ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
3.5

The EESC endorses the Commission's objectives of harmonisation, clarity and simplification. However, it is unable to understand why the Commission does not take into consideration Article 27(77) in Chapter 1 (Recruitment) of Title III (Career of Officials) of the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities: ‘Recruitment shall be directed to securing for the institution the services of officials of the highest standard of ability, efficiency and integrity, recruited on the broadest possible geographical basis from among nationals of Member States of the Communities’. The Commission's proposed amendment is in serious breach of this requirement in that it dispenses with the competition procedure envisaged by the EC Treaty due to budgetary considerations. In the explanatory memorandum, the Commission makes a conscious decision not to follow the competition procedure on the grounds of expedience. The EESC cannot accept any sidestepping of the requirements laid down in the EC Treaty and the Staff Regulations, since it would very probably exclude citizens of the ten new Member States from being appointed as directors, deputy directors or executive directors of agencies. The EESC does not think that the competent authorities should be allowed to choose between extension of a term of office or initiating a new recruitment procedure. In the Committee's view, it is important to boost public confidence in EU institutions. However, efforts to do so will be seriously jeopardised if citizens of the ten new Member States feel that management positions in EU bodies are effectively barred to them. Only one of the 20 European agencies has a director from one of the ten new Member States. The EESC recommends that the Commission, taking into consideration the above observations and European Community rules on equal opportunities, carefully review its proposals amending the existing regulations.
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 324/36

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Proposal for a Decision on a procedure for prior examination and consultation in respect of certain laws, regulations and administrative provisions concerning transport proposed in Member States

COM(2006) 284 final — 2006/0099 (COD)

(2006/C 324/16)

On 23 June 2006 the Council decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee, under Article 157(3) of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the abovementioned proposal.

On 4 July 2006, the Committee Bureau instructed the Section for Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society to prepare the Committee's work on the subject.

Given the urgent nature of the work, the European Economic and Social Committee appointed Mr Tóth as rapporteur-general at its 430th plenary session, held on 26 October 2006 and adopted the following opinion by 110 votes with 5 abstentions.

1. Introduction

1.1 The proposed decision (1) aims to repeal the Council Decision of 21 March 1962 (2) instituting a procedure for prior examination and consultation in respect of certain laws, regulations and administrative provisions concerning transport proposed in Member States.

1.2 The purpose of the proposed decision is to codify the Council Decision of 21 March 1962, and hence it fully preserves the content of the acts being codified and does no more than bring them together with only such formal amendments as are required by the codification exercise itself.

1.3 The current codification proposal follows from the Commission's decision of 1 April 1987 (3) in which it instructs its staff to undertake the codification of all legislative acts after no more than ten amendments in order to ensure that the Community rules are clear and readily understandable.

2. General comments

2.1 The Committee is particularly concerned about recent trends that alienate European citizens from the European idea and more importantly from the European legislative and decision making process. The Committee's mission is to help bridge the widening gap between Europe and organized civil society, that is to say its citizens.

2.2 Clearly, as long as several provisions that have been amended several times remain in fragmented form, so that they have to be sought partly in the original instrument and partly in the latter, amending one, the considerable research work will prevent ordinary citizens and numerous civil society organizations to find easily the legal information they need.

2.3 Therefore the Committee fully endorses the current proposal, in the particular hope that it will help all citizens and civil society interest groups to get better and more precise information concerning a given European legislative instrument.

Brussels, 26 October 2006 The President of the European Economic and Social Committee Dimitris DIMITRIADIS

(1) COM(2006) 284 final.

(2) OJ 23 of 3.4.1962, p. 720-721.

(3) COM(87) 868 PV.
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 161/38

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the steering equipment of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors (Codified version)

COM(2006) 670 final — 2006/0225 (COD)

(2007/C 161/10)

On 29 November 2006, the Council decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee, under Article 95 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Section for the Single Market, Production and Consumption, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 7 February 2007. The rapporteur was Mr Burns.

At its 434th plenary session, held on 14 and 15 March 2007 (meeting of 14 March 2007), the European Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 157 votes with six abstentions.

1. The purpose of the proposal is to undertake the codification of Council Directive 75/321/EEC of 20 May 1975 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the steering equipment of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors.

2. The Committee considers the codification of all texts in a single directive to be very useful. It has been assured that this codification contains no substantial change and its sole purpose is to render Community legislation clear and transparent. The Committee fully endorses this objective and, having received the above-mentioned assurance, welcomes the proposal.
4.7

The EESC strongly advocates the EU not to underestimate the international implications which would arise from the repeal of the liner conference system. The EESC notes that other jurisdictions are — time being — maintaining their anti-trust immunity systems. Some third country States have expressed concerns about the repeal of the liner conference system in the EU. In this respect, reference can be made to a recent statement of the Asian Shipowners Forum (Bussan, Korea 29.5.2007): ‘The members noted recent developments in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore, but noted with concern the EU's decision to abolish its block exemption for liner conferences. The delegates affirmed the ASF's long-standing position that the antitrust immunity system is indispensable for the health of the shipping industry and its ability to encourage the investments needed to support the growing demands of international trade and the system benefits the whole trading industry. It was agreed that carriers should make continuous efforts to seek the understanding of related parties such as shippers and governments for the important role of carrier agreements in supporting trade. The ASF noted that ASF member Associations, KSA, JSA and SSA, in particular, made written submissions to the European Commission and the relevant bodies expressing their opposition against the abolishment of the anti-trust law immunity system; and, further, KSA, received a reply from the EC to the effect that it would eliminate the Regulation 4056/86 but plan to prepare an alternative while keeping intact the Consortia Regulation that is one of the two axes of the anti-trust immunity systems’. The EESC takes note of the statement of the Asian Shipowners' Forum as an illustration of the need to assess — or at least to give proper consideration — to the international impact of repealing the liner conference system in the EU on a worldwide basis and for a globalised economy, in line with numerous similar requests made by the EESC and the European Parliament.
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 44/34

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the suppression of radio interference produced by agricultural or forestry tractors (electromagnetic compatibility)’ (Codified version)

COM(2007) 462 final — 2007/0166 (COD)

(2008/C 44/09)

On 5 September 2007 the Council decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee, under Article 95 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the abovementioned proposal.

Since the Committee unreservedly endorses the proposal and feels that it requires no comment on its part, it decided, at its 439th plenary session of 24 and 25 October 2007 (meeting of 24 October), by 153 votes to 1 with 8 abstentions, to issue an opinion endorsing the proposed text.
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 120/50

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the

— ‘Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directives 76/768/EEC, 88/378/EEC, 1999/13/EC and Directives 2000/53/EC, 2002/96/EC and 2004/42/EC in order to adapt them to Regulation (EC) … on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures, and amending Directive 67/548/EEC and Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006’

— and on the ‘Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 in order to adapt it to Regulation (EC) No … on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures, and amending Directive 67/548/EEC and Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006’

COM(2007) 611 final — 2007/0212 (COD)

COM(2007) 613 final — 2007/0213 (COD)

(2008/C 120/13)

On 13 November 2007, the Council decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee, under Article 95 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the

Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directives 76/768/EEC, 88/378/EEC, 1999/13/EC and Directives 2000/53/EC, 2002/96/EC and 2004/42/EC in order to adapt them to Regulation (EC) … on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures, and amending Directive 67/548/EEC and Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006

and on the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 in order to adapt it to Regulation (EC) No … on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures, and amending Directive 67/548/EEC and Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006.

The EESC endorses the contents of these proposals and feels that they require no comment on its part.

The Committee decided, at its 440th plenary session, held on 12 and 13 December 2007 (meeting of 12 December), by 139 votes with 3 abstentions, to issue an opinion endorsing the proposals.

The Committee will set out its views on the content of the Commission proposal on CLP of substances and mixtures (1) in an Opinion (2) that is currently underway and scheduled for adoption at the Committee Plenary in March 2008.

Brussels, 12 December 2007. The President of the European Economic and Social Committee Dimitris DIMITRIADIS

(1) Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, and amending Directive 67/548/EEC and Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 — COM(2007) 355 final.

(2) NAT/367 — Rapporteur Mr Sears.
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 162/86

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Proposal for a Regulation (EC) No …/… of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the general rules on the definition, description and presentation of aromatised wines, aromatised wine-based drinks and aromatised wine-product cocktails (Recast)

COM(2007) 848 final — 2007/0287 (COD)

(2008/C 162/20)

On 22 January 2008 the Council decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee, under Articles 37 and 95 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the

Proposal for a Regulation (EC) No …/… of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the general rules on the definition, description and presentation of aromatised wines, aromatised wine-based drinks and aromatised wine-product cocktails (Recast)

Since the Committee unreservedly endorses the contents of the proposal and has already set out its views on the subject in its earlier opinion CESE 413/1996, adopted on 27 March 1996 (1), it decided, at its 442nd plenary session, held on 13 and 14 February 2008 (meeting of 13 February), by 131 votes to 1 with 8 abstentions to issue an opinion endorsing the proposal and to refer to the position it had taken in the above-mentioned document.

Brussels, 13 February 2008. The President of the European Economic and Social Committee Dimitris DIMITRIADIS

(1) Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) to amend Regulation (EEC) No 1601/91 laying down general rules on the definition, description and presentation of aromatised wines, aromatised wine-based drinks and aromatised wine-based cocktails — COM(1995) 570 final (OJ C 174 of 17.6.1996, p. 30).
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 204/47

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and the Council on reciprocal recognition of navigability licences for inland waterway vessels (Codified version)

COM(2008) 37 final — 2008/0021 (COD)

(2008/C 204/12)

On 13 February 2008, the Council decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee, under Article 80(2) of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the

Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and the Council on reciprocal recognition of navigability licences for inland waterway vessels (Codified version)

Since the Committee unreservedly endorses the proposal and feels that it requires no comment on its part, it decided, at its 443rd plenary session of 12 and 13 March 2008 (meeting of 12 March) by 121 votes in favour and 6 abstentions, to issue an opinion endorsing the proposed text.
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 354/72

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 247/2006 laying down specific measures for agriculture in the outermost regions of the Union’

COM(2009) 510 final — 2009/0138 (CNS) (1)

2010/C 354/17

The Council and the European Parliament decided on 19 February 2010 and 18 February 2010, respectively, to consult the European Economic and Social Committee, under Article 43 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (ex Article 37 of the Treaty establishing the European Community), on the

‘Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 247/2006 laying down specific measures for agriculture in the outermost regions of the Union’

COM(2009) 510 final — 2009/0138 (CNS) (1).

Since the Committee unreservedly endorses the contents of the proposal and has already set out its views on the subject in its earlier opinion(s) CESE 771/2008 and CESE 255/2010, adopted on 22 April 2008 (2) and 17 February 2010 (3), it decided, at its 461st plenary session of 17 and 18 March 2010 (meeting of 17 March), unanimously, to issue an opinion endorsing the proposed text and to refer to the position it had taken in the above-mentioned documents.

Brussels, 17 March 2010. The President of the European Economic and Social Committee Mario SEPI

(1) (The acronym should read COD.

(2) EESC Opinion on Strategy for the outermost regions: achievements and future prospects - OJ C 211, 19.8.2008, p. 72.

(3) EESC Opinion on The impact of the Economic Partnership Agreements on the outermost regions (Caribbean region) – OJ C …,…, p. ….
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 48/168

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2187/2005 as regards the prohibition of highgrading and restrictions on fishing for flounder and turbot in the Baltic Sea, the Belts and the Sound’

COM(2010) 325 final — 2010/0175 (COD)

2011/C 48/32

On 6 July 2010 the European Parliament and on 8 July 2010 the Council decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee, under Article 43 (2) and 304 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, on the

‘Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2187/2005 as regards the prohibition of highgrading and restrictions on fishing for flounder and turbot in the Baltic Sea, the Belts and the Sound’

COM(2010) 325 fin – 2010/0175 (COD).

Since the Committee endorses the content of the proposal and feels that it requires no comment on its part, it decided unanimously, at its 465th plenary session of 15 and 16 September 2010 (meeting of 15 September), to issue an opinion endorsing the proposed text.
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 51/36

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Amended proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning mergers of public limited liability companies’

(Codification)

COM(2010) 391 final — 2008/0009 (COD)

2011/C 51/07

On 16 September 2010 the European Parliament decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee, under Article 50(1) and (2)(g) and Article 304 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, on the

Amended proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning mergers of public limited liability companies

COM(2010) 391 final — 2008/0009 (COD).

Since the Committee unreservedly endorses the content of the proposal and feels that it requires no comment on its part, it decided, at its 466th plenary session of 21 October 2010, by 114 votes with 4 abstentions, to issue an opinion endorsing the proposed text.
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 84/53

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Amended proposal for a Council Directive on the structure and rates of excise duty applied to manufactured tobacco

COM(2010) 641 final — 2007/0206 (CNS)

2011/C 84/12

On 23 November 2010 the European Parliament and on 8 December 2010 the Council decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee, under Article 113 and 304 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, on the

Amended proposal for a Council Directive on the structure and rates of excise duty applied to manufactured tobacco

COM(2010) 641 final — 2007/0206 (CNS).

Since the Committee endorses the content of the proposal and feels that it requires no comment on its part, it decided, at its 468th plenary session of 19 and 20 January 2011 (meeting of 19 January 2011), by 90 votes to 3 with 8 abstentions, to issue an opinion endorsing the proposed text.
EN Official Journal of the European Union C 107/75

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on braking devices of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors’ (Codification)

COM(2010) 729 final — 2010/0349 (COD)

2011/C 107/18

On 17 January 2011, the Council and, on 16 December 2010, the European Parliament, decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee, under Article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), on the

Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on braking devices of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors

COM(2010) 729 final — 2010/0349 (COD).

Since the Committee unreservedly endorses the content of the proposal and feels that it requires no comment on its part, it decided, at its 469th plenary session of 16-17 February 2011 (meeting of 16 February), by 111 votes to one with five abstentions, to issue an opinion endorsing the proposed text.
1.3

The EESC thinks that the following measures should be prioritised and adopted with the aim of meeting the challenges set in the Communication and realising the specific measures it provides for: — encourage the setting up of a European gateway in all the EU languages where visitors can post their comments or impressions, for the purpose of ensuring better evaluation and promotion so as to attract tourists more effectively, as well as the opportunity to use new technologies (e-booking); — be responsible for researching, organising and promoting implementation of specific aspects of the political framework and for managing priorities such as the promotion of intra-European tourism, services and facilities across Europe; encourage authorities and businesses to cooperate with a view to improving services and facilities (e.g. timetables); — push for improvements to road, rail, air and coastal shipping connections and communications in the EU, and update and present information on the internet, while also dealing with unprofitable lines; — encourage the promotion of health and wellbeing tourism (including spa tourism), educational tourism, cultural tourism, particularly regional festivals and performances (opera, theatre, dance, concerts, etc.) and cultural events such as exhibitions, congress tourism, wine and food tourism, historical and religious tourism, agri-tourism, and tourism capitalising on the maritime heritage, while promoting and conserving cultural and gastronomic traditions; — enhance the quality of professional services through training and stable employment; — encourage the governments of the Member States to support the development of small companies and micro-businesses in the tourism sector that reflect the social, environmental, historical and cultural traditions of their area or region, while improving the management of ‘all-inclusive’ packages; — encourage the elderly and people who are disabled or have special needs to choose destinations in Europe, by improving infrastructure and services, and more effectively publicising the services available for such people in the EU; — encourage a policy of subsidising the promotion of destinations in Europe by airline companies, so that consumer prices are not higher than for destinations outside Europe, as well as a policy to support destinations within Europe offered by major tour operators; — promote and publicise the level of security already provided in the EU, as opposed to other destinations, in relation to travel, lodging, citizens' rights, medical and hospital care, as well as the legal framework; — help to develop a more sound system of statistical monitoring and standardisation for tourism activities and relevant data without creating additional red tape for companies and citizens; — call for a common EU advertising strategy; — improve the quality of professional services through training and stable employment.