### the technical specifications drawn up by purchasers need to allow public procurement to be opened up to competition . to that end , it should be possible to submit tenders that reflect the diversity of technical solutions so as to obtain a sufficient level of competition . consequently , technical specifications should be drafted in such a way to avoid artificially narrowing down competition through requirements that favour a specific economic operator by mirroring key characteristics of the supplies , services or works habitually offered by that economic operator . drawing up the technical specifications in terms of functional and performance requirements generally allows this objective to be achieved in the best way possible and favours innovation . where reference is made to a european standard or , in the absence thereof , to a national standard , tenders based on other equivalent arrangements which meet the requirements of the contracting entities and are equivalent in terms of safety must be considered by the contracting entities . to demonstrate equivalence , tenderers can be required to provide third - party verified evidence ; however , other appropriate means of proof such as a technical dossier of the manufacturer should also be allowed where the economic operator concerned has no access to such certificates or test reports , or no possibility of obtaining them within the relevant time limits . ### the technical specifications drawn up by purchasers need to allow public procurement to be opened up to competition . to that end , it should be possible to submit tenders that reflect the diversity of technical solutions so as to obtain a sufficient level of competition . consequently , technical specifications should be drafted in such a way to avoid artificially narrowing down competition through requirements that favour a specific economic operator by mirroring key characteristics of the supplies , services or works habitually offered by that economic operator . drawing up the technical specifications in terms of functional and performance requirements generally allows this objective to be achieved in the best way possible and favours innovation . where reference is made to a european standard or , in the absence thereof , to a national standard , tenders based on other equivalent arrangements which meet the requirements of the contracting entities and are equivalent in terms of safety should be considered by the contracting entities . to demonstrate equivalence , tenderers can be required to provide third - party verified evidence ; however , other appropriate means of proof such as a technical dossier of the manufacturer should also be allowed where the economic operator concerned has no access to such certificates or test reports , or no possibility of obtaining them within the relevant time limits . in order not to discriminate those tenderers who invest time and money for certificates and test reports the burden for providing equivalence should be placed on the tenderer claiming equivalence .


### the delegation of power referred to in articles 4 , 35 , 33 , 38 , 25 , 65 , 70 , 77 , 85 and 95 shall be conferred on the commission for an indeterminate period of time from the [ date of entry into force of this directive ] . ### the delegation of power referred to in articles 4 , 35 , 33 , 38 , 25 , 65 , 70 , 77 , 85 and 95 shall be conferred on the commission for a period of five years from the [ date of entry into force of the present directive ] . the commission shall draw up a report in respect of the delegation of power not later than nine months before the end of the five - year period . the delegation of power shall be tacitly extended for periods of an identical duration , unless the european parliament or the council opposes such extension not later than three months before the end of each period .


### for service contracts and contracts involving the design of works , the organisation , qualification and experience of the staff assigned to performing the contract in question may be taken into consideration , with the consequence that , following the award of the contract , such staff may only be replaced with the consent of the contracting entity which must verify that replacements ensure equivalent organisation and quality ; ### for service contracts and contracts involving the design of works , the organisation , qualification and experience of the staff assigned to performing the contract in question may be taken into consideration ;


### there is no private participation in the controlled legal person . ### there is no private participation in the controlled legal person , with the exception of legally enforced forms or private participation .


### public procurement plays a key role in the europe 2020 strategy16 as one of the market - based instruments to be used to achieve a smart , sustainable and inclusive growth while ensuring the most efficient use of public funds . for that purpose , the current public procurement rules adopted pursuant to directive 2004 / 17 / ec of the european parliament and of the council of 31 march 2004 coordinating the procurement procedures of entities operating in the water , energy , transport and postal services sectors17 and directive 2004 / 18 / ec of the european parliament and of the council of 31 march 2004 on the coordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts , public supply contracts and public service contracts18 have to be revised and modernised in order to increase the efficiency of public spending , facilitating in particular the participation of small and medium - sized enterprises in public procurement and to enable procurers to make better use of public procurement in support of common societal goals . there is also a need to clarify basic notions and concepts to ensure better legal certainty and to incorporate certain aspects of related well - established case - law of the court of justice of the european union . ### public procurement plays a key role in the europe 2020 strategy16 as one of the market - based instruments to be used to achieve a smart , sustainable and inclusive growth while ensuring the most efficient use of public funds . for that purpose , the current public procurement rules adopted pursuant to directive 2004 / 17 / ec of the european parliament and of the council of 31 march 2004 coordinating the procurement procedures of entities operating in the water , energy , transport and postal services sectors17 and directive 2004 / 18 / ec of the european parliament and of the council of 31 march 2004 on the coordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts , public supply contracts and public service contracts18have to be revised and modernised in order to enable procurer to make better use of public procurement in support of sustainable development and other common societal goals , thereby increasing the efficiency of public spending , ensuring best value for money and facilitating in particular the participation of small and medium - sized enterprises in public procurement and to enable procurers to make better use of public procurement in support of common societal goals . there is also a need to simplify the directives and to clarify basic notions and concepts to ensure better legal certainty and to incorporate certain aspects of related well - established case - law of the court of justice of the european union . this directive provides legislation on how to buy . contracting entities may set demands that are stricter or go further than current union legislation in order to reach the common objectives .


### the contracting entity shall request economic operators to explain the price or costs charged , where all of the following conditions are fulfilled : ### the contracting entity shall request economic operators to explain in a detailed manner the price or costs charged for their tender .


### those sector - specific measures must be complemented by an adaptation of the public procurement directives empowering contracting entities to pursue the objectives of the europe 2020 strategy in their purchasing strategies . it should hence be made clear that contracting entities can determine the most economically advantageous tender and the lowest cost using a life - cycle costing approach , provided that the methodology to be used is established in an objective and non - discriminatory manner and accessible to all interested parties . the notion of life - cycle costing includes all costs over the life - cycle of a works , supplies or services , both their internal costs and their external costs , provided they can be monetised and monitored . common methodologies should be developed at the level of the union for the calculation of life - cycle costs for specific categories of supplies or services ; whenever such a methodology is developed its use should be made compulsory . ### those sector - specific measures should be complemented by an adaptation of the public procurement directives empowering contracting entities to pursue the objectives of the europe 2020 strategy in their purchasing strategies . it should hence be made clear that contracting entities should determine the most economically - advantageous tender using a costing approach based on life - cycle and sustainable production processes , in accordance with articles 9 , 10 and 11 of the treaty on the functioning of the european union which lay down the social and environmental protection conditions to be taken into account when determining and implementing eu policy . the notion of life - cycle costing includes all costs over the life - cycle of a works , supplies or services , both their internal costs and their external costs , provided they can be monetised and monitored . common methodologies should be developed at the level of the union for the calculation of life - cycle costs for specific categories of supplies or services ; whenever such a methodology is developed its use should be made compulsory .


### a contracting authority , which does not exercise over a legal person control within the meaning of paragraph 1 , may nevertheless award a contract without applying this directive to a legal person which it controls jointly with other contracting authorities , where the following conditions are fulfilled : ### a contracting authority , which does not exercise over a legal person control within the meaning of paragraph 1 , may nevertheless award a contract outside the scope of this directive to a legal person which it controls jointly with other contracting authorities , where the following conditions are fulfilled :


### furthermore , in technical specifications and in award criteria , contracting entities should be allowed to refer to a specific production process , a specific mode of provision of services , or a specific process for any other stage of the life - cycle of a product or service , provided that they are linked to the subject - matter of the contract . in order to better integrate social considerations in public procurement , procurers may also be allowed to include , in the award criterion of the most economically advantageous tender characteristics related to the working conditions of the persons directly participating in the process of production or provision in question . those characteristics may only concern the protection of health of the staff involved in the production process or the favouring of social integration of disadvantaged persons or members of vulnerable groups amongst the persons assigned to performing the contract , including accessibility for persons with disabilities . any award criteria which include those characteristics should in any event remain limited to characteristics that have immediate consequences on staff members in their working environment . they should be applied in accordance with directive 96 / 71 / ec of the european parliament and of the council of 16 december 1996 concerning the posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services32 and in a way that does not discriminate directly or indirectly against economic operators from other member states or from third countries parties to the agreement or to free trade agreements to which the union is party . ### furthermore , in technical specifications , in award criteria and in contract performance clauses , contracting entities should be allowed to refer to a specific production process , a specific mode of provision of services , or a specific process for any other stage of the life - cycle of a product or service , provided that they are linked to the subject - matter of the contract . in order to better integrate social considerations in public procurement , procurers may include , in the award criterion characteristics related to the working conditions of the persons directly participating in the process of production or provision in question . those characteristics may among others concern the protection of health of the staff involved in the production process or the favouring of social integration of disadvantaged persons or members of vulnerable groups amongst the persons assigned to performing the contract , including accessibility for persons with disabilities . any award criteria which include those characteristics should in any event be linked to the subject matter of the contract . they should be applied in accordance with directive 96 / 71 / ec of the european parliament and of the council of 16 december 1996 concerning the posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services32and in a way that does not discriminate directly or indirectly against economic operators from other member states or from third countries parties to the agreement or to free trade agreements to which the union is party . contracting authorities may include social considerations in the technical specifications when this is relevant and linked to the subject matter of the contract .


### contracting entities shall recognise equivalent certificates from bodies established in other member states . they shall also accept other evidence of equivalent environmental management measures from economic operators that have no access to such certificates , or no possibility of obtaining them within the relevant time limits . ### contracting entities shall recognise equivalent certificates from bodies established in other member states . they shall also accept other evidence of equivalent environmental management measures from economic operators that have no access to such certificates , or no possibility of obtaining them within the relevant time limits , provided that the lack of access is not attributable to the economic operator concerned . however in order not to discriminate those tenderers who invest time and money for certificates , the burden for providing equivalence with a specific label should be placed on the tenderer claiming equivalence .


### contracting entities requiring a specific label shall accept all equivalent labels that fulfil the requirements of the label indicated by the contracting entities . for products that do not bear the label , contracting entities shall also accept a technical dossier of the manufacturer or other appropriate means of proof . ### contracting entities requiring a specific label shall accept all equivalent labels that fulfil the requirements of the specific label indicated by the contracting entities . contracting entities shall accept other appropriate means of proving such requirements , which may include a technical dossier of the manufacturer where the economic operator concerned has no access to the label , or no possibility of obtaining it within the relevant time limits , provided that the lack of access is not attributable to the economic operator concerned . in order not to discriminate those tenderers who invest time and money for certificates , the burden for providing equivalence with a specific label should be placed on the tenderer claiming equivalence .


### where contracting entities assess the costs using a life - cycle costing approach , they shall indicate in the procurement documents the methodology used for the calculation of the life - cycle costs . the methodology used must fulfil all of the following conditions : ### where contracting entities assess the costs using a life - cycle costing approach , they shall indicate in the procurement documents the data to be provided by the tenderers and the method which the contracting authority will use to determine the life - cycle costs . the method used for the assessment of those life - cycle costs must fulfil all of the following conditions :


### the contracting entities shall notify the commission or the national oversight body at their request of any activities which they regard as excluded under paragraph 1 . the commission may periodically publish in the official journal of the european union for information purposes , lists of the categories of activities which it considers to be covered by this exclusion . in so doing , the commission shall respect any sensitive commercial aspects that the contracting entities may point out when forwarding this information . ### the contracting entities shall notify the commission if so requested of any activities which they regard as excluded under paragraph 1 . the commission may periodically publish in the official journal of the european union for information purposes , lists of the categories of activities which it considers to be covered by this exclusion . in so doing , the commission shall respect any sensitive commercial aspects that the contracting entities may point out when forwarding this information .


### procurement within the meaning of this directive is the purchase or other forms of acquisition of works , supplies or services by one or more contracting entities from economic operators chosen by those contracting entities , provided that the works , supplies or services are intended for the pursuit of one of the activities referred to in articles 5 to 11 . ### procurement within the meaning of this directive is the purchase of works , supplies or services in the context of public procurement by one or more contracting entities from economic operators chosen by those contracting entities , provided that the works , supplies or services are intended for the pursuit of one of the activities referred to in articles 5 to 11 .


### contracting entities may decide not to award a contract to the tenderer submitting the best tender where they have established that the tender does not comply , at least in an equivalent manner , with obligations established by union legislation in the field of social and labour law or environmental law or of the international social and environmental law provisions listed in annex xiv . ### contracting authorities may not award a contract to the tenderer submitting the best tender where they have established that the tender does not comply with obligations established by union or national legislation in the field of social , labour , health , safety or environmental law , collective agreements applicable in the place where the work , service or supply is to be performed , or by the international social and environmental law provisions listed in annex xiv .


### however , in the case of service and works contracts as well as supply contracts covering in addition services or siting and installation operations , legal persons may be required to indicate , in the tender or the request to participate , the names and relevant professional qualifications of the staff responsible for the performance of the contract in question . ### however , in the case of service and works contracts as well as supply contracts covering in addition services or siting and installation operations , legal persons may be required to indicate , in the tender or the request to participate , the relevant professional qualifications of the staff responsible for the performance of the contract in question .


### member states shall make available technical support structures in order to provide legal and economic advice , guidance and assistance to contracting entities in preparing and carrying out procurement procedures . member states shall also ensure that each contracting entity can obtain competent assistance and advice on individual questions . ### member states shall make available technical support structures in order to provide legal and economic information , guidance and assistance to contracting entities in preparing and carrying out procurement procedures . member states shall also ensure that each contracting entity can obtain competent assistance and information on individual questions .


### contracting entities may take account of variants which are submitted by a tenderer and meet the minimum requirements specified by the contracting entities . ### contracting entities shall take account of variants which are submitted by a tenderer and meet the minimum requirements specified by the contracting entities as long as they are linked to the subject matter of the contract .


### by reference to technical specifications and , in order of preference , to national standards transposing european standards , european technical approvals , common technical specifications , international standards , other technical reference systems established by the european standardisation bodies or - when those do not exist - national standards , national technical approvals or national technical specifications relating to the design , calculation and execution of the works and use of the supplies ; each reference shall be accompanied by the words ‘ or equivalent’ ; ### by reference to technical specifications and , in order of preference , to national standards transposing european standards , european technical assessments , common technical specifications , international standards , other technical reference systems established by the european standardisation bodies or - when any of those do not exist - national standards , national technical approvals or national technical specifications relating to the design , calculation and execution of the works and use of the supplies ; each reference shall be accompanied by the words ‘ or equivalent’ ;


### the labels are established in an open and transparent procedure in which all stakeholders , including government bodies , consumers , manufacturers , distributors and environmental organisations may participate , ### the labels are established in an open and transparent procedure in which all relevant stakeholders , including consumers , manufacturers , trade unions , distributors and environmental and social organisations have a substantial role . government bodies may participate but are not obligatory ;


### contracting entities may use electronic auctions in which new prices , revised downwards , and / or new values concerning certain elements of tenders are presented . ### only for standardised services and supplies contracting entities may use electronic auctions in which new prices , revised downwards , and / or new values concerning certain elements of tenders are presented . service contracts and works ' contracts having as their subject - matter intellectual property , such as the design of works , may not be the objects of electronic auctions .


### under article 11 of the treaty on the functioning of the european union , environmental protection requirements must be integrated into the definition and implementation of the union policies and activities , in particular with a view to promoting sustainable development . this directive clarifies how the contracting entities may contribute to the protection of the environment and the promotion of sustainable development , whilst ensuring that they can obtain the best value for money for their contracts . ### under article 9 , 10 and 11 of the treaty on the functioning of the european union , environmental protection requirements and social considerations must be integrated into the definition and implementation of the union policies and activities , in particular with a view to promoting sustainable development . this directive clarifies how the contracting entities may contribute to the protection of the environment and the promotion of sustainable development and how they can use their discretionary power to select technical specifications and award criteria with the aim of achieving sustainable public procurement , whilst ensuring the link to the subject matter of the contract and obtaining the best value for money for their contracts .


### the criteria of the label are set by a third party which is independent from the economic operator applying for the label . ### the requirements to be met in order to obtain the label are set by a third party which is independent from the economic operator applying for the label .


### the delegation of power referred to in articles 4 , 35 , 33 , 38 , 25 , 65 , 70 , 77 , 85 and 95 shall be conferred on the commission for an indeterminate period of time from the [ date of entry into force of this directive ] . ### the delegation of power referred to in articles 4 , 35 , 33 , 38 , 25 , 65 , 70 shall be conferred on the commission for an indeterminate period of time from the [ date of entry into force of this directive ] .


### there is no private participation in any of the contracting authorities involved . ### the task is carried out solely by the public authorities concerned , with no participation of a private party with the exception of contracting authorities participating in the cooperation as a public law body in the sense of article 2


### external environmental costs directly linked to the life cycle , provided their monetary value can be determined and verified , which may include the cost of emissions of greenhouse gases and of other pollutant emissions and other climate change mitigation costs . ### external costs such as social and / or environmental costs , directly linked to the life cycle , provided their monetary value can be determined and verified , which may include the cost of emissions of greenhouse gases and of other pollutant emissions and other climate change mitigation costs .


### in view of the importance of the labour force survey ad hoc modules in support of union policies , a contribution by the union to the financing of their implementation is proposed through grant procedures , without calls for proposals . the grants shall be awarded to the national statistical institutes and other national authorities referred to in article 5 of regulation no 223 / 2009 of the european parliament and of the council of 11 march 2009 on european statistics . grants that are provided for purposes of carrying out labour force surveys may take the form of lump sums . in this context , the use of lump sums should be a principal means of simplifying grant management . ### in view of the importance of the labour force survey ad hoc modules in support of union policies , a contribution by the union to the financing of their implementation is proposed through grant procedures , without calls for proposals , in accordance with the second subparagraph of article 128 of regulation no 966 / 2012 of the european parliament and of the council of 25 october 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the union1 . the grants shall be awarded , subject to the actual implementation of the ad hoc modules , to the national statistical institutes and other national authorities referred to in article 5 of regulation no 223 / 2009 of the european parliament and of the council of 11 march 2009 on european statistics . grants that are provided for purposes of carrying out labour force surveys may take the form of lump sums . in this context , the use of lump sums should be a principal means of simplifying grant management . _____________ 1 oj l 298 , 26 . 10 . 2012 , p . 1 .


### the power to adopt delegated acts referred to in article 4 and article 7a shall be conferred on the commission for an indeterminate period of time from . ### the power to adopt delegated acts referred to in article 4 and article 7a shall be conferred on the commission for a period of five years from …* . the commission shall draw up a report in respect of the delegation of power not later than nine months before the end of the five year period . the delegation of power shall be tacitly extended for periods of an identical duration , unless the european parliament or the council opposes such extension not later than three months before the end of each period . ______________ * oj : please insert the date of entry into force of this regulation .


### the union may award financial support to the national statistical institutes and other national authorities referred to as designated beneficiaries in article 5 of regulation no 223 / 2009 , for the implementation of the ad hoc modules as referred to in article 7a in accordance with article x of regulation no xx / xx of the european parliament and of the council on a european union programme for social change and innovation , [ com 609 final ] . ### in accordance with the second subparagraph of article 128 of regulation no 966 / 2012 , the union may award financial support to the national statistical institutes and other national authorities referred to as designated beneficiaries in article 5 of regulation no 223 / 2009 , for the implementation of the ad hoc modules as referred to in article 7a in accordance with article x of regulation no xx / xx of the european parliament and of the council on a european union programme for social change and innovation , [ com 609 final ] . the grants shall take the form of lump - sum payments and shall be made subject to the condition that member states participate fully in the implementation of the ad hoc modules .


### community financing shall support economic , financial and technical cooperation and other forms of cooperation falling within its spheres of competence with industrialised and other high - income countries and territories and with developing countries falling under regulation no 1905 / 2006 . ### community financing under this regulation shall support economic , financial , technical , cultural , academic and other forms of cooperation falling within its spheres of competence , with developing countries as listed in annex ii and with industrialised and other high - income countries and territories as listed in annex i . in principle , this regulation shall serve to finance measures which do not fulfil the official development assistance criteria of the oecd .


### the primary objective of cooperation with the countries and territories referred to in paragraph 1 shall be to provide a specific response to the need to strengthen links and to engage further with them on a bilateral , regional or multilateral basis in order to create a more favourable environment for the development of the relations of the community with these countries and territories and promote dialogue while fostering community ' s interests . ### the primary objective of cooperation with partner countries shall be to provide a specific response to the need to strengthen links and to engage further with them on a bilateral , regional or multilateral basis in order to create a more favourable and transparent environment for the development of the relations between the community and partner countries and promote constructive dialogue while fostering the community ' s interests , namely the promotion of democracy , respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms , the rule of law , decent work , good governance , and the preservation of the environment .


### council regulation no 1934 / 2006 of 21 december 2006 establishing a financing instrument for cooperation with industrialised and other high - income countries and territories , and with developing countries falling under regulation no 1905 / 2006 . ### council regulation no 1934 / 2006 of 21 december 2006 establishing a financing instrument for cooperation with countries in the middle east , asia , the americas and south africa


### the primary objective of cooperation with the countries and territories referred to in paragraph 1 shall be to provide a specific response to the need to strengthen links and to engage further with them on a bilateral , regional or multilateral basis in order to create a more favourable environment for the development of the relations of the community with these countries and territories and promote dialogue while fostering community ' s interests . ### the primary objective of cooperation with partner countries shall be to provide a specific response to the need to strengthen links and to engage further with them on a bilateral , regional or multilateral basis in order to create a more favourable environment for the development of the relations between the community and partner countries and territories and promote dialogue while fostering mutual understanding and the community ' s interests .


### community financing shall support economic , financial and technical cooperation and other forms of cooperation falling within its spheres of competence with industrialised and other high - income countries and territories and with developing countries falling under regulation no&#160 ; 1905 / 2006 . ### community financing under this regulation shall support economic , financial , technical and academic cooperation in the areas set out in article&#160 ; 4 , falling within its spheres of competence with industrialised and other high - income countries and territories listed in annex i , and with developing countries falling under regulation no&#160 ; 1905 / 2006 of the european parliament and of the council of 18 december 2006 establishing a financing instrument for development cooperation1 listed in annex ii of this regulation . in principle , this regulation shall serve to finance measures which do not fulfil the official development assistance criteria of the oecd . _________ 1 oj l 378 , 27 . 12 . 2006 , p . 41 .


### the cooperation shall be aimed at engaging with partners which share similar political , economic and institutional structures and values to the community and which are important bilateral partners and players in multilateral fora and in global governance . the cooperation also covers partners with which the community has a strategic interest in promoting links . ### the cooperation shall be aimed at engaging with partner countries towards the achievement of the following goals : – mitigating conflict and enhancing dialogue and rapprochement ; – sharing and promoting similar political , economic and institutional structures and values ; – increasing exchanges with important bilateral partners and players in multilateral fora and in global governance .


### the direct emissions measurements may be used for voyages within the scope of this regulation and for emissions occurring in ports located in a member state ' s jurisdiction . co2 emitted shall include co2 emitted by main engines , auxiliary engines , boilers and inert gas generators . for ships on which reporting is based on this method , the fuel consumption shall be calculated using the measured co2 emissions and the applicable emission factor of the relevant fuels . ### the direct emissions measurements may be used for voyages within the scope of this regulation and for emissions occurring in ports located in a member state ' s jurisdiction . co2 and nox emitted shall include co2 and nox emitted by main engines , auxiliary engines , boilers and inert gas generators .


### this regulation applies to ships above 5000 gross tons in respect of emissions released during their voyages from the last port of call to a port under the jurisdiction of a member state and from a port under the jurisdiction of a member state to their next port of call , as well as within ports under the jurisdiction of a member state . ### this regulation applies to ships above 400 gross tons in respect of emissions released during their voyages from the last port of call to a port under the jurisdiction of a member state and from a port under the jurisdiction of a member state to their next port of call , as well as within ports under the jurisdiction of a member state .


### in order to minimise the administrative burden for ship owners and operators , in particular for small and medium sized enterprises , and to optimise the benefits - costs - ratio of the mrv system without jeopardising the objective to cover a widely predominant share of greenhouse gas emissions from maritime transport , the rules for mrv should only apply to large emitters . a threshold of 5000 gross tonnage has been selected after detailed objective analysis of sizes and emissions of ships going to and coming from union ports . ships above 5000 gt account for around 55% of the number of ships calling into union ports and represent around 90% of the related emissions . this non - discriminatory threshold would ensure that that the most relevant emitters are covered . a lower threshold would result in higher administrative burden while a higher threshold would limit the coverage of emissions and thus the environmental effectiveness of the system . ### in order to ensure coherence with existing international law , in particular with marpol annex vi , the mrv system should apply to ships of 400 gt and above .


### in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from shipping at union level the best possible option remains setting up a system for monitoring , reporting and verification of co2 emissions based on the fuel consumption of ships as a first step of a staged approach for the inclusion of maritime transport emissions in the union ' s greenhouse gas reduction commitment . ### in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from shipping at union level the best possible option remains setting up a system for monitoring , reporting and verification of greenhouse gas emissions based on the fuel consumption of ships in order to collect aggregate data on such emissions as a first step of a staged approach for the inclusion of maritime transport emissions in the union ' s greenhouse gas reduction commitment .


### by 31 august 2017 , companies shall submit to the verifiers a monitoring plan indicating the method chosen to monitor and report emissions and other climate - relevant information for each of their ships above 5000 gt . ### by 31 august 2017 , companies shall submit to the verifiers a monitoring plan indicating the method chosen to monitor and report emissions and other climate - relevant information for each of their ships above 400 gt .


### this regulation lays down rules for the accurate monitoring , reporting and verification of carbon dioxide emissions and other climate relevant information from ships arriving at , within or departing from ports under the jurisdiction of a member state in order to promote the reduction of co2 emissions from maritime transport in a cost effective manner . ### this regulation lays down rules for the accurate monitoring , reporting and verification of greenhouse gas emissions and other climate relevant information from ships arriving at , within or departing from ports under the jurisdiction of a member state in order to promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from maritime transport in a cost effective manner .


### for the purposes of article 4 , and , companies shall determine their emissions and other climate relevant information for each of their ships above 5000 gt in accordance with any of the methods set out in annex i . ### for the purposes of article 4 , and , companies shall determine their emissions and other climate relevant information for each of their ships above 400 gt in accordance with any of the methods set out in annex i .


### by 31 august 2017 , companies shall submit to the verifiers a monitoring plan indicating the method chosen to monitor and report emissions and other climate - relevant information for each of their ships above 5000 gt . ### by 31 august 2015 , companies shall submit to the verifiers a monitoring plan indicating the method chosen to monitor and report emissions and other climate - relevant information for each of their ships above 400 gt .


### member states shall lay down a system of penalties for failure to comply with the monitoring and reporting requirements set out in articles 8 to 12 and shall take all the measures necessary to ensure that those penalties are applied . the penalties provided for shall be no less stringent than those foreseen under national legislation on greenhouse gas emissions in case of non - compliance with reporting obligations by operators and be effective , proportionate and dissuasive . member states shall notify these provisions to the commission by 1 july 2017 , and shall notify any subsequent amendments affecting these provisions to the commission without delay . ### member states shall lay down a system of penalties for failure to comply with the monitoring and reporting requirements set out in articles 8 to 12 and shall take all the measures necessary to ensure that those penalties are applied . the penalties provided for shall be no less stringent than those foreseen under national legislation on greenhouse gas emissions in case of non - compliance with reporting obligations by operators and be effective , proportionate and dissuasive . member states shall notify these provisions to the commission by 1 july 2015 , and shall notify any subsequent amendments affecting these provisions to the commission without delay .


### the power to adopt delegated acts in order to supplement and amend the provisions of annexes i and ii to take into account up - to - date scientific evidence available , as well as the relevant data available on board of ships and the relevant international rules and internationally accepted standards , to identify the most accurate and efficient methods for monitoring of emissions , and to improve the accuracy of the information requested related to the monitoring and reporting of emissions is conferred on the commission subject to the conditions laid down under article 24 to the extent it concerns non - essential elements of this regulation . ### the commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance to article 24 amending annex i to adapt the monitoring methods to scientific and technical progress and internationally accepted standards in order to improve the reliability , validity and accuracy of the emission data . the commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance to article 24 amending annex ii to further specify and adapt the monitoring of climate - relevant information methods to scientific and technical progress and internationally accepted standards in order to improve the reliability , validity and accuracy of the emission data .


### the power to adopt delegated acts referred to in articles 15 , 16 and 23 shall be conferred on the commission for a period of five years from 1 july 2015 . ### the power to adopt delegated acts referred to in articles 12 a , 15 , 16 and 23 shall be conferred on the commission for a period of five years from [ dd / mm / yyyy ] [ date of entry into force of this regulation ] . the commission shall draw up a report in respect of the delegation of power not later than nine months before the end of the 5 - year period . the delegation of power shall be tacitly extended for periods of an identical duration , unless the european parliament or the council opposes such extension not later than three months before the end of each period .


### equal treatment should be granted under national law in respect of those branches of social security defined in article 3 of regulation no 883 / 2004 of the european parliament and of the council of 29 april 2004 on the coordination of social security systems . since this directive is without prejudice to provisions included in bilateral agreements , the social security rights enjoyed by third country national intra - corporate transferees on the basis of a bilateral agreement concluded between the member state to which the person has been admitted and his or her country of origin could be strengthened compared to the social security rights which would be granted to the transferee under national law . this directive should not confer more rights than those already provided for in existing union legislation in the field of social security for third - country nationals who have cross - border interests between member states . ### adequate social security coverage for intra - corporate transferees and their family members is a key element of this directive and important for ensuring decent working and living conditions while staying in the union . equal treatment should be granted to third - country nationals in the framework of an intra - corporate transfer . special attention should be given to provisions ensuring equal treatment as regards social security under national law in respect of those branches of social security defined in article 3 of regulation no 883 / 2004 of the european parliament and of the council of 29 april 2004 on the coordination of social security systems . without prejudice to bilateral agreements providing better social security coverage , this directive should establish mechanisms which ensure the effective coverage under social security during the stay and the mechanisms for exporting acquired rights where applicable . any restrictions to the equal treatment in the field of social security under this directive should be without prejudice to the rights conferred in application of regulation no1231 / 2010 of the european parliament and of the council of 24 november 2010 extending regulation no 883 / 2004 and regulation no 987 / 2009 to nationals of third countries who are not already covered by these regulations solely on the ground of their nationality¹ . ____________ ¹ oj l 344 , 29 . 12 . 2010 , p . 1 .


### member states shall require that all conditions in the law , regulations or administrative provisions and / or universally applicable collective agreements applicable to posted workers in a similar situation in the relevant occupational branches are met with regard to the remuneration granted during the transfer . ### member states shall require that all conditions in the law , regulations or administrative provisions and / or collective agreements in a comparable situation in the relevant occupational branches at the place of work are met with regard to working conditions including benefits and pay granted during the transfer .


### intra - corporate transferees should benefit from the same working conditions as posted workers whose employer is established on the territory of the european union , as defined by directive 96 / 71 / ec of the european parliament and of the council of 16 december 1996 concerning the posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services . that requirement is intended to protect workers and guarantee fair competition between undertakings established in a member state and those established in a third country , as it ensures that the latter will not be able to benefit from lower labour standards to take any competitive advantage . ### intra - corporate transferee workers should be given at least equal treatment with nationals of the host member states as regards their working conditions . these requirements are intended to protect workers and guarantee fair competition between undertakings established in a member state and those established in a third country .


### ‘ intra - corporate transferee’ means any third - country national subject to an intra - corporate transfer ; ### ‘ intra - corporate transferee’ means any third - country national worker subject to an intra - corporate transfer ;


### for the purpose of this directive , intra - corporate transferees encompass managers , specialists and graduate trainees with a higher education qualification . their definition builds on specific commitments of the union under the general agreement on trade in services and bilateral trade agreements . those commitments undertaken under the general agreement on trade in services do not cover conditions of entry , stay and work . therefore , this directive complements and facilitates the application of those commitments . however , the scope of the intra - corporate transfers covered by this directive is broader than that implied by trade commitments , as the transfers do not necessarily take place within the services sector and may originate in a third country which is not party to a trade agreement . ### for the purpose of this directive , intra - corporate transferees encompass managers , specialists and graduate trainees with a higher education qualification . their definition links to the european qualifications framework , which sets out a european reference framework to assess qualifications in a comparable and transparent manner while being compatible with the general agreement on trade in services and bilateral trade agreements .


### ‘ graduate trainee’ means any person with a higher education qualification who is transferred to broaden his / her knowledge of and experience in a company in preparation for a managerial position within the company ; ### ‘ graduate trainee’ means any worker with a higher education qualification equivalent to at least level 5 of the european qualifications framework , with a trainee agreement including a description of the training programme and its duration who is transferred to broaden his / her knowledge of and experience in a company in preparation for a managerial position within the company ;


### ‘ public sector body’ means the state , regional or local authorities , bodies governed by public law as defined in article 1 of directive 2004 / 18 / ec , and associations formed by one or several such authorities or one or several such bodies governed by public law . ### ' public sector body ' means the state , regional or local authorities , bodies governed by public law as defined in article 1 of directive 2004 / 18 / ec , and associations formed by one or several such authorities or one or several such bodies governed by public law and bodies providing services of general interest and / or general economic interest .


### the external - cost charge may be related to the cost of traffic - based air pollution . on road sections crossing areas with a concentration of population exposed to road traffic - based noise pollution , the external - cost charge may include the cost of traffic - based noise pollution . the external - cost charge shall vary and be set in accordance with the minimum requirements and the methods as specified in annex iiia and shall respect the maximum values set out in annex iiib . ### the external - cost charge may be related to the cost of traffic - based air pollution . on road sections crossing areas with a population exposed to road traffic - based noise pollution , the external - cost charge may include the cost of traffic - based noise pollution . the external - cost charge shall vary and be set in accordance with the minimum requirements and the methods as specified in annex iiia and shall respect the maximum values set out in annex iiib .


### this instrument should be implemented in full respect of the rights and principles enshrined in the charter of fundamental rights of the european union . ### this instrument should be implemented in full respect of the rights and principles enshrined in the charter of fundamental rights of the european union , the european convention for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms , the geneva convention relating to the status of refugees , the un convention on the law of the sea , un human rights treaties and international humanitarian law .


### it should include support for national measures and cooperation between member states in the area of visa policy and other pre - frontier activities that take place prior to external border controls . the efficient management of activities organised by the services of the member states in third countries is in the interest of the common visa policy as part of a multi - layered system aimed at facilitating legitimate travel and tackling irregular immigration into the european union , and constitutes an integral part of the common integrated border management system . ### it should include support for national measures and cooperation between member states in the area of visa policy and other pre - frontier activities that take place prior to external border controls , in particular those which organise and facilitate regular migration and mobility . the efficient management of activities organised by the services of the member states in third countries is in the interest of the common visa policy as part of a multi - layered system aimed at organising and facilitating regular migration and mobility and preventing irregular immigration into the european union , and constitutes an integral part of the common integrated border management system .


### in line with union and international climate change objectives , before the end of 2016 , the eib , in cooperation with the commission and following a public consultation , shall update its climate change strategy as regards eib financing operations . ### in line with union and international climate change objectives , before the end of 2016 , the eib , in cooperation with the commission and following a public consultation , shall update its climate change strategy as regards eib financing operations . this update shall inter alia integrate concrete actions to phase out financing projects detrimental to the achievement of eu ' s climate objectives and step up efforts to support renewable energy sources and energy efficiency .


### if necessary in cases of urgency , the commission may take that decision acting in accordance with the second paragraph of article 38g . in that case , the measures adopted shall be communicated forthwith to the members states and shall take effect immediately . ' ### on duly justified imperative grounds of urgency , the commission may adopt immediately applicable implementing acts in accordance with the procedure referred to in article 38g .


### the commission shall , by means of implementing acts , adopt the necessary provisions aiming at reaching a uniform application of this regulation in the union , in particular relating to the following : ### the commission shall , by means of implementing acts , in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in article 38g , adopt the necessary provisions aiming at reaching a uniform application of this regulation in the union , in particular relating to the following :


### in addition to the ex - ante assessment of development - related aspects , the eib should strengthen its monitoring during project implementation , inter alia , on the development impact of the project . ### in addition to the ex - ante assessment of development - related aspects , the eib should carry out thorough monitoring during project implementation , inter alia , on the development , environmental and human rights impact of the project . the monitoring shall include the performance of financial intermediaries . the results of the monitoring shall be regularly disclosed to the public .


### moreover , eib financing operations should contribute to the general principles guiding the eu ' s external action , as referred to in article 21 of the treaty on the european union , of promoting and consolidating democracy and the rule of law , human rights and fundamental freedoms , and to the implementation of international environmental agreements to which the eu is a party . in relation to developing countries9 in particular , eib financing operations should foster : sustainable economic , social and environmental development of these countries , particularly in the most disadvantaged amongst them ; their smooth and gradual integration into the world economy ; the campaign against poverty ; as well as compliance with objectives approved by the eu in the context of the united nations and other competent international organisations . the eib should gradually build up appropriate means to adequately meet these requirements . ### more generally , eib financing operations should contribute to the general principles guiding the eu ' s external action , as referred to in article 21 of the treaty on the european union , of promoting and consolidating democracy and the rule of law , human rights and fundamental freedoms , and to the implementation of international environmental agreements to which the eu is a party . in relation to developing countries9in particular , an underlying objective for eib financing operations should be the reduction of poverty through fostering : sustainable economic , social and environmental development of these countries , particularly in the most disadvantaged amongst them ; their smooth and gradual integration into the world economy ; as well as compliance with objectives approved by the eu in the context of the united nations and other competent international organisations . the eib should gradually build up appropriate means in order to guarantee equal access to financial services , in particular for disadvantaged groups such as minorities , farmers and women . in order to adequately meet these requirements the council shall guarantee an increase in eib resources and staff .


### under this decision , the eib should increase its development orientation in close coordination with the commission and following the principles of the european consensus on development . this should be implemented through a number of concrete measures , in particular by reinforcing its capacity to appraise social and development aspects of projects , including human rights and conflict related risks , and by promoting local consultation . moreover , it should increase its focus on sectors where it has sound expertise from financing operations within the eu and which will further the development of the country in question , such as environmental infrastructure including water and sanitation , sustainable transportation and climate change mitigation , particularly in renewable energy . the eib should also progressively strengthen its activity in support of health and education as well as of climate change adaptation , where appropriate working in cooperation with other international finance institutions and european bilateral finance institutions . this will require access to concessional resources and a progressive increase in human resources devoted to eib external activities . eib activity should also be complementary to eu objectives and priorities relating to institution building and sector reforms . finally , the eib should define performance indicators which are linked to development aspects of the projects and their results . ### under this decision , the eib should increase its development expertise in close coordination with the commission in order to apply the principles of the european consensus on development as well as the principles of aid effectiveness outlined in the paris declaration of 2005 and the acrra agenda for action of 2008 . this should be implemented through a number of concrete measures , in particular by reinforcing its capacity to appraise social , environmental and development aspects of projects , including human rights and conflict related risks , and by promoting local consultation which should be part of the eib ' s due diligence procedure prior to the approval of projects . moreover , it should increase its focus on sectors where it has sound expertise from financing operations within the eu and which will further the development of the country in question , such as environmental infrastructure including water and sanitation , sustainable transportation and climate change mitigation , particularly in renewable energy . the eib should also progressively strengthen its activity in support of health and education as well as of climate change adaptation , where appropriate working in cooperation with other international finance institutions and european bilateral finance institutions . this will require access to concessional resources and a progressive increase in human resources devoted to eib external activities . eib activity should also be complementary to eu objectives and priorities relating to institution building and sector reforms . finally , the eib should define performance indicators which are linked to development aspects of the projects and their results . compliance with the provisions of the aarhus convention on access to information , public participation in decision - making and access to justice in environmental matters should be ensured by the eib at the different relevant stages of the projects .


### moreover , eib financing operations should contribute to the general principles guiding the eu ' s external action , as referred to in article 21 of the treaty on the european union , of promoting and consolidating democracy and the rule of law , human rights and fundamental freedoms , and to the implementation of international environmental agreements to which the eu is a party . in relation to developing countries9 in particular , eib financing operations should foster : sustainable economic , social and environmental development of these countries , particularly in the most disadvantaged amongst them ; their smooth and gradual integration into the world economy ; the campaign against poverty ; as well as compliance with objectives approved by the eu in the context of the united nations and other competent international organisations . the eib should gradually build up appropriate means to adequately meet these requirements . ### more generally , eib financing operations should contribute to the general principles guiding the eu ' s external action , as referred to in article 21 of the treaty on the european union , of promoting and consolidating democracy and the rule of law , human rights and fundamental freedoms , and to the implementation of international environmental agreements to which the eu is a party . in relation to developing countries9 in particular , an underlying objective for eib financing operations should be the reduction of poverty through : fostering sustainable economic , social and environmental development of these countries , particularly in the most disadvantaged amongst them ; their smooth and gradual integration into the world economy ; as well as compliance with objectives approved by the eu in the context of the united nations and other competent international organisations . the eib should guarantee equal access to financial services , in particular for disadvantaged groups such as minorities , farmers and women . in order to adequately meet these requirements the council shall guarantee an increase in eib resources and staff .


### the eib shall carry out thorough due diligence on development - related aspects of projects covered by the eu guarantee . the eib ' s own rules and procedures shall include the necessary provisions on assessment of environmental and social impact of projects and of aspects related to human rights , to ensure that only projects that are economically , financially , environmentally and socially sustainable are supported under this decision . ### the eib shall carry out thorough due diligence , including local public consultation , on development - related aspects of projects covered by the eu guarantee prior to project approval . the projects include the loan activity of financial intermediaries . the eib ' s own rules and procedures shall include the necessary provisions on assessment of environmental and social impact of projects and of aspects related to human rights , to ensure that only projects that are economically , financially , environmentally and socially sustainable are supported under this decision .


### the eu’s economic prosperity and well - being is underpinned by its natural capital , which includes ecosystems that provide essential goods and services , from fertile soil and multi - functional forests to productive land and seas , from fresh water and clean air to pollination , flood control and climate regulation and protection against natural disasters . a substantial body of eu legislation seeks to protect , conserve and enhance natural capital , including the water framework directive , the marine strategy framework directive , the air quality and related directives and the habitats and birds directives . legislation to tackle climate change , chemicals , industrial emissions and waste also contribute to easing the pressures on biodiversity , including ecosystems , species and habitats . ### the eu’s economic prosperity and well - being is underpinned by its natural capital , i . e . its biodiversity , including ecosystems that provide essential goods and services , from fertile soil and multi - functional forests to productive land and seas , from fresh water and clean air to pollination , flood control and climate regulation and protection against natural disasters . a substantial body of eu legislation seeks to protect , conserve and enhance natural capital , including the water framework directive , the urban wastewater directive1 , the nitrates directive2 , the marine strategy framework directive , the air quality and related directives and the habitats and birds directives . legislation to tackle climate change , chemicals , industrial emissions and waste also contribute to easing the pressures on biodiversity , including ecosystems , soil and species and habitats . __________________ 1 directive 91 / 271 / eec . 2 directive 91 / 676 / eec .


### turning waste into a resource , as called for in the resource efficiency roadmap , requires the full implementation of eu waste legislation across the eu , based on strict application of the waste hierarchy and covering different types of waste . additional efforts are needed to : reduce per capita waste generation in absolute terms , limit energy recovery to non - recyclable materials , phase out landfilling , ensure high quality recycling , and develop markets for secondary raw materials . hazardous waste will need to be managed so as to minimise significant adverse effects on human health and the environment , as agreed at the rio + 20 summit . to achieve this , market - based instruments that privilege prevention , recycling and re - use should be applied much more systematically across the eu . barriers facing recycling activities in the eu internal market should be removed and existing prevention , re - use , recycling , recovery and landfill diversion targets reviewed so as to move towards a ‘ circular’ economy , with a cascading use of resources and residual waste close to zero . ### turning waste into a resource , by achieving near zero residual waste by 2020 , as called for in the resource efficiency roadmap , requires the full implementation and strengthening of eu waste legislation across the eu , based on strict application of the waste hierarchy and covering different types of waste . additional efforts , including prevention , are needed to achieve a significant reduction of waste per capita per annum in absolute terms , limit energy recovery to non - recyclable and non - compostable materials , phase out landfilling , except for certain hazardous waste where landfilling would represent the safest disposal method , promote reuse , ensure high quality recycling and non - toxic material cycles , and develop markets for secondary raw materials . hazardous waste will need to be managed so as to minimise significant adverse effects on human health and the environment , as agreed at the rio + 20 summit . to achieve this , market - based instruments that privilege prevention , recycling and re - use should be applied much more systematically across the eu . thereby not spending any more public money on landfill infrastructure in the next multi - annual financial framework . barriers facing recycling activities in the eu internal market should be removed and existing prevention , re - use , recycling , recovery and landfill diversion targets reviewed so as to move towards a ‘ circular’ economy , with a cascading use of resources and residual waste close to zero .


### fully implementing the eu biodiversity strategy . ### fully implementing the eu biodiversity strategy without further delay .


### all sectors of the economy will need to contribute to reducing ghg emissions for the eu to deliver its fair share of global efforts . the eu needs to agree the next steps for its climate and energy framework beyond 2020 in order to prepare itself for international negotiations on a new legally binding agreement , but also to provide member states and industry with a clear framework to make the medium - term investments needed . hence the eu needs to consider policy options for delivering the reductions set out in the low - carbon economy roadmap for the period beyond 2020 . the 2050 energy roadmap and the white paper on transport need to be underpinned by strong policy frameworks . moreover , member states need to develop and put in place long - term , cost - effective low - carbon development strategies aimed at achieving the eu objective of reducing ghg emissions by 80% to 95% by mid - century , compared to 1990 , as part of a global effort to limit average temperature increase to below 2°c . the eu emissions trading system will continue to be a central pillar of eu climate policy beyond 2020 . ### all sectors of the economy will need to contribute to reducing ghg emissions for the eu to deliver on its commitments and reach the objective of reducing ghg emissions by 80 - 95% by 2050 . the eu urgently needs to agree the next steps towards a new climate and energy framework beyond 2020 with three legally binding targets for emission reduction , energy efficiency and renewable energy in order to prepare itself for an active engagement in international negotiations on a new legally binding agreement by 2015 , but also to provide member states and industry with a clear legal framework to make the medium - and long - term investments needed . hence the eu needs to consider policy options for delivering the reductions set out in the low - carbon economy roadmap for the period beyond 2020 in line with the proposed milestones and latest science . the 2050 energy roadmap and the white paper on transport need to be underpinned by strong policy frameworks , milestones and targets for the years 2030 , 2040 and 2050 . moreover , member states need to develop and put in place long - term , cost - effective low - carbon development strategies aimed at achieving the eu objective of decarbonization by mid - century , compared to 1990 , as part of a global effort to limit average temperature increase to below 2°c . the eu emissions trading system will continue to be a central pillar of eu climate policy beyond 2020 and needs to be structurally reformed to incentivise investments in low - carbon and sustainable technologies . in order to fulfil its international commitments , the eu needs to substantially supported developing countries in their efforts to mitigate climate change through capacity - building , financial aid and technology transfer .


### the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services are halted and ecosystems and their services are maintained and enhanced . ### the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services are halted and ecosystems and their services are maintained , restored and enhanced , in particular through the full implementation and effective conservation of the natura 2000 network supported by prioritized action frameworks , and the implementation of the ' no nett loss principle ' .


### fully implementing eu waste legislation . this will include applying the waste hierarchy and the effective use of market - based instruments and measures to ensure that landfilling is effectively phased out , energy recovery is limited to non - recyclable materials , recycled waste is used as a major , reliable source of raw material for the eu , hazardous waste is safely managed and its generation is reduced , illegal waste shipments are eradicated and internal market barriers for environmentally - sound recycling activities in the eu are removed . ### fully implementing eu waste legislation and achieving near zero waste by 2020 . this will include applying the waste hierarchy and the effective use of market - based instruments and measures to reduce the generation of waste , to promote reuse , to ensure high quality recycling and non - toxic material cycles so that waste can be used as a major , reliable source of raw material for the eu , there is a high - quality source segregation system in place , energy recovery is limited to non - recyclable and non - compostable materials , landfilling is effectively phased out , except for certain hazardous waste where landfilling would represent the safest disposal method , and the generation of hazardous waste is significantly reduced and otherwise safely managed . illegal waste shipments are eradicated and internal market barriers for environmentally - sound recycling activities in the eu are removed . it will require the systematic setting of ambitious recycling , re - use and prevention targets in all eu waste policies .


### fully implementing the eu climate and energy package is essential to reach the milestones identified for 2020 and for building a competitive , low - carbon economy by 2050 . whereas the eu is currently on track to reduce domestic ghg emissions 20 % below 1990 levels by 2020 , meeting the 20 % energy efficiency target will require far more rapid efficiency improvements . this is also important in the light of still - growing demand for energy and the on - going debate on conflicts between land use for food and for bio - energy . the new energy efficiency directive is expected to make a significant contribution in this regard . ### fully implementing the eu climate and energy package is essential to reach the three targets set for 2020 and for building a competitive , sustainable , low - carbon economy based on a high renewable energy supply by 2050 . whereas the eu is currently on track to reduce domestic ghg emissions 20 % below 1990 levels by 2020 and might be able to achieve even more , meeting the 20 % energy efficiency target will require far more rapid efficiency improvements at all scales . this is also important in the light of still - growing demand for energy and the increasing competition for land for food and energy purposes . it is therefore important to ensure that biomass used for energy is limited in volume to what can be sustainably supplied respecting the ' cascading use ' principle . whereas the new energy efficiency directive is expected to make a significant contribution in this regard , it should be complemented by setting requirements for the energy use of all energy related products entering the eu market .


### drawing up partnership implementation agreements between member states and the commission . ### drawing up transparent partnership implementation agreements between member states and the commission .


### third , the way in which complaints about implementation of eu environment law are handled and remedied at national level will be improved . ### third , the way in which complaints about implementation of eu environment law are handled and remedied at national level will be improved and made more transparent as well as accessible .


### – there are still uncertainties surrounding the human health and environmental implications of endocrine disruptors , mixtures , chemicals in products and nanomaterials . filling these gaps can accelerate decision - making and enable the further development of the chemicals acquis to better target areas of concern , while stimulating more sustainable use of chemicals . an improved understanding of the environmental factors affecting human health would allow preventive policy actions to be taken . ### – while there are still uncertainties surrounding the full implications for human health and the environment of endocrine disrupters , mixtures , chemicals in products and nanomaterials , the latest research indicates that endocrine disrupters cause adverse health effects , especially regarding pregnant women and the development of children . this fully warrants precautionary action . in addition , concerns exist regarding the potential environment and health implications of the combined effects of chemicals in products , nanomaterials and similar advanced materials . implementing existing knowledge , supplemented with a continued effort to fill the remaining knowledge gaps including , inter alia , via the use of biomonitoring and environmental monitoring , can accelerate decision - making and enable the further development of the chemicals acquis to better target areas of concern , and also help to stimulate a more sustainable approach to the use of chemicals . an improved understanding of the environmental factors and the levels of exposure affecting human health and the environment would allow preventive policy actions to be taken .


### priority objective 5 : to improve the evidence base for environment policy ### priority objective 5 : to improve the knowledge and evidence base for environment policy


### developing an eu strategy for a non - toxic environment , supported by a comprehensive chemical exposure and toxicity knowledge base and conducive to innovation of sustainable substitutes . ### developing by 2018 an eu strategy for a non - toxic environment building on horizontal measures to be undertaken by 2015 to ensure by specific provisions in all relevant laws 1 ) the safety of nanomaterials and similar advanced materials ; 2 ) the minimisation of exposure to endrocrine disrupters ; 3 ) appropriate regulatory approaches to address combination effects of chemicals and 4 ) the minimisation of exposure to chemicals in products , including inter alia imported products , with a view to promoting non - toxic material cycles and reducing indoor exposure to harmful substances . this should be supported by a comprehensive chemical exposure and toxicity knowledge base , which would accelerate efficient decision - making and promote innovation and the development of sustainable substitutes .


### the degradation , fragmentation and unsustainable use of land in the eu is jeopardising the provision of several key ecosystem services , threatening biodiversity and increasing europe’s vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters . it is also driving soil degradation . more than 25% of the eu’s territory is affected by soil erosion by water , which compromises soil functions and affects the quality of freshwater . soil contamination and sealing are also persistent problems . more than half a million sites across the eu are thought to be contaminated and until they are identified and assessed , they continue to pose potentially serious environmental and health risks . every year more than 1 000 km² of land are taken for housing , industry , transport or recreational purposes . these long - term changes are difficult or costly to reverse , and nearly always involve trade - offs between various social , economic and environmental needs . member states’ planning decisions relating to land use should be made more sustainable . ### the degradation , fragmentation and unsustainable use of land in the eu is jeopardising the provision of several key ecosystem services , threatening biodiversity and increasing europe’s vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters . it is also driving soil degradation and desertification . more than 25% of the eu’s territory is affected by soil erosion by water , which compromises soil functions and affects the quality of freshwater . soil contamination and sealing are also persistent problems . more than half a million sites across the eu are thought to be contaminated and until they are identified and assessed , they continue to pose potentially serious environmental , economic and social risks , including health risks . every year more than 1 000 km² of land are taken for housing , industry , transport or recreational purposes . these long - term changes are difficult or costly to reverse , and nearly always involve trade - offs between various social , economic and environmental needs . member states’ planning decisions relating to land use should be made more sustainable , especially taking biodiversity conservation and water protection into account .


### air quality in the eu has significantly improved ### indoor and outdoor air quality in the eu has significantly improved to who recommended levels and in accordance with who guidelines .


### working towards a more effective un structure for sustainable development through strengthening unep in line with the outcome of rio + 20 , while continuing to strive for an upgrade of unep ' s status to that of un agency , and supporting ongoing efforts to enhance synergies between multilateral environmental agreements ; ### working towards a more effective un structure for sustainable development , in particular its environmental dimension through : further strengthening the united nations environment programme in line with the outcome of rio + 20 , building on the decision by the unep governing council to establish a un environment assembly , while continuing to strive for an upgrade of unep ' s status to that of a specialised agency ; supporting efforts to enhance synergies between multilateral environmental agreements , in particular in the chemicals and waste and the biodiversity clusters ; and c ) contributing to ensuring a strong and authoritative voice for the environment in the work of the high level political forum on sustainable development .


### the overall environmental impact of eu industry in all major industrial sectors is significantly reduced , and resource efficiency increased . ### the overall environmental impact of eu industry in all major industrial sectors is significantly reduced , resource efficiency has increased due to market and policy incentives that reward best practices by business . resource efficiency throughout the production chain and lifecycle of a product can be measured and benchmarked .


### measures will also be taken to further improve the environmental performance of goods and services on the eu market over their whole life cycle through measures to increase the supply of environmentally sustainable products and stimulate a significant shift in consumer demand for these products . this will be achieved using a balanced mix of incentives for consumers and businesses , including smes , market - based instruments and regulations to reduce the environmental impacts of their operations and products . existing product legislation such as the ecodesign and energy label directives and the ecolabel regulation will be reviewed with a view to improving the environmental performance and resource efficiency of products throughout their lifecycle , thus ensuring a more coherent framework for sustainable production and consumption in the eu . ### some existing policy instruments relating to production and consumption are limited in scope . there is a need for a framework that gives appropriate signals to producers and consumers to promote resource efficiency and the circular economy . measures will be taken to further improve the environmental performance of goods and services on the eu market over their whole life cycle through measures to increase the supply of environmentally sustainable products and stimulate a significant shift in consumer demand for these products . this will be achieved using a balanced mix of incentives for consumers and businesses , including smes , market - based instruments and regulations to reduce the environmental impacts of their operations and products . consumers should receive accurate and reliable information about the products they purchase , including in relation to environmental claims . resource efficient business models such as product service systems , including leasing of products should also be supported . existing product legislation such as the ecodesign and energy label directives and the ecolabel regulation will be reviewed with a view to improving the environmental performance and resource efficiency of products throughout their lifecycle , and addressing existing provisions through a more coherent legislative framework for sustainable production and consumption in the eu . this legislative framework supported by lifecycle indicators would address the fragmentation and scope limitations of the existing sustainable consumption and production acquis , and identify and fill gaps in policy , incentives and legislation to ensure minimum requirements for environmental performance of products .


### a long - term and predictable policy framework in all these areas will help to stimulate the level of investments and action needed to fully develop markets for greener technologies and promote sustainable business solutions . resource efficiency indicators and targets are needed to provide the necessary guidance for public and private decision - makers in transforming the economy . they will become an integral part of this programme once agreed at union level . ### a long - term and predictable policy framework in all these areas will help to stimulate the level of investments and action needed to fully develop markets for greener technologies and promote sustainable business solutions . resource efficiency indicators and targets for the water footprint , land footprint , material footprint and carbon footprint are needed by 2015 to provide the necessary guidance for public and private decision - makers in transforming the economy . they will become an integral part of this programme once agreed at union level .


### the europe 2020 strategy ' s ‘ resource - efficient europe’ flagship initiative aims to support the shift towards an economy that is efficient in the way it uses all resources , decouples absolutely economic growth from resource and energy use and its environmental impacts , reduces ghg emissions , enhances competitiveness through efficiency and innovation and promotes greater energy security . the roadmap to resource efficient europe and the roadmap for moving to a competitive low - carbon economy are key building blocks of the initiative , setting out the framework for future actions to deliver on these objectives . ### the europe 2020 strategy ' s ‘ resource - efficient europe’ flagship initiative aims to support the shift towards an economy that is efficient in the way it uses all resources , reduces the overall resource extraction and use , decouples absolutely economic growth from resource and energy use and its environmental impacts , reduces ghg emissions , enhances competitiveness through efficiency and innovation and promotes greater energy and resource security . the roadmap to a resource efficient europe and the roadmap for moving to a competitive low - carbon economy are key building blocks of the initiative , setting out the framework for future actions to deliver on these objectives .


### action taken under the biodiversity strategy to restore 15 % of degraded ecosystems in the eu and to expand the use of green infrastructure will help to overcome land fragmentation . it will further enhance natural capital and increase ecosystem resilience , and can offer cost - effective options for climate change mitigation and adaptation and disaster risk management . meanwhile , member states ' efforts to map and assess ecosystems and their services , and the ‘ no net loss’ initiative planned in 2015 will contribute to maintaining the stock of natural capital at a variety of scales . the integration of the economic value of ecosystem services into accounting and reporting systems at eu and national level by 2020 will result in better management of the eu ' s natural capital . ### action taken under the biodiversity strategy to restore 15 % of degraded ecosystems in the eu by 2020 ; regarding this as a minimum , however , and wishes the eu to set a considerably higher restoration target reflecting its own more ambitious headline target and its 2050 vision ; and to expand the use of green infrastructure will help to overcome land fragmentation . as an addition to the full implementation of the birds and habitats directives these actions will further contribute to establishing and maintaining healthy and resilient ecosystems and enhancing their services . it will further enhance natural capital and increase ecosystem resilience , and can offer cost - effective options for climate change mitigation and adaptation and disaster risk management . meanwhile , member states ' efforts to map and assess ecosystems and their services , and the ‘ no net loss’ initiative planned in 2015 will contribute to maintaining the stock of natural capital . the integration of the economic value of ecosystem services into accounting and reporting systems at eu and national level by 2020 will result in better management of the eu ' s natural capital .


### in addition to mandatory green public procurement requirements for certain product categories , most member states have adopted voluntary action plans and many have set targets for specific product groups . there is , however , considerable scope for administrations at all levels to further reduce their environmental impact through their purchasing decisions . member states and regions should take further steps to reach the target of applying green procurement criteria to at least 50% of public tenders . the commission will assess the possibility of introducing further sector - specific legislation to set mandatory green public procurement rules for additional product categories . ### in addition to mandatory green public procurement requirements for certain product categories , most member states have adopted voluntary action plans and many have set targets for specific product groups . there is , however , considerable scope for administrations at all levels to further reduce their environmental impact through their purchasing decisions . member states and regions should take further steps to reach the target of applying green procurement criteria to at least 50% of public tenders . the commission will propose further sector - specific legislation to set mandatory green public procurement rules for additional product categories .


### fully implementing the climate and energy package and agreeing on the eu ' s climate and energy policy framework for the period beyond 2020 . ### fully implementing the climate and energy package and agreeing on the eu ' s climate and energy policy framework for the period beyond 2020 by setting three legally binding targets for the year 2030 be in line with the milestones laid down in the roadmap for moving to a competitive and low carbon economy in 2050 including an assessment to increase the 2020 climate target to 30% .


### air quality in the eu has significantly improved ### indoor and outdoor air quality in the eu has significantly improved , in line with the levels recommended by the world health organisation


### fully implementing eu waste legislation . this will include applying the waste hierarchy and the effective use of market - based instruments and measures to ensure that landfilling is effectively phased out , energy recovery is limited to non - recyclable materials , recycled waste is used as a major , reliable source of raw material for the eu , hazardous waste is safely managed and its generation is reduced , illegal waste shipments are eradicated and internal market barriers for environmentally - sound recycling activities in the eu are removed . ### fully implementing eu waste legislation and achieving near zero waste by 2020 . this will include applying the waste hierarchy and the effective use of market - based instruments and measures to reduce the generation of waste , to promote reuse , to ensure high quality recycling and non - toxic material cycles so that waste can be used as a major , reliable source of raw material for the eu , there is a high - quality source segregation system in place , energy recovery is limited to non - recyclable and non - compostable materials , landfilling is effectively phased out , except for certain hazardous waste where landfilling would represent the safest disposal method , and the generation of hazardous waste is significantly reduced and otherwise safely managed . illegal waste shipments are eradicated and internal market barriers for environmentally - sound recycling activities in the eu are removed . it will require the systematic setting of ambitious recycling , re - use and prevention targets in all eu waste policies .


### adopting a systematic approach to risk management . ### adopting a systematic and integrated approach to risk management .


### the union and member states will need to put in place the right conditions to ensure that environmental externalities are adequately addressed and that the right market signals are sent to the private sector , with due regard to any adverse social impacts . this will involve applying the polluter - pays principle more systematically , through phasing out environmentally harmful subsidies and shifting taxation away from labour towards pollution . as natural resources become increasingly scarce , the economic rent and profits associated with their ownership or exclusive use may increase . public intervention to ensure that such rents are not excessive and that externalities are taken into account will lead to more efficient use of these resources and will help to avoid market distortions , as well as generate public revenue . environment and climate priorities will be pursued in the framework of the european semester where these are relevant to the sustainable growth prospects of individual member states to which country - specific recommendations are addressed . other market - based instruments , such as payments for ecosystem services , should be used more extensively at eu and national level to incentivise private sector involvement and sustainable management of natural capital . ### the union and member states will need to put in place the right conditions to ensure that environmental externalities are adequately addressed and that the right market signals are sent to the private sector , with due regard to any adverse social impacts . this will involve applying the polluter - pays principle more systematically , through phasing out environmentally harmful subsidies and shifting taxation away from labour towards pollution and resource consumption . as natural resources become increasingly scarce , the economic rent and profits associated with their ownership or exclusive use may increase . public intervention to ensure that such rents are not excessive and that externalities are taken into account will lead to more efficient use of these resources and will help to avoid market distortions , as well as generate public revenue . environment and climate priorities will be pursued in the framework of the european semester through the introduction of lead indicators where these are relevant to the sustainable growth prospects of individual member states to which country - specific recommendations are addressed . other market - based instruments , such as payments for ecosystem services , should be used more extensively at eu and national level to incentivise private sector involvement and sustainable management of natural capital .


### engaging in multilateral environmental processes , including the unfccc , cbd and the chemicals - related conventions , as well as other relevant fora , such as the international civil aviation organization and the international maritime organization , in a more consistent , proactive and effective way with a view to ensuring that commitments for 2020 are met at eu and global level , and to agree on international action to be taken beyond 2020 . ### engaging in multilateral environmental processes , including the unfccc , cbd , cites , icrw , and the chemicals - related conventions , as well as other relevant fora , such as the international civil aviation organization and the international maritime organization , in a more consistent , proactive and effective way with a view to ensuring that commitments for 2020 are met at eu and global level , and to agree on international action to be taken beyond 2020 .


### evidence for eu environment policy is based on environmental monitoring , data , indicators and assessments linked to the implementation of eu legislation , as well as formal scientific research and ‘ citizen science’ initiatives . there has been considerable progress on strengthening this evidence base , raising awareness and improving the confidence of policy - makers and the public in the evidence - based approach to policy , facilitating their understanding of complex environmental and societal challenges . ### evidence for eu environment policy is based on environmental monitoring , data , indicators and assessments linked to the implementation of eu legislation , as well as formal scientific research and ‘ citizen science’ initiatives . there has been considerable progress on strengthening this evidence base , raising awareness and improving the confidence of policy - makers and the public in the knowledge - based approach to policy , facilitating their understanding of complex environmental and societal challenges .