ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the 'Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive amending for the eighth time Council Directive 67/548/EEC on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances'

(96/C 153/01)

On 1 February 1996, the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 100a of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Committee asked the Section for Protection of the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Affairs to prepare the ground on this issue. As work progressed, the Economic and Social Committee appointed Mr Pricolo as Rapporteur-General (Rules 20 and 50 of the Rules of Procedure).

At its 333rd Plenary Session on 28 February, the Economic and Social Committe unanimously adopted the following Opinion.

1. Introduction

1.1. The Commission proposal seeks to bring the outdated terminology used in certain provisions of Directive 67/548 on the packaging and labelling of dangerous substances into line with that found in the Treaty on European Union.

1.2. Basically, this means replacing the abbreviations 'CEE' and 'EEC', which still feature in the said Directive, by 'CE' and 'EC', in line with Article G of the Treaty on European Union.

1.3. The Treaty of Maastricht of course no longer uses the expressions'European Economic Communities', preferring the term 'European Community', used in the singular to make it clear that the three original Communities - the European Economic Community (EEC), the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC) - have merged to form one single institution, the European Community (EC).

2. Comments

2.1. The Committee believes that, while this may appear to be a mere formal or token Commission proposal regarding terminology, there are also compelling legal reasons behind it.

2.2. However, the Committee feels the Commission has dragged its feet on this issue, given that the Treaty of Maastricht was signed as far back as 7 February 1992.

2.3. The Committe, while backing the plan to give operators a maximum of five years during which they may continue to use the old 'EEC' label, therefore recommends that the Commission provide adequate information services to optimize the pace of change-over and enhance understanding of the objective.

Done at Brussels, 28 February 1996.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Carlos FERRER
Corrigendum to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the 'Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) establishing common rules and procedures to apply to shipments to certain non-OECD countries of certain types of waste` (Official Journal of the European Communities C 214 of 10 July 1998) (98/C 361/09)

On page 75, point 2.4:

for: 'Lastly, the Committee wishes to echo a request made by the European Parliament that certain types of waste, textile waste in particular, which have been appropriately processed and packaged, should no longer be considered as waste and should be transferred to the general regime governing the free movement of goods.`,

read: 'Lastly, the Committee wishes to request that certain types of waste, textile waste in particular, which have been appropriately processed and packaged, should no longer be considered as waste and should be transferred to the general regime governing the free movement of
Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the 'Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) on the recognition in intra-Community traffic of the distinguishing sign of the Member State in which motor vehicles and their trailers are registered` (98/C 95/08)

On 5 August 1997 the European Commission decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 75 of the Treaty, on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Section for Transport and Communications, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 16 December 1997. The rapporteur was Mr García Alonso.

At its 351st plenary session of (meeting of 28 January 1998) the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 111 votes to one, with three abstentions.

1. Introduction

1.1. Free movement of persons and free movement of goods are fundamental rights of the European Union enshrined in the Treaties.

2. The Commission proposal

2.1. Community law contains a range of provisions enabling motor vehicles to be driven freely throughout Community territory.

2.2. However, other provisions under the Vienna Convention on road traffic (), still apply in some Member States.

2.3. The aim of the proposal is to ensure that Member States, which under the provisions of Article 37 of the Vienna Convention, require vehicles registered in another Member State to display a distinguishing registration sign when being driven in their territory, also recognize a distinguishing sign which meets the provisions laid down in the annex to the regulation.

3. Conclusion

3.1. The Committee wholeheartedly supports the Commission proposal insofar as it assists road traffic and the free movement of persons within the Community and, by the same token, facilitates the completion of the single market.

Brussels, 28 January 1998.

The President of the Economic and Social Committee

Tom JENKINS

() Convention on road traffic, Vienna, 8 November 1968, comprising the amendments which entered into force on 3 September 1993 - United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the 'Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) laying down the criteria and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries and aquaculture sector and the processing and marketing of its products (consolidated version)` (98/C 129/18)

On 24 February 1998 the Council of the European Union decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Articles 43 and 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Economic and Social Committee decided to appoint Mr Leif Nielsen as rapporteur-general.

At its 352nd plenary session on 25 and 26 February 1998 (meeting of 26 February), the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 53 votes to one, with one abstention.

1. The Committee supports the Commission's proposal to consolidate the regulations laying down the criteria and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries and aquaculture sector and the processing and marketing of its products.

2. In this proposal the Commission combines the parent regulation (Council Regulation (EC) No 3699/93) and the legislation amending it in a single text. No substantive amendments are proposed - only the formal amendments required for purposes of consolidation.

3. The Committee would point out that it has repeatedly called for Community legislation to be consolidated because this is important to make the Community fisheries policy clear and intelligible to those actively involved in this sector.

Brussels, 26 February 1998.

The President of the Economic and Social Committee

Tom JENKINS
Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the "Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) on the common organization of the markets in the sugar sector (codified version)"

(1999/C 132/06)

On 22 March 1999 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Articles 43 and 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Section for Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 2 March 1999. The rapporteur was Mr Strasser.

At its 362nd plenary session (meeting of 24 March 1999) the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion with 96 votes in favour and six abstentions.

1. The Commission's proposal to consolidate the CMO in sugar was drawn up on the basis of a consolidated version of Regulation (EEC) No 1785/81 and the instruments amending it. The new regulation therefore supersedes the various regulations incorporated in it.

2. The Economic and Social Committee welcomes the Commission proposal, as consolidation will satisfy the need for clarity in Community legislation. Examination of the text has revealed that the Commission proposal does not contain any substantive changes, merely the formal amendments required by the consolidation process itself.

3. The text contains misprints, mistranslations and errors which affect its meaning. The Committee calls on the Commission to vet the text for such errors and to make the necessary corrections.

Brussels, 24 March 1999.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Beatrice RANGONI MACHIAVELLI
Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the "Proposal for a Council Regulation amending for the third time Regulation (EC) No. 850/98 of 30 March 1998 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine"

(1999/C 209/08)

On 28 April 1999 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Articles 43 and 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Economic and Social Committee decided to appoint Mr Eduardo Chagas as rapporteur-general with the task of preparing the Committee's work on the subject.

At its 364th plenary session held on 26 and 27 May 1999 (meeting of 26 May) the Economic and Social Committee unanimously adopted the following opinion.

1. Introduction

1.1. With Regulation (EC) 850/98(1) the Council adopted technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms.

1.2. After the regulation had been adopted and published it was realized that it had not taken account of a number of elements to which the Commission had drawn attention.

1.3. This proposal adjusts Regulation 850/98 in those respects.

2. General comments

2.1. The ESC approves the proposed regulation.

2.2. This proposal is designed to remedy certain shortcomings in Regulation 850/98 and take account of a number of developments not considered therein.

2.3. This is part of a normal process of technical adaptation in which the best possible balance has to be struck between ideal technical measures and the realities of the fishing industry.

Brussels, 26 May 1999.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Beatrice RANGONI MACHIAVELLI

(1) OJ L 125, 27.4.1998.
Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the "Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) amending Regulation (EC) No 2201/96 on the common organisation of the markets in processed fruit and vegetable products"

(1999/C 368/11)

On 13 September 1999 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 37 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Economic and Social Committee decided to appoint Mr Fakas as rapporteur-general for its opinion.

At its 367th plenary session of 20 and 21 October 1999 (meeting of 20 October), the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 69 votes for, 2 against and 8 abstentions.

1. Introduction

The present draft regulation is a procedural formality, since the Luxembourg Agriculture Council of 14-15 June 1999 accepted Portugal's request and effectively decided to offset the loss of the Portuguese quota for the production of tomato concentrates compared to the planned apportionment of quotas for 1999/2000 and 2000/2001. This loss reflected the sharp fall in Portuguese production of industrial tomatoes in 1997/1998, caused by the unusually unfavourable weather conditions.

The conclusions of the Council of Ministers concerning the amendment of Regulation (EC) No. 2201/96 explained that a new third paragraph was proposed for Article 6, providing that an additional quantity of fresh tomatoes would be allocated to Portugal for the production of tomato concentrates in 1999/2000 and 2000/2001. The additional quantity for 1999/2000 would be 83468 tonnes. For 2000/2001, it would be equivalent to the difference between the quota for Portugal calculated in accordance with the arrangements for the previous paragraphs and the quota calculated by replacing the quantity used in 1997/1998 with 884592 tonnes. The additional quantity granted to Portugal would be added to the overall quota of fresh tomatoes, referred to in paragraph 1, and the quota for tomato concentrate referred to in the first indent of the second subparagraph of paragraph 2, for the two periods.

2. Comments

2.1. Farming is a difficult activity which is frequently affected by weather conditions. The ESC considers that unusually unfavourable weather conditions, such as those prevailing in Portugal in 1997/1998, should be prevented, as far as possible, from having a cumulative negative effect on farmers' incomes.

2.2. The ESC believes that the proposed regulation reflects the spirit and the letter of the conclusions of the Council of Agriculture Ministers of 14-15 June 1999. Notwithstanding the financial implications (EUR 3,2 million for 2000 and a provisional EUR 0,4 million for 2001), the ESC favours granting Portugal an additional quota of industrial tomatoes for 1999/2000 and 2000/2001 at the level proposed.

Brussels, 20 October 1999.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Beatrice RANGONI MACHIAVELLI
Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the "Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products"

(2000/C 75/05)

On 20 December 1999 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Articles 36 and 37 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Section for Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 12 January 2000. The rapporteur was Mr Bento Gonçalves.

At its 369th plenary session of 26 and 27 January 2000 (meeting of 26 January) the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 113 votes in favour, with seven abstentions.

1. Introduction: content of the Commission proposal

1.1. In document COM(1999) 631 final the Commission proposes to amend Article 31(14) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999. This paragraph covers the responsibility for modifying the list, in Annex II of the Regulation, of milk products eligible for export refunds.

1.2. The applicable legal basis is Articles 36 and 37 of the Treaty.

2. General comments

2.1. The aim of the proposal is to confer on the Commission the responsibility for amending the list of goods in Annex II by including the milk products eligible for export refunds.

2.2. It is thus a question of simply amending procedures so as to enable the Commission to make the most efficient use of available resources, creating additional management options with the aim of better identifying the goods which qualify for refunds.

2.3. This change will enable proposals for amendments to be approved by a committee procedure.

2.4. The amendments will make the procedures for milk products identical to those applying to export refunds for the products included in the CMO regulations for the cereals, sugar, rice and eggs sectors.

2.5. The amendments will have no financial impact.

3. Conclusion

3.1. The ESC is of the opinion that the proposal should be adopted.

Brussels, 26 January 2000.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Beatrice Rangoni Machiavelli
52002XE1211(01)

Bureau of the Economic and Social Committee of the European Communities (First two-year period of the 12th four-year term of office) — New appointments made at the 394th plenary session held on 22, 23 and 24 October 2002



Official Journal C 308 , 11/12/2002 P. 0039 - 0039
Resolution on ‘Let’s turn out and vote for a united Europe’

(2019/C 240/01)

At its plenary session on 15 and 16 May 2019 (meeting on 15 May), the European Economic and Social Committee adopted the following resolution by 226 votes to 4 with 12 abstentions.

Let’s turn out and vote for a united Europe

On the eve of the elections for the European Parliament and taking into consideration the Declaration on the Future of Europe agreed by the EU-27 Heads of State or Government in Sibiu (Romania) on 9 May 2019, the European Economic and Social Committee calls on EU citizens to use their right to vote.

The EU is founded on common values — democracy, protection of human rights, freedom of expression, the rule of law, tolerance, justice, equality, solidarity and democratic participation. These values need to be continuously defended and protected as they make it possible for Europeans to live in an open society where each and every citizen is respected and where a European identity, in addition to our national identity, unites us.

Today we face common and complex challenges:

— Climate change

— Social, economic and territorial inequalities

— Poverty

— Unemployment, especially among the young

— Shrinking civic space

— Migration

— Security and terrorism

— Corruption

And nationalism is not the answer.

Only through a united Europe can we make real progress on these issues.

We stand for a Europe which puts the needs of its citizens at the heart of its policies and actions and ensures that economic, social and environmental challenges are tackled together in a sustainable manner; a Europe which guarantees quality of life and employment, a favourable environment for investment and entrepreneurship, as well as increased economic and social cohesion.

We also stand for a Europe which provides opportunities for young people to fulfil their potential and promotes their active participation in the European political processes.

We, as representatives of civil society organisations, are working together for an EU that delivers and more effectively meets the expectations and needs of its citizens.

We urge citizens across Europe to turn out and vote in the forthcoming European elections. We call on civil society organisations to join our efforts to mobilise a positive vote for a united Europe.
calls on the EU Institutions to open a concrete dialogue with Ukraine regarding the accession process of the country to the European Union as soon as possible in line with Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union and on the basis of merit, and to provide immediate financial aid to secure humanitarian support to Ukraine, and urges to open the same dialogue with the other countries that have associated themselves with the EU like Georgia and Moldova in order to guarantee stability and equal treatment to these countries. This should happen without detriment to the ongoing accession process of the Western Balkans; In the meantime, calls to continue to work towards integration of Ukraine into the EU single market along the lines of the Association Agreement;
1.

explicitly welcomes the European Commission's submission on a European agenda for culture in a globalising world. The document rightly sets out the key role of culture in the integration process and notes the need for appropriate tools to promote to the full Europe's cultural richness and diversity and thus achieve the ‘strategic objectives of prosperity, solidarity and security’ both inside and outside the EU. This requires increased cooperation among all cultural policy players at all levels, taking due account of civil society representatives and their networks. As moves are made to come up with a new European cultural agenda in response to globalisation, regional and local cultural policy is becoming increasingly important. The challenge of globalisation inevitably means a reawakening of the ‘Europe of the regions’ — not least in the light of the EU's subsidiarity principle which is predicated on the idea that culture emerges from the grassroots level — i.e. from the cities and regions. Local and regional authorities play a key role in developing and fostering culture in their respective areas, not least in protecting the cultural heritage and promoting artistic innovation, as well as in supporting and assisting not only cultural institutions and initiatives but also education and training, and in staging festivals and cultural events. In cross-border regions in particular, the quality and scale of cultural cooperation is a crucial element in the European integration process as it faces global challenges;
5.

and: — Doing away with the complexity of the customs side of maritime transport, Especially between EU ports; — Introducing the European train driver's card, so that qualified workers can work in any EU country more easily, with the variety of systems and equipment in use; — Equality before the law is important if competition is to exist under equal conditions. The regulation on driving and rest periods has harmonised the rules within the EU irrespective of the country in which a haulier is based. However, the possibilities of taking action against those who violate the terms of the regulation is different depending on whether the offence has been committed in the same country as that where the vehicle and driver are based or in another country. The Commission's proposal for a directive to facilitate the cross-border prosecution of traffic offences covers offences involving speeding, drink-driving, not wearing a seat belt and failing to stop at a red light. Breaches of the rules on driving and rest periods should also be included in cross-border cooperation on prosecuting traffic-related crimes; — Complying with rules on punctuality, especially in line with UIRR rules (International Union of combined Road-Rail Transport Companies); — The rules on train drivers night stopping in another country are disadvantageous for operators in peripheral countries carrying out long-distance international transpor; The labour laws should therefore be reviewed so that operators in peripheral countries are given the same opportunities to carry out international rail transport as operators in central European countries; — The EU should pay particular attention to the increase in crime and terrorist acts against freight transport by road and rail; Organised cooperation between the Member States should be developed and the EU has an important role here; Building more safe rest areas, especially along the TEN-T network, is an important factor in boosting safety; — Combating traffic congestion, setting up more favourable train paths; and — Generally improving service quality and introducing a code of good conduct in the sector, aimed at generating more trust amongst users; — It is also important that the EU pays attention to crime which is linked above all to freight transport by road; It is common knowledge that the smuggling and illegal sale of tobacco and alcohol in particular are not exceptional occurrences at rest areas alongside transport links; To overcome this problem international cooperation is required, which should be initiated and coordinated by the EU; — strengthening the competitive position of inland waterways transport; — developing with the help of local authorities a durable network of waterways and ports based on linking networks and chains; — promoting innovation in inland waterways transport; — aiming for safe and sustainable inland waterways.