ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
63.

welcomes the proper focus and steady progress made by Albania on key reform priorities, especially regarding the judiciary; and encourages Albania to step up the pace of reforms, notably in the areas under the key priorities, with particular attention to the rule of law, the de-politicisation of public administration, the effective protection of human rights including the rights of persons belonging to minorities throughout Albania and to implement property rights and also to further improve the business and investment environment and address the high level of shadow economy in order to start accession negotiations; recalls that a sustained, comprehensive and inclusive implementation of the key priorities has to be ensured; in particular welcomes the new legislation regarding the exclusion of convicted persons from Parliament while stressing the need for a proper results record; it also welcomes the anti-corruption strategy and action plan; urges further progress in policy and legislative measures and proper implementation;
41.

questions what is the ability of NUTS level 2 to reflect real communities and real geographies when in many Member States NUTS areas are purely statistical geographies based on population rather than reflecting real boundaries or functional geographical areas. While noting that NUTS are also used to date to allocate EU Structural Funds, their use to formulate and evaluate the territorial impact of EU cohesion, transport, environment and other policies has a pervasive effect which results in EU policies being out of step with the situation on the ground. In this respect, for the sake of a fairer allocation of the funds it is crucial that decisive shortcomings of GDP, such as the territorial bias caused by commuting over NUTS borders, need to be counterbalanced by taking into account the social and environmental situation in the regions when decisions on eligibility are made;
31.

believes that Action 9 on fighting marine litter and the ‘sea of plastic’ is one of the most relevant initiatives in this proposal. This directly benefits tourism and fisheries. If people continue to dump plastic in the natural environment at the current pace, the sea will contain more plastic than fish by 2050. The existing powers of local and regional authorities with regard to waste management and prevention can make a crucial contribution. Local authorities play an important role in terms of their capacity to recover energy from the incineration of recovered plastic. Some 28 % of waste in the EU currently goes into landfill. A robust EU environmental framework for prevention, including a possible EU ban on microplastics, needs proper enforcement at local and regional level, and continuing investment in cleaner technologies including the development of tailor-made local and regional marine litter prevention policies. This should include further progress towards a common regime not only for port reception facilities but also for fees for ship-generated waste and cargo residues, so as to discourage ships from discharge them before docking at ports. While Europe’s regions and local authorities are among the largest emitters of marine litter and plastic they are also affected by litter coming from outside the EU, meaning that international cooperation is essential;
12.

points out in this connection that the collection, processing and publication of official statistical information by public authorities in the context of local self-government reform presents significant economic potential, as it not only enables local and regional authorities to accurately assess the economic potential of their territories, but also allows small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to find their niche in the market and generate sustainable economic growth at local and regional level. By providing reliable, high-quality data, it also helps to prevent corruption and to develop effective mechanisms to combat it. Moreover, the data collected provide material for numerous analyses by academic institutions, which in turn will strengthen research in the EaP countries;
33.

underlines the need to create safe routes to the EU for legal migrants or people entitled to international protection status under international law, such as humanitarian visas, increased family reunification and private sponsorship programmes. To achieve this it is essential both to establish and to broaden existing forms of cooperation with third countries, whether these be the countries of origin of displaced people or countries through which such people are travelling in order to reach the EU. Setting up hotspots on the territory of third countries is an important step towards this end, and therefore all the necessary measures should be taken by the EU to reach relevant agreements with such countries, ensuring full respect of EU law and international human rights standards. At the same time it will be necessary to develop a coherent framework of guidelines and rules to ensure all the essential elements are in place for the smooth operation of hotspots;
To ensure a coherent application of this Regulation and that the disclosure obligations laid down in this Regulation are clearly and consistently applied by financial market participants, it is necessary to lay down a harmonised definition of ‘sustainable investments’.

To ensure a coherent application of this Regulation and that the disclosure obligations laid down in this Regulation are clearly and consistently applied by financial market participants, it is necessary to lay down a clear and harmonised definition of ‘sustainable investments’ and ‘sustainability risks’, avoiding any overlap in regulation where not in line with the principles of better regulation and proportionality. The definition of sustainable investments ensures a minimum level of consistency among financial products and services and also ensures that such investments have a positive net impact in terms of sustainability performance. Due to the multi-faceted nature of sustainability — in the sense of the three dimensions of environmental, social and governance sustainability — positive impacts in one dimension may not always be accompanied by positive impacts in another, but the net sustainability performance, as measured by harmonised sustainability indicators, must always be significantly positive. The definition of sustainability risks is required to ensure consistency in regulatory outcomes, but is also meant as an evolving and dynamic tool able to integrate emerging risks. The definition comprises the financial and non-financial impact of the non-consideration of environmental, social and governance risks. Sustainability performance is to be measured based on harmonised sustainability indicators to be established by the European Commission as a matter of urgency and taking use of existing European and international undertakings .
3.

notes that the quality of law is one of the keys to the success of European integration and that if governance guarantees cooperation between levels of government to implement EU policies, apply legislation effectively, and find socially acceptable responses to global challenges, Europe will be strong, its institutions will be governed by the rule of law, its policies will be effective, and citizens will be engaged and involved in the decision-making process; supports in this sense also the European Commission’s statement that quantitative approaches (aimed at reducing so-called administrative burdens by a certain percentage) are not adequate to address the complexity and diverse nature of EU regulation and its impact at different levels; endorses in this context also the recommendation of the Task Force on Subsidiarity that the issue of ‘legislative density’ in relation to its added value should be a core element of the REFIT exercise; also welcomes in this context the commitment of the future Commission president to set up a Conference on the future of Europe in 2020 and recalls the CoR’s desire to be fully involved in any discussion on improving EU governance, and its suggestion for a permanent, structured system of citizens’ dialogue in order to strengthen the democratic functioning of the EU;
24.

Notes the General Affairs Council conclusions of June 2018 stating that Turkey’s accession negotiations have effectively come to a standstill, that no further chapters can be considered for opening or closing, and that no further work towards the modernisation of the Customs Union can be currently foreseen; regrets that Turkey still refuses to comply with the provisions of the additional protocol to the association agreement with the EU and to recognise the Republic of Cyprus; reiterates furthermore in this context its previous concerns and recommendations with respect to Cyprus expressed in detail in its Opinion on the Enlargement Package 2018; it further notes with regret that despite the European Union’s repeated calls to Turkey to cease its illegal activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey continues its drilling operations within Cypriot territorial waters and reaffirms its full solidarity with Cyprus regarding its international recognition, sovereignty, and its rights under international law;
41.

highlights the urgency of updating the national energy mix by using new advanced technologies in order to best serve reaching the goals of the EU decarbonisation strategy, as well as to fully encompass and benefit from the contributions of ‘prosumers’, local energy communities and new technologies; highlights the importance of the reliable low and medium-voltage electricity grid and the need to increase the share of renewable energies in the base-load power, in particular by developing storage and management technologies and expanding energy networks to better connect new small-scale producers to the low and medium-voltage grids; calls on the Commission to better represent smart grid projects in the list of projects of common interest (PCI) within the new proposed TEN-E framework;
41.

sees great potential in interregional cooperation and its new I3 Instrument, including for linking the regions facing the greatest challenges in terms of the twin transitions with other regions, in order to contribute to interregional value chains and cohesion. Increased use of this instrument, as well as possible additional instruments, can support interregional collaboration to strengthen European value chains. European networks, such as the Vanguard Initiative, can support this process. The CoR believes that it is of great importance to refer to Smart Specialisation Strategies as the framework and tool for industrial modernisation and the concept of open innovation. The CoR stresses that there is a need to align the RIS3 with the development of transition pathways, as the S3-strategies are also aimed at supporting the acceleration of the twin transitions;
35.

considers that redistribution is key to leaving no one behind, since the cost of GHG-intensive goods and services (heating and air-conditioning, house rent, transport) will sharply increase due to mitigation policies. In countries where those goods and services are disproportionately consumed by low-income households, mitigation policies will increase inequalities through the expenditure side. To avoid social inequality, the ‘polluter pays’ principle must be more strictly applied. Redistribution must therefore be designed in such a way as to reward those who behave in a climate-friendly manner. Climate action is the responsibility of the whole of society. The EU budget and the various EU funds should take into account the socioeconomic differences of countries and regions, and the effects that climate change and the policies to combat it have on territorial and social inequality, so that the green transition is as just and inclusive as possible.
16.

welcomes the European Commission's emphasis on quality employment recommending that Member States ensure that their Youth Guarantee schemes include a good-quality offer of employment. Moreover, the economic crisis should not be used as an excuse for relaxing occupational health and safety requirements. Underlines that there should be a social protection floor for employees, but that it is at national level that the social partners reach agreement on questions of labour law. Social partners should be fully involved in the elaboration of a quality framework for employment offered under Youth Guarantee schemes. Highlights the significantly higher exposure of young people to poverty as confirmed in the European Commission's Employment and Social Developments Review 2012 (4);
42.

asks the European Commission to launch further initiatives under the Resource Efficiency Roadmap (4) in 2014, such as the setting of complementary resource efficiency indicators in addition to the lead indicator on resource productivity used to gauge progress on the Roadmap's main objective — improving economic performance whilst reducing pressure on natural resources — as well as the setting of a new lead indicator on natural capital and environmental impacts of resource use, and advancing on the target based on these indicators, which is to be able to continually and cheaply measure progress in boosting resource efficiency; reiterates its call upon the European Commission to advance actions towards mandatory targets for green public procurement while taking into account that there are other important factors in public procurement (5);
43.

calls on the Commission to implement the European Agenda on Migration in cooperation with the local and regional authorities, particularly in the light of their experiences regarding reception conditions and relocation mechanisms and to put forward legislative proposals on a resettlement mechanism and a permanent relocation mechanism in order to achieve a fairer distribution of those in need of international protection within the EU; expects therefore an evaluation and a possible revision of the Dublin III Regulation; reiterates its proposal to set up ‘migration and integration partnerships’ between cities and regions in the countries of origin and destination, and highlights the role that the European Structural and Investment Funds can play in supporting migration policies and integration processes and the active inclusion of people coherently with principles of EU and social cohesion;
18.

stresses that the CoR has consistently opposed the macroeconomic conditionality in the implementation of Cohesion Policy, stipulated in Article 23 of CPR, as this would penalise cities and regions as a result of the Member State’s failure to comply with their obligations under the Stability and Growth Pact; in this respect, fears that the suspension of ESIF funding for Spain and Portugal would have negative effects on the implementation of operational programmes, already considerably delayed. It would also be contradictory to cancel sanctions under the excessive budgetary deficit procedure (Regulation 1173/2011 on the effective implementation of budgetary supervision) but to consider sanctions under Article 23 of the CPR. At the same time highlights the need for more sound economic management at national level, which is a pre-requisite for the efficient use of ESIF funds;
17.

notes that the EU’s growth model can successfully contribute to the global objectives enshrined in the SDGs and the Green Deal only if proper coordination with local and regional authorities is ensured. Reiterates the need to increase ownership of the European Semester on the ground to make it more effective in respect of the EU’s new and ambitious goal of pursuing the SDGs, not least because according to the OECD, 65 % of the 169 targets of the SDGs cannot be achieved without full engagement and coordination with local and regional authorities. For the Semester to deliver on its promises, all levels of government and relevant stakeholders should be involved as partners, beyond the current practices mostly based on consultations at the final stages of the Semester process. This partnership approach should be urgently adopted and localise the implementation of SDGs into place-based objectives and targets and related timeframes; this requires more emphasis on operational SDG commitments and voluntary local reviews of SDG implementation processes;
21.

reiterates the need to respect the fundamental rights and the principles recognised in particular by the Charter of Fundamental Rights when this regulation is implemented by Member States and their regions, including the right to respect for private and family life, the right to the protection of personal data, the right to equality before the law and non-discrimination, the right to free movement and the right to an effective remedy. In this regard, any restrictions on fundamental rights should be subject to proportionality assessments and checks;
Final report of the Hearing Officer in case COMP/36.693 - Volkswagen(1)

(pursuant to Article 15 of Commission Decision 2001/462/EC, ECSC of 23 May 2001 on the terms of reference of hearing officers in certain competition procedures (OJ L 162, 19.6.2001))

(2001/C 278/02)

The draft Decision does not give rise to any particular observation. There were no procedural problems. The interested party did not request an oral hearing. The draft Decision contains no objections in respect of which Volkswagen has not been afforded the opportunity of making known its views.

Done at Brussels, 14 June 2001.

Helmuth Schröter

(1) OJ L 254, 22.9.2001.
Communication from the French Government concerning Directive 94/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 1994 on the conditions for granting and using authorisations for the prospecting, exploration and production of hydrocarbons(1)

(2001/C 175/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

Notice regarding an application for an exclusive licence to prospect for liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons, designated the "Courtenay Licence"

By request of 19 March 2001, Madison/Chart Energy SCS, a company with registered offices at 13/15 boulevard de la Madeleine, F-75001 Paris, applied for an exclusive four-year licence designated the "Courtenay Licence", to prospect for liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons in an area of around 946 km2 covering part of the departments of Loiret and Yonne.

The perimeter of the area covered by this licence is made up of the meridian and parallel arcs successively joining the vertices defined below by their geographical coordinates, the original meridian being that of Paris:

>TABLE>

The following concession perimeters are excluded from this licence:

Saint Firmin-des-Bois concession (16,136 km2):

>TABLE>

Château-Renard concession (45,69 km2):

>TABLE>

Interested companies may, within 90 days of the publication of this notice, submit a competing application in accordance with the procedure summarised in the "Notice regarding the granting of mining rights for hydrocarbons in France" published in the Official Journal of the European Communities C 374 of 30.12.1994, p. 11, and established by Decree 95-427 of 19 April 1995 regarding mining rights (Journal officiel de la République française of 22 April 1995).

Competing applications will be accepted only for areas outside the perimeter requested by Vermilion Rep SA in its application for the "Saint Valérien Licence", in respect of which the deadline for competing applications expired on 20 March 2001 (See notice published in Official Journal of the European Communities C 368, 21.12.2000, p. 2).

Additional information can be obtained from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Finance and Industry (secrétariat d'État à l'industrie, direction générale de l'énergie et des matières premières, direction des matières premières et des hydrocarbures, service de conservation des gisements d'hydrocarbures), 120 rue du Cherche-Midi, F-75353 Paris 07 SP (tel. (33) 143 19 53 53, fax (33) 143 19 54 54).

(1) OJ L 164, 30.6.1994, p. 3.
Administrative Commission of the European Communities on Social security for Migrant workers

Rates for conversion of currencies pursuant to Council Regulation (EEC) No 574/72

(2002/C 270/03)

>TABLE>

1. Regulation (EEC) No 574/72 determines that the rate for the conversion into a currency of amounts denominated in another currency shall be the rate calculated by the Commission and based on the monthly average, during the reference period specified in paragraph 2, of reference rates of exchange of currencies published by the European Central Bank.

2. The reference period shall be:

- the month of January for rates of conversion applicable from 1 April following,

- the month of April for rates of conversion applicable from 1 July following,

- the month of July for rates of conversion applicable from 1 October following,

- the month of October for rates of conversion applicable from 1 January following.

The rates for the conversion of currencies shall be published in the second Official Journal of the European Communities ("C" series) of the months of February, May, August and November.
Final report of the Hearing Officer in case COMP/36.264 - Mercedes, pursuant to Article 15 of Commission Decision 2001/462/EC, ECSC of 23 May 2001 on the terms of reference of Hearing Officers in certain competition proceedings (OJ L 162, 19.6.2001, p. 21)

(2002/C 228/03)

The draft Decision gives rise to the following obsevations regarding the right to be heard.

There were no procedural problems. The Statement of Objections was sent to the undertaking concerned, DaimlerChrysler AG, on 31 March 1999. The undertaking replied by letter of 14 June 1999. The Oral Hearing took place on 29 June 1999.

The rather long duration of the procedure is mainly due to the fact that the undertaking concerned was afforded the opportunity of submitting several additional comments in writing after the Oral Hearing. On 7 December 1999 DaimlerChrysler AG presented a legal expert's report which analysed in detail the main question of the case, namely the application of Article 81 to the distribution of motor vehicles via a network of commercial agents. A further written submission from the undertaking was received by the Commission on 4 September 2000 after the judgment of the Court of First Instance of the European Communities in the Volkswagen AG case. The draft Decision to be submitted to the Advisory Committee on restrictive practices and monopolies was drafted by mid-2001 after all of DaimlerChrysler AG's submissions had been analysed.

It follows from the above observations that the rights of defence have been fully respected. The draft Decision deals only with objections in respect of which DaimlerChrysler AG has been afforded the opportunity of making known its views.

Done at Brussels on 4 September 2001.

Helmuth Schröter
Final report of the Hearing Officer in case COMP/M.2333 - De Beers/LVMH

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

(2003/C 27/05)

(Text with EEA relevance)

The draft decision does not give rise to particular observations regarding the right to be heard.

Following the initiation of proceedings under Article 6(1)(c) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89, as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1310/97, the Commission, after having considered the results of a exhaustive exchange of views with the parties to the proposed merger and having evaluated the submissions by third parties, reached the conclusion that the serious doubts which it had initially expressed as to the compatibility of the notified concentration with the common market could no longer be maintained.

The Commission therefore desisted from sending a Statement of Objections.

Done at Brussels, 5 July 2001.

Helmuth Schröter
Corrigendum to the United Kingdom Government notice concerning European Parliament and Council Directive 94/22/EC of 30 May 1994 on the conditions for granting and using authorisations for the prospection, exploration and production of hydrocarbons

(Official Journal of the European Union C 309 of 19 December 2003)

(2004/C 4/05)

On page 11, point 1:

for: "... SN 88; 89; 97; 98; 99 ...",

read: "... NS 88; 89; 97; 98; 99 ..."