ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT pursuant to the second paragraph of Article 251 of the EC Treaty concerning the common position of the Council on the adoption of a European Parliament and Council Directive amending for the twenty-fourth time Council Directive 76/769/EEC relating to restrictions on the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations (pentabromodiphenyl ether)

1. State of Procedure

- The above mentioned proposal [COM(2001) 12 final] was adopted by the Commission on 15th January 2001 and then transmitted to the Council and European Parliament.

- The European Parliament approved the proposal with amendments in the first reading on 6th September 2001.

- The Commission's amended proposal [COM(2001) 555 final] was adopted on 28th September 2001 and then transmitted to the Council.

- The Council reached a political agreement with unanimity on 27th September 2001 and adopted its Common Position on 27 October 2001.

- The Economic and Social Committee gave its Opinion on 25th April 2001.

2. Objective of the Directive

The Proposal, which is based on Article 95 of the Treaty, has the following two objectives:

- to preserve the Internal Market by introducing harmonised provisions with regard to the marketing and use of pentabromodiphenyl ether (pentaBDE);

- to provide a high level of protection of health and the environment by restricting the marketing and use of pentaBDE and of articles containing pentaBDE.

3. Comments on the Common Position

3.1. General

The Common position corresponds with the Commission's amended proposal.

3.2. Fate of the Amendments

Of the eight amendments adopted by the Parliament one has been accepted and part of another amendment accepted in principle by the Commission.

The Commission has accepted to delete the derogation on pentaBDE in concentrations of less than 5 % in technical grade octaBDE from the ban as new information from producers indicates that octaBDE can be produced without pentaBDE.

The Commission has not accepted those amendments of the Parliament witch would extend the scope of the proposed Directive to include bans also on other substances i.e. octaBDE and decaBDE. These other substances could be the subject of a subsequent proposal of the Commission when risk assessments have been completed and the availability of safe substitutes analysed.

Nor has the Commission accepted the amendment on procedures for risk assessment under Regulation (EEC) 793/93 on the evaluation and control of existing substances. This amendment goes beyond the present proposal to restrict the marketing and use of pentaBDE

3.3. The Common Position of the Council

The Common Position of the Council includes, in addition to the amendments of the European Parliament accepted by the Commission, a change motivated on technical grounds. This change would further clarify the scope of the proposed Directive.

4. Conclusion

The Commission supports the Common Position because it corresponds exactly with its amended Proposal.
Draft DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE amending Protocol 31 to the Agreement, on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms - Draft common position of the Community -

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1. Protocol 31 to the EEA Agreement contains specific provisions on the cooperation between the Community and the EEA EFTA States outside the four freedoms.

2. The attached draft Decision of the EEA Joint Committee aims to modify Protocol 31 to extend the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the Agreement in the field of culture and to include the following:

32004 D 0626: Decision No 626/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004, amending Decision No 508/2000/EC establishing the Culture 2000 programme.

3. Article 1.3(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2894/94 concerning the arrangements for implementing the EEA Agreement envisages that the Council establish the Community position for such Decisions on a proposal from the Commission.

4. The draft decision of the EEA Joint Committee is submitted for the approval of the Council, after which the Commission will put forward the position of the Community in the EEA Joint Committee at the earliest possible occasion.

Draft DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE amending Protocol 31 to the Agreement, on cooperation in specific fields outside the four freedoms

THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, as amended by the Protocol adjusting the Agreement on the European Economic Area, hereinafter referred to as 'the Agreement', and in particular Articles 86 and 98 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Protocol 31 to the Agreement was amended by Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No.../... of ... [1].

[1] OJ C [...], [...], p. [...].

(2) It is appropriate to extend the cooperation of the Contracting Parties to the Agreement to include Decision No 626/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 amending Decision No 508/2000/EC establishing the Culture 2000 programme [2].

[2] OJ L 99, 3.4.2004, p. 3.

(3) Protocol 31 to the Agreement should therefore be amended in order to allow for this extended cooperation to take place with effect from 1 January 2005,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The following shall be added in the fourth indent of Article 13(4) (Decision No 508/2000/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council) of Protocol 31 to the Agreement:

', as amended by:

- 32004 D 0626: Decision No 626/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 (OJ L 99, 3.4.2004, p. 3).'

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the day following the last notification to the EEA Joint Committee under Article 103(1) of the Agreement [3].

[3] [No constitutional requirements indicated.] [Constitutional requirements indicated.]

It shall apply from 1 January 2005.

Article 3

This Decision shall be published in the EEA Section of, and in the EEA Supplement to,

the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels,

For the EEA Joint Committee

The President

The Secretaries

to the EEA Joint Committee
[pic] | COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES |

Brussels, 19.7.2006

SEC(2006) 965

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT

Accompanying the COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION on Policy priorities in the fight against illegal immigration of third-country nationals SUMMARY IMPACT ASSESSMENT {COM(2006) 402 final}{SEC(2006) 964}{SEC(2006) 1010}

Lead Directorate General :DG Justice, Freedom and Security

Work Programme Reference : 2006/JLS/005

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Illegal immigration into the EU poses a challenge in particular for the credibility of the common European and the Member States’ immigration policy . Council and Commission therefore have repeatedly emphasized the importance of measures to combat illegal immigration over the last years.

Given the scale of the challenge, a comprehensive approach is pursued, addressing all aspects of the migration chain such as cooperation with third countries, border security, human trafficking, secure documents, illegal employment, regularisations and return policy.

Problems identified are the continuous pressure of illegal immigration into the EU, an imbalance in distribution of illegal immigration between Member States, humanitarian crises, exploitation of illegal immigrants, and a number of push-factors in countries of origin. Subsidiarity issues are addressed in this section as well.

Against these identified problems, the principal objectives of EU policy are to reduce the amount of illegal immigration, thereby respecting fundamental rights; to avoid humanitarian crises, and to reduce criminal activities linked to illegal immigration.

In order to assess how to achieve these objectives several options were identified within the different areas for action. These options are assessed against a number of possible impacts : on illegal immigration, on criminal activities linked to illegal immigration, on fundamental rights, political impacts at EU level, impact on third countries of origin and transit. For proportionality reasons, the assessment is preliminary at this stage.

Resulting from the above comparison, measures were chosen that are both effective to meet the objectives to reduce illegal immigration and opportunities for criminal networks that profit from illegal immigration in full respect of fundamental rights, and can realistically be expected to be implemented in the short to medium term .

For the areas where a choice existed between different options, the preferred options are the following: external borders: enhanced use of biometric data (option 2); secure travel and ID documents: development of common guidelines (option 2); illegal employment: specifically targeting the employment of illegally staying third-country nationals (option 2); regularisations: studying the impacts of regularisations (option 2); return policy: further stepping up cooperation (option 2); carriers liability: evaluation of adopted measures (option 2).
EN    EN EN 
EN    EN  EUROPEAN COMMISSION 
Brussels, 9.11.2010 
SEC(2010) 1336 final 
  
COMMISSION OPINION 
APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL 
COMMITTEE FOR THE PERIOD EXTENDING TO 20-9-2015 
 
Communication of Mr Šef čovič 
EN 2   EN COMMISSION OPINION 
APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL 
COMMITTEE FOR THE PERIOD EXTENDING TO 20-9-2015 
 
Communication of Mr Šef čovič 
According to article 302, second paragraph, of the Treaty on the Functio ning of the European 
Union, the members of the Committee are appoi nted by the Council, which consults the 
Commission. On 15 October 2010, the Council ha s requested the Commission’s opinion on 
the nomination of a member of the EESC. 
The Commission hereby decides to give a positive answer on the proposed appointment.
EN    EN EN 
 
EN    EN  EUROPEAN COMMISSION 
Brussels, 23.2.2011 
SEC (2011) 211 
  
COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT 
accompanying the 
   
COMMUNICATION FROM THE CO MMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL 
Evaluation of EU Readmission Agreements 
 
EUROSTAT data  
 
{COM(2011) 76 final} 
{SEC(2011)209} {SEC(2011)210} {SEC(2011)212} 
 
EN 2   EN 1. THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS (BROKEN BY THEIR CITIZENSHIP ) APPREHENDED IN 
MS.   
  2006 2007 2008 2009
Albania 58,738 72,644 72715 69060
BiH 1978 1840 2530 2135
Serbia 11860 12296 14320 9740
Montenegro n/a n/a 360 315
 the former Yugoslav 
Republic of Macedonia 3954 2171 2890 2050
Russia 9791 9778 10185 10375
Moldova 11270 9398 7340 5655
Ukraine  22025 16537 14125 12285
Sri Lanka 923 1,322 3505 3260
Total above 120,539 125,986 127970 114875
Total all third countries 516195 467501 609410 570660
% 23.4 26.9 21.0 20.1
 
2. RETURN DECISIONS ISSUED BY MS  FOR THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS (BROKEN BY 
THEIR CITIZENSHIP ). 
  2008 2009
Albania 78940 69175
BiH 2275 2045
Serbia 12920 9435
Montenegro 325 345
 the former Yugoslav 
Republic of Macedonia 2020 1780
Russia 8075 8735
Moldova 6710 5275
Ukraine  14620 13470
 
EN 3   EN Sri Lanka 4510 4050
Total above 130395 114310
Total all third countries 608225 598755
% 21.4 19.1
 
3. THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS (BROKEN BY THEIR CITIZENSHIP ) RETURNED FROM 
MS.   
  2006 2007 2008 2009
Albania 54,420 68,208 69090 62675
BiH 1416 800 860 845
Serbia 6444 4184 5855 4105
Montenegro n/a n/a 180 155
 the former Yugoslav 
Republic of Macedonia 1864 1222 1275 1065
Russia 3875 3129 3605 4385
Moldova 3852 3536 3405 2730
Ukraine  12859 11518 8980 7665
Sri Lanka 674 581 725 1165
Total above 85,404 93,178 93975 84790
Total all third countries 201870 174265 210620 209475
% 42.3 53.5 44.6 40.5
COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Accompanying the document COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS An open and secure Europe : making it happen /* SWD/2014/063 final */





1. Demographic projections Source: Eurostat, December 2013 (online data codes: proj_10c2150p and proj_10c2150zmp) 2. Migration and Integration Source: Eurostat, December 2013 (online data codes: migr_pop1ctz and migr_pop5ctz) Origin of non-EU nationals residing in the EU by continent Source: Eurostat, December 2013 (online data code: migr_pop1ctz) Source: Eurostat, October 2013 (online data code: migr_resfirst) Source: Eurostat, October 2013 (online data code: migr_resfirst) Source: Eurostat, March 2014 (online data codes: migr_eiord and migr_eirtn) 3. Asylum Source: Eurostat, March 2014 (online data codes: migr_asyappctza and migr_asyappctzm – for 2013) Source: Eurostat, March 2014 (online data codes: migr_asyappctza and migr_asyappctza) Source: Eurostat, March 2014 (online data code: migr_asyappctza) Source: Eurostat, July 2013 (online data code: migr_asyunaa) Source: Eurostat, July 2013 (online data code migr_asyresa) 4. Schengen and Borders Source: Eurostat, May 2013 (online data code migr_eipre) Source: DG HOME Schengen visa statistics (http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/borders-and-visas/visa-policy/index_en.htm) Source: DG HOME Schengen visa statistics (http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/borders-and-visas/visa-policy/index_en.htm) 5. Security Source: Europol Source: Europol Source: Eurostat Working Paper "Trafficking in Human Beings", 2013 - (http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/product_details/publication?p_product_code=KS-RA-13-005 ). The EU total reflects the total for a given year based on the countries which provided data for that year. Not all EU MS provided data for all the three reference years (24 EU MS provided data for the year 2008; all 27 EU MS provided data for the years 2009 and 2010). Source: Eurostat Working Paper "Trafficking in Human Beings", 2013 (http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/product_details/publication?p_product_code=KS-RA-13-005 )
Interconnection capacity for electricity in 2014 Source: European Commission based on ENTSO-E scenario outlook and adequacy forecast 2014 Note: Reference to 2030 target is based on October 2014 European Council conclusions stating that "the Commission will also report regularly to the European Council with the objective of arriving at a 15% target by 2030"

The interconnection capacity for electricity with the European power transmission networks was only 4% in 2013 for the three Baltic States – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – taken as one entity. With the start of operation of Estlink2 in 2014, their level of interconnection substantially increased to around 10% and with the implementation of current and new Projects of Common Interest (PCI), the interconnection capacity will overachieve the 15%-target for 2030. In some cases, the Latvian system for electricity generation is dependent on external energy suppliers (mainly gas supply for cogeneration plants). The three Baltic States agreed in the first quarter of 2015 on a common strategic goal: de-synchronisation from IPS/UPS and the synchronisation of their power systems with the Continental European Network in order to end the isolation of the Baltic States, reduce the energy dependence from third countries and have access to cheaper electricity resources. The project of synchronization is included as a key infrastructure project in the European Energy Security Strategy as well as is highlighted as one of the key energy priority areas of the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan (BEMIP). Several other PCIs have been recognized as important for Latvia: the 3rd electricity interconnection with Estonia, internal reinforcement of the Kurzeme ring and projects to reinforce transmission capacity in the North-South direction. As regards gas, Latvia still depends on Russian supplies. Since the Klaipeda LNG terminal in Lithuania started its commercial operation at the beginning of 2015, gas from Klaipeda could become a viable source for alternative gas supplies if sufficient infrastructure and the right economic conditions regarding the gas price are in place. The building of the Poland – Lithuania gas interconnector 'GIPL' would help ending the gas isolation of the Baltic States. Also 'Balticconector' and the future regional LNG projects, once operational, could play a role in diversification of gas supplies and market integration in the Baltic region. Modernisation and enhancement of the Incukalns Underground Gas Storage is important for the efficient operation of the joint East-Baltic regional gas market.
Concentration of the electricity generation market in the UK is low, especially relative to the EU average. However, in response to concerns specifically about market liquidity, Ofgem obliged the six largest vertically-integrated suppliers to publish prices at which they will buy and sell a range of forward power products. It also requires the eight largest generating companies to follow certain specific rules when trading with small independent suppliers. Gas market concentration in the UK is also low, with the largest market share of physical and traded activity below 8%. The wholesale gas market includes both over-the-counter and exchange based trading (ICE and ICE Endex). Wholesale electricity prices are above the EU average while wholesale gas prices are below the EU average. At retail level, six major suppliers share 90-95% of the market. The price paid by domestic customers for electricity and gas, including all taxes and levies, is below the EU28 average. This is due, at least in part, to a 5% VAT rate for domestic energy supplies. The government has committed to replacing all gas and electricity meters with smart meters in domestic households in Great Britain by the end of 2020. Roll-out is underway with over 1.5 million smart and advanced meters installed as of March 2015). Both markets have above average scores for choice of providers and actual switching rates. However the ability of consumers to understand and choose the most appropriate tariff has been a concern in the UK. The UK Competition and Markets Authority is currently investigating energy markets (electricity and gas, wholesale and retail; a final report should be available by mid-2016). According to an EU-wide survey, both the UK's electricity and gas markets have very poor scores in terms of overall consumer satisfaction. In 2014, Ofgem introduced a number of measures to enhance price transparency for customers to address concerns regarding the ability of customers to understand and choose the most appropriate tariff. As a result, suppliers can offer no more than 4 tariffs for electricity and gas (8 in total) and must inform customers how much money they could save if they switched to the supplier's most advantageous tariff. Electricity Market Reform in the UK The UK has undertaken a reform of its electricity market, with the intention to deliver low carbon energy and reliable supplies, while minimising costs to consumers. The UK's Electricity Market Reform (EMR) has introduced two key mechanisms to provide incentives for the necessary investment required in energy infrastructure:  Contracts for Difference (CFD) are aimed at providing long-term price stabilisation to low carbon plants, allowing investment to come forward at a lower cost of capital and therefore at a lower cost to consumers. The Capacity Market is aimed at providing a regular retainer payment to reliable forms of capacity (both demand and supply side), in return for such capacity being available when the system is tight.
Annual Report on the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) 866/2004 of 29 April 2004 and the situation resulting from its application

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT

Accompanying the document

Annual Report on the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) 866/2004 of 29 April 2004 and the situation resulting from its application

TABLE I:

Overview table summarising the monthly reports of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce according to Article 8 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1480/2004 in EUR

Source: Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce

TABLE II:

Value of goods crossing the Green Line reported by the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus for 2015

Source: table based on data received from Cyprus Customs and Excise Department

TABLE III:

Value of goods which crossed the Green Line and value of goods for which accompanying documents were issued by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce
Council Directive 2006/112/EC (VAT Directive) explicitly excludes electronically supplied services, including electronically supplied books, newspapers and periodicals ('e-publications'), from the scope of reduced VAT rates, whereas Member States can apply a reduced VAT rate to books, newspapers and periodicals on all physical means of support.

This leads to a situation whereby Member States are allowed to apply reduced VAT rates, or even lower rates than 5% (super-reduced and zero rates), to certain printed publications, while having to apply the standard VAT rate to e-publications. This results in a markedly less favourable VAT treatment of e-publications compared to printed publications. Furthermore, owing to the operation of a number of derogations to the VAT Directive, only 10 out of 28 Member States can apply super-reduced and zero rates to certain printed publications, whereas the other Member States do not have the same possibility.

The lack of equal treatment between formats is enshrined in the VAT Directive and does not allow Member States to lower VAT rates on e-publications.
As outlined in the Roadmap of this initiative, the problem to be addressed is women’s under-representation in employment, particularly due to the lack of equal sharing of caring and professional responsibilities by parents with children or those with dependent relatives. In 2015 the gender employment gap (age 20-64) in the EU amounted to 11.6 percentage points (pps). This initiative aims to address the problem of the underrepresentation of women in the labour market by addressing one of its main drivers, which is the unequal distribution of caring responsibilities between women and men. Gender gaps in the labour market are most acute for parents and people with other caring responsibilities. The gender employment gap has been shown to widen substantially after having children. On average in 2015, the employment rate of women with one child under 6 is 8.8 pps less than women without young children, and in several countries this difference is over 30 pps . Similarly, women are much more likely to assume the role of informal carers for elderly or dependent relatives than men . One of the main reasons for this problem is inadequate work-life balance policies. Insufficient possibilities to take leaves to care for children/dependent relatives, the design of the leave system which hinders a better sharing of caring responsibilities between women and men, limited possibilities to make use of flexible working arrangements, and insufficient formal care services have all been shown to excerbate the female employment challenges. Economic disincentives (such as the disincentives for second earners which mostly affects women) can further reinforce the unequal sharing of caring responsibilities by women and men and act as a reinforcing driver of the gender gap in employment.

It should be noted that some aspects related to the problem to be addressed are not covered in this impact assessment. With regard to the provision of formal care services and 'economic disincentives, this is due to the limited EU competence in these areas. Considering their significant influence on the addressed problem, the initiative could foresee measures to enhance current efforts in these areas, in particular in relation to the monitoring of Member States' policies in the EU Semester and to the use of EU funding in the case of formal care services.

The general policy objective of this initiative is to address women's underrepresentation in the labour market and to promote equality between men and women with regard to labour market opportunities by modernising the current EU legal and policy framework and adapting it to today’s labour market. This will allow parents with children or workers with dependent relatives to better balance caring and professional responsibilities.