ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the "Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation on substances that deplete the ozone layer as regards metered dose inhalers and medical drug pumps"

(2000/C 367/10)

On 28 July 2000 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 175 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposal.

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

At its 375th plenary session held on 20 and 21 September 2000 (meeting of 20 September), the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 63 votes with two abstentions.

1. The Commission proposal

1.1. This proposal seeks to amend the recently adopted Regulation on substances that deplete the ozone layer(1) on two specific points. It arises from two inaccuracies that crept into the text of the new Regulation in the final stages of its adoption. The first refers to the export of metered dose inhalers containing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to developing countries and the second to the export of medical drug pumps containing CFCs. According to the Commission it was not the intention of the Regulation to ban the export of such products that are still needed for health reasons in such countries. Therefore, the Regulation should be amended accordingly.

2. General comments

2.1. The Committee approves the Commission proposal.

Brussels, 20 September 2000.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Beatrice Rangoni Machiavelli

(1) This Regulation, the publication of which in the OJ is still awaited, will replace Regulation (EC) No 3093/94.
1.10.

While the proposals for action are presented in more detail in sections 2.-5., the EESC summarises its key policy priorities for the Commission’s 2018 work programme as follows: — The EESC calls on the Commission to continue implementation of the strategies and programmes aimed at the further development of the single market, taking into account its economic and social dimensions in the framework of sustainable development. While recognising that the EMU is the core of the single market, measures are particularly needed in the fields of capital markets, as well as digital, energy and transport markets. Furthermore, the EESC calls for an active trade policy, taking into account the need for transparency and the close involvement of civil society. — The Commission should adopt a comprehensive strategy for the promotion of entrepreneurship, innovation and industrial development, including the opportunities and challenges brought about by global megatrends such as rapid progress in digitalisation and the internet of Things, and the transition towards a low-carbon and circular economy. — The EESC calls on the Commission to develop the social dimension of the EU with the aim of fostering quality job creation, improving skills and competences, increasing social investments and the development of the social economy, as well as preventing poverty, inequalities, discrimination and social exclusion, with special emphasis on the inclusion of young people in society. Furthermore, particular attention should be paid to responding to the profound changes caused by digitalisation for the whole society. — The EESC calls for measures for focusing the public financial resources efficiently and responding to future challenges caused by Brexit and the need for sustainable growth, innovation, employment and cohesion. In addition to public investment, encouragement of private investment is likewise needed to respond to the substantial investment needs. — The Commission should continue implementing measures, including the effective control of external borders, to protect Europeans against security threats. It should also strengthen measures for the EU to be a more effective player on the world stage by means of multilateral cooperation and active conflict prevention. The EESC furthermore considers it necessary to strengthen cooperation on defence. — The EESC calls on the Commission, and offers its support, to develop a strategy that aims to bring about structured civil dialogue that is organised efficiently and on a permanent basis.
13.

In order to secure the success of this strategy such that mobility becomes a reality for all workers who wish to seek employment in another Member State: (i) information on job vacancies in other Member States should be provided through EURES, national employments services, and at the local and regional level through local or regional authorities; (ii) Member States should be encouraged to include geographic and job-to-job mobility as a priority in their national employment and life long learning strategies.(Action 5); (iii) workers must be made are aware of their right to seek employment in other Member States and the practicalities how they can go about doing this, and what they need to do to safeguard their social security rights in this process; (iv) employers, particularly those in SMEs at the local level, must be made aware that they can recruit workers from other Member States, subject to strict compliance with current labour law and employment and social protection provisions, and of the potential benefits of doing so; (v) greater emphasis must be placed on language learning and the promotion of multilingualism; (vi) there should be greater cross border recognition of qualifications including vocational qualifications; (vii) the social partners must be involved in all aspects of job mobility; (viii) portability of pension provision (Action 4) and more flexible social security provisions in and between Member States are essential; (ix) appropriate training of local, regional and national civil servants, which are working in the area on all issues related to workers mobility, has to be ensured to enable them to provide employees seeking work in other countries with quick and right information and to assist them in communicating with the competent authorities of the host country in relation to the exercise of their right to social protection;
32.

has misgivings, however, about the way some aspects of disaster prevention are treated in Council Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (EIA Directive) and in the Seveso Directive 1996/82/EC. Existing procedures must not be overloaded if extra bureaucracy is to be avoided. In order to ensure effective disaster prevention, targeted and coordinated measures at local and regional level should be given precedence over a blanket extension of administrative and authorisation procedures.
6.

The Committee believes it is important to support the development of a market for bio-waste and that this market should preferably be local. Bio-waste should be recognised as a valuable natural resource that can produce compost, which is vital to keep soil productive, reduce the use of energy-intensive artificial fertilisers and increase the soil's ability to hold water (and therefore reduce run-off and flash flooding). The CoR feels that the market for bio-waste should be based on principles set out in the Treaty: the precautionary principle, the principle that preventive action should be taken, and the ‘polluter pays’ principle. These are important prerequisites for ensuring that the Commission's future bio-waste management proposals meet public expectations and demands for credible action on waste. The market for bio-waste must be developed and analysed in order to avert any over- or under-supply from a national or EU perspective. The national waste management plans are an important instrument here.
30.

considers that the Commission Report on biomass sustainability due in 2011 should: — seek to present the most recent data on biomass, with imports broken down by biomass type, country of production and whether the material is from a certified sustainable source — summarise the impacts of current sustainability schemes for biomass being developed in the regions and Member States — be accompanied by proposals for binding minimum sustainability criteria for the use of solid and gaseous biomass sources in electricity, heating and cooling, including a greenhouse gas saving requirement taking into account indirect land use change impacts where applicable — rather than focus on barriers to trade, it should include an assessment of the impact of biomass production on food production, on forestry and wood industries and on other effects of land use change — assess the implications on any report recommendations for local and regional authorities who ultimately may have to implement such recommendations — incorporate recommendations on broader best practices in the production and conversion of biomass.
42.

believes that it would be easier to achieve success – given the stage of development of the political system – were Armenia better informed about how local authorities had been consolidated in countries (such as Latvia) with a similar fate in the past. It would be likewise helpful if reformers who have been demonstrably successful in transforming the relationship between the capital and other local authorities in other countries were able to pass on their experience (via seminars or conferences on particular topics). Pooling experience on certain issues, especially between people with hands-on experience and Armenia's representatives, must be an integral part of the EU's support programmes. This should cover not only administrative problems, but also the expenditure planning, implementation and reporting of particular programmes and projects, such as IFAD and OMP. All in all, there is no better way to promote people-to-people contacts than targeted work of this kind that produces practical benefits;
41.

cautions against any intention to use smart specialisation as a way of prioritising already leading regions or local authorities while leaving other areas not or under-supported. This would be against the overriding principle of EU Territorial Cohesion. A European map showing regions according to their level of innovation is thus needed: this classification can then be used to establish specific support instruments for the lagging regions through the provision of ad hoc funds to help them catch up with the most innovative regions. One way of increasing cooperation between different regions is to introduce procedures whereby less-developed regions can access and use relevant research knowledge and applications from different parts of Europe, for instance with support from the structural funds;
20.

calls for the role and needs of local and regional authorities to be taken into account during the examination of any project to develop energy infrastructure. It is vital to proceed systematically with a careful evaluation of the costs/benefits that implementation of such projects might generate at local, regional or even macro-regional level. This evaluation should measure the impact of these projects on energy security, the environment and landscapes, as well as on the socio-economic development of the regions. Objections from the general public are known to be a major obstacle to the development of energy infrastructure. Demonstrating the potential benefits for local communities of developing energy infrastructure, as well as its impact on the environment could help considerably in removing such objections;
14.

The role of farming in combating climate change needs to be clearly spelled out here. Farmers have already made enormous efforts to slash greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to this, however, some very solid work still needs to be done on adjustment strategies, so that farming will continue being able to fulfil the functions already alluded to. However, it also needs to be spelled out that the soil can play a role as a CO2 sink, at the same time enhancing its productive capacity by increasing its organic matter content and the carbon sink effect of woody crops. Farming is one of the sectors that plays a key part in solving the problem. It plays its part in sustainable energy supply and in establishing the use of less harmful chemicals based on renewable raw materials. Here, the regional and local authorities have a particular role to play in nurturing innovative energy ideas, including ones based on biomass. The most important sustainably produced energy source here is wood. This is why rural development has to involve strengthening both the forestry sector, in those regions where forests play a part in protection measures, in tackling erosion and in improving the potential for tourism, and the use of residues from pruning woody crops.
12.

points out that factors other than ability to pay (such as the thought given to choosing a course, adequate prior education or action to make up for this if lacking, study and careers counselling, redirecting students to a more suitable path or course at an early stage to avoid them dropping out of higher education, a more student-centred approach to higher education, etc.) may play a decisive role in access to and success in higher education, and urges Member States and higher education institutions also to pay appropriate attention to these factors. It is regrettable that policy information on these issues is not gathered and disseminated among the Member States systematically enough, as is done for other aspects of higher education, and the Observatory on the Social Dimension in Higher Education currently being developed as part of the Bologna process must therefore be given the support it needs;
41.

Those Member States that object to the 2006 proposal for a Framework Directive and have blocked the passage of legislation in the Council in 2010, invoke the argument of subsidiarity. The problem is that while certain Member States have already advanced legislation on soil protection, other Member States have no legal framework or a far less developed one. The CoR urges Member States to take measures at national level and immediately calls for: — Member States which already have a soil policy to expand it as far as is necessary; — Member States which have already a well-developed soil policy to act as a bridge for those Member States which do not have any policy, by sharing their expertise. The Committee of the Regions would ask the European Commission to monitor such a process; — Member States which do not yet have a soil policy to introduce one in the foreseeable future, while waiting for progress at European level. The CoR supports Commission measures that enable Member States to formulate and implement soil provisions within their own remit.
59.

Reiterates in this context its support for preserving the Globalisation Adjustment Fund in order to improve national and local governments' ability to contain the impact of the crisis and help put active labour market measures in place for workers affected by restructuring. It also believes that the Globalisation Adjustment Fund should go hand in hand with a change adjustment fund to promote the development of skills and industrial transition. Initially, part of the Structural Funds and Horizon 2020 expenditure could be earmarked for change adjustment. It also stresses the need for social players operating in businesses, states and regions to intervene proactively as early as possible before restructuring takes place, in order to prevent it or, at least, to reduce its impact on jobs or adjust the transitions imposed by overcapacity and to make the necessary changes in good time.
The frequency of audits on operations should be proportionate to the extent of the Union's support from the Fund. In particular, the number of audits carried out should be reduced where the total eligible expenditure for an operation does not exceed EUR 100 000. Nevertheless, it should be possible to carry out audits at any time where there is evidence of an irregularity or fraud, or as part of an audit sample. In order that the level of auditing by the Commission is proportionate to the risk, the Commission should be able to reduce its audit work in relation to operational programmes where there are no significant deficiencies or where the audit authority can be relied on. In addition, the scope of audits should take fully into account the objective and the features of the target populations of the Fund.

The frequency of audits on operations should be proportionate to the extent of the Union's support from the Fund. In particular, the number of audits carried out should be reduced where the total eligible expenditure for an operation does not exceed EUR 100 000. Nevertheless, it should be possible to carry out audits at any time where there is evidence of an irregularity or fraud, or as part of an audit sample. In order that the level of auditing by the Commission is proportionate to the risk, the Commission should be able to reduce its audit work in relation to operational programmes where there are no significant deficiencies or where the audit authority can be relied on. In addition, the scope of audits should take fully into account the objective and the features of the target populations of the Fund. When assessing the need for audits, for each measure consideration should also be given to developed public audit practices and powers which the relevant local and regional authorities may already apply to measures undertaken and the actions supporting them. Similarly, consideration should be given to whether the activities of partner organisations carrying out a measure may fall within the scope of public funding and the audit practices associated with this, and to the extent of the organisation's activities and its experience.
Irrespective of separation, the core credit institution should still be able to manage its own risk. Certain trading activities should therefore be allowed to the extent that they are aimed at the prudent management of the core credit institution's capital, liquidity and funding and do not pose concerns to its financial stability. Similarly, the core credit institutions needs to be able to provide certain necessary risk management services to its clients. However, that should be done without exposing the core credit institution to unnecessary risk and without posing concerns to its financial stability. Hedging activities eligible for the purpose of prudently managing own risk and for the provision of risk management services to clients can, but does not have to, qualify as hedge accounting under the International Financial Reporting Standards.

Irrespective of separation, the core credit institution should still be able to manage its own risk. Certain trading activities should therefore be allowed to the extent that they are aimed at the prudent management of the core credit institution's capital, liquidity and funding and do not pose concerns to its financial stability. Similarly, the core credit institutions needs to be able to provide certain necessary risk management services to its clients. However, that should be done without exposing the core credit institution to unnecessary risk and without posing concerns to its financial stability. Furthermore, in application of the principle of symmetry, resolution authorities are granted the possibility of making creditors of all types bear losses, just as they would have benefited from any gains. Hedging activities eligible for the purpose of prudently managing own risk and for the provision of risk management services to clients can, but does not have to, qualify as hedge accounting under the International Financial Reporting Standards.
48.

believes it is important to develop a sound communication policy for sustainable development, as this would foster a more informed understanding both of the challenges faced and of the policies that need to be implemented, and would result in more conscious and active support from the general public, including with regard to development cooperation and committing to the 2030 Agenda as an investment for the future; the relevance of the development cooperation goals should also be communicated to European citizens, thus raising awareness about the mutual benefits of this policy, such as the fact that it creates areas of regional stability; finally, the activities of the various stakeholders involved in the process should be made visible, including local and regional authorities and particularly the ORs, which have for years been developing successful policies for cooperating with their neighbouring countries;
46.

welcomes the Commission’s focus on plastics, refers to its opinion on the Green Paper on a European strategy on plastic waste in the environment (10) and stresses that rules must be set with regard to the use of plastics in certain sectors in order to facilitate the recycling of plastic or curb its use in certain sectors. Plastics containing substances harmful to the environment and health should not be reused/recovered if the pollutants cannot be extracted through a treatment process and removed from the materials cycle. Plastics containing harmful substances should be withdrawn from circulation, for example by incineration. It is important for the Commission to take account of this when drawing up rules and target levels. It should also act to ensure that primary production is free from substances harmful to the environment and health as soon as possible;
29.

emphasises the gaps that exists in education and skills that need to be addressed without further delay. Economic development and education go hand in hand and thus the partners need to take into consideration both of these socio-economic aspects to ensure the success of this initiative. Enhancing awareness of maritime professions is of crucial importance for attracting citizens to explore opportunities in the maritime and marine domain, thus mitigating the imbalance between job supply and demand that characterises the sector and helping to reduce the rate of unemployment. There is a particular paradox in the Mediterranean area that, while youth unemployment rates are among the highest in Europe, maritime companies in both emerging and traditional sectors are unable to find skilled staff;
25.

stresses that prematurely introduced and badly designed capacity mechanisms may result in fragmentation of the internal market and hinder investments. The CoR questions the capacity mechanisms of a range of Member States, which are designed to support electricity producers for keeping available their generation capacity to ensure there is sufficient capacity also when variable sources of electricity, such as wind and solar power, are not producing. Conversely, surpluses of energy (e.g. from wind power), should not be channelled through neighbouring countries' grids without first coordinating such measures, as this could distort the energy market in those countries (loop flows). In other cases, a surplus in one area may in fact help resolve a shortage in another area. The CoR endorses the Commission’s policy to look for cross-border solutions. Before any regional or national measures are set, proper analyses should be conducted to confirm there is a capacity problem and there are no alternative solutions, and to verify that the measures proposed take into account cross-border effects. A coordinated approach to security of supply is essential;
17.

stresses the need therefore to fund interconnections between the TENT-T core and comprehensive network, and between the comprehensive network and local transportation links in challenged regions. Furthermore, the budget for the CEF should be increased as part of the mid-term review of the multi-annual financial framework in order to fund cross-border interconnections and bottlenecks within the TEN-T core network. This will help integrate all European regions into a sustainable and effective European transport system for passengers and freight. Given that tackling disparities in development is an aim of the TEN-T programme, the needs of regions that are challenged in terms of implementing their economic and territorial development models should also be borne in mind as part of the review of the TEN-T maps scheduled for 2016/17;