ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
2.3.

A series of changes and additions to the current EPBD is proposed, in particular: — As of 2030 all new buildings must be zero-emission; new public buildings must be zero-emission already by 2027. — A new requirement is imposed on Member States to ensure that all buildings owned by public bodies and all non-residential buildings are upgraded to at least energy performance class F by 2027 and at least class E by 2030. All residential buildings must also be upgraded to at least class F by 2030 and at least class E by 2033. Given the recalibration of the energy performance classes, the requirements will lead to more than 15 % of the building stock getting an upgrade by 2033. — The obligation to have an EPC is extended to buildings undergoing major renovation, buildings for which a rental contract is renewed and all public buildings. Buildings or building units which are offered for sale or rent must have an EPC, which must be stated in all advertisements. — National Building Renovation Plans will be fully integrated into National Energy and Climate Plans to ensure comparability and tracking of progress — including roadmaps for phasing out fossil fuels in heating and cooling by 2040 at the latest. — A building ‘Renovation passport’ will give access to information and lower costs for consumers to facilitate their planning and a step-by-step renovation towards zero-emission level. — Member States are invited to include renovation considerations in public and private financing rules and to establish appropriate instruments, in particular for low-income households. — A sunset clause is introduced for financial incentives to use fossil fuels in buildings. — Charging infrastructure for electric vehicles and parking space for bicycles must be established.
5.2.4.

The EESC proposes to add some elements to each of the seven specific objectives, as follows: — in order to address better and focus on monitoring multi-drug use, i.e., the addictive use of other substances when linked to drug use, the EUDA should consider multi-substance use to be widespread among drug users and to have a detrimental impact on public health. Tackling this phenomenon effectively requires close cooperation at regional and local level and the direct involvement of CSOs; — national contact points need extra support to develop threat assessments and tools to inform workers in contact with people who use drugs of new developments concerning illicit drugs that could negatively impact public health, safety and security, as they are at the front line in helping to boost the EU’s preparedness to react to new threats; — set up a network of forensic and toxicological laboratories, bringing together national laboratories. The network would foster the exchange of information on new developments and trends and would support the training of forensic drug experts. To achieve economies of scale, the EESC welcomes the idea of a network of virtual laboratories, which could also be built by clusters of Member States, on the basis of their geographical proximity, or similar drug importing and spreading risk profiles; — Reitox’s role should be strengthened to provide a solid database for shaping effective information and prevention strategies, and should be enabled to issue alerts in the event that particularly dangerous substances become available on the market. The EESC sees an opportunity to optimise the process of data collection by the Member States, by introducing a unified scientific methodology, including an automated process of data provision by the Member States, and also by connecting up the relevant registries and databases; — develop EU-level prevention and awareness-raising campaigns relating to illicit drugs, allowing the EUDA to act on the basis of the analyses it produces. The EUDA should also be able to support Member States in preparing national campaigns and may, in close cooperation with the EMA, design standard visual indications, which should be obligatory on the packaging of medicines containing drug substances; — provide research and support, not only on health-related issues, but also on drug markets and drug supply, thus addressing the drugs issue more comprehensively; — play a stronger international role and support the EU’s leadership role on drug policy at the multilateral level.
3.4.

The Committee again warns that continuing with this regulation could lead to conflicting rules or, at the very least, periods of legal uncertainty for administrations and even businesses themselves, which won’t know whether they are required to comply with the previous rules, which would be those still in force in the EU, or with the new rules. Furthermore, it creates distortions in the application of measures with regard to non-EU fleets.
Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down specific and temporary measures, in view of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, concerning driver documents issued by Ukraine in accordance with its legislation

(COM(2022) 313 final — 2022/0204 (COD))

(2022/C 443/21)

Referral Council, 28.6.2022 European Parliament, 4.7.2022 Legal basis Article 91 and 304 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union Section responsible Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society Adopted at plenary 13.7.2022 Plenary session No 571 Outcome of vote (for/against/abstentions) 195/4/3

Since the Committee endorses the content of the proposal and feels that it requires no comment on its part, it decided to issue an opinion endorsing the proposed text.
3.6.

The EESC welcomes the provision concerning SMEs, which are now protected against unfair contractual terms thanks to the list of unilaterally imposed contractual clauses that will be deemed or presumed to be unfair. Clauses that do not pass this ‘unfairness test’ will be not be binding on SMEs. In this regard, the Commission will develop and recommend non-binding model contractual terms, helping SMEs to negotiate fairer and balanced data sharing contracts with companies enjoying a significantly stronger bargaining position. The EU and the Member States should pay more attention to enhancing the capacity of European companies, especially SMEs and startups, to participate in and contribute to the data economy in Europe and globally. This requires more investments in education and training, research and development, and common data spaces that underpin data-based value creation. It is crucial to ensure that SMEs have the means to make use of the unfairness test and protect themselves from unfair contractual practices. Model contractual terms provided by the Commission are a necessary tool in this respect but need to be complemented with other forms of support from the competent national authorities.
2.1

Commission Communication COM(2006) 589, which was published for the informal meeting of EU heads of state or government held under the Finnish presidency on 20 October 2006 in Lahti, Finland, concerns issues connected with the impact of innovation on industrial change in various ways. According to the communication, the EU and its Member States possess many innovation assets. But we also suffer from a number of paradoxes: we Europeans invent and innovate but frequently do not convert our inventions into new products, jobs and patents; there are many small, highly innovative start-ups but they do not easily grow into big, globally successful companies; moreover, whereas in certain sectors, such as telecommunications, take-up of (ICT) innovations has significantly boosted productivity, in other sectors this has failed to happen, as illustrated by several examples. Innovation and industrial change require thorough, flexible legislation on patent registration and on intellectual property. To this end, the Proposal for a Council Regulation on the Community patent of 1 August 2000 needs to be reviewed and brought more into line with rapidly changing economic trends (see, in particular, compulsory licences and the causes of lapse of the Community patent). Thus, procedures are necessary for facilitating the use of registered patents in various industrial and/or commercial applications and recognising the intellectual ownership of innovation by individual operators — researchers, managerial staff, engineers — or groups of operators, including where they are part of a business or administrative structure and the innovation is external to that structure.
3.1.

Given expected global demographic trends, there will be around 9 billion people to be fed in 2050. With the improvement of living standards in several regions of the world, we observe increased food demand and a shift to diets including more animal products. These developments would lead to a doubling of food demand in 2050. The EU must assume its responsibility for the world’s food security; however the export of European agricultural products does not solve the problem of world hunger. It is worth noting that food security should be based on sustainable local food systems. Every nation needs to bear responsibility for their own food security, which is also recommended by the FAO. The EESC finds it necessary that the EU concentrates also on knowledge transfer and experience-sharing about how more and better food can be produced sustainably and locally in other parts of the world.
4.2.

The EESC calls for a new EU framework 2018-2021, including a fully financed and coordinated Action Plan with a view to strengthening anti-counterfeiting legislation and initiatives at EU level, through measures such as: — accelerating the establishment of a single European customs system, through shared procedures, instruments and unified databases which can be consulted immediately; — adopting common criteria for collecting statistics, while emphasising sectoral initiatives as there are no ‘one size fits all’ solutions; — promoting innovative tracking and monitoring applications; — implementing more robust European coordination, in order to bring standards in the fight against counterfeiting up to the same levels in all Member States; — stepping up intelligence activity and bilateral law enforcement agreements along the entire supply chain, including with the help of an expanded EU-IPR desk on location; — taking immediate steps to promote the simplified EU framework for support and assistance to European SMEs; — including anti-counterfeiting clauses in new FTAs; — implementing and coordinating preventative measures at international level to monitor the 3 000 free zones and the entire supply chain; — tasking the competent EU authorities with collecting fully comparable statistical data on the links between counterfeit products and deaths or accidents; — establishing common EU measures to control and prevent more effectively the risks posed by counterfeit products to public health; — improving EU communication with consumers and alerting and teaching them how to identify these products (JRC model); — encouraging the EU business community to pool information more effectively on problems linked to counterfeiting and to step up measures designed to combat counterfeiting, such as special telephone hotlines for consumers and improved data management systems; — taking coordinated action on e-commerce (payment methods and advertising) and adopting common specific rules to monitor the sale of medicines and other sensitive products online involving operators, interprofessional groups and consumer associations; — developing the counterfeiting-crime approach against criminal organisations and their impact on safety, public health and security, taking established legal principles connected with the Medicrime Convention and extending them to industrial counterfeit products associated with safety and public health risks; — together with EMA, Europol, EFSA and ENISA, drawing up specific rules for monitoring sales of medicines, foodstuffs and other sensitive products on the internet; — assessing the role intermediaries can play in the protection of IPRs, including in relation to counterfeit goods, and considering amending the specific EU legal framework for enforcement (12); — developing and supporting a strong European anti-counterfeiting campaign inside and outside the internal market in parallel with the national ones; — promoting a joint technological initiative (JTI) on counterfeiting, under Horizon 2020; — allocating appropriate funding to the measures adopted within this New Action Plan 2018-2021.
2.3.

According to the Annual Growth Survey 2019, Europe’s economy is now entering in its sixth year of uninterrupted growth. This consistent growth has been accompanied by a recovery in investment, greater consumer demand, improved public finances and ongoing job creation, although at a different pace across countries. These developments contributed to substantial improvements in the labour markets and social conditions. The employment rate of people aged 20–64 rose to 73,2 % in the second quarter 2018. The unemployment rate dropped to 6,8 %, and the long-term and youth unemployment rates are also declining. However, according to the Committee, there are major disparities between the Member States, which are not all experiencing the same level of growth in the economy and employment; particular attention must be paid to improving the quality of the jobs created, not least in order to counter social inequalities.
4.9.

Oil refineries: Oil refineries have the potential to contribute to the energy and climate transition of the EU economy in two ways: i) by substantially reducing the carbon footprint of their manufacturing process, and ii) by progressively replacing fuels and other products of fossil origin with fuels and other products based on biogenic or recycled CO2. The gradual replacement of fossil energy with bioenergy, coupled with CCU & CCS technologies, will even result in negative GHG emissions. The net GHG emissions generated during use of fuels and other refinery products can be radically cut by progressively switching the feedstock from crude oil to sustainable biomass and recycled CO2. The resulting fuels, once burned, will add zero or very low net CO2 to the atmosphere, thus contributing to the decarbonisation of transport, especially for those modes more difficult to electrify. Investments and new projects in these fields are ongoing. As an example, three of the approximately 80 major refineries in the EU have been converted to biorefineries, completely replacing crude oil with sustainable biomass (5). This climate transition strategy requires lower financial resources than other solutions, as the refineries themselves and the logistics system for the distribution of products can to a large extent be adapted and reused.
4.3.

The EESC calls for clear anti-discrimination provisions in all future legislative proposals on the subject. Whatever the reason why any citizen might decide not to use such a feature, be it for data protection or anonymity reasons or other, they must not be placed at a disadvantage compared to active users or marginalised. Individual data should always remain the property of the respective individual while protection of human rights must underpin the implementation of digital ID. In order to guarantee data protection and security, as well as respect for private life, the Committee proposes that the digital identity of EU citizens be managed, in each Member State, by a public service body, under the authority of the State and subject to democratic control by national parliaments.
No C 109/24 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 19. 9. 74 
OPINION  OF  THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
on the proposal  for a Council  Directive  concerning  the approximation  of the laws  of the 
Member  States  relating  to fog lights  for motor  vehicles 
The text  referred  to the Committee  has  been  published  in the Official  Journal  of the 
European  Communities  No  C 35 of 28 March  1974,  page  32. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
At its meeting,  held  on 15 January  1974,  the  Council  referred  the above-mentioned 
proposal  for  a Directive  to the  Economic  and  Social  Committee  in accordance  with 
Article  100  of the Treaty  establishing  the European  Economic  Community. 
The request  for  an Opinion  was  sent  by the  Council  to the  Economic  and  Social 
Committee  on 16 January  1974. 
B. OPINION  OF  THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  prepared  its Opinion  on the above  matter  at its 
120th  Plenary  Session,  held  in Brussels  on 29 and  30 May  1974. 
The full  text  of the Opinion  is as follows  : 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the  request  dated  16  January 
1974,  from  the President  of the Council  of the Euro-
pean  Communities  for an Opinion  on the  proposal 
for a Council  Directive  concerning  the  approxima-
tion of the  laws  of the  Member  States  relating  to 
fog lights  for motor  vehicles  ; 
Having  regard  to Article  100  of the  Treaty  esta-
blishing  the European  Economic  Community  ; 
Having  regard  to the  Decision  taken  by its Bureau 
on 29  January  1974  instructing  the  Section  for 
Industry,  Commerce,  Crafts  and  Services  to prepare 
a report  and  an opinion  on the matter  ; 
Having  regard  to the  Opinion  delivered  by  the 
Section  for Industry,  Commerce,  Crafts  and  Services 
at its meeting  of 8 May  1974  ; 
Having  regard  to the  discussions  at its  120th 
Plenary  Session,  held  on  29  and  30  May  1974 
(sitting  of 29 May),  f 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION  : 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  approves  the 
proposal  for  a Directive  and  makes  the  following 
comments  : 1. Annex  0 to the  proposal  for  a Directive 
states  that  the  Directive  applies  only  to front-
mounted  fog  lights  which  improve  the  illumination 
of the  road  in conditions  of fog.  The  Committee 
feels,  however,  that  the  title  of the  proposal  for  £ 
Directive  should  be appropriately  amended  in the 
various  languages  in which  the  wrong  impression 
could  be given  that  the  Directive  applies  also  to 
rear-mounted  fog lights. 
2. The  Committee  also  points  out  that  the 
Member  States  could  use the procedure  referred  to in 
Article  5 of the proposal  for a Directive  in a manner 
totally  contrary  to the  spirit  of the  Directive.  The 
Committee  therefore  calls  on the  Commission  to 
take prompt  action  if such  a situation  arises. 
Done  at Brussels,  29 May  1974. 
The Chairman 
of the 
Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Alfons  LAPPAS
No C 59/68 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 8. 3. 78 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Regulation  concerning  the exchange  rates  to be used 
in agricultural  structural  policy 
The text  referred  to the Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of the European 
Communities  No  C 283  of 24 November  1977,  page  19. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 16 November  1977  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the Economic 
and Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Article  43 of the Treaty  establishing  the European 
Economic  Community. 
B. OPINION  OF THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  prepared  its opinion  on the above  matter  at its 154th 
plenary  session  held  in Brussels  on 14 and  15 December  1977. 
The full  text  of the opinion  is as follows: 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the Treaty  establishing  the European 
Economic  Community,  and  in particular  Article  43 
thereof, 
Having  regard  to the  request  for an opinion,  made  by 
the Council  of the  European  Communities  on  16 
November  1977, 
Having  regard  to the decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 22 
November  1977  instructing  the Seerion  for Agriculture 
to draw  up an opinion  on the matter, 
Having  regard  to Articles  46 and  47 of the  Rules  of 
Procedure  (urgency  procedure), 
Having  regard  to the  Commission's  report  of 27 Oc-
tober  1977  on the  use  of the European  unit  of account 
in the common  agricultural  policy. 
Having  regard  to the oral  report  submitted  by the rap-
porteur,  Mr Rouzier, 
Having  regard  to the opinion  issued  by the Section  for 
Agriculture  at its meeting  on 1 December  1977, Having  regard  to its discussions  at its 154th  plenary 
session  held  on 14 and  15 December  1977  (meeting  of 
14 December), 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
with  one  vote  against: 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  notes  the  Com-
mission's  proposal. 
It is in favour  of existing  procedures  being  made  more 
flexible  so as to increase  the  effectiveness  of the 
EAGGF. 
But, the  Committee  considers  that  the  changes  to be 
made  to procedures  must  not  lead  to distortions  that 
would  particularly  harm  beneficiaries  in Member  States 
with  a weak  currency. 
The Committee  therefore  calls  upon  the Commission  to 
continue  the studies  necessary  with  a view  to the possi-
ble use  of the  European  unit  of account  in all CAP 
accounts. 
Done  at Brussels,  14 December  1977. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic 
and Social  Committee 
Basil  de FERRANTI