ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
2.1.

Against this background, the EESC proposes a new narrative for Europe that ties Europe’s distant and recent past to the present, and provides a vision for the future built on cooperation across borders, strengthening the links between the people of Europe, and rooted in values of solidarity, social justice, inter-generational cooperation, gender equality, sustainable prosperity, and just green and digital transitions. It is imperative to leverage public support for these values, in order to re-think our growth and governance models towards sustainability, build a more equal society and place civil society organisations at the centre of this reconstruction and recovery. The Europe our citizens need is one that: — Recognises that civil society are guardians of the common good and integral to identifying solutions to Europe’s common challenges; — Focuses on a fair and sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 crises that paves the way to a more inclusive society and builds long-term competitiveness, taking full account of the intertwined social, economic, democratic, demographic and climate crises in EU Member States, the necessity for green and digital transitions, as well as the longer term structural changes being triggered by the pandemic. Europe’s economy must be fully supported to recover the lost ground, taking into account the need for upward convergence, greater cohesion, social protection, reinforced investments in public services, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and poverty reduction; — Supports economic and social recovery, entrepreneurship, just transition, quality job creation, education and skills acquisition, innovation, infrastructural and social investment, decarbonisation, digitalisation, completion of single market, and economic and monetary integration; — Protects all of its citizens, including the most marginalised, safeguarding their health and safety and well-being, the environment and biodiversity; — Respects and promotes diversity, gender equality, fundamental rights, democracy, social dialogue, and inclusive governance; and — Promotes peace, security and progress in the world through multilateralism, promotion of democracy and rule of law, human rights, social dialogue, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), diplomacy and open, fair and sustainable trade.
Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the "Amended proposal for Council Directive on assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment"

(1999/C 374/02)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

having regard to the list of Commission proposals pending at 1 May 1999 for which the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam implies a change in the legal base and/or a change in procedure (SEC (1999) 581 final);

having regard to Proposal for a Council Directive on assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment (COM(1999) 73 final; 96/0304 (COD) - formerly 96/0304 SYN)(1);

having regard to the decision taken by the Council on 14 July 1999, under the first paragraph of Article 265 and the first paragraph of Article 175 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, to consult the Committee of the Regions on the matter;

having regard to The Decision of its President of 2 August 1999 to appoint Lord Tope (UK), ELDR, as Rapporteur General to draw up an opinion on this subject, in accordance with Rule 39 of the Rules of Procedure of the Committee of the Regions;

having regard to the Committee of the Regions Opinion on the Proposal for a Council Directive on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment (COM(1996)511 final (CdR 172/97 fin)(2), (Rapporteur: Lord Tope, (UK), ELDR), adopted 20 November 1997,

adopted the following opinion at its 30th plenary session on 15 and 16 September 1999 (meeting of 15 September).

In its Opinion on the Assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment adopted on 20 November 1997, the COR welcomed the general thrust of the proposal put forward by the European Commission.

The COR is pleased to note that the European Commission in its amended proposal has taken account of some of the main points emphasised by the COR, for example:

- The COR is pleased to see that the amended proposal underlines the importance of sustainable development, which gives the proposal a broader perspective.

- The COR welcomes the new, less restrictive, writing of Article 2.

However, the COR regrets that the new proposal does not take into account some important comments made by the COR in its previous opinion. The COR reclaim that the following aspects should be included in the proposed directive:

- The COR recognises that the proposed directive will impose costs in widely varying degrees upon competent authorities within the Union and calls upon the respective Member States to ensure that these costs are fully funded.

- The COR notes that EU plans and programmes prepared, for example, under the Structural Funds are not covered by the proposed directive. Although the Structural Fund guidelines do contain environmental criteria, these are not as rigorous as full environmental assessment and there is currently no requirement for public consultation.

Brussels, 15 September 1999.

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Manfred DAMMEYER

(1) OJ C 83, 25.3.1999, p. 13.

(2) OJ C 129, 25.4.1997, p. 14; OJ C 64, 27.2.1998, p. 63.
9.

with this in mind, supports all endeavours to proceed with pre-accession and accession processes while ensuring strict compliance with the criteria that have been set, which — partly in view of possible implications for common policies — must be framed in as transparent a way as possible, enabling broad political debate on future enlargements. This will be the only way to secure the requisite public acceptance. The CoR and its members will play an active role in this debate, aware as they are that the future of the Western Balkan countries is a key test for the vision of a shared Europe;
21.

in that context, calls for cooperation first and foremost with the Committee of the Regions as the only advisory body under the Treaties representing local and regional authorities, but also with various networks and organisations that pool local and regional authority expertise in the health arena at EU level. It is important that, when selecting these networks, the Commission ensures that they are have broad regional and local coverage, that they are equally accessible for all regional and local authorities to take part, and that no barriers, such as high membership fees, are erected to participation;
34.

feels that it is important to restate its commitment to maintaining a Common Agricultural Policy and its rejection of any form of renationalisation. This policy which, it should be remembered, is being conducted in a context of economic crisis, is a fair way of regulating markets. It must evolve by responding to the needs of all the various branches and in all the various regions of the European Union, in accordance with a framework of sustainable development. It is vital to incorporate this approach into a CAP that is focused towards 2013 and accords with the framework of the European financial perspectives;
27.

emphasises the key importance of information on the distribution of income and inequalities, and agrees with the communication's statement that ‘Social and economic cohesion are overarching objectives of the Community. The aim is to reduce disparities between regions and social groups’; nonetheless, points out that there is no express reference to territorial cohesion, a dimension which relates in particular to environmental aspects and the natural disadvantages suffered by some areas which hinder their development. These aspects should be taken into account when conducting the analyses that will serve as the basis for decisions; therefore, they should be quantified and subsequently subject to comparative analysis. The distribution of wealth is an area of growing concern, for even if per capita GDP is increasing, the number of people at risk of poverty may also be on the rise. Therefore, there is a need for more accurate reporting on distribution and inequalities which will allow for better definition of policies on social, economic and territorial cohesion; Furthermore, examining the levels of educational attainment of a region’s labour force, both employed and unemployed, is a key indicator, whereby understanding disparities in education levels between social groups can help develop appropriate policy responses. Furthermore, the direct and indirect impact of the recent recession and its consequences for the welfare of individual regions and social groups should be examined separately in order to obtain relevant information, make proposals and respond to future events through preventive measures;
4.

In this context, emphasis must be placed on the enormous growth potential of the European tourism sector and the close connection with regional administrative, socio-economic and logistical structures, particularly in relation to the development of the transport sector, and above all improved connectivity of tourist destinations, the development of regional airports and the promotion of maritime links, which would encourage greater multimodality and ensure sustainable transport. It is particularly important to bear in mind the specific situation of the islands and peripheral outermost regions, which are totally dependent on air and sea transport and where the services sector, built around tourism, provides the main source of wealth and economic activity for many of these regions. Europe has many competitive advantages: not just the wealth of its landscape, but also the enormous opportunities for tourism growth based on its heritage (cultural, gastronomic, religious, sporting, etc.). Growth potential also exists in the important events, congress and business sectors of tourism. Europe's worth in terms of heritage is a strategic factor in its development and it is particularly rich in this regard, since there are many European regions which either have immense tourism potential, although they are still at an early stage in their development as tourist destinations or have developed significant tourist activity. Particularly worthy of consideration are those areas that have specialised in tourism and, as mature destinations, need restructuring and rehabilitation in order to compete, in terms of quality and innovation, with the increasing global presence of emerging countries. In order to take into account the senior and disabled travel markets, destinations will need to adjust and to remove barriers.
31.

recommends that the further substantive development of dialogue with pro-democracy movements and opposition parties in Belarus should focus, first and foremost, on the subject of media and press freedom: since late autumn 2009, the Belarusian government has adopted various measures to obstruct the domestic and foreign press and to regulate the internet, which are hampering independent and unfettered reporting as well as the activities of opposition movements. Unrestricted reporting is of key importance, above all in relation to the forthcoming presidential election campaign in late 2010. The CoR can make an important contribution to promoting dialogue on democracy with Belarus by urging all authorities in that country to use the technologies and possibilities of the new media in particular (including YouTube, weblogs, Twitter and other social networking tools) to facilitate the work of opposition movements;
56.

underlines that local and regional authorities have a dual role when it comes to the single market: firstly, their powers, remit and policies mean that they play a major role in implementing the single market. They are also involved at the level closest to the people in delivering services to EU citizens. They are thus well placed to identify any confusion thrown up by the single market and to pass on the people's concerns. Local and regional authorities should not therefore be seen as merely a downstream conduit in delivering the single market (implementation), but should also play an upstream conduit role in channelling the people's concerns, to help strike a balance in the internal market and ensure ownership by the people. This goes for both framing the global strategy on relaunching the single market and for the subsequent examination of each of the fifty proposals that the Commission has promised;
22.

is critical of the powers to be conferred on the Commission under Article 290 TFEU to adopt delegated legal acts specifying the measures to be adopted by the Member States to prevent tax evasion, avoidance and abuse; measures to ensure effective implementation of the directive fall within the ambit of the Member States, which under Article 291(1) TFEU are required to adopt all measures of national law necessary to implement legally binding Union acts; a corresponding delegation of responsibility to the Commission would be allowed only if uniform implementing conditions were needed for this purpose; in that case, however, the adoption of implementing legislation under Article 291 TFEU would be the instrument provided for by the Treaty; however, most aspects of issues of fundamental importance, especially those concerning criminal penalties, should be left completely up to Member States;
53.

states its dissatisfaction against the backdrop of the United Nations and UN Security Council resolutions, and the principles and values on which the EU is founded, at the lack of commitment on the part of Turkey and the other parties to the conflict to reach an acceptable solution to the issue of its illegal occupation of northern Cyprus, and urges the Turkish government to give practical support to the negotiations taking place under the good offices of the UN Secretary-General and to take steps towards an overall settlement of the Cyprus question by immediately withdrawing its military forces from Cyprus, resolving the issue of settlers and allowing the return of the forbidden zone of Famagusta to its lawful inhabitants, in application of UN Security Council Resolution 550 (1984);
22.

proposes that de minimis thresholds for notifying state aid for the rescue and restructuring of firms be introduced. Such a measure would make it possible to exclude in advance aid that does not distort competition. It would also make a substantial contribution to reducing the administrative burden on the Commission, the Member States and local and regional authorities. The specific de minimis thresholds for state aid for the rescue and restructuring of firms could, for example, be set at a guarantee amount of EUR 200 000 for SMEs and EUR 500 000 for other firms. If necessary, aid for rescuing and restructuring could come under the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) in the case of SMEs. This would enable public authorities to respond swiftly to the difficult situations facing these companies which, owing to their limited size, have little or no impact on competition and trade in the internal market;
Union immigration rules and Union programmes including mobility measures should complement each other more. Third-country national researchers and students covered by such Union programmes should be entitled to move to the Member States foreseen on the basis of the authorisation granted by the first Member State, as long as the full list of those Member States is known before entry into the Union. Such an authorisation should allow them to exercise mobility without the need to provide any additional information or to complete any other application procedures. Member States are encouraged to facilitate the intra-Union mobility of third-country national volunteers where volunteering programmes cover more than one Member State.

Union immigration rules and Union programmes including mobility measures should complement each other more. Third-country national researchers and students covered by such Union programmes should be entitled to move to the Member States foreseen on the basis of the authorisation granted by the first Member State, as long as the full list of those Member States is known before entry into the Union. Such an authorisation should allow them to exercise mobility without the need to provide any additional information or to complete any other application procedures. Member States and their public authorities at all levels are encouraged to facilitate the intra-Union mobility of third-country national volunteers where volunteering programmes cover more than one Member State.
16.

considers that, in order for ENP to be more effective, the approach taken should be tailored to the specific nature of each partner country. Each ENP partner is distinct and should be treated as such, i.e. applying the principle of differentiation. The new ENP, without violating the general principles of the EU, should have the necessary flexibility to maximise the benefits of its implementation. Every partner country should be given the possibility to develop its relations with the EU it its own way, in accordance with its own needs and capacities. This does not imply the adoption of double standards, nor does it negate the unified nature of ENP, by which means the EU has succeeded in taking a coherent approach to all its ENP partners. This variable geometry approach to relations between the EU and its neighbours should be applied to ORs in a way that guarantees effective cooperation between these regions and their neighbours;
37.

calls on the Commission to work more closely with local and regional authorities in its attempt to support full e-procurement by 2019, especially as it will be at the local and regional enforcement level that challenges may emerge; it will be crucial to work with local and regional government as well as the private sector so as to achieve the full potential of the savings that can be generated from the public procurement market estimated to be more than 2 trillion euros;
(2) In order to contribute to the enhancement of the competitiveness and innovation capacity of the Union’s defence industry, a European Defence Industrial Development Programme (hereinafter referred to as the Programme) should be established. The Programme should aim at enhancing the competitiveness of the Union’s defence industry, inter alia, cyber defence by supporting the cooperation between undertakings in the development phase of defence products and technologies. The development phase, which follows the research and technology phase, entails significant risks and costs that hamper the further exploitation of the results of research and adversely impact the competitiveness of the Union’s defence industry. By supporting the development phase, the Programme would contribute to a better exploitation of the results of defence research and it would help to cover the gap between research and production as well as to promote all forms of innovation. The Programme should complement activities carried out in accordance with Article 182 TFEU and it does not cover the production of defence products and technologies.

(2) In order to contribute to the enhancement of the competitiveness and innovation capacity of the Union’s defence industry and to efficiency gains for the overall defence spending in the Union, thereby fostering the EU’s strategic autonomy , a European Defence Industrial Development Programme (hereinafter referred to as the Programme) should be established. The Programme should ensure that the competitiveness of the Union’s defence industry, inter alia, cyber defence is secured , supporting the cooperation between undertakings in particular SMEs, from several states in the development phase of defence products and technologies. The development phase, which follows the research and technology phase, entails significant risks and costs that hamper the further exploitation of the results of research and adversely impact the competitiveness of the Union’s defence industry. By supporting the development phase, the Programme would contribute to a better exploitation of the results of defence research and it would help to cover the gap between research and production as well as to promote all forms of innovation. The Programme should complement activities carried out in accordance with Article 182 TFEU and it does not cover the production of defence products and technologies.
12.

emphasises that moving from institutional care to community-based care will also involve a paradigm shift for staff and their skills. Whereas the focus has hitherto been on medical knowledge and the medical profession, the transition to a more community-based system of care will highlight the need for social and pedagogical skills. The CoR considers it important for staff supporting persons with disabilities to have the relevant knowledge in order to perform their tasks (Article 4 CRPD). Having staff with the right skills will not only speed up the transition, but will also prevent new institutions from being opened. In many countries there is a shortage of staff with adequate academic qualifications. International cooperation and exchanges in this field should provide a way of increasing the supply of staff with the necessary skills. The CoR recommends a combination of work exchanges and new training courses at university and high school level to facilitate the transition. Having a pool of highly qualified staff will require planning and coordination. The CoR underscores the importance of training for new and re-qualifying staff to include knowledge of: human rights, what it means to live with a disability, what it is like to live in an institution and how to involve people in the type of support they would like. It is no easy matter to switch from living in an institution to then getting used to living in your own home and making your own decisions. There is the risk that people adapting to life in society may experience isolation and/or exclusion. It is vital to be there such people and give them support from staff who can deal with each individual and their needs holistically. Research and knowledge exchange in this area have been positive, particularly for psychiatric and neuro-psychiatric disabilities. There has been improved access to and use of knowledge- and evidence-based methods regarding both medical and psychological treatment methods, but also to psycho-social support and cognitive devices. In Sweden, for example, national guidelines were issued several years ago by the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) in a number of areas, such as schizophrenia and related conditions (8). The guidelines contain key recommendations for evidence-based approaches to healthcare and social services. The Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare has also published guidance on working methods and general advice on the knowledge and skills needed by staff and employers working with people with different disabilities (9) (10);
43.

feels that a broader view must be taken of the political criteria in order to take due account of the balance and interplay needed between political criteria that are laid down by the EU and those that are adopted at other, national levels. Past experience with the Phare programme has shown that some of the support provided to meet the political criteria has proved ineffectual because of an overly narrow scope. The support has not adequately reflected the need to address the interplay between key areas such as public-sector reform, the development of civil society, good governance and the fight against corruption. Moreover the support has failed to reflect the key point that many facets of the political criteria cannot be put into practice without impacting on the economic criteria. It is thus important that the local and regional level is involved in setting priorities under the IPA so that support is determined on the basis of genuine need. The Committee therefore points out that, as experience from Croatia makes clear, problems may arise if the national development strategies fail to dovetail with the strategies of external donors;