### in order to determine accurate accounts of emissions and removals in accordance with the 2006 intergovernmental panel on climate change guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventories , the annually reported values under regulation no . 525 / 2013 for land use categories and the conversion between land use categories should be utilised , thereby streamlining the approaches used under the unfccc and the kyoto protocol . land that is converted to another land use category should be considered in transition to that category for the default value of 20 years in the ipcc guidelines . ### in order to determine accurate accounts of emissions and removals in accordance with the 2006 intergovernmental panel on climate change guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventories , the annually reported values under regulation no . 525 / 2013 for land use categories and the conversion between land use categories should be utilised , thereby streamlining the approaches used under the unfccc and the kyoto protocol . land that is converted to another land use category should be considered in transition to that category for the default value of 20 years in the ipcc guidelines . however , considering the diverging natural and ecological circumstances among member states , not least due to varying geographical and climate conditions which have an impact on the actual lengths of the transition periods for carbon stock changes , derogations from that default value should be granted as being justified under the ipcc guidelines .


### the commission shall report to the european parliament and to the council by 28 february 2024 and every five years thereafter on the operation of this regulation , its contribution to the eu ' s overall 2030 greenhouse gas emission reduction target and its contribution to the goals of the paris agreement , and may make proposals if appropriate . ### the commission shall review the ambition of this proposal after the 2018 facilitative dialogue . it shall report to the european parliament and to the council by 28 february 2024 and every two years thereafter on the operation of this regulation , its contribution to the eu ' s overall 2030 greenhouse gas emission reduction target and its contribution to the long - term goals of the paris agreement , and may make proposals if appropriate .


### member states shall demonstrate consistency between the methods and data used to establish the forest reference level in the national forestry accounting plan and those used in the reporting for managed forest land . at the latest at the end of the period from 2021 to 2025 or from 2026 to 2030 , a member state shall submit to the commission a technical correction of its reference level if necessary to ensure consistency . ### member states shall demonstrate consistency between the methods and data used to establish the forest reference level in the national forestry accounting plan and those used in the reporting for managed forest land . the data used shall be the most recent verified accounts of the land use and forest conditions . at the latest at the end of the period from 2021 to 2025 or from 2026 to 2030 , a member state shall submit to the commission a technical correction of its reference level if necessary to ensure consistency , as well as to report positive inputs as a consequence of a sustainable forest management policy in force at the time it is determined .


### to facilitate data collection and methodology improvement , land use should be inventoried and reported using geographical tracking of each land area , corresponding to national and eu data collection systems . the best use shall be made of existing union and member state programmes and surveys including the lucas land use cover area frame survey and the european earth observation programme copernicus for data collection . data management , including sharing for the reporting reuse and dissemination should conform to directive 2007 / 2 / ec of the european parliament and of the council of 14 march 2007 establishing an infrastructure for spatial information in the european community . ### to facilitate data collection and methodology improvement , land use should be expressly inventoried and reported using geographical tracking of each land area , corresponding to national and eu data collection systems . the best use shall be made of existing union and member state programmes and surveys including the lucas land use cover area frame survey , the european earth observation programme copernicus , in particular through sentinel - 2 , for data collection and the european satellite navigation systems galileo and egnos , which can be used in support of land - use surveying . data management , including sharing for the reporting reuse and dissemination should conform to directive 2007 / 2 / ec of the european parliament and of the council of 14 march 2007 establishing an infrastructure for spatial information in the european community .


### the lulucf sector can contribute to climate change mitigation in several ways , in particular by reducing emissions , and maintaining and enhancing sinks and carbon stocks . in order for measures aiming in particular at increasing carbon sequestration to be effective , the long - term stability and adaptability of carbon pools is essential . ### the lulucf sector can contribute to climate change mitigation in several ways , in particular by reducing emissions , maintaining and enhancing sinks and carbon stocks and providing long - lasting bio - materials that can act as temporary carbon stores and carbon substitutes . in order for measures aiming in particular at increasing carbon sequestration to be effective , the long - term stability and adaptability of carbon pools is essential . in the long run , a sustainable forest management strategy aimed at maintaining or increasing forest carbon stocks , while producing an annual sustained yield of materials from the forest , will generate the largest sustained mitigation benefit .


### decision no 529 / 2013 / ec of the european parliament and of the council , 11 as a first step , set out accounting rules applicable to greenhouse gas emissions and removals from the lulucf sector and thereby contributed to policy development towards the inclusion of the lulucf sector in the union’s emission reduction commitment . this regulation should build on the existing accounting rules , updating and improving them for the period 2021 - 2030 . it should lay down the obligations of member states in implementing those accounting rules and the obligation to ensure that the overall lulucf sector would not generate net emissions . it should not lay down any accounting or reporting obligations for private parties . _________________ 11 decision no 529 / 2013 / eu of the european parliament and of the council of 21 may 2013 on accounting rules on greenhouse gas emissions and removals resulting from activities relating to land use , land - use change and forestry and on information concerning actions relating to those activities ### decision no 529 / 2013 / ec of the european parliament and of the council , 11 as a first step , set out accounting rules applicable to greenhouse gas emissions and removals from the lulucf sector and thereby contributed to policy development towards the inclusion of the lulucf sector in the union’s emission reduction commitment . this regulation should build on the existing accounting rules , updating and improving them for the period 2021 - 2030 . it should under any circumstances lay down the obligations of member states in implementing those accounting rules and the obligation to ensure that the overall lulucf sector would not generate net emissions . it should not lay down any accounting or reporting obligations for private parties and it is necessary that such obligations are avoided by member states during implementation of this regulation . _________________ 11 decision no 529 / 2013 / eu of the european parliament and of the council of 21 may 2013 on accounting rules on greenhouse gas emissions and removals resulting from activities relating to land use , land - use change and forestry and on information concerning actions relating to those activities


### this regulation should be reviewed as of 2024 and every 5 years thereafter in order to assess its overall functioning . this review can also be informed by the results of the global stocktake of the paris agreement . ### in the light of the 2018 facilitative dialogue , the commission shall report to the european parliament and to the council by 28 february 2019 on the adequacy of the level of ambition of this regulation . this regulation should be reviewed as of 2023 and every 3 years thereafter in order to assess its overall functioning . this review can also be informed by the results of the global stocktake of the paris agreement .


### by way of derogation from paragraph 1 , member states may allow distribution system operators to own , develop , manage or operate storage facilities only if the following conditions are fulfilled : ### member states may allow distribution system operators to own , develop , manage or operate storage facilities and provide non - frequency ancillary services only if such facilities are necessary for the distribution system operators to fulfil its obligations under this regulation for the efficient , reliable and secure operation of the distribution system and one of the following conditions is fulfilled :


### the transmission system operator shall perform at regular intervals or at least every five years a public consultation for the required storage services in order to assess the potential interest of market parties to invest in such facilities and terminate its own storage activities in case third parties can provide the service in a cost - effective manner . ### regulatory authorities shall perform at regular intervals or at least every five years a public consultation in order to re - assess the potential interest of market parties to invest , develop , operate or manage energy storage facilities . in case the cost - benefit analysis and public consultation indicates that third parties are able to own , develop , operate or manage such facilities cost - efficiently , member states shall ensure that an open and transparent tendering procedure takes place and in case third parties can provide the service in a cost - effective manner transmission system operators ' activities in this regard are phased - out . transmission system operators shall have right to recover their investment in storage facilities on fair and reasonable terms .


### member states shall ensure that their national legislation does not unduly hamper cross - border flows of electricity , consumer participation including through demand&#8211 ; side response , investments into flexible energy generation , energy storage , the deployment of electro - mobility or new interconnectors , and that electricity prices reflect actual demand and supply . ### member states shall ensure that their national legislation enacts measures to promote cross - border flows of electricity , consumer participation including through voluntary demand&#8211 ; side response , investments into flexible energy generation , energy storage , the deployment of electro - mobility or new interconnectors , smart grid technology&#160 ; and that electricity prices reflect actual demand and supply . member states shall ensure consumer participation is enabled by technology neutrality .


### such facilities are necessary for the distribution system operators to fulfil their obligations under this directive for the efficient , reliable and secure operation of the distribution system ; and ### the national regulatory authority has assessed based on a cost - benefit analysis and following public consultation that tendering procedure under point of this paragraph is not cost - effective and has granted its approval ; and


### other parties , following an open and transparent tendering procedure , have not expressed their interest to own , develop , manage or operate storage facilities ; ### other parties , following an open and transparent tendering procedure , have not expressed their interest to own , develop , manage or operate such storage facilities offering cost - effective non - frequency ancillary services to the distribution system operator ; or


### member states should maintain a wide discretion to impose public service obligations on electricity undertakings in pursuing objectives of general economic interest . member states should ensure that household customers and , where member states deem it appropriate , small enterprises , enjoy the right to be supplied with electricity of a specified quality at clearly comparable , transparent and competitive prices . nevertheless , public service obligations in the form of supply price regulation constitute a fundamentally distortive measure that often leads to the accumulation of tariff deficits , limitation of consumer choice , poorer incentives for energy saving and energy efficiency investments , lower standards of service , lower levels of consumer engagement and satisfaction , restriction of competition as well as fewer innovative products and services on the market . consequently , member states should apply other policy tools , and in particular targeted social policy measures , to safeguard the affordability of electricity supply to their citizens . interventions in price setting should only be applied in limited exceptional circumstances . a fully liberalised retail electricity market would stimulate price and non - price competition among existing suppliers and incentivise new market entries therefore improving consumers ' choice and satisfaction . ### member states should maintain a wide discretion to impose public service obligations on electricity undertakings in pursuing objectives of general economic interest . member states should ensure that household customers and , where member states deem it appropriate , small enterprises , enjoy the right to be supplied with electricity of a specified quality at clearly comparable , transparent and competitive prices . nevertheless , public service obligations in the form of supply price regulation can contribute to consumer protection in well - defined situations . consequently , member states should develop the necessary policy tools , and in particular targeted energy policy and / or social policy measures , to safeguard the affordability of electricity supply to their citizens . a competitive retail electricity market can stimulate price and non - price competition among existing suppliers and incentivise new market entries therefore improving consumers ' choice and satisfaction .


### member states shall define a set of criteria for the purposes of measuring energy poverty . member states shall continuously monitor the number of households in energy poverty and shall report on the evolution of energy poverty and measures taken to prevent it to the commission every two years as part of their integrated national energy and climate progress reports in accordance with article 21 of [ governance regulation as proposed by com759 ] . ### member states shall define a common set of criteria for the purposes of measuring energy poverty . member states shall introduce measures including funding to decrease and prevent energy poverty . the set of measures shall include advisory services focussed on energy poverty carried out with relevant other services such as social services . member states shall continuously monitor the number of households in energy poverty and shall report on the evolution of energy poverty and measures taken to reduce and prevent it to the commission every two years as part of their integrated national energy and climate progress reports in accordance with article 21 of [ governance regulation as proposed by com759 ] . member states shall also use the energy poverty measurements figures when reporting on the sustainable development goals , namely goal 7 . 1 on universal access to affordable , reliable and modern energy services . furthermore , the member states shall provide support for the development of more efficient heating and cooling technologies to tackle energy poverty .


### the economic and financial crisis has led to a lowering of the level of investments within the union . investment has fallen by approximately 15% since its peak in 2007 . the union suffers in particular from a lack of investment as a consequence of market uncertainty regarding the economic future and the fiscal constraints on member states . this lack of investment slows economic recovery and negatively affects job creation , long - term growth prospects and competitiveness . ### the economic and financial crisis has led to a lowering of the level of investments within the union and to a reversing of a long trend of converging gdp and unemployment rates within the union . investment has fallen by approximately 15% since its peak in 2007 . the union suffers in particular from a lack of investment as a consequence of market uncertainty regarding the economic future and the fiscal constraints on member states . this lack of investment and fiscal constraints slow economic recovery and negatively affect job creation , long - term growth prospects and competitiveness .


### infrastructure projects in the environmental , natural resources , urban development and social fields ; ### infrastructure projects in the environmental , natural resources , urban development , social fields and public services ;


### the efsi should support strategic investments with high economic value added contributing to achieving union policy objectives . ### the efsi should support strategic investments with high social , environmental , territorial and economic value added contributing to achieving union policy objectives , in particular the union ' s economic , social and territorial cohesion . a particular attention shall be paid to outermost regions , urban and rural areas facing particular difficulties , areas affected by industrial transition , high unemployment rates , and regions which suffer from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps such as the northernmost regions with very low population density and island , cross - border and mountain regions .


### development of infrastructure , including in the areas of transport , particularly in industrial centres ; energy , in particular energy interconnections ; and digital infrastructure ; ### development of infrastructure , including in the areas of transport , particularly in industrial centres and in remote regions ; public interest investments ; energy , in particular energy interconnections and renewable energy ; and digital infrastructure ;


### operators of retransmission services offered on satellite , digital terrestrial , closed circuit ip - based , mobile and similar networks , provide services which are equivalent to those provided by operators of cable retransmission services when they retransmit simultaneously , in an unaltered and unabridged manner , for reception by the public , an initial transmission from another member state of television or radio programmes , where this initial transmission is by wire or over the air , including by satellite but excluding online transmissions , and intended for reception by the public . they should therefore be within the scope of this regulation and benefit from the mechanism introducing mandatory collective management of rights . retransmission services which are offered on the open internet should be excluded from the scope of this regulation as those services have different characteristics . they are not linked to any particular infrastructure and their ability to ensure a controlled environment is limited when compared for example to cable or closed circuit ip - based networks . ### operators of retransmission services offered on satellite , digital terrestrial , ip - based , mobile and similar networks , provide services which are equivalent to those provided by operators of cable retransmission services when they retransmit simultaneously , in an unaltered and unabridged manner , for reception by the public , an initial transmission from another member state of television or radio programmes . they should therefore be within the scope of this regulation and benefit from the mechanism introducing mandatory collective management of rights . in order to adapt to the development of digital technologies and to the changing user behaviour , this mechanism should include the retransmission , in an unaltered manner , via the internet by over the top service providers . retransmission services which are offered on the open internet should be excluded from the scope of this regulation if they cannot to ensure a controlled environment , including ip based , which is given if the user group is definable by a closed user group .


### “retransmission” means any simultaneous , unaltered and unabridged retransmission , other than cable retransmission as defined in directive 93 / 83 / eec and other than retransmission provided over an internet access service as defined in regulation 2015 / 2120 of the european parliament and of the council19 , intended for reception by the public of an initial transmission from another member state , by wire or over the air , including that by satellite but excluding online transmission , of television or radio programmes intended for the reception by the public , provided that such retransmission is made by a party other than the broadcasting organisation which made the initial transmission or under whose control and responsibility such transmission was made . _________________ 19 regulation 2015 / 2120 of the european parliament and of the council of 25 november 2015 laying down measures concerning open internet access and amending directive 2002 / 22 / ec on universal service and users’ rights relating to electronic communications networks and services and regulation no 531 / 2012 on roaming on public mobile communications networks within the union , oj l 310 , 26 . 11 . 2015 , p . 1 . ### “retransmission” means any simultaneous , unaltered and unabridged retransmission , other than cable retransmission as defined in directive 93 / 83 / eec , intended for reception by the public of an initial transmission from another member state , irrespective of the retransmission technology or network used providing that the retransmission takes place in a controlled environment , of television or radio programmes intended for the reception by the public , provided that such retransmission is made by a party other than the broadcasting organisation which made the initial transmission or under whose control and responsibility such transmission was made .


### in order to provide legal certainty to operators of retransmission services offered on satellite , digital terrestrial , closed circuit ip - based , mobile or similar networks , and to overcome disparities in national law regarding such retransmission services , rules similar to those that apply to cable retransmission as defined in directive 93 / 83 / eec should apply . the rules established in that directive include the obligation to exercise the right to grant or refuse authorisation to an operator of a retransmission service through a collective management organisation . this is without prejudice to directive 2014 / 26 / eu18 and in particular to its provisions concerning rights of right holders with regard to the choice of a collective management organisation . _________________ 18 directive 2014 / 26 / eu of the european parliament and of the council of 26 february 2014 on collective management of copyright and related rights and multi - territorial licensing of rights in musical works for online use in the internal market , oj l 84 , 20 . 3 . 2014 , p . 72–98 . ### in order to provide legal certainty to operators of retransmission services offered on satellite , digital terrestrial , ip - based , mobile or similar networks , and to overcome disparities in national law regarding such retransmission services , rules similar to those that apply to cable retransmission as defined in directive 93 / 83 / eec should apply . the rules established in that directive include the obligation to exercise the right to grant or refuse authorisation to an operator of a retransmission service through a collective management organisation . this is without prejudice to directive 2014 / 26 / eu18 and in particular to its provisions concerning rights of right holders with regard to the choice of a collective management organisation . _________________ 18 directive 2014 / 26 / eu of the european parliament and of the council of 26 february 2014 on collective management of copyright and related rights and multi - territorial licensing of rights in musical works for online use in the internal market , oj l 84 , 20 . 3 . 2014 , p . 72–98 .


### “retransmission” means any simultaneous , unaltered and unabridged retransmission , other than cable retransmission as defined in directive 93 / 83 / eec and other than retransmission provided over an internet access service as defined in regulation 2015 / 2120 of the european parliament and of the council19 , intended for reception by the public of an initial transmission from another member state , by wire or over the air , including that by satellite but excluding online transmission , of television or radio programmes intended for the reception by the public , provided that such retransmission is made by a party other than the broadcasting organisation which made the initial transmission or under whose control and responsibility such transmission was made . _________________ 19 regulation 2015 / 2120 of the european parliament and of the council of 25 november 2015 laying down measures concerning open internet access and amending directive 2002 / 22 / ec on universal service and users’ rights relating to electronic communications networks and services and regulation no 531 / 2012 on roaming on public mobile communications networks within the union , oj l 310 , 26 . 11 . 2015 , p . 1 . ### “retransmission” means any unaltered and retransmission , other than cable retransmission as defined in directive 93 / 83 / eec , intended for reception by the public of an initial transmission from another member state , by wire or over the air , including that by satellite , of television or radio programmes intended for the reception by the public , provided that such retransmission is made by a party other than the broadcasting organisation which made the initial transmission or under whose control and responsibility such transmission was made .


### “retransmission” means any simultaneous , unaltered and unabridged retransmission , other than cable retransmission as defined in directive 93 / 83 / eec and other than retransmission provided over an internet access service as defined in regulation 2015 / 2120 of the european parliament and of the council19 , intended for reception by the public of an initial transmission from another member state , by wire or over the air , including that by satellite but excluding online transmission , of television or radio programmes intended for the reception by the public , provided that such retransmission is made by a party other than the broadcasting organisation which made the initial transmission or under whose control and responsibility such transmission was made . _________________ 19 regulation 2015 / 2120 of the european parliament and of the council of 25 november 2015 laying down measures concerning open internet access and amending directive 2002 / 22 / ec on universal service and users’ rights relating to electronic communications networks and services and regulation no 531 / 2012 on roaming on public mobile communications networks within the union , oj l 310 , 26 . 11 . 2015 , p . 1 . ### “retransmission” means any unaltered retransmission , other than cable retransmission as defined in directive 93 / 83 / eec , intended for reception by the public of an initial transmission from another member state , by wire or over the air , including that by satellite , of television or radio programmes intended for the reception by the public , provided that such retransmission is made by a party other than the broadcasting organisation which made the initial transmission or under whose control and responsibility such transmission was made .


### the commission shall establish and maintain a product database including the information referred to in annex i . the information listed under point 1 of annex i shall be made publicly available . ### the commission shall establish and maintain a single union product database including the information referred to in annex i . that database shall have public and reserved sections , depending on the type of information . its structure shall contain at least a product - specific section , where information will be organised in fields assigned to every single product model , and a general section , where information can be stored according to different criteria . the interface with the public shall follow the same structural principle , channelling the product - specific information through single , easily identifiable sections . the information listed under point 1 of annex i shall be made publicly available through the database , as machine readable open data .


### energy efficiency labelling allows consumers to make informed choices with regard to energy consumption of products and thereby promotes innovation . ### energy efficiency labelling and complete product information allow consumers to choose more efficient and sustainable products in order to reduce their total consumption of energy and other resources , and thereby promotes innovation .


### in order for customers to retain trust in the energy label , other labels that mimic the energy label should not be allowed to be used for energy - related products . additional labels , marks , symbols or inscriptions that are likely to mislead or confuse customers with respect to the consumption of energy should not be allowed either . 20 ### in order for customers to retain trust in the energy label , other labels that mimic the energy label should not be allowed to be used for energy - related products . additional labels , marks , symbols or inscriptions that are similar to the energy efficiency label and could mislead or confuse customers with respect to the consumption of energy or any other characteristics covered by the relevant delegated act , should not be allowed either .


### energy consumption and other information concerning the products covered by product - specific requirements under this regulation should be measured by using reliable , accurate and reproducible methods that take into account the generally recognised state - of - the - art measurements and calculation methods . it is in the interests of the functioning of the internal market to have standards which have been harmonised at union level . in the absence of published standards at the time of application of product - specific requirements the commission should publish in the official journal of the european union transitional measurement and calculation methods in relation to those product - specific requirements . once a reference to such a standard has been published in the official journal of the european union compliance with it should provide a presumption of conformity with measurement methods for those product - specific requirements adopted on the basis of this regulation . ### energy consumption and other information concerning the products covered by product - specific requirements under this regulation should be measured by using reliable , accurate and reproducible methods that take into account the generally recognised state - of - the - art measurements and calculation methods . these methods should be as close to real life conditions as possible in order for consumers to be able to relate and trust the information conveyed by labels . in the absence of published standards at the time of application of product - specific requirements the commission should publish in the official journal of the european union transitional measurement and calculation methods in relation to those product - specific requirements . once a reference to such a standard has been published in the official journal of the european union compliance with it should provide a presumption of conformity with measurement methods for those product - specific requirements adopted on the basis of this regulation .


### they shall deliver labels promptly and free of charge on request from dealers ; ### they shall deliver labels and product information sheets promptly and free of charge on request from dealers . this applies to all models , existing and new ones ;


### where appropriate , the use of other resources and supplementary information concerning energy related products , in which case the label shall emphasise the energy efficiency of the product ; ### where appropriate , the use of other resources and supplementary and easily understandable information concerning energy related products , in which case the label shall emphasise the energy efficiency and energy consumption of the product


### the purpose of european cybersecurity certification schemes should be to ensure that ict products and services certified under such a scheme comply with specified requirements . such requirements concern the ability to resist , at a given level of assurance , actions that aim to compromise the availability , authenticity , integrity and confidentiality of stored or transmitted or processed data or the related functions of or services offered by , or accessible via those products , processes , services and systems within the meaning of this regulation . it is not possible to set out in detail in this regulation the cybersecurity requirements relating to all ict products and services . ict products and services and related cybersecurity needs are so diverse that it is very difficult to come up with general cybersecurity requirements valid across the board . it is , therefore necessary to adopt a broad and general notion of cybersecurity for the purpose of certification , complemented by a set of specific cybersecurity objectives that need to be taken into account when designing european cybersecurity certification schemes . the modalities with which such objectives will be achieved in specific ict products and services should then be further specified in detail at the level of the individual certification scheme adopted by the commission , for example by reference to standards or technical specifications . ### the purpose of european cybersecurity certification schemes should be to ensure that ict products and services certified under such a scheme comply with specified requirements . such requirements concern the ability to resist , at a given level of assurance , actions that aim to compromise the availability , authenticity , integrity and confidentiality of stored or transmitted or processed data or the related functions of or services offered by , or accessible via those products , processes , services and systems within the meaning of this regulation . it is not possible to set out in detail in this regulation the cybersecurity requirements relating to all ict products and services . ict products and services and related cybersecurity needs are so diverse that it is very difficult to come up with general cybersecurity requirements valid across the board . it is , therefore necessary to adopt a broad and general notion of cybersecurity for the purpose of certification , complemented by a set of specific cybersecurity objectives that need to be taken into account when designing european cybersecurity certification schemes . the modalities with which such objectives will be achieved in specific ict products and services should then be further specified in detail at the level of the individual certification scheme adopted by the commission , for example by reference to standards or technical specifications . depending on the certification scheme , the specified requirements of the scheme could , in principle , make use of existing best practices where applicable .


### a european cybersecurity certification scheme shall attest that the ict products and services that have been certified in accordance with such scheme comply with specified requirements as regards their ability to resist at a given level of assurance , actions that aim to compromise the availability , authenticity , integrity or confidentiality of stored or transmitted or processed data or the functions or services offered by , or accessible via , those products , processes , services and systems . ### a european cybersecurity certification scheme shall attest that the ict products , processes and services that have been certified in accordance with such scheme comply with specified requirements according to standards , as regards their ability to meet specified security objectives .


### cooperate with other national certification supervisory authorities or other public authorities , including by sharing information on possible non - compliance of ict products and services with the requirements of this regulation or specific european cybersecurity certification schemes ; ### cooperate with other national certification supervisory authorities or other public authorities , including by sharing information on ict products , processes and services that make false claims of certification against specific european cybersecurity certification schemes ;


### this article shall apply to operations which generate net revenue after their completion . for the purposes of this article ‘ net revenue’ means cash in - flows directly paid by users for the goods or services provided by the operation , such as charges borne directly by users for the use of infrastructure , sale or rent of land or buildings , or payments for services less any operating costs and replacement costs of short - life equipment incurred during the corresponding period . operating cost - savings generated by the operation shall be treated as net revenue unless they are offset by an equal reduction in operating subsidies . ### in article 61 , in paragraph 1 , subparagraph 1 is replaced by the following : “this article shall apply to operations which generate net revenue after their completion . for the purposes of this article ‘ net revenue’ means cash in - flows directly paid by users for the goods or services provided by the operation , such as charges borne directly by users for the use of infrastructure , sale or rent of land or buildings , or payments for services less any operating costs and replacement costs of short - life equipment incurred during the corresponding period . operating cost - savings generated by the operation , with the exception of cost - savings resulting from the implementation of energy efficiency measures , shall be treated as net revenue unless they are offset by an equal reduction in operating subsidies . ”


### member states shall ensure that purchase , lease , rent or hire - purchase of road transport vehicles , and public service contracts on public passenger transport by road and rail and public service contracts as referred to in article 3 of this directive comply with the minimum procurement targets for light - duty vehicles referred to in table 4 of the annex and for heavy - duty vehicles referred to in table 5 in the annex . ### member states shall ensure that purchase , lease , rent or hire - purchase of road transport vehicles , and public service contracts on public passenger transport by road and rail and public service contracts as referred to in article 3 of this directive comply with the minimum procurement targets for light - duty vehicles referred to in table 4 of the annex and for heavy - duty vehicles referred to in table 5 in the annex 1 and include contractual provisions to ensure the actual use of alternative fuels .


### member states shall ensure that penalties may take the form of fines . ### member states shall ensure that penalties may take , inter alia , the form of fines .


### for the purposes of article 5 , member states shall ensure that qualified entities are entitled to bring representative actions seeking a redress order , which obligates the trader to provide for , inter alia , compensation , repair , replacement , price reduction , contract termination or reimbursement of the price paid , as appropriate . a member state may require the mandate of the individual consumers concerned before a declaratory decision is made or a redress order is issued . ### for the purposes of article 5 , member states shall ensure that qualified entities are entitled to bring representative actions seeking a redress order , which obligates the trader to provide for , inter alia , compensation , repair , replacement , removal , price reduction , contract termination or reimbursement of the price paid , as appropriate . a member state shall require the mandate of the individual consumers concerned before a declaratory decision is made or a redress order is issued .


### the compliance by a qualified entity with the criteria referred to in paragraph 1 is without prejudice to the right of the court or administrative authority to examine whether the purpose of the qualified entity justifies its taking action in a specific case in accordance with article 5 . ### the compliance by a qualified entity with the criteria referred to in paragraph 1 is without prejudice to the duty of the court or administrative authority to examine whether the purpose of the qualified entity justifies its taking action in a specific case in accordance with article 5 .


### member states shall ensure that in particular consumer organisations and independent public bodies are eligible for the status of qualified entity . member states may designate as qualified entities consumer organisations that represent members from more than one member state . ### member states shall ensure that consumer organisations and , where applicable , independent public bodies are eligible for the status of qualified entity . member states may designate as qualified entities consumer organisations that represent members from more than one member state .


### for the purposes of article 5 , member states shall ensure that qualified entities are entitled to bring representative actions seeking a redress order , which obligates the trader to provide for , inter alia , compensation , repair , replacement , price reduction , contract termination or reimbursement of the price paid , as appropriate . a member state may require the mandate of the individual consumers concerned before a declaratory decision is made or a redress order is issued . ### for the purposes of article 5 , member states shall ensure that qualified entities are entitled to bring representative actions seeking a redress order , which obligates the trader to provide for , inter alia , compensation , repair , replacement , removal , price reduction , contract termination or reimbursement of the price paid , both in terms of economic and non - economic harm , as appropriate . a member state shall require in principle the mandate of the individual consumers concerned in order to file a representative action . any exception to this principle should be duly justified .


### this directive shall apply to representative actions brought against infringements by traders of provisions of the union law listed in annex i that harm or may harm the collective interests of consumers . it shall apply to domestic and cross - border infringements , including where those infringements have ceased before the representative action has started or before the representative action has been concluded . ### this directive shall apply to representative actions brought against infringements by traders of provisions of the union law indicatively listed in annex i that harm or may harm collective interests of consumers in a variety of sectors such as financial services , energy , labour , telecommunications , health and the environment . it shall apply to domestic and cross - border infringements , including where those infringements have ceased before the representative action has started or before the representative action has been concluded .


### the purpose of this directive is to enable qualified entities , which represent the collective interest of consumers , to seek remedy through representative actions against infringements of provisions of union law . the qualified entities should be able to ask for stopping or prohibiting an infringement , for confirming that an infringement took place and to seek redress , such as compensation , repair or price reduction as available under national laws . ### the purpose of this directive is to enable qualified entities , which represent the collective interest of consumers , to seek remedy through representative actions against infringements of provisions of union law . the qualified entities should be able to ask for stopping or prohibiting an infringement , for confirming that an infringement took place and to seek redress , such as compensation , repair , replacement , removal or price reduction , contract termination or reimbursement of the price paid as available under national laws .


### where the commission considers that a foreign direct investment is likely to affect security or public order in one or more member states , it may issue an opinion addressed to the member state in which the foreign direct investment is planned or has been completed . the commission may issue an opinion irrespective of whether other member states have provided comments . ### where the commission considers that a foreign direct investment is likely to affect security or public order in one or more member states , it may issue comments addressed to the member state in which the foreign direct investment is planned or has been completed . the commission may issue an opinion irrespective of whether other member states have provided comments .


### member states shall inform the commission and the other member states of any foreign direct investments that are undergoing screening within the framework of their screening mechanisms , within 5 working days from the start of the screening . as part of the information , and when applicable , the screening member states shall endeavour to indicate whether it considers that the foreign direct investment undergoing screening is likely to fall within the scope of regulation no 139 / 2004 . ### member states , when they consider it necessary , &#160 ; may inform the commission and the other member states of foreign direct investments that are undergoing screening within the framework of their screening mechanisms , after&#160 ; the start of the screening . as part of the information , and when applicable , the screening member states shall endeavour to indicate whether it considers that the foreign direct investment undergoing screening is likely to fall within the scope of regulation no 139 / 2004 .


### member states that maintain screening mechanisms shall provide the commission with an annual report on the application of their screening mechanisms . for each reporting period , the report shall include in particular information on : ### member states that maintain screening mechanisms may provide the commission with an annual report on the application of their screening mechanisms . for each reporting period , the report may include in particular information on :


### this regulation establishes a framework for the screening by the member states and the commission of foreign direct investments in the union on the grounds of security or public order . ### this regulation establishes a framework of minimum requirements for the screening by the member states of foreign direct investment in the union on the grounds of national security or public order and sets out the role of the commission in such screening .


### this regulation establishes a framework for the screening by the member states and the commission of foreign direct investments in the union on the grounds of security or public order . ### this regulation establishes a framework for the screening by the member states of foreign direct investments in the union on the grounds environmental standards and working conditions .


### the opinion of the commission shall be communicated to the other member states . ### the comments of the commission may be communicated to the other member states .


### the water resources of the union are increasingly coming under pressure , leading to water scarcity and quality deterioration . in particular , climate change and drought are contributing significantly to the strain on the availability of freshwater , arising from urban development and agriculture . ### the water resources of the union are increasingly coming under pressure , leading to water scarcity and quality deterioration . in particular , climate change , drought , animal housing and intensive livestock farming models , the use and abuse of weed - killers and pesticides , and afforestation with eucalyptuses and other species that cause springs to dry up are contributing significantly to the strain on the availability of fresh water , arising from urban development and agriculture .


### reuse of appropriately treated waste water , for example from urban waste water treatment plants or industrial installations , is considered to have a lower environmental impact than other alternative water supply methods , such as water transfers or desalination , but such reuse only occurs to a limited extent in the union . this appears to be partly due to the lack of common union environmental or health standards for water reuse , and , as regards in particular agricultural products , the potential obstacles to the free movement of such products irrigated with reclaimed water . ### reuse of appropriately treated waste water , for example from public urban waste water treatment plants or public industrial installations , is considered to have a lower environmental impact than other alternative water supply methods , such as water transfers or desalination , but such reuse only occurs to a limited extent in the union . this appears to be partly due to the lack of common union environmental or health standards for water reuse , and , as regards to agricultural products in particular , the potential obstacles to the free movement of such products irrigated with reclaimed water .


### health standards in relation to food hygiene for agricultural products irrigated with reclaimed water can be achieved only if quality requirements for reclaimed water destined for agricultural irrigation do not differ significantly in member states . harmonisation of requirements will also contribute to the efficient functioning of the internal market in relation to such products . it is therefore appropriate to introduce minimum harmonisation by setting minimum requirements for water quality and monitoring . those minimum requirements should consist of minimum parameters for reclaimed water and other stricter or additional quality requirements imposed , if necessary , by competent authorities together with any relevant preventive measures . in order to identify stricter or additional requirements for water quality , the reclamation plant operators should perform key risk management tasks . the parameters are based on the technical report of the commission joint research center and reflect the international standards on water reuse . ### health standards in relation to food hygiene for agricultural products irrigated with reclaimed water can be achieved only if quality requirements for reclaimed water destined for agricultural irrigation do not differ significantly in member states . harmonisation of requirements will also contribute to the efficient functioning of the internal market in relation to such products . it is therefore appropriate to introduce minimum harmonisation by setting minimum requirements for water quality and monitoring . those minimum requirements should consist of minimum parameters for reclaimed water and other stricter or additional quality requirements imposed , if necessary , by competent authorities together with any relevant preventive measures . in order to identify stricter or additional requirements for water quality , the public bodies owning reclamation plants should perform key risk management tasks . the parameters are based on the technical report of the commission joint research centre and reflect the international standards on water reuse .


### it is necessary to ensure the safe use of reclaimed water , thereby encouraging water reuse at union level and enhancing public confidence in it . supply of reclaimed water for particular uses should therefore only be permitted on the basis of a permit , granted by competent authorities of member states . in order to ensure harmonised approach at union level , traceability and transparency , the substantive rules for that permit should be laid down at the union level . however , the details of the procedures for granting permits should be determined by member states . member states should be able to apply existing procedures for granting permits which should be adapted to take account of the requirements introduced by this regulation . ### it is necessary to ensure the safe use of reclaimed water , thereby encouraging water reuse at union level and enhancing public confidence in it . the supply of reclaimed water for particular uses will therefore fall under the sole responsibility of public administrations .


### competent authorities should verify compliance of the reclaimed water with the conditions set out in the permit . in cases of non - compliance , they should require the reclamation plant operator to take the necessary measures to ensure compliance . the operators of reclamation plants should immediately suspend any supply of the reclaimed water when non - compliance causes a significant risk to the environment or to human health . ### competent authorities should verify compliance of the reclaimed water with the conditions set out in the permit . in cases of non - compliance , they should require the public body owning the reclamation plant to take the necessary measures to ensure compliance . the public bodies owning reclamation plants should immediately suspend any supply of the reclaimed water when non - compliance causes a significant risk to the environment or to human health .


### the purpose of this regulation is to guarantee that reclaimed water is safe for its intended use , thereby ensuring a high level of protection of human and animal health and the environment , addressing water scarcity and the resulting pressure on water resources in a coordinated way throughout the union , thus also contributing to the efficient functioning of the internal market . ### the purpose of this regulation is to guarantee that reclaimed water is safe for its intended use , thereby ensuring a high level of protection of human and animal health and the environment , addressing water scarcity and the resulting pressure on water resources in a coordinated way throughout the union .


### ' reclamation plant ' means an urban waste water treatment plant or other plant that further treats urban waste water complying with the requirements set out in directive 91 / 271 / eec in order to produce water that is fit for a use specified in section 1 of annex i to this regulation ; ### ‘ reclamation plant’ means a publicly owned and managed urban waste water treatment plant or any other publicly owned and managed plant that further treats urban waste water complying with the requirements set out in directive 91 / 271 / eec in order to regenerate water that is fit for a use specified in section 1 of annex i to this regulation ;


### ' reclamation plant operator ' means a natural or legal person who operates or controls a reclamation plant ; ### ‘ reclamation plant operator’ means a public body which manages a reclamation plant ;


### for the purposes of producing and supplying reclaimed water risk management shall be undertaken by the reclamation plant operator in consultation with the following actors : ### for the purposes of producing and supplying reclaimed water risk management shall be undertaken by the public body owning the reclamation plant in consultation with the following actors :


### the operator of the urban waste water treatment plant supplying a reclamation plant with water , if different from the reclamation plant operator ; ### the public body owning the urban waste water treatment plant supplying a reclamation plant with water , if different from the public body owning the reclamation plant ;


### any other party deemed relevant by the reclamation plant operator . ### any other party deemed relevant by the public body owning the reclamation plant .


### the reclamation plant operator shall draw - up a water reuse risk management plan based on the key risk management tasks set out in annex ii . the water reuse risk management plan shall propose any additional requirements to those specified in annex i necessary to further mitigate any risks , and shall , inter alia , identify hazards , risks and appropriate preventive measures . ### the public body owning the reclamation plant , together with professional agricultural organisations , shall draw up a water reuse risk management plan based on the key risk management tasks set out in annex ii . the water reuse risk management plan shall propose any additional requirements to those specified in annex i necessary to further mitigate any risks , and shall , inter alia , identify hazards , risks and appropriate preventive measures .


### it is recommended that the reclamation plant operator set up and maintain a quality management system certified under iso 9001 or equivalent . ### it is recommended that the public body in charge of the reclamation plant set up and maintain a quality management system certified under iso 9001 or equivalent .


### decision of the european parliament and of the council on establishing a european platform to enhance cooperation in the prevention and deterrence of undeclared work . ### decision of the european parliament and of the council on establishing a european platform to enhance cooperation in the prevention and deterrence of undeclared and falsely declared work .


### at european level undeclared work is defined as ' any paid activities that are lawful as regards their nature but not declared to public authorities , taking into account differences in the regulatory systems of the member states ' 7 , thus excluding all illegal activities . __________________ 7 communication from the commission ' stepping up the fight against undeclared work ' com 628 of 24 october 2007 http : / / eur - lex . europa . eu / lexuriserv / lexuriserv . do ? uri=celex : 52007dc0628 : en : html ### undeclared work has been defined in the commission communication of 24 october 2007 entitled “stepping up the fight against undeclared work” as “any paid activities that are lawful as regards their nature but not declared to public authorities , taking into account differences in the regulatory systems of the member states ' 7 , thus excluding all illegal activities . __________________ 7 communication from the commission ' stepping up the fight against undeclared work ' com 628 of 24 october 2007 http : / / eur - lex . europa . eu / lexuriserv / lexuriserv . do ? uri=celex : 52007dc0628 : en : html


### the abuse of the status of self - employed , either at national level or in cross - border situations , is frequently associated with undeclared work . bogus self - employment occurs when a person is declared as self - employed while fulfilling the conditions characteristic of an employment relationship , in order to avoid certain legal or fiscal obligations . bogus self - employment is , therefore , falsely declared work and should come under the scope of the platform . ### in addition to undeclared work , the platform should deal with falsely declared work . that concept refers to paid activities that are lawful as regards their nature , but are not declared correctly to public authorities . a specific form of falsely declared work is the abuse of the status of self - employed , either at national level or in cross - border situations . bogus self - employment occurs when a person is declared as self - employed while fulfilling the conditions characteristic of an employment relationship , in order to avoid certain legal or fiscal obligations . bogus self - employment is , therefore , falsely declared work and should come under the scope of the platform .


### in order to address undeclared work comprehensively and successfully , a policy mix is to be implemented in the member states , that is facilitated by structured cooperation between relevant authorities . the cooperation should include all national authorities which are leading and / or active in the prevention and / or deterrence of undeclared work . ### in order to address undeclared work comprehensively and successfully , a policy mix is to be implemented in the member states , that is facilitated by structured cooperation between relevant authorities . the platform should include all national authorities which are leading and / or active in the prevention and / or deterrence of undeclared work . member states should remain competent to decide which authorities represent them in the different activities of the platform .


### it is necessary to provide for the widespread deployment of electronic toll systems in the member states and neighbouring countries , and to have interoperable systems suited to the future development of road - charging policy at union level and to future technical developments . ### it is necessary to provide for the widespread deployment of electronic toll systems in the member states and neighbouring countries , and to have , as far as possible , reliable , user friendly , cost - efficient , interoperable systems suited to the future development of road - charging policy at union level and to future technical developments .


### artificial barriers to the operation of the internal market should be removed , while still allowing the member states and the union to implement a variety of road - charging policies for all types of vehicles at local , national or international level . the equipment installed in vehicles should allow such road - charging policies to be implemented in accordance with the principles of non - discrimination between the citizens of all member states . the interoperability of electronic toll systems at union level therefore needs to be ensured as soon as possible . ### artificial barriers to the operation of the internal market should be removed , while still allowing the member states and the union to implement a variety of road - charging policies for all types of vehicles at local , national or international level . the equipment installed in vehicles should allow such road - charging policies to be implemented in accordance with the principles of non - discrimination between the citizens of all member states , while fully respecting all fundamental rights . the reliable interoperability of electronic toll systems at union level based on the respect of fundamental rights should therefore be ensured as soon as possible .


### artificial barriers to the operation of the internal market should be removed , while still allowing the member states and the union to implement a variety of road - charging policies for all types of vehicles at local , national or international level . the equipment installed in vehicles should allow such road - charging policies to be implemented in accordance with the principles of non - discrimination between the citizens of all member states . the interoperability of electronic toll systems at union level therefore needs to be ensured as soon as possible . ### artificial barriers to the operation of the internal market should be removed , while still allowing the member states and the union to implement a variety of road - charging policies for all types of vehicles at local , national or international level . the equipment installed in vehicles should allow such road - charging policies to be implemented in accordance with the principles of non - discrimination between the citizens of all member states . in the collection of tolls , therefore - including the possible use of single on - board units in all member states - it should no longer be necessary to acquire separate short - term vignettes to travel around the different member states , and the interoperability of electronic toll systems at union level therefore needs to be ensured as soon as possible .


### it should be confirmed that the european electronic toll service is provided by eets providers , as specified in commission decision 2009 / 750 / ec17 . _________________ 17 commission decision 2009 / 750 / ec of 6 october 2009 on the definition of the european electronic toll service and its technical elements . ### it should be confirmed that the european electronic toll service is legally provided by eets providers , as specified in commission decision 2009 / 750 / ec17and in full compliance with fundamental rights . _________________ 17 commission decision 2009 / 750 / ec of 6 october 2009 on the definition of the european electronic toll service and its technical elements .


### electronic tolling and co - operative its applications use similar technologies and neighbouring frequency bands for short range vehicle - to - vehicle and vehicle - to - infrastructure communication . in the future , the potential for merging electronic tolling with c - its in the 5 . 9 ghz band , currently used by c - its , should be explored , after a thorough assessment of the costs , benefits , technical barriers and possible solutions thereto . ### electronic tolling and co - operative its applications use similar technologies and neighbouring frequency bands for short range vehicle - to - vehicle and vehicle - to - infrastructure communication . the 5 . 8 ghz band should be protected for the use in tolling systems . in the future , the potential for merging electronic tolling with c - its in the 5 . 9 ghz band , currently used by c - its , should be explored , after a thorough assessment of the costs , benefits , technical barriers and possible solutions thereto .


### in order to ensure the interoperability of electronic road toll systems and to facilitate the cross - border exchange of information on the failure to pay road fees , the power to adopt acts in accordance with article 290 of the treaty on the functioning of the european union should be delegated to the commission in respect of the adapting to technological progress of the list of technologies which can be used for carrying out electronic toll transactions in electronic toll systems which require the installation or use of on - board equipment . it is of particular importance that the commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work , including at expert level , and that those consultations be conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the interinstitutional agreement of 13 april 2016 on better law - making . in particular , to ensure equal participation in the preparation of delegated acts , the european parliament and the council receive all documents at the same time as member states ' experts , and their experts systematically have access to meetings of commission expert groups dealing with the preparation of delegated acts . ### in order to ensure the interoperability of electronic road toll systems and to legally facilitate the cross - border exchange of information on the failure to pay road fees , the power to adopt acts in accordance with article 290 of the treaty on the functioning of the european union should be delegated to the commission in respect of the adapting to technological progress of the list of technologies which can be used for carrying out electronic toll transactions in electronic toll systems which require the installation or use of on - board equipment . it is of particular importance that the commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work , including at expert level , and that those consultations be conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the interinstitutional agreement of 13 april 2016 on better law - making . in particular , to ensure equal participation in the preparation of delegated acts , the european parliament and the council receive all documents at the same time as member states ' experts , and their experts systematically have access to meetings of commission expert groups dealing with the preparation of delegated acts .


### as many rural areas in the union suffer from structural problems such as lack of attractive employment opportunities , skill shortages , underinvestment in connectivity , infrastructures and essential services , as well as youth drain , it is fundamental to strengthen the socio - economic fabric in those areas , in line with the cork 2 . 0 . declaration , particularly through job creation and generational renewal , by bringing the commission ' s jobs and growth to rural areas , promoting social inclusion , generational renewal and the development of ‘ smart villages’ across the european countryside . as indicated in the communication on ‘ the future of food and farming’ , new rural value chains such as renewable energy , the emerging bio - economy , the circular economy , and ecotourism can offer good growth and job potential for rural areas . in this context , financial instruments and the use of the investeu guarantee can play a crucial role for ensuring access to financing and for bolstering the growth capacity of farms and enterprises . there is a potential for employment opportunities in rural areas for legally staying third country nationals , promoting their social and economic integration especially in the framework of community - led local development strategies . ### as many rural areas in the union suffer from structural problems such as lack of attractive employment opportunities , skill shortages , the phenomenon of undeclared work , underinvestment in connectivity , infrastructures and essential services , as well as youth drain , it is fundamental to strengthen the socio - economic fabric in those areas , in line with the cork 2 . 0 . declaration , particularly through job creation and generational renewal , by bringing the commission ' s jobs and growth to rural areas , promoting social inclusion , generational renewal and the development of ‘ smart villages’ across the european countryside . as indicated in the communication on ‘ the future of food and farming’ , new rural value chains such as renewable energy , the emerging bio - economy , the circular economy , and ecotourism can offer good growth and job potential for rural areas . in this context , financial instruments and the use of the investeu guarantee can play a crucial role for ensuring access to financing and for bolstering the growth capacity of farms and enterprises . there is a potential for employment opportunities in rural areas for legally staying third country nationals , promoting their social and economic integration especially in the framework of community - led local development strategies .


### promote employment , growth , social inclusion and local development in rural areas , including bio - economy and sustainable forestry ; ### promote employment , particularly for women , sustainable growth , social inclusion and local development in rural areas , including bio - economy and sustainable forestry ;


### the demand for accessible products and services is high and the number of citizens with disabilities and / or functional limitations will increase significantly with the ageing of the european union’s population . an environment where products and services are more accessible allows for a more inclusive society and facilitates independent living . ### the demand for accessible products and services is high . this is reflected in the high number of petitions received by the european parliament wherein concerns are raised as to the accessibility of products and services . the number of persons with disabilities and persons with age related or any other impairments will increase significantly with the ageing of the european union’s population . an environment where products and services are more accessible allows for a more inclusive society and is an essential condition for independent living .


### the overall aim of the ‘ digital single market strategy’ , is to deliver sustainable economic and social benefits from a connected digital single market . union consumers still do not enjoy the full benefits of prices and choice that the single market can offer , because cross - border online transactions are still very limited . fragmentation also limits demand for cross - border e - commerce transactions . there is also a need for concerted action to make sure that new electronic content is also fully available to persons with disabilities . it is therefore necessary to harmonise accessibility requirements across the digital single market and to ensure that all union citizens regardless of their abilities can enjoy its benefits . ### the overall aim of the ‘ digital single market strategy’ , is to deliver sustainable economic and social benefits from a connected digital single market , facilitating trade and promoting employment within the union . union consumers still do not enjoy the full benefits of prices and choice that the single market can offer , because cross - border online transactions are still very limited . fragmentation also limits demand for cross - border e - commerce transactions . there is also a need for concerted action to make sure that new electronic content is also fully available to persons with disabilities and persons with age related or any other impairments . it is therefore necessary to harmonise accessibility requirements across the digital single market and to ensure that all union citizens regardless of their abilities can enjoy its benefits .


### it is necessary to provide that , for legislative acts of the union establishing accessibility obligations without providing accessibility requirements or specifications , accessibility is defined by reference to the accessibility requirements of this directive . that is the case of directive 2014 / 23 / eu of the european parliament and of the council , 1 directive 2014 / 24 / eu of the european parliament and of the council , 2 and directive 2014 / 25 / eu of the european parliament and of the council , 3 which require that technical specifications and technical or functional requirements of the concessions , works or services falling within their scope take into account accessibility criteria for persons with disabilities or ' design for all ' users . ____________________ 1directive 2014 / 23 / eu of the european parliament and of the council of 26 february 2014 on the award of concession contracts . 2directive 2014 / 24 / eu of the european parliament and of the council of 26 february 2014 on public procurement and repealing directive 2004 / 18 / ec . ### it is necessary to provide that , for legislative acts of the union establishing accessibility obligations without providing accessibility requirements or specifications , accessibility is defined by reference to the accessibility requirements of this directive . that is the case of directive 2014 / 23 / eu of the european parliament and of the council , 1 directive 2014 / 24 / eu of the european parliament and of the council , 2 and directive 2014 / 25 / eu of the european parliament and of the council , 3 which require that technical specifications and technical or functional requirements of the concessions , works or services falling within their scope take into account accessibility criteria for persons with disabilities or ' design for all ' users . likewise directive 2010 / 13 / eu of the european parliament and of the council 3a , directive 2011 / 83 / eu of the european parliament and of the council3b as well as any other existing union legislation must take into account accessibility for the persons with disabilities and persons with age related or any other impairments . any other future union legislation referencing accessibility for persons with disabilities should help consumers to make informed decisions and the union institutions should take accessibility into account when revising union legislation . ____________________ 1directive 2014 / 23 / eu of the european parliament and of the council of 26 february 2014 on the award of concession contracts . 2directive 2014 / 24 / eu of the european parliament and of the council of 26 february 2014 on public procurement and repealing directive 2004 / 18 / ec . 3a directive 2010 / 13 / eu of the european parliament and of the council of 10 march 2010 on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law , regulation or administrative action in member states concerning the provision of audiovisual media services . 3b directive 2011 / 83 / eu of the european parliament and of the council of 25 october 2011 on consumer rights , amending council directive 93 / 13 / eec and directive 1999 / 44 / ec of the european parliament and of the council and repealing council directive 85 / 577 / eec and directive 97 / 7 / ec of the european parliament and of the council


### in order to facilitate conformity assessment with applicable requirements it is necessary to provide for a presumption of conformity for products and services which are in conformity with voluntary harmonised standards that are adopted in accordance with regulation no 1025 / 2012 of the european parliament and of the council39 for the purpose of expressing detailed technical specifications of those requirements . the commission has already issued a number of standardisation requests to the european standardisation organisations on accessibility which would be relevant for the preparation of harmonised standards . __________________ 39 regulation no 1025 / 2012 of 25 october 2012 of the european parliament and of the council on european standardisation , amending council directives 89 / 686 / eec and 93 / 15 / eec and directives 94 / 9 / ec , 94 / 25 / ec , 95 / 16 / ec , 97 / 23 / ec , 98 / 34 / ec , 2004 / 22 / ec , 2007 / 23 / ec , 2009 / 23 / ec and 2009 / 105 / ec of the european parliament and of the council and repealing council decision 87 / 95 / eec and decision no 1673 / 2006 / ec of the european parliament and of the council ### in order to facilitate conformity assessment with applicable accessibility requirements it is necessary to provide for a presumption of conformity for products and services which are in conformity with voluntary harmonised standards that are adopted in accordance with regulation no 1025 / 2012 of the european parliament and of the council39 for the purpose of expressing detailed technical specifications of those requirements . the commission has already issued a number of standardisation requests to the european standardisation organisations on accessibility which would be relevant for the preparation of harmonised standards . the issuing of further standardisation requests on specific issues related to this directive should be considered by the commission because harmonised eu standards can significantly facilitate the implementation of this directive by the member states and the private sector . in that regard , organizations for persons with disabilities should be directly involved or consulted in the development of those standards . __________________ 39 regulation no 1025 / 2012 of 25 october 2012 of the european parliament and of the council on european standardisation , amending council directives 89 / 686 / eec and 93 / 15 / eec and directives 94 / 9 / ec , 94 / 25 / ec , 95 / 16 / ec , 97 / 23 / ec , 98 / 34 / ec , 2004 / 22 / ec , 2007 / 23 / ec , 2009 / 23 / ec and 2009 / 105 / ec of the european parliament and of the council and repealing council decision 87 / 95 / eec and decision no 1673 / 2006 / ec of the european parliament and of the council


### in order to facilitate conformity assessment with applicable requirements it is necessary to provide for a presumption of conformity for products and services which are in conformity with voluntary harmonised standards that are adopted in accordance with regulation no 1025 / 2012 of the european parliament and of the council39 for the purpose of expressing detailed technical specifications of those requirements . the commission has already issued a number of standardisation requests to the european standardisation organisations on accessibility which would be relevant for the preparation of harmonised standards . __________________ 39 regulation no 1025 / 2012 of 25 october 2012 of the european parliament and of the council on european standardisation , amending council directives 89 / 686 / eec and 93 / 15 / eec and directives 94 / 9 / ec , 94 / 25 / ec , 95 / 16 / ec , 97 / 23 / ec , 98 / 34 / ec , 2004 / 22 / ec , 2007 / 23 / ec , 2009 / 23 / ec and 2009 / 105 / ec of the european parliament and of the council and repealing council decision 87 / 95 / eec and decision no 1673 / 2006 / ec of the european parliament and of the council ### in order to facilitate conformity assessment with applicable requirements it is necessary to provide for a presumption of conformity for products and services which are in conformity with voluntary harmonised standards that are adopted in accordance with regulation no 1025 / 2012 of the european parliament and of the council39 for the purpose of expressing detailed technical specifications of those requirements . the commission has already issued a number of standardisation requests to the european standardisation organisations on accessibility which would be relevant for the preparation of harmonised standards . the commission should consider issuing further standardisation requests on specific issues related to this directive because harmonised standards can significantly facilitate the implementation of this directive by the member states and the private sector . in that regard , organizations for persons with disabilities should be directly __________________ 39 regulation no 1025 / 2012 of 25 october 2012 of the european parliament and of the council on european standardisation , amending council directives 89 / 686 / eec and 93 / 15 / eec and directives 94 / 9 / ec , 94 / 25 / ec , 95 / 16 / ec , 97 / 23 / ec , 98 / 34 / ec , 2004 / 22 / ec , 2007 / 23 / ec , 2009 / 23 / ec and 2009 / 105 / ec of the european parliament and of the council and repealing council decision 87 / 95 / eec and decision no 1673 / 2006 / ec of the european parliament and of the council


### chapters i , ii to v , and vii apply to the following products : ### this directive establishes a framework for the setting of union accessibility requirements for products referred to in this paragraph and services referred to in paragraph 2 and subsequent , with the aim of ensuring the free movement of such products within the internal market while at the same time increasing the accessibility of such products and services for persons with disabilities and persons with age related or any other impairments . chapters i , ii to v , and vii apply , on a non - exclusive basis , to the following products :


### audiovisual media services and the related consumer equipment with advanced computing capability shall comply with the requirements set out in section iv of annex i . ### audiovisual media services and the related consumer equipment with advanced computing capability shall comply with the requirements set out in section iv of annex i . by the date set out in article 27 , audiovisual media service providers broadcasting in the union shall make accessible their services as follows : - at least 75 % of the overall programming shall include subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing - at least 75 % of the overall programming subtitled into the national language shall include spoken subtitles - at least 5 % of the overall programming shall include sign language interpretation . member states shall facilitate the development of a code of conduct applicable to audiovisual media service providers under their jurisdiction to ensure that audiovisual media services are made accessible to persons with disabilities without undue delay . such codes of conduct may be a self - regulatory or a co - regulatory measure . the commission and the european regulators group for audiovisual media services shall support the exchange of best practices between audiovisual media service providers for the purpose referred to in the second subparagraph . such codes of conduct shall include a requirement that audiovisual media service providers report on an annual basis to their member states about steps taken and progress made with regard to the purpose referred to in the second subparagraph .


### e - commerce shall comply with the requirements set out in section viii of annex i . ### e - commerce , websites of products and services providers , media and news websites , online platforms and social media shall comply with the requirements set out in section viii of annex i . the user - generated content is exempted from the requirements set out in section viii of annex i , whilst the available authoring tools shall be accessible for persons with disabilities and shall facilitate the creation of accessible content .


### manufacturers shall , further to a reasoned request from a competent national authority , provide it with all the information and documentation necessary to demonstrate the conformity of the product , in a language which can be easily understood by that authority . they shall cooperate with that authority , at its request , on any action taken to eliminate the risks posed by products which they have placed on the market and to ensure compliance with the requirements referred to in article 3 . ### manufacturers shall provide the competent national authority with all the information and documentation necessary to demonstrate the conformity of the product at any given moment , in a language which can be easily understood by that authority . they shall cooperate with that authority , at its request , on any action taken to eliminate the risks posed by products which they have placed on the market and to ensure compliance with the requirements referred to in article 3 .


### service providers shall , further to a reasoned request from a competent authority , provide it with all information necessary to demonstrate the conformity of the service with the accessibility requirements referred to in article 3 . they shall cooperate with those authorities , at their request , on any action taken to bring the service in conformity with those requirements . ### service providers shall provide the competent national authority with all information necessary to demonstrate the conformity of the service with the accessibility requirements referred to in article 3 . they shall cooperate with those authorities at their request , on any action taken to bring the service in conformity with those requirements .


### the burden shall not be deemed disproportionate where it is compensated by funding from other sources than the economic operator’s own resources , whether public or private . ### the burden shall not be deemed disproportionate where it is compensated by funding from other sources than the economic operator ' s own resources , whether public or private . lack of priority , time or knowledge shall not be considered as legitimate reasons to claim the disproportionate burden .


### the packaging of the product including the information provided in it ; ### the packaging of the product including the information provided in it which : shall meet the requirements laid down in point shall in simple and precise way inform the users ;


### the design and production of products in order to maximise their foreseeable use by persons with functional limitations , including persons with disabilities and those with age related impairments , shall be achieved by making accessible the following : ### the design and production of products in order to maximise their foreseeable use by persons with disabilities and persons with age related or any other impairments shall be achieved by complying with the following accessibility requirements :


### the functionality of the product by providing functions aimed to address the needs of persons with functional limitations , in accordance with point 2 ; ### the functionality of the product by providing functions aimed to address the needs of persons with disabilities and persons with age related or any other impairments in accordance with point 2 ;


### the design and production of products in order to maximise their foreseeable use by persons with functional limitations , including persons with disabilities and those with age related impairments , shall be achieved by making accessible the following : ### the design and production of products in order to maximise their foreseeable use by persons with disabilities and persons with age related or any other impairments , shall be achieved by complying with the following accessibility requirements :


### the packaging of the product including the information provided in it ; ### the packaging of the product including the information provided in it which : shall meet the requirements laid down in point ; shall in simple and precise way inform the users that the product incorporates accessibility features and its compatibility with assistive technologies ;


### the interfacing of the product with assistive devices ### the product shall provide compatibility with a variety of assistive devices and technologies available at union and international level , including hearing technologies , such as hearing aids , telecoils , cochlear implants , and assistive listening devices .


### the interfacing of the product with assistive devices . ### the product shall provide compatibility with a variety of assistive devices and technologies available at union and international level , including hearing technologies , such as hearing aids , telecoils , cochlear implants , and assistive listening devices .


### products ### products shall comply with section i


### the design and production of products in order to maximise their foreseeable use by persons with functional limitations , including persons with disabilities and those with age related impairments , shall be achieved by making accessible the following : ### the design and production of products in order to maximise their foreseeable use by persons with disabilities and those with age - related impairments shall be achieved by meeting the functional performance requirements set out in point c . the design and production of products shall include :


### must be perceivable ; ### shall have an adequate size and type of fonts with sufficient contrast between the characters and their background in order to maximize its readability in foreseeable conditions of use


### the packaging of the product including the information provided in it ; ### the packaging of the product including the information provided in it which :


### the product instructions for use , installation and maintenance , storage and disposal of the product which shall comply with the following : ### the product instructions for use , installation and maintenance , storage and disposal of the product , whether provided separately or integrated within the product , which shall comply with the following :


### instructions shall provide alternatives to non - text content ; ### shall list and explain how to use the accessibility features of the product and its compatibility with a variety of assistive technologies available at union and international level


### the product instructions for use , installation and maintenance , storage and disposal of the product which shall comply with the following : content of instruction shall be available in text formats that can be used for generating alternative assistive formats to be presented in different ways and via more than one sensory channel , and instructions shall provide alternatives to non - text content ; ### the product instructions for use , installation and maintenance , storage and disposal of the product , whether provided separately or integrated within the product , which shall comply with the following : shall be made available in accessible web format and electronic non - web document by making them perceivable , operable , understandable and robust ; shall list and explain how to use the accessibility features of the product and its compatibility with a variety of assistive technologies available at union and international level ; shall be provided on alternate non - electronic formats upon request . the alternate non - electronic formats may include large print , braille , or easy - to - read ;


### the provision of services in order to maximise their foreseeable use by persons with functional limitations , including persons with disabilities , shall be achieved by ### the provision of services in order to maximise their foreseeable use by persons with disabilities and persons with age related or any other impairments shall be achieved by :


### making websites accessible in a consistent and adequate way for users’ perception , operation and understanding , including the adaptability of content presentation and interaction , when necessary providing an accessible electronic alternative ; and in a way which facilitates interoperability with a variety of user agents and assistive technologies available at union and international level ; ### making websites accessible and online applications needed for the provision of the service in a consistent and adequate way for users’ perception , operation and understanding , including the adaptability of content presentation and interaction , when necessary providing an accessible electronic alternative ; and in a robust way which facilitates interoperability with a variety of user agents and assistive technologies available at union and international level ;


### including functions , practices , policies and procedures and alterations in the operation of the service targeted to address the needs of persons with functional limitations . ### including functions , practices , policies and procedures and alterations in the operation of the service targeted to address the needs of persons with disabilities and persons with age related or any other impairments :


### making websites accessible in a consistent and adequate way for users’ perception , operation and understanding , including the adaptability of content presentation and interaction , when necessary providing an accessible electronic alternative ; and in a way which facilitates interoperability with a variety of user agents and assistive technologies available at union and international level ; ### making websites and online applications needed for the provision of the service accessible in a consistent and adequate way for users’ perception , operation and understanding , including the adaptability of content presentation and interaction , when necessary providing an accessible electronic alternative ; and in a robust way which facilitates interoperability with a variety of user agents and assistive technologies available at union and international level ;


### including functions , practices , policies and procedures and alterations in the operation of the service targeted to address the needs of persons with functional limitations . ### including functions , practices , policies and procedures and alterations in the operation of the service targeted to address the needs of persons with disabilities and persons with age related or any other impairments , the service provider shall provide at least the following access services : subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing ; audio description ; spoken subtitles ; sign language interpretation ,


### the provision of services in order to maximise their foreseeable use by persons with functional limitations , including persons with disabilities , shall be achieved by : ### the provision of services in order to maximise their foreseeable use by persons with disabilities and persons with age related or any other impairments , shall be achieved by :


### providing information about the functioning of the service and about its accessibility characteristics and facilities as follows : the information content shall be available in text formats that can be used to generate alternative assistive formats to be presented in different ways by the users and via more than one sensory channel , alternatives to non - text content shall be provided ; the electronic information , including the related online applications needed in the provision of the service shall be provided in accordance with point . ### providing information about the functioning of the service and about its accessibility characteristics and facilities as follows : shall be made available in accessible web format and electronic non - web document by making them perceivable , operable , understandable and robust in accordance with point shall list and explain how to use the accessibility features of the service including accessibility of vehicles and surrounding infrastructure and built environment as well as information about assistance provided according to regulation 1107 / 2006 , regulation 1177 / 2010 , regulation 1371 / 2007 , and regulation 181 / 2011 . shall be provided on alternative non - electronic formats upon request . the alternate non - electronic formats may include large print , braille , or easy - to - read .


### making websites accessible in a consistent and adequate way for users’ perception , operation and understanding , including the adaptability of content presentation and interaction , when necessary providing an accessible electronic alternative ; and in a way which facilitates interoperability with a variety of user agents and assistive technologies available at union and international level ; ### making websites including online applications needed for the provision of the service accessible in a consistent and adequate way for users’ perception , operation and understanding , including the adaptability of content presentation and interaction , when necessary providing an accessible electronic alternative ; and in a robust way which facilitates interoperability with a variety of user agents and assistive technologies available at union and international level ;