ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
6.1.

The EESC is concerned by the clear failure of the NPFs to demonstrate, in terms of ambition, any real achievement of meaningful progress in the roll-out of an alternative fuels infrastructure. The fear that there is a strong likelihood of all targets being missed suggests that there is an urgent need to review this strategy and to make recommendations on a model that would achieve success. However, the diverse views on different fuels in different Member States and markets must be noted. For instance, LNG and CNG are not considered a reasonable option for new infrastructure in the Nordic countries, where biofuels on the other hand are very successful and promoted. In other parts of EU the preference for different fuels is totally different.
2.4.

Clearly, EU law applies only in EU jurisdictions and not in third countries but these amendments will ensure that it does apply to any legal and contractual arrangements made between a Member State and a third country at the point of entry of a pipeline into the EU jurisdiction. Nevertheless, the individual Member States who undertake such agreements with third country suppliers would be able to grant derogations from many of the key principles of the Gas Directive for existing pipelines. New pipelines, planned or under construction at the point this Directive enters into force, would be subject to all requirements of the internal market for natural gas. Should national authorities and the Commission find an exemption request to be justified, a project-specific regulatory framework could nevertheless be granted. In effect, this would give the European Commission a significant if not determining role concerning the regulatory and market access terms of any agreement on a new pipeline. These powers can be seen as an essential compliance mechanism in shaping the overall energy supply market and in maintaining the balance between affordability, security and sustainability. This approach is recognised by the Committee as being consistent with the governance framework of the Energy Union and its overall objectives.
2.2.

This Communication mentions specifically that, as demonstrated by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency’s statistics on fraudulent documents, ‘national identity cards with weak security features are the most often fraudulently used travel documents within the EU’. As part of the European response to travel document fraud set out in the December 2016 Action Plan, the Commission adopted, together with the Progress Report, a proposal for a regulation to strengthen the security of identity cards issued to Union citizens and of residence documents issued to Union citizens and their family members. ‘ Enhancing the security features of identity cards and residence documents will make it more difficult for criminals to misuse or falsify such documents to move within the EU or cross the EU external borders. More secure identity documents will contribute to strengthening EU external border management (including the challenge of returning foreign terrorist fighters and their family members), while at the same time, more secure and reliable documents will make it easier for EU citizens to exercise their free movement rights’ — according to the proposal.
3.2.

Financial framework — The Commission considers that cohesion policy and its corollary in ETC should remain an essential element of the financial package. The EESC endorses this view. A weakened budgetary allocation would undermine this action programme’s effectiveness and profile, as well as its current reputation. The option chosen as of now is to maintain a stable budget in relation to the last period, against the backdrop of cuts of around 10 % to the overall EU budget. This should enable the same level of support to be maintained for the Interreg programmes, which is a minimum, but the EESC calls on the European Parliament to propose a substantial increase because the political impact and the impact on the public affected by these measures may be considerable, as long as they are allocated significant resources.
5.9.

The EESC recognises the potential for the eventual large-scale loss of jobs (i.e. lorry and bus drivers) if full automation (level 5) does become successfully introduced in the future. We call on the Commission to acknowledge the wider concern that the introduction of new technology/digitalisation/automation across a wide range of sectors (transport, manufacturing, financial services etc.) may lead to large-scale job losses with relatively few new jobs being created to take their place. The EESC asserts that the benefits of new technology/digitalisation/automation must be shared by society as a whole, and not simply be used to benefit private businesses in the reduction of their labour costs. It is also important to notice, however, that even today professional drivers do more than simply steer a vehicle and in future, when the need for pure driving is reduced (with level 5), the tasks of professionals in the transport business can be further extended, which might largely compensate for the reduction of pure driving tasks.
3.13.

The EESC supports most of the proposed budget being spent on IT capacity-building activities. The EESC also assents to the selection of an IT architecture with a combination of common and national components rather than a fully centralised one. A European electronic model based on national preferences, requirements and constraints will facilitate the achievement of interoperability and interconnectivity for the sake of the internal market in a proportionate manner.
Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Fisheries Control Agency (codification)’

(COM(2018) 499 final — 2018/0263 (COD))

(2019/C 62/52)

Consultation European Parliament, 5.7.2018 Council of the European Union, 17.7.2018 Legal basis Article 43(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union Section responsible Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment Adopted at plenary session 17.10.2018 Plenary session No 538 Outcome of vote (for/against/abstentions) 208/0/5

Since the Committee unreservedly endorses the content of the proposal and feels that it requires no comment on its part, it decided, at its 538th plenary session held on 17 and 18 October 2018 (meeting of 17 October 2018), by 208 votes to none with five abstentions, to issue an opinion endorsing the proposed text.
5.6.

The EESC questions a disproportionate use of Community financial and human resources for assessing new third countries which may fail to provide a substantial number of masters and officers. Therefore, the EESC fully supports the Commission proposal that every new request submitted by a Member State for the recognition of a third country be accompanied by an analysis including estimates of the number of officers and masters likely to be employed from that country. In addition, the EESC sees it of upmost importance for Member States to consult with the national shipowners’ associations and trade union organisations on the desirability of recognising a new third country, prior to submitting the request to the Commission. However, the EESC wishes to clarify that — where available — the estimation of seafarers likely to be employed will only be one criteria in the decision process of the recognition of a new third country and that it needs to be followed in a transparent manner.
4.6.

The EESC welcomes the new rules proposed by the Commission with regard to significantly increasing the quality and independence of the procedures involved in type approval and testing vehicles before they are placed on the market, and to more effective checks on vehicles already on the market. The regulation laying down these rules, set to enter into force in September 2020, upholds the ban on defeat devices, seeks to reduce the pollutant values of vehicles and establishes the framework for the shift to low and no emission vehicles.
4.6.

The EESC is convinced that European fusion research in general and the realisation of ITER in particular can serve as an outstanding example demonstrating the power of joint European projects. It is important for the public to be informed of the results obtained through financing and joint efforts at European level. This will increase people’s confidence in science and research, as well as raising awareness of the importance of the European Union in achieving a distant and difficult goal that would not be possible through the efforts and financing of individual countries and that will have important long-term repercussions, not only in technological and industrial terms, but also on research, industry and SMEs, with a significant impact on the economy and job creation, even in the short and medium term.
3.9.

From a broader perspective, the international role of the euro would be enhanced if the EU were to pursue a more unified foreign policy and insist on a continued multilateral approach to trade. The EU’s currency can only achieve a high level of international standing when the EU acts in a unified way, and when these actions are backed by its collective diplomatic and economic force. This should apply in sectors such as energy, transport, industry and other sectors where the interests of the EU and euro area as a whole ought to come first. It is also vital for the EU to speak with one voice on geopolitical developments such as the increasing influence in international trade of China via its One Belt, One Road initiative, an economic and diplomatic programme that could transform and dominate trade in Asia and beyond. The implications of this economic and diplomatic programme need to be assessed in depth by the EU since this would enhance China’s global economic presence. The EU and the euro area in particular cannot afford to stay idle as this programme unfolds.
2.6.

In spite of this positive trend, together with favourable social agreements and efforts to improve pay, on-board living conditions, comfort and telecommunications, fishing remains unattractive to younger people. This is sometimes because the job involves working in a hostile natural environment, sometimes because crew cannot balance work and family life, and sometimes because there has been a failure to publicise the improvements brought about: in any case, it is clear that even during the recent economic crisis, it has not been possible to attract younger workers to the sector. The fishing profession is not taken up by many would-be entrepreneurs to start their own business; in some countries, the owner of a small vessel does not have access to early retirement, even if he works under the same hard conditions as his employees. Social issues are not only limited to on-board fishing conditions. Living conditions onshore also have to be improved. Some studies have shown that fishing communities and port towns often face a high level of poverty, lack of public services, and poor living conditions. Likewise, the role of women, especially collaborative spouses, in the sector’s prosperity is underestimated. More research is needed on these social aspects.
Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 as regards the resources for the specific allocation for the Youth Employment Initiative’

(COM(2020) 206 final — 2020/0086 (COD))

(2020/C 311/15)

Referral European Parliament, 27.5.2020 Council, 2.6.2020 Legal basis Article 177, al. 1 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union Section responsible Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship Adopted at plenary 10.6.2020 Plenary session No 552 Outcome of vote (for/against/abstentions) 219/0/2

Since the Committee unreservedly endorses the contents of the proposal, it decided, at its 552nd plenary session of 10 and 11 June 2020 (meeting of 10 June 2020), by 219 votes to 0 with 2 abstentions, to issue an opinion endorsing the proposed text.
4.4.

Regulatory sandboxes have proven to be a useful tool and the EESC calls for them to be more widely used when introducing regulations for SMEs, and better promoted among national lawmakers. The EC should clarify how, where and why these regulatory sandboxes will be applied. There is still a clear need to improve the SME test in the impact assessment to make sure all proposed legislation is SME-friendly. The EC’s new ‘Fit for Future Platform’ should focus heavily on checking for potential burdens that could create obstacles to socio-economic regeneration. The EU should also set up regulatory sandboxes at EU level so as to enhance the single market, ensure it fosters harmonisation, and to promptly provide innovators with legal security for innovative solutions across Europe. The EU has more start-ups and innovative SMEs than the US or China, but several studies show that these businesses prefer to deploy their innovative solutions outside of Europe. There are many reasons for this, including the lack of financial incentives in Europe and the fragmented single market. Hence, the importance of introducing regulatory sandboxes: these would encourage companies to stay in Europe and hopefully help create European champions in the longer term.
5.2.

Technical skills (programming at different levels) will be required for most professionals in the future. This is a challenge for education systems and vocational training organisations in the Member States. Professionals need to be trained in new tools and they need to be aware of the characteristics, limits and risks, because they are ultimately responsible. Nevertheless, at least basic technical skills will have to be acquired by as many citizens as possible in order to understand, use and engage with digital technologies and tools in a productive, inclusive and safe way. Basic technical skills are necessary to support people of all ages, but especially older people, so that they can understand and safely use digital technologies and tools.
3.3

The EESC points out that we are examining this proposal for a regulation precisely because no other, more efficient procedure, such as the one proposed by this Committee in 2019 and supported by the Member States’ authorities and the sectors concerned, has yet been adopted. This would be a simple regulation containing a single article, which would include a commitment by the European Union to apply the rules approved by NAFO each year to its fleet without fail.
1.5.

To guarantee that public services in Europe act in all crisis situations as an automatic stabiliser, the European values enshrined in the EU Treaties, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU, the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights, Member States’ guarantees of fundamental and human rights in national constitutions as well as the shared values of the Union in respect of services of general economic interest within the meaning of Article 14 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) as set out in the Treaty on European Union (TEU), Protocol No 26 on services of general interests, have to set the tone for the conduct of administration on the European level and, in accordance with their constitutions, in all EU Member States.
Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Amended proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 (European Climate Law)’

(COM(2020) 563 final – 2020/0036 (COD))

(2021/C 10/15)

Referral European Parliament, 6.10.2020 Council, 5.10.2020 Legal basis Articles 192(1) and 304 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union Section responsible Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment Adopted at plenary 29.10.2020 Plenary session No 555 Outcome of vote (for/against/abstentions) 209/0/9

On 17 September 2020, the European Commission decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee on an amended proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1999.

Since the Committee had already set out its views on the contents of the original proposal in its opinion on the European Climate Law (1), adopted on 15 July 2020, it decided at its 555th plenary session, held on 27, 28 and 29 October 2020 (meeting of 29 October), by 209 votes to 0, with 9 abstentions, not to draw up a new opinion on the subject, but to refer to the position it had taken in the abovementioned document.

Brussels, 29 October 2020. The President of the European Economic and Social Committee Christa SCHWENG

(1) OJ C 364, 28.10.2020, p. 143.
Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on certain aspects of aviation safety with regard to the end of the transition period mentioned in the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community’

(COM(2020) 828 final — 2020/0364 (COD))

(2021/C 123/16)

Referrals Council of the European Union, 11.12.2020 European Parliament, 14.12.2020 Legal basis Articles 100(2) and 304 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union Section responsible Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society Adopted at plenary 27.1.2021 Plenary session No 557 Outcome of vote (for/against/abstentions) unanimous

Since the Committee unreservedly endorses the content of the proposal and feels that it requires no comment on its part, it decided unanimously, at its 557th plenary session of 27 and 28 January 2021 (meeting of 27 January), to issue an opinion endorsing the proposed text.
3.7.

The EESC highlights the need to achieve all the objectives of the energy policy implemented through the TEN-E Regulation. Energy networks ensure links between producers and users. To some extent, they form the ‘reactor core’ of the energy system. The proposal for a regulation under consideration would benefit from more closely reflecting this integration-based approach, including the development of ‘prosumers’ and cooperatives and not simply making a timid reference to Recital 13 (although it refers to the ‘integration of energy systems’, the project fails to give trans-European energy infrastructure its proper place in this strategic dynamic of coordinated planning and operation), in order to achieve their essential purpose, which is to ensure the balance, resilience and development of the energy system. With this aim in mind, there is a need to clarify the extent of progress on interconnection capacity between each Member State, which should focus more on removing bottlenecks than on general averages (10 % in 2020, 15 % in 2030). The EESC believes that the proposal submitted to it is particularly lacking in ambition and resources.
5.11.

The EESC agrees that access to accurate and timely information on vulnerabilities affecting ICT products and services can help to ensure better cybersecurity risk management. In this regard, publically available sources of information on vulnerabilities are an important tool for competent national authorities, computer security incident response teams (CSIRTs), companies and users. The EESC therefore agrees with the proposal to entrust ENISA with the task of setting up a European Vulnerability Register. Essential and important entities and their suppliers would be able to report information to this register, so as to enable users to adopt the appropriate mitigation measures. The EESC considers, however, that this communication of vulnerabilities and the most serious incidents must be made obligatory instead of voluntary, thus ensuring that it is also a useful tool for contracting authorities involved in the various European-level procurement procedures, including those for 5G technologies and products. The register would then contain information that can be used for evaluating tenders, as it could be used to check both their quality and the reliability of European and non-European contractors in terms of the security of the products and services included in the call for tenders, in accordance with the Recommendation on the Cybersecurity of 5G networks of 26 March 2019. The register should also ensure that the information it contains is made available in a way that avoids any kind of discrimination.
3.2.2

The cost factor is one reason why only 9 % of EU SMEs have registered IP rights. The costs of obtaining a patent in the EU are currently significantly higher than in the USA or Japan, for example, and represent an enormous financial burden for SMEs and micro-enterprises. Therefore, in order to improve SMEs’ access to IP protection, costs need to be reduced. The rapid implementation of the UPS, which will significantly reduce patent registration costs, will be a game-changer for innovative SMEs and micro-enterprises such as liberal professional engineering companies. The EESC also stresses the importance of all the different approaches to financial and know-how support for SMEs, the EUIPO IP vouchers, the approach of helping SMEs benefit from their IP in order to gain access to finance and the IPA4SME programme, which provides up to EUR 15 000 to co-finance IP diagnostics and protection measures, etc. It also notes the important role of patent attorneys in this support system.
3.9.

Since the adaptation of the registers has become necessary after the approval of Directive (EU) 2020/262, which provides for the definitions of ‘certified consignor’ and ‘certified consignee’ (Article 3) and for the additional definitions of ‘certified consignor or certified consignee sending or receiving excise goods only occasionally’ (Article 35), the EESC recommends that the Commission ensure a sufficient degree of harmonisation in the interpretation and implementation of such concepts in order to guarantee the homogeneity of the information inserted within the registers operating at the national level.
Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Decision 2008/971/EC as regards the equivalence of forest reproductive material produced in the United Kingdom to such material produced in the Union’

(COM(2020) 852 final — 2020/0378 (COD))

(2021/C 123/19)

Referral European Parliament, 18.1.2021 Council, 8.1.2021 Legal basis Article 43, paragraph 2 and Article 304 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union Section responsible Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment Adopted at plenary 27.1.2021 Plenary session No 557 Outcome of vote (for/against/abstentions) unanimous in favour

Since the Committee endorses the content of the proposal and feels that it requires no comment on its part, it decided unanimously, at its 557th plenary session of 27 and 28 January 2021 (meeting of 27 January), to issue an opinion endorsing the proposed text.
4.8.

The EESC also identifies further economic benefits resulting from research and innovation in metrology, namely limiting market failure, reduced transaction costs, and increased overall economic efficiency. Improved and harmonised measurement and standards could play an important role in the efficient functioning of the Single Market. It would operate far more efficiently or effectively if EU citizens have adequate information about the products available in the Single Market. Asymmetric information between buyers and sellers is one of the most common sources of market failure, which occurs when the buyer cannot determine with a high degree of accuracy the quality of a product. Through the provision of more advanced measurement and standards, buyers can measure the quality of products given there are agreed standards and they can therefore differentiate between lower and higher quality products. This then eliminates the asymmetric information, as well as correcting the market failure present, thus increasing the efficiency of the Single Market.