ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
5.

reiterates the relevant and contextual positions from the earlier opinions of the CoR: — Opinion Local and regional perspective on promoting public sector innovation via digital solutions, adopted by the CoR Plenary on 30 November 2017 (2). The CoR looks at the digitalisation of administration as a means to provide better services to citizens and affirms the key role that LRAs must play in modernising the public sector. It urges the public sector to commit to innovation focused on users’ needs and giving indiscriminate access to digital services for everyone and every business and underlines the need for cooperation and exchange of good innovative practices between administrations and across borders. — Opinion eGovernment Action Plan 2016-2020, adopted by the CoR Plenary on 11 October 2016 (3). The CoR endorses the principle that ‘digital’ should be the default method used by public administrations for delivering services, and stresses that long-term efforts must be made to increase digital inclusion so that more people can access the infrastructure and acquire skills they need to enjoy the opportunities offered by digitalisation. The CoR recognises that transparent administrations providing data and services openly and securely are important for increasing transparency and efficiency, but at the same time points out the need of high level of protection for certain types of information and personal data. Further, the CoR supports the principle that public administrations’ e-government services should be cross-border by default, and stresses that LRAs in border regions can play a crucial role in identifying and developing cross-border services that are relevant, efficient and seamless. — Opinion A New Skills Agenda for Europe, adopted by the CoR Plenary on 7 December 2016 (4). The CoR calls for investment in digital skills and training and sees digitalisation as an opportunity to address many educational challenges;
41.

recognises that ageing challenges the sustainability of systems, but points out that it also opens up opportunities for new economic activities. Older people can make a significant contribution to economic growth as independent and active consumers of services and as members of society. In the context of extending people’s working lives, it is important to make use of older workers’ knowledge and also to enhance their professional skills. Healthy ageing must be supported by actions to promote health, prevent disease and fight loneliness; well-being at work, general health, and resilience at work must also be improved to ensure that longer lifespans also lead to longer working lives. Ensuring access to affordable and quality long-term care is essential to sustain a decent life in old age. To delay the need for long-term care and shorten its duration, older people’s functional capacity must be improved and preventive services, as well as active ageing measures, made available. Pensioner poverty must be prevented, and the best way of doing this is to ensure adequate pensions, guaranteeing everyone’s right to have in old age the resources that ensure living in dignity, while also taking into account the significant gender pension gap. The Commission’s report on the impact of demographic change, as well as the Green Paper on ageing, will be welcome here;
35.

advocates that the European Digital Education Content Framework have its own technology incubator to create content which is standardised according to the Shareable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) and of high quality, in line with the Open Education Resources (OER) model, and support teachers and other professionals in the creation of content, study programmes and resources in line with the above criteria. It is essential that cooperation be strengthened and educational materials and good practices shared; recommends that this unit support national education departments in assessing technological applications so that money is spent on the best technology, rigorous scrutiny is undertaken and any data harvested is used appropriately;
12.

considers that there are important lessons to be learned from the COVID-19 crisis as regards education in local and regional communities. The crisis has had a profound impact on education in local and regional communities, forcing them to meet huge challenges in terms of crisis management, economic and social resilience, the use of technology in education, adapting human resources to new circumstances, the need to cooperate and the need to provide inclusive education which meets high standards. Education has been faced with challenges in the areas of the digital transition and transformation, new teaching methods, providing a safe environment for students and teachers conducive to their well-being, and maintaining and transforming mobility (students and teachers). We need to identify systemic challenges and pinpoint which transformations need to be acted on to deliver education systems able to cope with similar situations in the future. Cooperation in the field of education and training needs to make resilient education systems a priority by harnessing innovation in education and new technologies (such as artificial intelligence, supercomputers/supercomputing and cybersecurity). It is important, considering also the social, ethnic and regional differences and challenges, to ensure that all communities have equal access to the digital education, including equipment, resources and digital educational content;
26.

notes that municipalities and cities play an important role in urban planning and providing public-cooperative, sustainable and affordable housing. There must be greater provision of decent housing for all citizens, suited to their specific needs, such as those of older people and people with disabilities, in order to foster independent living and prevent them from being institutionalised, as well as the needs of large and single-parent families, victims of gender-based violence and young people who have been subject to protection measures as minors. Housing solutions must be embedded in local development plans aiming at the creation of liveable neighbourhoods. Inclusive, protective and participatory approaches should be applied not only by the EU's renovation wave strategy, but also through a strong commitment of the EU and the Member States to building new homes, including for long-term housing tenancies. Enabling local and regional authorities to better combine different funding sources and to build sustainable housing is vital. Homelessness must be tackled in an integrated and holistic way by focusing on improving the health and social support networks of homeless people. An example here is the ‘Housing First’ approach, which has been successful in reducing long-term homelessness. Local and regional authorities should therefore be part of the ‘European Platform on Homelessness’. The Committee regrets in this regard that the Action Plan sets no quantitative target for the fight against homelessness;
23.

recommends that the authorities managing programmes for 2021-2027 co-financed by the European Union develop projects and measures aimed at: (a) supporting work-life balance, boosting businesses and developing dedicated workplace strategies; (b) encouraging the reintegration of women who have lost their jobs because of COVID-19; (c) stepping up and improving care services so as to lighten the burden on women; (d) implementing specific, targeted measures to encourage women’s participation in traditionally male-dominated spheres of activity; e) countering gender stereotyping and gender roles and preventing discrimination and sexual and gender-based harassment in workplaces; (f) bringing specific skills and professional expertise to bear to guide the overall gender mainstreaming process; (g) providing the beneficiaries of European funds with useful support and guidelines to better integrate the gender perspective into the different areas of intervention, from employment policies to research and development, from environmental protection to public transport and digital technologies; (h) encouraging women to become entrepreneurs; (i) paying attention to the objective of increasing women’ safety when designing infrastructure; (j) promoting measures to achieve co-education and eradicate stereotypes and roles in classrooms; and (k) eliminating the sexist image of women in the media;
6.

points to the need for a supportive framework to accompany the efforts of LRAs with regard to the internalisation of external costs and implementation of the polluter pays principle, as well as increased flexibility in relation to budgetary processes. In this context, it is important to consider the situation in the Eastern European countries, especially in less developed regions. These tend to have a higher number of more polluting vehicles (cars, buses). It would be important to regulate the sale of more polluting vehicles (Euro 1-Euro 4) at EU level, as these vehicles are migrating from the Western European market to the Eastern European market. In this respect, it would also be important for poorer regions and countries to develop support schemes to help them catch up with Western European conditions. Calls for an approach to the increasing petrol prices as a result of the geopolitical context which is consistent with the Union’s transport decarbonisation objectives; points to the potential in this regard of using public subsidies to support green public transport services and encourage modal shift in urban areas, as well as to combat mobility exclusion in peri-urban and outlying rural areas;
13.

stresses that providing information is a genuine task of the European institutions, because communicating basic information about the European Union's structures and policies is in their vital interest. This is clear not least from the fact that Article 49(6) of the Financial Regulation acts as the legal basis. The work of Europe Direct is thus also subject to basic European Commission criteria in terms of content and the administrative arrangements involved. The fact that those who run the centres also feel committed to the goal of communicating European policies and educating people about them and make their own significant contributions to this objective, is a key element in the success of Europe Direct Information Centres. Against that backdrop, there does appear to a good case for increasing current levels of funding;
38.

supports the Commission's recent efforts to increase transparency in the negotiations of trade agreements and in particular the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP); insists that small scale local and regional economies should not be negatively affected by the outcome of the negotiations, that regionally labelled food products should continue to be protected and that European health and environment standards as well as the legal structures and procedures of the EU and the Member States will be safeguarded; expects the cultural and media sovereignty of the Member States to be guaranteed by explicitly excluding culture and the media from the negotiating mandate; asks that it is kept informed in a transparent and regular way so that it can play its role as intermediary between the Union and local and regional authorities;
6.

acknowledges the enormous challenge which the EU and its Member States as well as their regions, cities and municipalities are facing due to the large numbers of refugees in need of international protection, as well as economic migrants seeking irregular entry into the EU; restates the need to make sure that those entering the EU do so legally, and that this involves a strict, quick and efficient registration procedure in respect of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, and stresses that more resources should be allocated to secure the EU’s external borders and to ensure that people entering the EU do so in a legally organised way; also notes the need for comprehensive efforts and reforms to ensure that migrants arriving in Europe can begin to work and integrate; stresses that Schengen external border controls must be carried out in a manner that is consistent with the Member States’ international obligations to refugees and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, including the rights to human dignity and non-discrimination;
24.

Calls on the parties to the withdrawal agreement to consider the potential effect of the UK’s exit on the EU’s Youth and Education and R&D programmes and invites them to consider appropriate solutions via the so-called ‘partner countries’ approach, which allows for the inclusion of non-EU countries on the basis of bilateral agreements with the EU. In that respect calls on the Parties to facilitate the participation of UK local and devolved authorities in the future EU programmes including those for research, competitiveness and innovation, culture, lifelong learning, youth, e-government, public sector reform, in a similar fashion that countries, such as, for instance, Norway or Iceland currently do. Recalls that student exchange (with and without ERASMUS) has been one of the great success stories of European integration and both EU and UK universities have been able to benefit from this to a spectacular extent. Any future agreement should therefore try to preserve the active role of UK universities in this regard, which also hugely benefits local and regional economies.
14.

calls on the Commission, in light of the number of support instruments and modifications to existing and future rules on the use of the European Structural and Investment Funds, to ensure that there is sufficient clarity with regard to the interplay between different new mechanisms such as React EU, the Just Transition Fund and the Recovery and Resilience Facility on the one hand, and existing national and EU schemes on the other, to avoid additional complexity and potentially low absorption rates; highlights in this respect that agreeing on large financial envelopes is not enough and that local and regional authorities also need sufficient time to put forward programmes and projects, as for instance for the REACT-EU programme;
Administrative Commission on social security for migrant workers

(2001/C 76/03)

The annual average costs do not take into account the reduction of 20 % provided for in Articles 94(2) and 95(2) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 574/72.

The net monthly average costs have been reduced by 20 %.

AVERAGE COSTS OF BENEFITS IN KIND - 1997(1)

I. Application of Article 94 of Regulation (EEC) No 574/72

The amounts to be refunded with regard to the benefits in kind provided in 1997 to members of the family as referred to in Article 19(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 will be determined on the basis of the following average costs:

>TABLE>

II. Application of Article 95 of Regulation (EEC) No 574/72

The amounts to be refunded with regard to benefits in kind provided in 1997 under Article 28 and 28(a) of Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 will be determined on the basis of the following average costs:

>TABLE>

AVERAGE COSTS OF BENEFITS IN KIND - 1998(2)

I. Application of Article 94 of Regulation (EEC) No 574/72

The amounts to be refunded with regard to benefits in kind provided in 1998 to members of the family as referred to in Article 19(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 will be determined on the basis of the following average costs:

>TABLE>

II. Application of Article 95 of Regulation (EEC) No 574/72

The amounts to be refunded with regard to benefits in kind provided in 1998 under Article 28 and 28(a) of Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 will be determined on the basis of the following average costs:

>TABLE>

AVERAGE COSTS OF BENEFITS IN KIND - 1999

I. Application of Article 94 of Regulation (EEC) No 574/72

The amounts to be refunded with regard to benefits in kind provided in 1999 to members of the family as referred to in Article 19(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 will be determined on the basis of the following average costs:

>TABLE>

II. Application of Article 95 of Regulation (EEC) No 574/72

The amounts to be refunded with regard to benefits in kind provided in 1999 under Article 28 and 28(a) of Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 will be determined on the basis of the following average costs:

>TABLE>

(1) Average costs: Spain, OJ C 228 of 11.8.1999.

Average costs: Belgium, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom, OJ C 27 of 29.1.2000.

Average costs: Germany, France and Austria, OJ C 207 of 20.7.2000.

(2) Average costs: Spain and Luxembourg, OJ C 27 of 29.1.2000.

Average costs: the Netherlands and Austria, OJ C 207 of 20.7.2000.
Final report of the Hearing Officer in case COMP/29.373 - Visa International

(pursuant to Article 15 of Commission Decision 2001/462/EC, ECSC of 23 May 2001 on the terms of reference of Hearing Officers in certain competition proceedings - OJ L 162, 19.6.2001, p. 21)

(2001/C 316/03)

(Text with EEA relevance)

The draft Decision does not give rise to any particular observation. The proceedings took a normal course. The rights of third parties to be have been fully respected.

Done at Brussels on 31 July 2001.

Helmuth Schröter
Communication from the Italian Government



Official Journal C 047 , 21/02/2002 P. 0003 - 0003



Communication from the Italian Government (2002/C 47/04) The Italian Minister of Communications has approved an invitation to tender for the assignment of frequencies for broadband point-to-multipoint wireless networks and the issue of the respective individual licences. This invitation to tender is published in Part II of GURI (Italian Official Gazette) No 26 of 31 January 2002. It follows on from Decisions Nos 822/00/CONS and 400/01/CONS of the Italian Communications Agency, as published in GURI No 295 of 19 December 2000 and No 259 of 7 November 2001 respectively.
The European Ombudsman addressed two special reports to the European Parliament (made in accordance with Article 3(7) of the Statute of the European Ombudsman(1)) in 2001

(2002/C 126/14)

Special Report of 15 November 2001 from the European Ombudsman to the European Parliament following the draft recommendation to the European Commission in complaint 242/2000/GG.

Special Report of 30 November 2001 from the European Ombudsman to the European Parliament following the draft recommendation to the Council of the European Union in complaint 917/2000/GG.

The texts of these special reports are available on the European Ombudsman's website in all 11 official languages at: http://www.euro-ombudsman.eu.int

Paper copies can be requested free of charge from: The European Ombudsman's Office 1, avenue du Président-Robert-Schuman BP 403 F - 67001 Strasbourg Cedex Tel. (33) 388 17 23 13 Fax (33) 388 17 90 62 E-mail: euro-ombudsman@europarl.eu.int

(1) Decision 94/262/ECSC, EC, Euratom of the European Parliament of 9 March 1994 on the regulations and general conditions governing the performance of the Ombudsman's duties (OJ L 113, 4.5.1994, p. 15).
Opinion of the Advisory Committee on Concentrations

given at its 104th meeting on 10 December 2001 concerning a preliminary draft decision relating to case COMP/M.2533 - BP/E.ON

(2002/C 246/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

1. The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission that the proposed operation constitutes a concentration within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation, as in force today and that it has a Community dimension.

2. The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission's definition of the relevant product market as defined in the draft decision.

3. The Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission's assessment on the geographic market, i.e. the pipeline network for ethylene transport and its extensions (ARG+).

4. A majority of the Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission to jointly assess BP/E.ON and Shell/DEA concentration cases. A minority disagrees and another minority abstains.

5. A majority of the Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission that the notified concentration, assessed jointly with the Shell/DEA leads to a creation of collective dominance in the supply of ethylene in the ARG+ area, as a result of which effective competition would be significantly impeded. A minority does not agree with the collective dominance finding but agrees with the finding that there would result a loss of competition and a danger of market partitioning. Another minority abstains.

6. A majority of the Advisory Committee agrees with the Commission that, taking into account the undertakings offered by the parties, the proposed operation will not lead to the creation of a dominant position in the market for the supply of the ethylene on the ARG+, and hence should be declared compatible with the common market and the functioning of the EEA Agreement. A minority disagrees and another minority abstains.

7. The Advisory Committee recommends the publication of its opinion in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

8. The Advisory Committee asks the Commission to take into account the remarks and comments made by the Advisory Committee.
Final report of the Hearing Officer in cases COMP/M.2498 - UPM-Kymmene/Haindl, and COMP/M.2499 - Norske Skog/Parenco/Walsum

(prepared under Article 15 of the Commission Decision of 23 May 2001 on the terms of reference of Hearing Officers in certain competition proceedings (OJ L 162, 19.6.2001, p. 21))

(2002/C 206/07)

(Text with EEA relevance)

The draft Decision does not give rise to particular observations. The proceedings took a normal course. The rights of parties to be heard were fully respected.

Done at Brussels on 30 October 2001.

Luc Gyselen
Final report of the Hearing Officer in case COMP/M.2389 - Shell/DEA

(prepared under Article 15 of Commission Decision 2001/462/EC, ECSC of 23 May 2001 on the terms of reference of Hearing Officers in certain competition proceedings (OJ L 162, 19.6.2001, p. 21))

(2003/C 14/03)

(Text with EEA relevance)

The draft decision does not give rise to any observations on the right to be heard, neither with regard to the parties to the concentration nor with regard to interested this parties.

Done at Brussels on 7 December 2001.

Serge Durande
52003XX0417(01)

List of appointments made by the Council — January, February and March 2003 (social field)



Official Journal C 092 , 17/04/2003 P. 0001 - 0002