuit and other indigenous communities . the exception granted in respect of seal products resulting from hunts conducted by inuit and other indigenous communities should be limited to hunts that contribute to the subsistence need of those communities and are therefore not conducted primarily for commercial purposes . thus , the commission should be enabled to limit , if necessary , the quantity of seal products placed on the market under that exception in order to prevent the use of the exception by products resulting from hunts which are conducted primarily for commercial purposes . ### a genuinely humane killing method cannot be effectively and consistently applied in the hunts conducted by the inuit and other indigenous communities , just like in the other seal hunts . nonetheless , it is appropriate , in light of the objective pursued by regulation no 1007 / 2009 , to make the placing in the union market of products resulting from hunts by the inuit and other indigenous communities conditional upon those hunts being conducted in a manner which reduces avoidable pain , distress , fear or other forms of suffering of the animals hunted to the extent possible , while having regard to the traditional way of life and the subsistence of the inuit and other indigenous communities . the exception granted in respect of seal products resulting from hunts conducted by inuit and other indigenous communities should be limited to hunts that contribute to the subsistence of those communities and are therefore not conducted primarily for commercial purposes . thus , the commission should be enabled to limit , if necessary , the quantity of seal products placed on the market under that exception in order to prevent the use of the exception by products resulting from hunts which are conducted primarily for commercial purposes .


### article 7 reporting by 20 november 2011 and thereafter every 4 years , member states shall submit to the commission a report outlining the actions taken to implement this regulation . 2 . on the basis of the reports referred to in paragraph 1 , the commission shall report to the european parliament and to the council on the implementation of this regulation within 12 months of the end of each reporting period concerned . ### article 7 is replaced by the following : ' article 7 reporting by 31&#160 ; december&#160 ; 2016 and every four years thereafter member states shall submit to the commission a report outlining the actions taken to implement this regulation . 2 . the commission shall submit to the european parliament and to the council a report on the implementation of this regulation within 12 months of the end of each reporting period referred to in paragraph 1 . 3 . in its first report submitted in accordance with paragraph 2 , the commission shall assess in particular the impacts of this regulation on the fundamental and social interests of the inuit and other indigenous communities , including their right for food and income to support life and sustainable livelihood of the community . '


### a genuinely humane killing method cannot be effectively and consistently applied in the hunts conducted by the inuit and other indigenous communities , just like in the other seal hunts . nonetheless , it is appropriate , in light of the objective pursued by regulation no 1007 / 2009 , to make the placing in the union market of products resulting from hunts by the inuit and other indigenous communities conditional upon those hunts being conducted in a manner which reduces pain , distress , fear or other forms of suffering of the animals hunted to the extent possible , while having regard to the traditional way of life and the subsistence needs of the inuit and other indigenous communities . the exception granted in respect of seal products resulting from hunts conducted by inuit and other indigenous communities should be limited to hunts that contribute to the subsistence need of those communities and are therefore not conducted primarily for commercial purposes . thus , the commission should be enabled to limit , if necessary , the quantity of seal products placed on the market under that exception in order to prevent the use of the exception by products resulting from hunts which are conducted primarily for commercial purposes . ### in light of the objective pursued by regulation no 1007 / 2009 , the placing in the union market of products resulting from hunts by the inuit and other indigenous communities should be made conditional upon those hunts being conducted with due regard to animal welfare , in a manner which reduces pain , distress , fear or other forms of suffering of the animals hunted to the extent possible , while having regard to the traditional way of life and the subsistence needs of the inuit and other indigenous communities . the exception granted in respect of seal products resulting from hunts conducted by inuit and other indigenous communities should be limited to hunts that contribute to the subsistence need of those communities . in order to prevent the use of that exception by products resulting from hunts which are conducted primarily for commercial purposes the power to adopt acts in accordance with article 290 tfeu should be delegated to the commission in order to limit , if necessary and only when relevant evidence is presented and where appropriate after a consultation with all stakeholders , the quantity of seal products from certain hunts from being placed on the market under that exception .


### the hunt contributes to the subsistence of the community and is not conducted primarily for commercial reasons ; ### the seal products contribute to the subsistence of the community , including in order to provide food and income to support life and sustainable livelihood of the community ;


### at the same time , seal hunting is an integral part of the culture and identity of the inuit and other indigenous communities and makes a major contribution to their subsistence . for those reasons , seal hunts traditionally conducted by inuit and other indigenous communities do not raise the same public moral concerns as the hunts conducted primarily for commercial purposes . moreover , it is broadly recognised that the fundamental and social interests of inuit and other indigenous communities should not be adversely affected , in accordance with united nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples and other relevant international instruments . for those reasons , by way of exception , regulation no 1007 / 2009 allows the placing on the market of seal products which result from hunts traditionally conducted by inuit and other indigenous communities and which contribute to their subsistence . ### at the same time , seal hunting is an integral part of the culture and identity of the inuit and other indigenous communities and makes a major contribution to their subsistence , including their right to development and economic activities . for those reasons , seal hunts traditionally conducted by inuit and other indigenous communities , which are considered sustainable and do not harm the health of seal population , do not raise the same public moral concerns as the hunts conducted primarily for commercial purposes . moreover , it is broadly recognised that the fundamental economic and social interests of inuit and other indigenous communities should not be adversely affected , in accordance with united nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples and other relevant international instruments . furthermore the ilo 169 convention on indigenous and tribal peoples of 1989 emphasises the indigenous people’s right to self - determination , thereby the right to freely pursue their economic , social and cultural development . for those reasons , by way of exception , regulation no 1007 / 2009 allows the placing on the market of seal products which result from hunts traditionally conducted by inuit and other indigenous communities and which contribute to their subsistence .


### in order to provide for detailed rules as regards placing on the market of seal products , the power to adopt acts in accordance with article 290 of the treaty should be delegated to the commission . it is of particular importance that the commission carry out appropriate consultations , 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 provide for detailed rules as regards placing on the market of seal products , the power to adopt acts in accordance with article 290 of the treaty should be delegated to the commission . it is of particular importance that the commission carry out appropriate consultations , including at expert level , and with the inuit and other indigenous communities concerned . 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 .


### if the number of seals hunted , the quantity of seal products being placed on the market pursuant to paragraph 1 or other circumstances are such as to indicate that a hunt is conducted primarily for commercial purposes , the commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with article 4 in order to limit the quantity of products resulting from that hunt that may be placed on the market . ### if there is relevant evidence indicating that the number of seals hunted , the quantity of seal products being placed on the market pursuant to paragraph 1 or other circumstances , are such as to prove that a hunt is conducted primarily for commercial purposes , the commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with article 4a in order to limit the quantity of products resulting from that hunt that may be placed on the market .


### having regard to the treaty on the functioning of the european union , and in particular articles 53 and 62 thereof , ### having regard to the treaty on the functioning of the european union , and in particular articles 53 , 62 and 168 thereof ,


### there are new challenges , in particular in connection with video - sharing platforms , on which users - particularly minors - increasingly consume audiovisual content . in this context , harmful content and hate speech stored on video - sharing platforms have increasingly given rise to concern . it is necessary , in order to protect minors from harmful content and all citizens from content containing incitement to violence or hatred , to set out proportionate rules on those matters . ### there are new challenges , in particular in connection with video - sharing platforms and social media , on which users - particularly minors - increasingly consume audiovisual content . in this context , harmful content and hate speech available on video - sharing platforms have increasingly given rise to concern . it is necessary , in order to protect minors from harmful content and all citizens from content containing incitement to violence , hatred or terrorism , to set out proportionate rules on those matters .


### by [ date – no later than four years after adoption ] at the latest , and every three years thereafter , the commission shall submit to the european parliament , to the council and to the european economic and social committee a report on the application of this directive . ### by [ date – no later than three years after adoption ] at the latest , and every three years thereafter , the commission shall submit to the european parliament , to the council and to the european economic and social committee a report on the application of this directive .


### there are new challenges , in particular in connection with video - sharing platforms , on which users - particularly minors - increasingly consume audiovisual content . in this context , harmful content and hate speech stored on video - sharing platforms have increasingly given rise to concern . it is necessary , in order to protect minors from harmful content and all citizens from content containing incitement to violence or hatred , to set out proportionate rules on those matters . ### there are new challenges , in particular in connection with video - sharing platforms and social networks , on which users - particularly minors - increasingly consume audiovisual content . in this context , harmful content and hate speech stored on video - sharing platforms have increasingly given rise to concern . it is necessary , in order to protect minors from harmful content and all citizens from content containing incitement to violence , hatred or terrorism , to set out proportionate rules on those matters .


### the commission and erga shall encourage the exchange of best practices on self - and co - regulatory systems across the union . if considered appropriate , the commission shall facilitate the development of union codes of conduct . ### the commission and erga shall encourage the exchange of best practices on self - and co - regulatory systems across the union . if considered appropriate , the commission shall promote the adoption of union codes of conduct .


### ' member states shall ensure by appropriate means that audiovisual media services provided by media service providers under their jurisdiction do not contain any incitement to violence or hatred directed against a group of persons or a member of such a group defined by reference to sex , racial or ethnic origin , religion or belief , disability , age or sexual orientation . ' ; ### ' member states shall ensure by appropriate means that audiovisual media services provided by media service providers under their jurisdiction do not contain any incitement to terrorism , violence or hatred directed against a group of persons or a member of such a group defined by reference to sex , racial or ethnic origin , religion or belief , disability , age or sexual orientation . ' ;


### member states and the commission shall encourage the development of self - and co - regulatory codes of conduct regarding inappropriate audiovisual commercial communications , accompanying or included in programmes with a significant children’s audience , of foods and beverages containing nutrients and substances with a nutritional or physiological effect , excessive intakes of which in the overall diet are not recommended , in particular fat , trans - fatty acids , salt or sodium and sugars . ### member states and the commission shall encourage the development of self - and co - regulatory codes of conduct regarding inappropriate audiovisual commercial communications .


### certain widely recognised nutritional guidelines exist at national and international level , such as the who regional office for europe’s nutrient profile model , in order to differentiate foods on the basis of their nutritional composition in the context of foods television advertising to children . member states should be encouraged to ensure that self - and co - regulatory codes of conduct are used to effectively reduce the exposure of children and minors to audiovisual commercial communications regarding foods and beverages that are high in salt , sugars or fat or that otherwise do not fit these national or international nutritional guidelines . ### certain widely recognised nutritional guidelines exist at national and international level in order to differentiate foods on the basis of their nutritional composition in the context of foods television advertising to children . member states should be encouraged to ensure that self - and co - regulatory codes of conduct , such as the eu pledge initiative and others developed in the framework of the commission’s platform for action on diet , physical activity and health , are used to effectively reduce the exposure of children to audiovisual commercial communications regarding foods and beverages that are high in salt , sugars or fat or that otherwise do not fit these national or international nutritional guidelines .


### a pre - condition for granting the union’s macro - financial assistance should be that ukraine respects effective democratic mechanisms – including a multi - party parliamentary system – and the rule of law , and guarantees respect for human rights . in addition , the specific objectives of the union’s macro - financial assistance should strengthen the efficiency , transparency and accountability of the public finance management systems in ukraine and should promote structural reforms aimed at supporting sustainable and inclusive growth , employment creation and fiscal consolidation . both the fulfilment of the preconditions and the achievement of those objectives should be regularly monitored by the commission and the european external action service . ### a pre - condition for granting the union’s macro - financial assistance should be that ukraine fulfils the conditions attached to past and forthcoming mfa programmes , notably those related to the fight against corruption , and respects effective democratic mechanisms , including a multi - party parliamentary system and the rule of law , which should be supported by an independent judiciary capable of effectively fighting corruption , and guarantees respect for human rights . in addition , the specific objectives of the union’s macro - financial assistance should strengthen the efficiency , transparency and accountability of the public finance management systems in ukraine , and promote structural reforms aimed at supporting sustainable and inclusive growth , employment creation and fiscal consolidation . both the fulfilment of the preconditions and the achievement of those objectives should be regularly monitored by the commission and the european external action service throughout the life - cycle of the mfa . the disbursement of the first instalment of financial support should be made available only after the outstanding policy measures which were attached to the final instalment of the previous mfa programme have been fully implemented . the commission should provide a public assessment of the fulfilment of that precondition , including a clear indication of the benchmarks used .


### a pre - condition for granting the union ' s macro - financial assistance shall be that ukraine respects effective democratic mechanisms &#8211 ; including a multi - party parliamentary system &#8211 ; and the rule of law , and guarantees respect for human rights . ### a precondition for granting the union ' s mfa shall be that ukraine fulfils the conditions attached to past and forthcoming mfa programmes , notably those related to the fight against corruption , effective democratic mechanisms , including a multi - party parliamentary system and the rule of law and guarantees respect for human rights .


### a pre - condition for granting the union’s macro - financial assistance should be that ukraine respects effective democratic mechanisms – including a multi - party parliamentary system – and the rule of law , and guarantees respect for human rights . in addition , the specific objectives of the union’s macro - financial assistance should strengthen the efficiency , transparency and accountability of the public finance management systems in ukraine and should promote structural reforms aimed at supporting sustainable and inclusive growth , employment creation and fiscal consolidation . both the fulfilment of the preconditions and the achievement of those objectives should be regularly monitored by the commission and the european external action service . ### a pre - condition for granting the union’s macro - financial assistance should be that ukraine fulfils the conditions attached to past and forthcoming mfa programmes , notably those related to the fight against corruption , and respects effective democratic mechanisms , including a multi - party parliamentary system and the rule of law , which should be supported by an independent judiciary capable of effectively fighting corruption , and guarantees respect for human rights . these political conditions should be agreed with ukraine in a detailed memorandum of understanding . in addition , the specific objectives of the union’s macro - financial assistance should strengthen the efficiency , transparency and accountability of the public finance management systems in ukraine , and promote structural reforms aimed at supporting sustainable and inclusive growth , employment creation and fiscal consolidation . both the fulfilment of the preconditions and the achievement of those objectives should be regularly monitored by the commission and the european external action service throughout the life - cycle of the mfa . the disbursement of the first instalment of financial support should be made available only after the outstanding policy measures which were attached to the final instalment of the previous mfa programme have been fully implemented . the commission should provide a public assessment of the fulfilment of that precondition , including a clear indication of the benchmarks used .


### member states shall establish the emission inventories , including adjusted emission inventories , emission projections and the informative inventory report in accordance with annex iv . ### member states shall establish the emission inventories , including if appropriate adjusted emission inventories , emission projections and the informative inventory report in accordance with annex iv .


### member states shall , as a minimum , limit their annual anthropogenic emissions of sulphur dioxide , nitrogen oxides , volatile organic compounds other than methane , ammonia , particulate matter and methane in accordance with the national emission reduction commitments applicable from 2020 and 2030 , as laid down in annex ii . ### member states shall , as a minimum , limit their annual anthropogenic emissions of sulphur dioxide , nitrogen oxides , volatile organic compounds other than methane , ammonia , and particulate matter in accordance with the national emission reduction commitments applicable from 2020 and 2030 , as laid down in annex ii .


### without prejudice to paragraph 1 , member states shall take all the necessary measures not entailing disproportionate costs to limit their 2025 emissions of so2 , nox , nmvoc , nh3 , pm2 , 5 and ch4 . the levels of those emissions shall be determined on the basis of fuels sold , by a linear reduction trajectory established between their emission levels for 2020 and the emission levels defined by the emission reduction commitments for 2030 . ### without prejudice to paragraph 1 , member states shall take all the necessary measures not entailing disproportionate costs to limit their 2025 emissions of so2 , nox , nmvoc and pm2 , 5 . the levels of those emissions shall be determined on the basis of fuels sold , by a linear reduction trajectory established between their emission levels for 2020 and the emission levels defined by the emission reduction commitments for 2030 .


### emission reduction commitments for ammonia , fine particulate matter and methane . fuels sold , base year 2005 . ### emission reduction commitments for ammonia and fine particulate matter . fuels sold , base year 2005 .


### in order to promote cost - effective achievement of the national emission reduction commitments , and of the intermediate emission levels , member states should be entitled to account for emission reductions from international maritime traffic if emissions from that sector are lower than the levels of emissions that would result from compliance with union law standards , including the sulphur limits for fuels set in directive 1999 / 32 / ec of the council21 . member states should also have the possibility to jointly meet their commitments and intermediate emission levels regarding methane and of making use of decision n°406 / 2009 / ec of the european parliament and of the council for so doing22 . for the purpose of checking compliance with their national emission ceilings , emission reduction commitments and intermediate emission levels , member states could adjust their national emission inventories in view of improved scientific understanding and methodologies regarding emissions . the commission could object to the use of any of these flexibilities by a member state , should the conditions set out in this directive not be met . _______________________ 21 council directive 1999 / 32 / ec of 26 april 1999 relating to a reduction in the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels and amending directive 93 / 12 / eec . 22 decision n°406 / 2009 / ec of the european parliament and of the council of 23 april 2009 on the effort of member states to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to meet the community’s greenhouse gas emission reduction commitments up to 2020 . ### in order to promote cost - effective achievement of the national emission reduction commitments , and of the intermediate emission levels , member states should be entitled to account for emission reductions from international maritime traffic if emissions from that sector are lower than the levels of emissions that would result from compliance with union law standards , including the sulphur limits for fuels set in directive 1999 / 32 / ec of the council21 . for the purpose of checking compliance with their national emission ceilings , emission reduction commitments and intermediate emission levels , member states could adjust their national emission inventories in view of improved scientific understanding and methodologies regarding emissions . the commission could object to the use of any of these flexibilities by a member state , should the conditions set out in this directive not be met . _____________________ 21 council directive 1999 / 32 / ec of 26 april 1999 relating to a reduction in the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels and amending directive 93 / 12 / eec .


### the commission may also specify the format and the necessary information concerning member states ' national air pollution control programmes in the form of implementing acts . these implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in article 14 . ### the commission shall also specify the format and the necessary information concerning member states ' national air pollution control programmes in the form of implementing acts . these implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in article 14 .


### ‘ ozone precursors’ mean nitrogen oxides , non - methane volatile organic compounds , methane , and carbon monoxide ; ### ‘ ozone precursors’ mean nitrogen oxides and non - methane volatile organic compounds ;


### in taking the measures outlined in sections a and b above , member states should ensure that impacts on small and micro farms are fully taken into account . member states may , for instance , exempt them from those measures where possible and appropriate in view of the applicable reduction commitments . ### in taking the measures outlined in sections a and b above , member states should ensure that impacts on small and micro farms and farms located in disadvantaged mountain areas are fully taken into account . member states may , for instance , exempt them from those measures where possible and appropriate in view of the applicable reduction commitments .


### members states that intend to apply paragraphs 1 , 2 and 3 shall inform the commission by 30 september of the year preceeding the reporting year concerned . that information shall include the pollutants and sectors concerned and , where available , the magnitude of the impacts upon national emission inventories . ### members states that intend to apply paragraphs 1 and 3 shall inform the commission by 30 september of the year preceeding the reporting year concerned . that information shall include the pollutants and sectors concerned and , where available , the magnitude of the impacts upon national emission inventories .


### there is a need to reinforce the collective ability to prepare and respond to disasters notably through mutual support in europe . in addition to strengthening the possibilities already offered by the european emergency response capacity , from now on referred to as ' european civil protection pool ' , the commission should also establish resceu . the composition of resceu should include emergency response capacities to respond to wildfires , large - scale floods and earthquakes , as well as a field hospital and medical teams in line with world health organisation standards , that can be rapidly deployed . ### there is a need to reinforce the collective ability to prepare and respond to disasters notably through mutual support in europe . in addition to strengthening the possibilities already offered by the european emergency response capacity , from now on referred to as ' european civil protection pool ' , the commission should also establish resceu . the composition of resceu should include joint emergency response capacities to respond to wildfires , large - scale floods , earthquakes and other potential and unforeseen events , as well as a field hospital , and medical teams in line with world health organisation standards , that can be deployed to intervene rapidly and concomitantly in several different locations , if need be .