jurisdiction: US

text:
 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
 42 CFR Parts 431, 433, and 440
 [CMS-2287-P]
 RIN 0938-AP13
 Medicaid Program; Elimination of Reimbursement Under Medicaid for School Administration Expenditures and Costs Related to Transportation of School-Age Children Between Home and School
 AGENCY:
 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
 ACTION:
 Proposed rule.
 SUMMARY:
 Under the Medicaid program, Federal payment is available for the costs of administrative activities “as found necessary by the Secretary for the proper and efficient administration of the State plan.” The proposed rule would eliminate reimbursement under the Medicaid program for the costs of certain activities based on a Secretarial finding that these activities are not necessary for the proper and efficient administration of the State plan, nor do they meet the definition of an optional transportation benefit. Based on these determinations, under the proposed rule, Federal Medicaid payments would no longer be available for administrative activities performed by school employees or contractors, or anyone under the control of a public or private educational institution, and transportation from home to school and back for school-aged children with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or an Individualized Family Services Plan (IFSP) established pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
 DATES:
 To be assured consideration, comments must be received at one of the addresses provided below, no later than 5 p.m. on November 6, 2007.
 ADDRESSES:
 In commenting, please refer to file code CMS-2287-P. Because of staff and resource limitations, we cannot accept comments by facsimile (FAX) transmission.
 You may submit comments in one of four ways (no duplicates, please):
 1. Electronically. You may submit electronic comments on specific issues in this regulation to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/eRulemaking. Click on the link “Submit electronic comments on CMS regulations with an open comment period.” (Attachments should be in Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, or Excel; however, we prefer Microsoft Word.)
 2. By regular mail. You may mail written comments (one original and two copies) to the following address ONLY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-2287-P, Mail Stop S3-14-22, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244.
 Please allow sufficient time for mailed comments to be received before the close of the comment period.
 3. By express or overnight mail. You may send written comments (one original and two copies) to the following address ONLY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-2287-P, Mail Stop S3-14-22, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244.
 4. By hand or courier. If you prefer, you may deliver (by hand or courier) your written comments (one original and two copies) before the close of the comment period to one of the following addresses. If you intend to deliver your comments to the Baltimore address, please call telephone number (410) 786-3256 or (410) 786-9215 in advance to schedule your arrival with one of our staff members. Room 445-G, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201; or 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
 (Because access to the interior of the HHH Building is not readily available to persons without Federal Government identification, commenters are encouraged to leave their comments in the CMS drop slots located in the main lobby of the building. A stamp-in clock is available for persons wishing to retain a proof of filing by stamping in and retaining an extra copy of the comments being filed.)
 Comments mailed to the addresses indicated as appropriate for hand or courier delivery may be delayed and received after the comment period.
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
 Sharon J. Brown, (410) 786-0673, Judi Wallace, (410) 786-3197.
 Submitting Comments: We welcome comments from the public on all issues set forth in this proposed rule to assist us in fully considering issues and developing policies. You can assist us by referencing the file code CMS-2287-P the specific “issue identifier” that precedes the section on which you choose to comment.
 Inspection of Public Comments: All comments received before the close of the comment period are available for viewing by the public, including any personally identifiable or confidential business information that is included in a comment. We post all comments received before the close of the comment period on the following Web site as soon as possible after they have been received: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/eRulemaking. Click on the link “Electronic Comments on CMS Regulations” on that Web site to view public comments.
 Comments received timely will also be available for public inspection as they are received, generally beginning approximately 3 weeks after publication of a document, at the headquarters of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244, Monday through Friday of each week from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. E.S.T. To schedule an appointment to view public comments, phone 1-800-743-3951.
 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
 I. Background
 A. Medicaid Program
 Title XIX of the Social Security Act (the Act) authorizes Federal grants to States for Medicaid programs, operated by the State under an approved State plan, that provide medical assistance to needy individuals including low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Federal payment is available to States for a proportion of expenditures for medical assistance under the approved State plan, and qualified expenditures for administration of the State plan. This joint Federal-state financing of expenditures is described in section 1903(a) of the Act, which sets forth the rates of Federal financing for different types of expenditures.
 Under section 1903(a)(7), of the Act, Federal payment is currently available at a rate of 50 percent of amounts expended by a State “as found necessary by the Secretary for the proper and efficient administration of the State plan.” In addition, OMB Circular A-87, which contains the cost principles for State, local and Indian tribal governments for the administration of Federal awards, states that, “Governmental units are responsible for the efficient and effective administration of Federal awards.” Under these provisions, administrative expenditures must be reasonable and necessary for the operation of the governmental unit or the performance of the Federal award.
 Transportation to and from providers is not expressly mentioned in the Medicaid statute. Since the inception of the program, however, the Federal government has recognized that transportation is essential to the administration of the State plan, to ensure that beneficiaries have access to covered services.
 Federal regulations at 42 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 431.53 require that State plans “specify that the Medicaid agency will ensure necessary transportation for recipients to and from providers” and describe the methods for doing so. Alternatively, under 42 CFR 440.170(a), the option of furnishing transportation as an optional covered service recognized under section 1905(a)(28) of the Act is defined and specified. Whether transportation is furnished as an administrative activity or as a covered service could affect the Federal Medicaid matching rate and the flexibility available to the State, but these issues are not relevant for purposes of this proposed regulation.
 B. Medicaid and Schools
 1. Medical Assistance Furnished in Schools
 A wide range of medical services are furnished to students in school settings. In particular, pursuant to requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), schools deliver a broad range of educational and related services (e.g., educational, social, and medical services) to students with disabilities to address their diverse needs.
 Section 411(k)(13) of the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988 (MCCA) amended section 1903(c) of the Act to clarify that Federal Medicaid payment is available for otherwise covered services furnished to children in fulfillment of requirements under IDEA. Specifically, section 1903(c) of the Act, as amended by the MCCA, prohibits the Secretary from denying or restricting Federal Medicaid payment to States for covered services furnished to a child with a disability on the basis that the services are included in the child's Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Individualized Family Services Plan (IFSP) established pursuant to the IDEA.
 Some of the special education and related services required by the IDEA are within the scope of services provided under the Medicaid program. Medicaid covers direct medical services included in an IEP or IFSP under the following conditions:
 • The direct medical services are medically necessary and included in a Medicaid covered category (speech therapy, physical therapy, etc.);
 • All other Federal and State Medicaid regulations are followed, including those for provider qualifications, comparability of services and the amount, duration and scope provisions; and
 • The direct medical services are included in the State's approved Medicaid plan and/or available under the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) program.
 As discussed in more detail below, the proposed rule would not affect Federal reimbursement for direct medical service expenditures (other than certain transportation costs, discussed separately below).
 2. Administrative Activities Performed by School Employees or Contractors (School-Based Administrative Activities)
 CMS has previously recognized that schools and school districts may perform activities that provide support for the Medicaid State plan. In 1997, CMS issued a guidance document entitled, “MEDICAID AND SCHOOL HEALTH: A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GUIDE,” that interpreted existing law and regulations to permit States to claim Federal Medicaid matching funds for the costs of school-based administrative activities, specifically including Medicaid outreach, eligibility intake, information and referral, coordination and monitoring of health services, and interagency coordination. In that guidance, CMS emphasized that allowable activities must directly relate and support the Medicaid State plan or waiver services.
 In May 2003, CMS issued additional guidance on school-based claiming in the “Medicaid School-Based Administrative Claiming Guide” (the Guide). The Guide was intended to inform schools, State Medicaid agencies, and other interested parties on the appropriate methods for claiming Federal reimbursement for the costs of Medicaid administrative activities performed in the school setting. The Guide described allowable Medicaid school-based administrative activities as including the following:
 • Medicaid Outreach
 • Facilitating Medicaid Eligibility Determinations
 • Transportation Related Activities in Support of Medicaid Covered Services
 • Translation Related to Medicaid Services
 • Program Planning, Policy Development, and Interagency Coordination Related to Medical Services
 • Medical/Medicaid Related Training
 • Referral, Coordination, and Monitoring of Medicaid Services
 As discussed further below, this proposed rule would supersede the prior guidance and would represent the Secretary's determination that Medicaid expenditures for such school-based administrative activities do not meet the statutory test under section 1903(a)(7) of being “necessary * * * for the proper and efficient administration of the State plan.” However, the proposed rule does not bring into question the legitimacy of the types of Medicaid administrative activities provided in schools. Rather, it reflects the Secretary's determination that such activities are only necessary for the proper and efficient administration of the State plan when conducted by employees of the State or local Medicaid agency. Due to inconsistent application of Medicaid requirements by schools to the types of administrative activities conducted in the school setting, the Secretary has determined that such activities can only be properly conducted, overseen and appropriately allocated to Medicaid when conducted by employees of the State or local Medicaid agency.
 CMS recognizes that schools are valid settings for the delivery of Medicaid services. Under the proposed rule, CMS would continue to reimburse States for the costs of school-based direct medical services under the IDEA that are covered in their approved State Medicaid plan, and for transportation of school-age children from school to a non-school-based provider that bills under the Medicaid program, among other types of expenditures that will remain eligible for Federal financial participation (FFP).
 3. Transportation From Home to School and Back
 Ensuring transportation to and from providers is a required administrative activity under CMS regulations at 42 CFR 431.53 or, alternatively, transportation to and from providers can be furnished as a medical service recognized by the Secretary under section 1905(a)(28) of the Act, as indicated in 42 CFR 440.170(a).
 CMS previously addressed school-based transportation in the guidance document discussed in the prior section, and in guidance contained in a May 21, 1999, letter to State Medicaid Directors. In those documents, CMS expressed the policy that Medicaid payment for transporting Medicaid-eligible children to and from school was extremely limited, including only specialized transportation that is required under an IEP for children with disabilities, on a day when that child receives a covered medical service from a qualified provider at the school. In this guidance, CMS indicated that the same interpretation was applicable to transportation claimed as a covered medical service.
 However, as discussed further below, the proposed rule would supersede the prior guidance and would represent the Secretary's determination that transportation from home to school and back does not meet the definition of an optional medical transportation service nor is it necessary for the proper and efficient administration of the State plan.
 C. Medicaid Reimbursement
 In general, States submit claims for Federal funds with respect to expenditures under their Medicaid programs either as “medical assistance” or as “State/local administration.”
 i. Medical Assistance
 FFP for allowable medical assistance expenditures under the Medicaid program is determined by the applicable Federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) rate for a given State. The FMAP rate is determined annually for each State by a formula based on the relationship of the State's average per capita income level with the national per capita income level.
 The State Medicaid Agency (SMA) reimburses participating Medicaid providers, including school providers, for allowable direct medical service expenditures. These reimbursement rates are set by the SMA and, therefore, any discussions regarding the appropriateness of such rates on the part of providers must be conducted at the State level. The reimbursement methodology is contained in the CMS approved Medicaid State Plan.
 The proposed rule would not affect Federal reimbursement for the costs of allowable direct medical service expenditures.
 ii. Administration
 According to the Medicaid statute at section 1903(a)(7) of the Act and implementing regulations at 42 CFR 430.1 and 42 CFR 431.15, for the costs of any administrative activities to be allowable and reimbursable under Medicaid, the activities must be “found necessary by the Secretary for the proper and efficient administration of the plan” (referring to the Medicaid State plan).
 In addition, OMB Circular A-87, which contains the cost principles for State, local and Indian tribal governments for the administration of Federal awards, states that, “Governmental units are responsible for the efficient and effective administration of Federal awards.” Under these provisions, administrative expenditures must be reasonable and necessary for the operation of the governmental unit or the performance of the Federal award.
 FFP for allowable administrative expenditures in schools is available at a matching rate of 50 percent. The proposed rule would eliminate reimbursement for administrative expenditures conducted by school employees or contractors, or anyone under the control of a public or private educational agency, and certain transportation costs, as specified below. However, under the proposed rule, Federal funding would continue to be available for administrative overhead costs which are integral to, or an extension of, a specified direct medical service to the extent those costs are factored into the rate paid for such services and reimbursed at the applicable FMAP rate. These overhead costs include patient follow-up, assessment, counseling, education, parent consultations, and billing activities. Furthermore, school-based administrative activities, such as Medicaid outreach and eligibility intake, that are conducted by employees of the State or local Medicaid agency, will remain eligible for FFP.
 D. Improper Billing
 CMS has had long-standing concerns about improper billing by school districts for administrative costs and transportation services. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office have identified these categories of expenses as susceptible to widespread fraud and abuse. In addition, costs related to education mandates have been improperly allocated to Medicaid. Congress has also expressed concern about the dramatic increase in Medicaid claims for school-based costs, which were the subject of two U.S. Senate Finance Committee hearings, held in June 1999 and April 2000. In fact, examining State-reported expenditure data related to schools reveals that, in certain years, a number of States' reported school-based administrative expenditures approached or even exceeded their reported school-based direct medical service expenditures, which is clearly evidence of improper claiming in this area. There may be certain States that do not submit claims for the costs of direct services provided in schools, thereby accounting for instances in which a State's school-based administrative expenditures exceed their direct service expenditures, but such instances are an exception to overall school-based expenditure reporting trends.
 II. Provisions of the Proposed Regulations
 The proposed rule would establish a Secretarial finding that school-based administrative activities are not necessary for the proper and efficient administration of the State plan. Moreover, this proposed rule would establish a finding that transportation from home to school and back for school-age children is neither necessary for the proper and efficient administration of the State plan, nor within the scope of the optional medical transportation benefit. Based on these findings, the proposed rule would specify that FFP under the Medicaid program will not be available for school-based administrative and certain transportation costs unless conducted by employees of the State or local Medicaid agency.
 Under the proposed rule, the following changes would apply for the costs of the following activities or services:
 • FFP would no longer be available for the costs of school-based administrative activities under Medicaid. As discussed below, by administrative activities we refer to activities that are not properly included in the scope of a covered service. School-based administrative expenditures are expenditures under the administrative control of a public or private educational institution and that are conducted by school employees or contractors, or anyone under the control of a public or private educational agency.
 • FFP would no longer be available for the costs of transportation from home to school and back for school-age children with an IEP or IFSP established pursuant to the IDEA.
 The rule would supersede all previous guidance, including guidance on school-based administrative claiming and school-based transportation.
 Under the proposed rule, CMS would continue to reimburse States for school-based direct Medicaid services in their approved State plans. That is, the proposed rule would not affect the treatment of expenditures for direct medical services that are included in the approved State Medicaid plan and provided in schools, nor would it affect transportation of school-aged children from school or home to a non-school-based direct medical service provider that bills under the Medicaid program, or from the non-school-based provider to school or home.
 Furthermore, under the proposed rule, CMS would continue to reimburse States for transportation costs related to children who are not yet school-age and are being transported from home to another location, including school, and back to receive direct medical services, as long as the visit does not include an educational component or any activity unrelated to the covered direct medical service.
 Federal funding would also continue to be available for administrative overhead costs that are integral to, or an extension of, a direct medical service and, as such, are claimed as medical assistance. These activities are properly reimbursed at the applicable FMAP rate for the related direct medical service, and include patient follow-up, assessment, counseling, education, parent consultations, and billing activities. Furthermore, school-based administrative activities, such as Medicaid outreach and eligibility intake, that are conducted by employees of the State or local Medicaid agency will remain eligible for FFP under the proposed rule.
 CMS has determined that administrative activities performed by schools, and transportation of school-age children from home to school and back, are not necessary for proper and efficient administration of the State Medicaid plan, and are not within the scope of the transportation services recognized by the Secretary under 42 CFR 440.170(a), for the following reasons:
 (1) The activities or services support the educational program and do not specifically benefit the Medicaid program;
 (2) The activities or services are performed by school systems to further their educational mission and/or to meet requirements under the IDEA, even in the absence of any Medicaid payment;
 (3) The types of school-based administrative activities for which claims are submitted to Medicaid largely overlap with educational activities that do not directly benefit the Medicaid program; and
 (4) Transportation from home to school and back is not properly characterized as transportation to or from a medical provider.
 School-based administrative activities and transportation from home to school and back are performed primarily to support educational programs rather than administration of the State Medicaid Plan. One of the essential functions of schools is to ensure that students receive all required services necessary to obtain a free appropriate public education.
 Students receive transportation from home to school and back regardless of whether or not they are determined eligible for special education services. Transportation from home to school and back is an essential school function and is furnished by the school regardless of whether medical services are received at the school. School-age children, including children with an IEP or IFSP, are transported from home to school primarily to receive an education, not to receive direct medical services. Because transportation coincides with the school schedule and is not directly related to a visit to a medical provider, characterization of the transportation as medically necessary to gain access to providers is inaccurate.
 With respect to school-based administrative activities, section 1903(c) of the Act provides specific authority under the Medicaid program only for reimbursement of medical assistance for specified covered services in schools; it contains no provision authorizing claiming for the costs of school-based Medicaid administration. CMS has determined that the costs of school-based administrative activities only meet the requirement of being proper and efficient for the administration of the State plan to the extent they are conducted by employees of the State or local Medicaid agency, rather than school employees or contractors, or anyone under the control of a public or private educational institution. In addition, the types of school-based administrative activities for which claims are submitted to Medicaid largely overlap with educational activities that do not directly benefit the Medicaid program. Furthermore, there is unclear and inconsistent application of Medicaid requirements by schools to the types of administrative activities conducted in the school setting. Therefore, under the proposed rule, the costs of school-based administrative activities would only be allocable to Medicaid when provided by employees of the State or local Medicaid agency.
 States receive Federal aid under IDEA to assist public schools in delivering mandated services in pursuit of a free appropriate public education. Section 1903(c) of the Act was intended to provide States with access to Medicaid funding for services provided under IDEA in addition to Federal funding provided through IDEA grants to States. Therefore, CMS has determined that the proper and efficient operation of the State Medicaid plan does not require payment for the cost of administration unrelated to the provision of a covered direct medical service or for transportation from home to school and back. Schools must perform these activities pursuant to education requirements, even in the absence of Medicaid payment. Activities performed by school employees are therefore not specifically authorized by the responsible State Medicaid agency.
 The proposed rule would eliminate FFP for State claims related to transporting school-age children from home to school and back. However, if a Medicaid eligible student is transported from school to an appointment for a covered service with a non-school-based direct medical service provider that bills under the Medicaid program, the costs of such transportation would remain eligible for FFP.
 Furthermore, under the proposed rule CMS would continue to reimburse States for transportation costs related to children who are not yet school-age and are being transported from home to another location, including school, and back to receive direct medical services as long as the visit does not include an educational component or any activity unrelated to the covered direct medical service.
 III. Collection of Information Requirements
 This document does not impose information collection and recordkeeping requirements. Consequently, it need not be reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget under the authority of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 35).
 IV. Response to Comments
 Because of the large number of public comments we normally receive on Federal Register documents, we are not able to acknowledge or respond to them individually. We will consider all comments we receive by the date and time specified in the DATES section of this preamble, and, when we proceed with a subsequent document, we will respond to the comments in the preamble to that document.
 V. Regulatory Impact Statement
 A. Overall Impact
 We have examined the impact of this rule as required by Executive Order 12866 (September 1993, Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (September 19, 1980, Pub. L. 96-534), section 1102(b) of the Social Security Act, the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4), and Executive Order 13132. Executive Order 12866 (as amended by Executive Order 13258 and Executive Order 13422) directs agencies to assess all costs and benefits of all available regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). A regulatory impact analysis (RIA) must be prepared for major rules with economically significant effects ($100 million or more in any 1 year). The proposed rule's savings would exceed this economic threshold and it is therefore considered a major rule. The proposed rule is estimated to reduce Federal Medicaid outlays by $635 million in FY 2009 and by $3.6 billion over the first five years (FY 2009-2013). The RFA requires agencies to analyze options for regulatory relief of small entities if proposed rules have a “significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.” For purposes of the RFA, small entities include small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and small governmental jurisdictions, including school districts. “Small” governmental jurisdictions are defined as having a population of less than fifty thousand. Individuals and States are not included in the definition of a small entity. Although some school districts have populations below this threshold and are therefore considered small entities for purposes of the RFA, CMS has determined the impact on local school districts as a result of the proposed rule would not exceed the threshold of “significant” economic impact under the RFA, as discussed below. However, we are specifically soliciting comments from the public regarding the potential impact on local schools.
 States have the option under the proposed rule to continue funding school-based administrative activities using State-only funds; this rule simply eliminates the availability of Federal Medicaid matching funds for these expenditures when they are performed by employees of the school or contractors, or anyone under the control of a public or private educational institution, rather than employees of the Medicaid agency. However, with respect to transportation specifically, States and/or schools will be required under the proposed rule to continue funding transportation of school-age children from home to school and back to the extent it is required by education statute(s). That is because schools provide transportation to and from school for all students, not just (or even primarily) special education or Medicaid eligible students.
 The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires public schools to provide a free appropriate public education to children with disabilities. The IDEA authorizes funding through the U.S. Department of Education (not Medicaid) for special education and related services for children with disabilities. While section 1903(c) of the Social Security Act authorized Medicaid funding for covered services included in an individualized education plan under the IDEA, section 1903(c) does not expressly authorize Medicaid funding for administrative activities that schools conduct in implementing their IDEA responsibilities.
 Medicaid matching funds provided as reimbursement for administrative activities are supplemental to the State and local funding localities already received. Furthermore, the estimated annual Federal savings under this proposed rule is only about one eighth of one percent of total annual spending on elementary and secondary schools (in 2004 total elementary and secondary spending was $453 billion according to the Statistical Abstract of the United States, Table 245, at http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/education). According to the “Guidance on Proper Consideration of Small Entities in Rulemakings of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (May 2003),” if the average annual impact on small entities is 3 to 5 percent or more, it is to be considered significant. Because we use a threshold of 3 to 5 percent of annual revenues or costs in determining whether a proposed or final rule has a “significant” economic impact on small entities, we have determined that this proposed rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. However, we welcome comments on both the stated threshold for determining what is or is not a significant economic impact and the conclusion we reached as a result of the chosen threshold. We are additionally requesting comments specific to the potential impact of the proposed rule on other programs, both Federal and State programs.
 In addition, section 1102(b) of the Act requires us to prepare a regulatory impact analysis if a rule may have a significant impact on the operations of a substantial number of small rural hospitals. This analysis must conform to the provisions of section 603 of the RFA. For purposes of section 1102(b) of the Act, we define a small rural hospital as a hospital that is located outside of a Metropolitan Statistical Area and has fewer than 100 beds. We are not preparing an analysis for section 1102(b) of the Act because we have determined, and the Secretary certifies, that this rule would not have a direct impact on the operations of a substantial number of small rural hospitals. Section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 also requires that agencies assess anticipated costs and benefits before issuing any rule whose mandates require spending in any 1 year of $100 million in 1995 dollars, updated annually for inflation. That threshold level is currently approximately $130 million. This rule contains no mandates. The proposed rule anticipates Federal savings of approximately $635 million in the first year following implementation, but does not require States to replace that Federal funding with State funding or take any other particular steps. Any mandates regarding school transportation spending arise under State constitutions, or other Federal or State laws. School-based Medicaid administrative activities and transportation from home to school and back are not required activities under the Medicaid statute.
 Executive Order 13132 on Federalism establishes certain requirements that an agency must meet when it promulgates a proposed rule (and subsequent final rule) that imposes substantial direct requirements on State and local governments, preempts State law, or otherwise has Federalism implications. EO 13132 focuses on the roles and responsibilities of different levels of government, and requires Federal deference to State policy making discretion when States make decisions about the uses of their own funds or otherwise make State-level decisions. We find that this rule would not have a substantial effect on State or local government policy discretion. While the proposed rule would eliminate the ability of States to claim Federal Medicaid funding for school-based administrative and certain transportation costs, notably routine home-to-school and back bus transportation, it would not impose any requirement as to how States or localities administer or pay for such activities, or interfere in any way with the ability of States to determine school transportation policy. The rule would simply recognize that routine school transportation from home to school and back and related administrative activities are not authorized under the Medicaid statute as necessary for the proper and efficient administration of the State plan, nor do they meet the definition of an optional transportation benefit under Medicaid.
 In accordance with the provisions of Executive Order 12866, this regulation was reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget.
 B. Anticipated Effects
 The proposed rule is a major rule because it is estimated to result in $635 million in savings during the first year and $3.6 billion in savings over the first five years. The following chart summarizes our estimate of the anticipated effects of this proposed rule.
 Table I.—Estimated Reduction in Federal Medicaid Outlays Resulting From the Elimination of Reimbursement for School-Based Administration and Certain Transportation Costs in Proposed Rule
 [Amounts in millions]
 2009
 2010
 2011
 2012
 2013
 2009-2013
 School-Based Costs: Eliminate Reimbursement for Administration/Transportation
 −635
 −675
 −720
 −770
 −820
 −3620
 These estimates assume implementation beginning in the 2008-09 school year and are based on recent reviews of State reported school-based administrative and direct medical service expenditures reported on the quarterly CMS expenditure forms (MBES/CBES Form 64.10I and Form 64.10PI Information Forms for School-Based ADM and MAP claims). From these voluntary State claiming reports, an estimate of the total amount of claims under the Medicaid program that would be affected by the proposed rule was developed and then projected forward using assumptions consistent with the most recent President's Budget projections. There is uncertainty in this estimate to the extent that State-reported expenditures related to school-based administration and transportation may not match actual current spending and to the extent that the impact of the proposed rule is greater than or less than assumed. Furthermore, claims related to the costs of transportation from home to school and back as a direct service are included in the total amount claimed for all medical assistance. Therefore, it is difficult, if not impossible, to determine the impact of the proposed rule on the types of transportation costs that would be affected.
 VI. Alternatives Considered
 In developing this regulation, various alternatives were considered. We considered the possibility of conducting stronger review of reimbursement methodologies for the costs of Medicaid administrative activities provided in schools and transportation from home to school and back. We also considered seeking to implement policies requiring greater accountability and oversight responsibility for school-based administrative and transportation expenditures, and clarification of Federal requirements without any new regulation (using existing statutory and regulatory authority). In addition, we considered developing standard parameters applicable to claiming for all school-based Medicaid administration and transportation costs. However, CMS attempted, by issuing the May 2003 Medicaid School-Based Administrative Claiming Guide, to provide specific guidance on the requirements for claming costs related to school-based activities. In the end, we ultimately rejected these alternatives because the intervening years have proven that such activities cannot be adequately regulated or overseen.
 CMS has determined that the rulemaking process would be the most effective method of implementing these policies because the rulemaking process would better inform affected parties, allow for public input, and make clear that the requirements set forth are uniform, fair and consistent with the underlying statutory intent. We welcome comments on this regulatory impact analysis and any additional information that would be useful in assessing the potential impact of the proposed rule.
 A. Accounting Statement
 As required by OMB Circular A-4 (available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/a004/a-4.pdf), in the table below, we have prepared an accounting statement showing the classification of the expenditures associated with the provisions of this proposed rule. This table provides our best estimate of the decrease in Federal Medicaid outlays resulting from the elimination of reimbursement for school-based administration and certain transportation costs that would be implemented by this proposed rule. The sum total of these expenditures is classified as savings in Federal Medicaid spending.
 Table II.—Accounting Statement: Classification of Estimated Expenditures, From Fiscal Year 2009 to Fiscal Year 2013
 [In millions]
 Category
 TRANSFERS
 Negative Transfer-estimated decrease in expenditures:
 Annualized Monetized Transfers
 3% Units Discount Rate
 7% Units Discount Rate
 $721
 $718
 From Whom To Whom?
 Federal Government to States
 List of Subjects
 42 CFR Part 431
 Grant programs—health, Health facilities, Medicaid, Privacy, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
 42 CFR Part 433
 Administrative practice and procedure, Child support, Claims, Grant programs—health, Medicaid, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
 42 CFR Part 440
 Grant programs—health, Medicaid.
 For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services would amend 42 CFR chapter IV as set forth below:
 PART 431—STATE ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
 1. The authority citation for part 431 continues to read as follows:
 Authority:
 Sec. 1102 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1302).
 2. Section 431.53 is revised to read as follows:
 § 431.53
 Assurance of Transportation.
 (a) A State plan must—
 (1) Specify that the Medicaid agency will ensure necessary transportation for recipients to and from providers; and
 (2) Describe the methods that the agency will use to meet this requirement.
 (b) For purposes of this assurance, necessary transportation does not include transportation of school-age children between home and school.
 PART 433—STATE FISCAL ADMINISTRATION
 3. The authority citation for part 433 continues to read as follows:
 Authority:
 Sec. 1102 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1302).
 4. Part 433 is amended by adding new section 433.20 as follows:
 § 433.20
 Rates of FFP for Administration: Reimbursement for School-Based Administrative Expenditures.
 Federal financial participation under Medicaid is not available for expenditures for administrative activities by school employees, school contractors, or anyone under the control of a public or private educational institution.
 PART 440—SERVICES: GENERAL PROVISIONS
 5. The authority citation for part 440 continues to read as follows:
 Authority:
 Sec. 1102 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1302).
 6. Section 440.170(a)(1) is revised to read as follows:
 § 440.170
 Any other medical care or remedial care recognized under State law and specified by the Secretary.
 (a) Transportation. (1) “Transportation” includes expenses for transportation and other related travel expenses determined to be necessary by the agency to secure medical examinations and treatment for a recipient. Such transportation does not include transportation of school-age children from home to school and back.
 (Authority: Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.778, Medical Assistance Program)
 Dated: July 20, 2007.
 Leslie V. Norwalk,
 Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
 Approved: August 10, 2007.
 Michael O. Leavitt,
 Secretary.
 [FR Doc. 07-4356 Filed 8-31-07; 3:00 pm]
 BILLING CODE 4120-01-P


type: legislation

jurisdiction: EU

text:
 13.8.2015
 IT
 Gazzetta ufficiale dell'Unione europea
 L 214/6
 REGOLAMENTO DI ESECUZIONE (UE) 2015/1385 DELLA COMMISSIONE
 del 10 agosto 2015
 relativo alla classificazione di talune merci nella nomenclatura combinata
 LA COMMISSIONE EUROPEA,
 visto il trattato sul funzionamento dell'Unione europea,
 visto il regolamento (CEE) n. 2658/87 del Consiglio, del 23 luglio 1987, relativo alla nomenclatura tariffaria e statistica ed alla tariffa doganale comune (1), in particolare l'articolo 9, paragrafo 1, lettera a),
 considerando quanto segue:
 (1)
 Al fine di garantire l'applicazione uniforme della nomenclatura combinata allegata al regolamento (CEE) n. 2658/87, è necessario adottare disposizioni relative alla classificazione delle merci di cui in allegato al presente regolamento.
 (2)
 Il regolamento (CEE) n. 2658/87 ha fissato le regole generali relative all'interpretazione della nomenclatura combinata. Tali regole si applicano inoltre a qualsiasi nomenclatura che la riprenda, totalmente o in parte, o che aggiunga eventuali suddivisioni e che sia stabilita da specifiche disposizioni dell'Unione per l'applicazione di misure tariffarie o di altra natura nell'ambito degli scambi di merci.
 (3)
 In applicazione di tali regole generali, le merci descritte nella colonna 1 della tabella figurante nell'allegato del presente regolamento devono essere classificate nel corrispondente codice NC indicato nella colonna 2, in virtù delle motivazioni indicate nella colonna 3.
 (4)
 È opportuno disporre che le informazioni tariffarie vincolanti rilasciate per le merci interessate dal presente regolamento che non sono conformi al regolamento stesso possano continuare a essere invocate dal titolare per un determinato periodo, in conformità alle disposizioni dell'articolo 12, paragrafo 6, del regolamento (CEE) n. 2913/92 del Consiglio (2). Tale periodo deve essere fissato a tre mesi.
 (5)
 Le misure di cui al presente regolamento sono conformi al parere del comitato del codice doganale,
 HA ADOTTATO IL PRESENTE REGOLAMENTO:
 Articolo 1
 Le merci descritte nella colonna 1 della tabella figurante in allegato sono classificate nella nomenclatura combinata nel codice NC indicato nella colonna 2 di detta tabella.
 Articolo 2
 Le informazioni tariffarie vincolanti che non sono conformi al presente regolamento possono continuare a essere invocate per un periodo di tre mesi dalla data di entrata in vigore del presente regolamento, in conformità alle disposizioni dell'articolo 12, paragrafo 6, del regolamento (CEE) n. 2913/92.
 Articolo 3
 Il presente regolamento entra in vigore il ventesimo giorno successivo alla pubblicazione nella Gazzetta ufficiale dell'Unione europea.
 Il presente regolamento è obbligatorio in tutti i suoi elementi e direttamente applicabile in ciascuno degli Stati membri.
 Fatto a Bruxelles, il 10 agosto 2015
 Per la Commissione,
 a nome del presidente
 Heinz ZOUREK
 Direttore generale della Fiscalità e unione doganale
 (1) GU L 256 del 7.9.1987, pag. 1.
 (2) Regolamento (CEE) n. 2913/92 del Consiglio, del 12 ottobre 1992, che istituisce un codice doganale comunitario (GU L 302 del 19.10.1992, pag. 1).
 ALLEGATO
 Descrizione delle merci
 Classificazione
 Codice NC
 Motivazione
 (1)
 (2)
 (3)
 Articolo destinato ad essere usato per agevolare la coltivazione di piante all'interno e stimolarne la crescita.
 L'articolo misura circa 80 × 80 × 160 cm ed è costituito da un telaio di tubi d'acciaio cavi; i lati e le parti superiore e inferiore sono costituiti di materia tessile che può chiudersi completamente e il cui rivestimento riflette la luce all'interno. La materia tessile presenta aperture destinate alla ventilazione, all'acqua e all'elettricità; è impermeabile, a tenuta stagna e non lascia passare la luce. Sul tessuto sono cucite cerniere che consentono l'accesso all'interno dell'articolo da ogni lato.
 Cfr. illustrazione (1).
 6307 90 98
 La classificazione è determinata dalle regole generali 1, 3 b), e 6 per l'interpretazione della nomenclatura combinata nonché dal testo dei codici NC 6307, 6307 90 e 6307 90 98.
 La classificazione alla voce 9403 come «altri mobili» è esclusa in quanto l'articolo non è destinato ad attrezzare abitazioni private, alberghi, uffici, scuole, chiese, negozi, laboratori e simili, ma piuttosto ad essere usato per agevolare la coltivazione delle piante e stimolarne la crescita (cfr. anche le note esplicative del sistema armonizzato relative alla voce 9403, secondo paragrafo).
 La classificazione alla voce 9406 fra le «costruzioni prefabbricate», è anch'essa esclusa poiché la costruzione indica che l'articolo è destinato ad essere usato all'interno.
 Il rivestimento riflettente all'interno della materia tessile e le aperture per la ventilazione, l'acqua e l'elettricità, sono essenziali per agevolare la coltivazione delle piante all'interno dell'articolo. Pertanto la materia tessile conferisce all'articolo il suo carattere essenziale ai sensi della regola generale d'interpretazione 3 b).
 L'articolo va pertanto classificato nel codice NC 6307 90 98 fra gli «altri manufatti tessili confezionati».
 (1) L'illustrazione è fornita a scopo unicamente informativo.


type: wikipedia

text:
Horezu este un oraș în județul Vâlcea, Oltenia, România, format din localitatea componentă Horezu (reședința), și din satele Ifrimești, Râmești, Romanii de Jos, Romanii de Sus, Tănăsești și Urșani.
 Istoric
 Descoperirile făcute în urma cercetărilor arheologice din zona,, Ferigile de lângă Horezu au scos la iveală mărturii arheologice din secolele al IX-lea și al XIIl-lea privind localizarea unor așezări umane.
 De menționat faptul că ,,regiunea subcarpatică a actualei zone Horezu a făcut parte din
 ,, Cnezatul lui Farcaș, menționat documentar prin
 ,, Diploma regelui Bela al IV-lea al Ungariei.
 Dezvoltarea așezărilor horezene este legată de traseele de transhumanță, de drumurile haiducilor care traversau zona, precum și de drumul sării care
 ,, pornea de la Ocnele Mari, trecea prin Pietrarii de Jos și din Horezu continua către Slătioara și ajungea la Cernești".
 Localitate, astăzi orașul Horezu, este atestat documentar într-un hristov aparținând domnitorului Vlad Călugărul din anul 1487, care pomenea de ,, satul Hurez.
 Denumirea actuală provine de la numele de ,, ciuhurez" (huhurez), pasăre asemănătoare bufniței care populează pădurile din jur. Numele de ,, Hurezi a aparținut inițial actualei localități componente
 ,, Romanii de Jos, pe valea râului cu același nume, despre care se fac mențiuni documentare în secolul XV-lea. La sfârșitul secolului al XVII-lea este menționată documentar cifra de 100 de locuitori ,, rumâni în satul
 ,, Romanii de Jos.
 Aici, la ,, Romanii de Jos domnul martir Constantin Brâncoveanu, construiește o mănăstire care reprezintă ,, o sinteză a artei și măiestriei poporului român până în acel timp, mănăstirea Horezu, construcție care s-a făcut între anii 1690-1693. A târnosit-o la 8 septembrie 1693.
 Cu timpul, vatra satului se mută peste deal la circa 2 km, probabil datorită faptului că traseele de transhumanță, cât și celelalte drumuri se intersectau în acel loc. Era deci un loc prielnic dezvoltării unui târg, unde oamenii din zonă puteau proceda la diferite schimburi comerciale. Oierii vindeau lână și brânză, cumpărau cereale și produse de băcănie. Olarii vindeau produse ceramice necesare în gospodăriile rurale și-și luau hrană.
 Târgul ceramicii românești la Horezu este organizat începând cu anul 1971[http://www.9am.ro/stiri-revista-presei/2007-06-02/de-astazi-targul-ceramicii-populare-romanesti-la-horezu-canta-de-astazi-cocosul.html
 De astazi, Targul Ceramicii Populare Romanesti La Horezu canta de astazi... Cocosul!], 2 iunie 2007, Eugenia Popescu, 9am.ro, accesat la 28 noiembrie 2011.
 Cocoșul de Hurez, ca motiv popular, este simbolul depresiunii Horezu și reprezintă trezirea la viață a țăranului român.
 Atracții turistice
 Din punct de vedere turistic Horezu atrage anual mulți turiști. Principalele atracții turistice ale zonei sunt:
 Ceramica de Horezu
 Mănăstirea Horezu, sit aflat în Patrimoniul Mondial UNESCO
 Cheile Bistriței Vâlcene și Cheile Oltețului
 Parcul Național Buila-Vânturarița
 Podul Istoric peste Luncavăț
 Demografie
 Conform recensământului efectuat în 2011, populația orașului Horezu se ridică la de locuitori, în scădere față de recensământul anterior din 2002, când se înregistraseră locuitori. Majoritatea locuitorilor sunt români (95,42%), cu o minoritate de romi (1,26%). Pentru 3,23% din populație, apartenența etnică nu este cunoscută.
 Din punct de vedere confesional, majoritatea locuitorilor sunt ortodocși (95,8%). Pentru 3,18% din populație, nu este cunoscută apartenența confesională.
 Politică și administrație
 Orașul Horezu este administrat de un primar și un consiliu local compus din 15 consilieri. Primarul, , de la , este în funcție din . Începând cu alegerile locale din 2020, consiliul local are următoarea componență pe partide politice:
 Galerie de imagini
 Vezi și
 Biserica din Târg din Horezu
 Biserica Covrești din Horezu
 Biserica Dumineca Tuturor Sfinților din Râmești
 Biserica Sfinții Îngeri din Romanii de Jos
 Biserica Bolniței Mănăstirii Hurezi
 Biserica „Intrarea în Biserică” și „Sfântul Ioan Botezătorul” din Urșani
 Personalități
 Lazăr Comănescu, diplomat și profesor universitar
 Note
 Legături externe
 Site-ul primăriei
 Obiective turistice în Horezu
 Prezentarea orașului
 Oltenii din Horezu, cei mai longevivi români, 6 martie 2011, Antena 3 Biserica Sfintii Ingeri - Hurezi, 11 iunie 2012, CrestinOrtodox.ro Horezu -Cadrul geografic, 12 aprilie 2013, IstorieLocala.ro Horezu - Preistoria, 13 aprilie 2013, IstorieLocala.ro Horezu - Antichitatea, 13 aprilie 2013, IstorieLocala.ro Horezu - Perioada medievală, 13 aprilie 2013, IstorieLocala.ro Horezu - Atestarea documentară, 13 aprilie 2013, IstorieLocala.ro Horezu - Sub semnul Brâncoveanului.Pași spre modernitate și afirmare spirituală., 15 aprilie 2013, IstorieLocala.ro Horezu - Sfârșitul Brâncoveanului-exemplu de putere a credinței creștine, 17 aprilie 2013, IstorieLocala.ro Horezu - De la Unirea Principatelor la cucerirea independenței de stat a României, 18 aprilie 2013, IstorieLocala.ro Horezu, martor al evenimentelor de la 1821, 17 aprilie 2013, IstorieLocala.ro 1848 la Horezu, 18 aprilie 2013, IstorieLocala.ro 1877 - Horezu sub semnul luptei pentru Independența României, 19 aprilie 2013, IstorieLocala.ro Horezu - Pe drumul Reîntregirii Naționale, 22 aprilie 2013, IstorieLocala.ro Horezu după Marea Unire, 22 aprilie 2013, IstorieLocala.ro Horezu - Perioada postbelică, 23 aprilie 2013, IstorieLocala.ro Horezu - Perioada postdecembristă, 23 aprilie 2013, IstorieLocala.ro''
 Horezu
 Horezu


text:
 19.8.2021
 RO
 Jurnalul Oficial al Uniunii Europene
 L 296/1
 REGULAMENTUL DE PUNERE ÎN APLICARE (UE) 2021/1373 AL COMISIEI
 din 12 august 2021
 de înregistrare a unei denumiri în Registrul denumirilor de origine protejate și al indicațiilor geografice protejate
 [„Jászsági nyári szarvasgomba” (IGP)]
 COMISIA EUROPEANĂ,
 având în vedere Tratatul privind funcționarea Uniunii Europene,
 având în vedere Regulamentul (UE) nr. 1151/2012 al Parlamentului European și al Consiliului din 21 noiembrie 2012 privind sistemele din domeniul calității produselor agricole și alimentare (1), în special articolul 52 alineatul (2),
 întrucât:
 (1)
 În conformitate cu articolul 50 alineatul (2) litera (a) din Regulamentul (UE) nr. 1151/2012, cererea de înregistrare a denumirii „Jászsági nyári szarvasgomba”, depusă de Ungaria, a fost publicată în Jurnalul Oficial al Uniunii Europene (2).
 (2)
 Deoarece Comisiei nu i s-a comunicat nicio declarație de opoziție în conformitate cu articolul 51 din Regulamentul (UE) nr. 1151/2012, denumirea „Jászsági nyári szarvasgomba” trebuie, prin urmare, înregistrată,
 ADOPTĂ PREZENTUL REGULAMENT:
 Articolul 1
 Se înregistrează denumirea „Jászsági nyári szarvasgomba” (IGP).
 Denumirea menționată în primul paragraf identifică un produs din clasa 1.6. Fructe, legume și cereale, proaspete sau prelucrate, din anexa XI la Regulamentul de punere în aplicare (UE) nr. 668/2014 al Comisiei (3).
 Articolul 2
 Prezentul regulament intră în vigoare în a douăzecea zi de la data publicării în Jurnalul Oficial al Uniunii Europene.
 Prezentul regulament este obligatoriu în toate elementele sale și se aplică direct în toate statele membre.
 Adoptat la Bruxelles, 12 august 2021.
 Pentru Comisie,
 Pentru Președinte,
 Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI
 Membru al Comisiei
 (1) JO L 343, 14.12.2012, p. 1.
 (2) JO C 149, 27.4.2021, p. 11.
 (3) Regulamentul de punere în aplicare (UE) nr. 668/2014 al Comisiei din 13 iunie 2014 de stabilire a normelor de aplicare a Regulamentului (UE) nr. 1151/2012 al Parlamentului European și al Consiliului privind sistemele din domeniul calității produselor agricole și alimentare (JO L 179, 19.6.2014, p. 36).


text:
 20.11.2013
 DA
 Den Europæiske Unions Tidende
 L 310/7
 KOMMISSIONENS GENNEMFØRELSESFORORDNING (EU) Nr. 1171/2013
 af 7. november 2013
 om godkendelse af en væsentlig ændring af varespecifikationen for en betegnelse, der er opført i registret over beskyttede oprindelsesbetegnelser og beskyttede geografiske betegnelser [Jihočeská Niva (BGB)]
 EUROPA-KOMMISSIONEN HAR —
 under henvisning til traktaten om Den Europæiske Unions funktionsmåde,
 under henvisning til Europa-Parlamentets og Rådets forordning (EU) nr. 1151/2012 af 21. november 2012 om kvalitetsordninger for landbrugsprodukter og fødevarer (1), særlig artikel 52, stk. 2, og
 ud fra følgende betragtninger:
 (1)
 Kommissionen har i henhold til artikel 53, stk. 1, første afsnit, i forordning (EU) nr. 1151/2012 behandlet Tjekkiets ansøgning om godkendelse af en ændring af varespecifikationen for den beskyttede geografiske betegnelse »Jihočeská Niva«, der er registreret i henhold til Kommissionens forordning (EF) nr. 24/2010 (2).
 (2)
 Eftersom der ikke er tale om en ændring af mindre omfang, jf. artikel 53, stk. 2, i forordning (EU) nr. 1151/2012, har Kommissionen henhold til artikel 50, stk. 2, litra a), i nævnte forordning offentliggjort ændringsansøgningen i Den Europæiske Unions Tidende
 (3).
 (3)
 Da Kommissionen ikke har modtaget indsigelser, jf. artikel 51 i forordning (EU) nr. 1151/2012, bør ændringen af varespecifikationen godkendes —
 VEDTAGET DENNE FORORDNING:
 Artikel 1
 Den ændring af varebeskrivelsen, der blev offentliggjort i Den Europæiske Unions Tidende, og som vedrører betegnelsen i bilaget til denne forordning, godkendes.
 Artikel 2
 Denne forordning træder i kraft på tyvendedagen efter offentliggørelsen i Den Europæiske Unions Tidende.
 Denne forordning er bindende i alle enkeltheder og gælder umiddelbart i hver medlemsstat.
 Udfærdiget i Bruxelles, den 7. november 2013.
 På Kommissionens vegne For formanden
 Dacian CIOLOȘ
 Medlem af Kommissionen
 (1) EUT L 343 af 14.12.2012, s. 1.
 (2) EUT L 9 af 14.1.2010, s. 1.
 (3) EUT C 33 af 5.2.2013, s. 5.
 BILAG
 Landbrugsprodukter bestemt til konsum, som er opført i traktatens bilag I:
 Kategori 1.3. Oste
 TJEKKIET
 Jihočeská Niva (BGB)


text:
 EUROPEISKA KOMMISSIONEN
 Bryssel den 8.9.2021
 COM(2021) 537 final
 2021/0286(NLE)
 Förslag till
 RÅDETS BESLUT
 om den ståndpunkt som på Europeiska unionens vägnar ska intas i Internationella sockerrådet med avseende på ändring av Internationella sockeravtalet 1992
 {SWD(2021) 235 final}
 MOTIVERING
 1.Fråga som behandlas i förslaget
 Detta förslag avser ett beslut om fastställande av den ståndpunkt som ska intas på unionens vägnar i Internationella sockerrådet (sockerrådet) i anslutning till den planerade särskilda omröstning som ska genomföras i enlighet med artikel 44.1 i Internationella sockeravtalet (sockeravtalet) för att rekommendera medlemmarna i Internationella sockerorganisationen (sockerorganisationen) en ändring av avtalet i enlighet med resultaten från förhandlingarna om den partiella översyn som inleddes i juli 2019.
 2.Bakgrund till förslaget
 2.1.Internationella sockeravtalet 1992
 Syftet med 1992 års sockeravtal är att säkerställa ett ökat globalt samarbete vad gäller internationella sockerfrågor och därmed sammanhängande frågor. Det ska utgöra ett forum för mellanstatliga samråd om socker och om sätt att förbättra världsmarknaden för socker, i syfte att underlätta handeln genom att samla in och tillhandahålla information om världsmarknaden för socker och andra sötningsmedel samt främja en ökad efterfrågan på socker, särskilt när det gäller icke-traditionella användningsområden.
 Internationella sockeravtalet trädde i kraft den 1 januari 1993.
 Unionen är part i avtalet
 1
 . Avtalet ingicks genom rådets beslut 92/580/EEG och trädde i kraft den 1 januari 1993. Avtalet ingicks för en period på tre år till och med den 31 december 1995 och har sedan dess regelbundet förlängts med ytterligare perioder på två år, såsom fastställs i artikel 45 i avtalet. Avtalet förlängdes senast i juli 2019
 2
 och gäller till och med den 31 december 2021. Kommissionen har utarbetat ett förslag till rådets beslut för att ytterligare förlänga sockeravtalet till och med december 2023. Antagningsförfarandet gällande detta förslag pågår.
 Det ligger i unionens intresse att delta i ett internationellt avtal om socker, eftersom sektorn är viktig för flera medlemsstater och för den europeiska sockersektorns ekonomi.
 2.2.Internationella sockerrådet
 Internationella sockerrådet är det ansvariga organet för alla funktioner som behövs för att genomföra bestämmelserna i sockeravtalet. Sockerrådet antar regler och bestämmelser, bl.a. sockerrådets och dess kommittéers arbetsordningar samt sockerorganisationens budgetförordning och tjänsteföreskrifter. Sockerrådet upprätthåller de nödvändiga registren och offentliggör en årsrapport och annan information som anses lämplig.
 Avtalsparterna har totalt 2 000 röster. Varje medlem i avtalet har ett visst antal röster som årligen anpassas enligt på förhand fastställda kriterier i sockeravtalet. Sockerrådets alla beslut ska i princip fattas med konsensus om inte annat anges i sockeravtalet. Om konsensus inte kan uppnås ska beslut fattas med enkel majoritet, såvida avtalet inte föreskriver särskild omröstning.
 2.3.Internationella sockerrådets planerade akt
 Under 2017 bemyndigade sockerrådet kommissionen att inom ramen för Internationella sockerrådet
 3
 inleda förhandlingar med övriga parter i avtalet, i syfte att modernisera sockeravtalet, särskilt när det gäller skillnaderna mellan å ena sidan det antal röster medlemmarna har i organisationen och det ekonomiska bidrag som krävs av dem, å andra sidan deras relativa ställning på världsmarknaden för socker. Bemyndigandet förlängdes 2019 och fortsätter att gälla till och med den 31 december 2021
 4
 .
 Vid sitt 55:e sammanträde den 19 juli 2019 beslutade sockerrådet att inleda förhandlingar under ledning av Unctad. Dessa förhandlingar avser en partiell översyn av sockeravtalet, med fokus på följande tre områden: Den administrativa budgeten och bidrag från medlemmarna inom ramen för artikel 25. Utvidgande av syften, studier, bedömningar och forskningsverksamhet för att möjliggöra inbegripandet av andra sockerrelaterade produkter (i synnerhet bioetanol) inom ramen för artiklarna 1, 32, 33 och 34. Bestämmelser för utnämning av exekutivdirektör inom ramen för artikel 23.
 (a)Den administrativa budgeten och bidrag från medlemmarna inom ramen för artikel 25
 På grundval av sockerrådets förhandlingsbemyndigande har kommissionen lagt fram konkreta förslag för ändring av artikel 25, som reglerar antagandet av den administrativa budgeten och bidrag från medlemmarna. Förslaget kom sig av att i enlighet med nuvarande bestämmelser om ekonomiska bidrag till sockerorganisationen har unionens andel av det ekonomiska bidraget förblivit i stort sett densamma sedan 1992, trots att världsmarknaden för socker, och framför allt unionens relativa ställning på den, har genomgått stora förändringar sedan dess. Följaktligen har unionen under de senaste åren stått för en oproportionellt stor andel av budgetkostnaderna
 5
 och burit ett ansvar motsvarande dessa kostnader i sockerorganisationen. För att hantera situationen inledde kommissionen förhandlingar om en ändrad beräkningsmetod och en mer effektiv moderniserad justeringsmekanism. Den föreslagna formeln viktar de relevanta indikatorerna lika (produktion, konsumtion, export, import och betalningsförmåga) och beaktar strukturella förändringar över tid med årliga justeringsmekanismer utifrån femåriga glidande medelvärden. I syfte att anpassa den nuvarande fördelningen av röster till dagens verklighet på världsmarknaden för socker inbegrips en övergångsmekanism, som begränsar den årliga förändringen i antalet röster till 15 % under de första fem åren och till 20 % för återstoden av övergångsperioden. Övergångsperioden får inte överskrida tio år. Kommissionen stöder, på unionens vägnar och i linje med det förhandlingsbemyndigande som beviljats, ändringarna av artikel 25 i sockeravtalet till följd av förhandlingarna.
 (b)Utvidgandet av syften, studier, bedömningar och forskningsverksamhet för att möjliggöra inbegripandet av andra sockerrelaterade produkter inom ramen för artiklarna 1, 32, 33 och 34
 Under förhandlingarna om den partiella översynen av sockeravtalet föreslog andra medlemmar i avtalet ändringar avseende artikel 1 (syften), artikel 32 (information och studier), artikel 33 (marknadsbedömning, konsumtion och statistik) och artikel 34 (forskning och utveckling). De ändringar som föreslagits inbegriper följande:
 (1)Inbegripande av bioetanol i sockeravtalets övergripande syften (artikel 1, kapitel I).
 (2)En bredare syn på information och studier (artikel 32, kapitel IX), marknadsbedömningar, konsumtion och statistik (artikel 33, kapitel IX), forskning och utveckling (artikel 34, kapitel X), främst för att möjliggöra att andra sockerrelaterade produkter (i synnerhet bioetanol) kan inbegripas i sådana verksamheter.
 Kommissionen stöder, på unionens vägnar och i linje med det förhandlingsbemyndigande som beviljats, dessa ändringar eftersom det övergripande syftet med sockeravtalet enligt beskrivningen i artikel 1 i avtalet inte kommer att ändras för att bioetanol inbegrips.
 Ändringarna inom ramen för led a och b diskuterades ingående och konsensus nåddes om den slutliga formuleringen vid sockerrådets 57:e sammanträde som hölls i november 2020.
 (c)Bestämmelserna för utnämning av exekutivdirektör inom ramen för artikel 23
 I december 2020 föreslog Brasilien en ändring av artikel 23 i sockeravtalet vad gäller bestämmelserna för utnämning av exekutivdirektör. Ändringen innebär främst att en exekutivdirektör endast kan sitta två mandatperioder. För närvarande nämns det varken i kapitel IV i sockeravtalet eller i kapitel IX i de tillhörande administrativa bestämmelserna några regler i detta hänseende. Även om ändringen lämnades in efter den överenskomna tidsfristen den 31 januari 2020 stödde EU att den togs med inom ramen för den pågående partiella översynen av sockeravtalet eftersom den syftar till att förbättra sockerorganisationens verksamheter och bidrar till det övergripande syftet med att modernisera organisationen. En överenskommelse om ändringens slutliga formulering och dess inbegripande i den pågående partiella översynen av sockeravtalet nåddes av sockerrådet vid dess 58:e sammanträde i juni 2021.
 Alla ovanstående ändringar som överenskommits i förhandlingarna om den partiella översynen av sockeravtalet bör, för att träda i kraft, antas i enlighet med det förfarande som fastställs i artikel 44 i sockeravtalet: ”Rådet kan genom särskild omröstning rekommendera medlemmarna en ändring av detta avtal. Rådet kan fastställa en tidpunkt efter vilken varje medlem ska notifiera depositarien om att den godtagit ändringen. Ändringen ska träda i kraft 100 dagar efter det att depositarien har mottagit notifikationer om godtagande från medlemmar som innehar minst två tredjedelar av alla medlemmars totala antal röster enligt artikel 11 såsom fastställs i artikel 25, eller vid sådan senare tidpunkt varom rådet kan ha fattat beslut genom särskild omröstning. Rådet kan fastställa en tidpunkt inom vilken varje medlem ska underrätta depositarien om att den godtagit och, om ändringen inte trätt i kraft vid sådan tidpunkt, ska den anses ha återtagits. Rådet ska förse depositarien med den information som är nödvändig för att fastställa huruvida de mottagna notifikationerna om godtagande är tillräckliga för att ändringen ska träda i kraft.”
 I enlighet med ovanstående artikel kommer sockerrådet vid det kommande planerade sammanträdet den 26 november 2021 att
 ·rekommendera medlemmarna en ändring av sockeravtalet, antingen genom konsensus eller, om konsensus inte uppnås, genom särskild omröstning, och
 ·godkänna tidsplanen för genomförandet av ändringen, antingen genom konsensus eller, om konsensus inte uppnås, genom särskild omröstning. Sockerorganisationens sekretariat har föreslagit en tidsplan för genomförande av ändringsförfarandet i enlighet med artikel 44 och det efterföljande ikraftträdandet av ändringarna av artiklarna i avtalet till följd av förhandlingarna om avtalets partiella översyn. Denna föreslagna tidsplan lades fram vid sockerrådets 58:e sammanträde den 18 juni 2021. Under sammanträdet var det inga medlemmar som hade något att invända mot den föreslagna tidsplanen för genomförandet.
 De främsta delmålen i den föreslagna tidsplan för genomförande som nämns ovan avser följande:
 ·Medlemmarna kommer att underrätta depositarien om sin notifikation om godtagande av ändringarna senast den 30 juni 2023. Denna tidsfrist föreslås i syfte att ge medlemmarna tillräckligt med tid för att genomföra alla nödvändiga konstitutionella förfaranden för att godkänna ändringen av avtalet.
 ·Om depositarien har mottagit godtagandet av ändringarna från medlemmar som innehar minst två tredjedelar av det totala antalet röster träder ändringarna i kraft den 31 oktober 2023. Det är cirka 123 dagar efter det datum som fastställts för mottagande av notifikationer om godtagande (dvs. den 30 juni 2023). Medlemmar som inte har skickat sin notifikation om godtagande senast detta datum upphör att vara parter i sockeravtalet.
 ·Om ovanstående situation uppstår kommer medlemmarna att godkänna den ändrade fördelningen av rösterna, i enlighet med det nya omräkningstalet i den ändrade artikel 25 i avtalet, och det ekonomiska bidraget för 20245 vid sockerrådets andra sammanträde 2023, som kommer att anordnas sista veckan i november eller första veckan i december 2023.
 ·Det ändrade avtalet kommer att träda i kraft den 1 januari 2024. Detta datum sammanfaller med att den senaste förlängningen av avtalet upphör att gälla, vilken omfattar perioden 1 januari 2022 till 31 december 2023 (ska godkännas av rådet vid sammanträdet den 26 november 2021
 6
 ).
 ·Om depositarien har mottagit notifikationer om godtagande från medlemmar som innehar mindre än två tredjedelar av det totala antalet röster till och med den 31 oktober 2023, träder ändringarna inte i kraft och sockeravtalet 1992 förblir oförändrat.
 Den ovanstående tidsplanen är i linje med villkoren i artikel 44 i sockeravtalet.
 3.Den ståndpunkt som ska intas på unionens vägnar
 Syftet med detta beslut är att erhålla rådets bemyndigande för kommission att, på unionens vägnar, vid sockerrådets 59:e sammanträde den 26 november 2021, rösta för att rekommendera medlemmarna i sockerorganisationen en ändring av sockeravtalet i enlighet med resultaten från förhandlingarna om dess partiella översyn. Förslaget till ändring av sockeravtalet inbegriper ändringar med avseende på artiklarna 1, 25, 23, 32, 33 och 34 till följd av förhandlingarna om dess partiella översyn (se punkt 2.3, led a, b och c ovan).
 En reform av organisationen, i syfte att anpassa den till unionens arbetsmetoder i andra internationella varuorgan och till utvecklingen på världsmarknaden för socker sedan 1992, överensstämmer helt med unionens intressen. Reformen bör ge insyn i medlemmarnas ansvar när det gäller omröstning och deras ekonomiska bidrag. Upprättandet av tydliga bestämmelser för utnämning av exekutivdirektören och en begränsning av antalet mandatperioder som hon eller han får sitta är i linje med unionens mål att modernisera sockeravtalet, samtidigt som det formella inbegripandet av etanol i sockerorganisationens mål och arbetsprogram anpassar avtalets innehåll till redan befintlig praxis.
 Syftet med beslutet är även att få rådets godkännande för kommissionen att, på unionens vägnar, rösta vid sockerrådets 59:e sammanträde som anordnas den 26 november 2021, för en tidsplan för genomförande som säkerställer att de olika delmål som är kopplade till genomförandet av sockeravtalet är tydligt fastställda och att ikraftträdandet av ändringarna sker senast den 1 januari 2024.
 4.Rättslig grund
 4.1.Förfarandemässig rättslig grund
 4.1.1.Principer
 I artikel 218.9 i fördraget om Europeiska unionens funktionssätt (EUF-fördraget) föreskrivs att beslut ska antas ”om fastställande av vilka ståndpunkter som på unionens vägnar ska intas i ett organ som inrättas genom ett avtal, om detta organ ska anta akter med rättslig verkan, med undantag av sådana akter som kompletterar eller ändrar avtalets institutionella ram”.
 Begreppet ”akter med rättslig verkan” omfattar akter som har rättslig verkan med stöd av de regler i internationell rätt som tillämpas på organet i fråga. Det omfattar även instrument som inte har bindande verkan enligt internationell rätt, men som är ”ägnade att på ett avgörande sätt påverka innehållet i de bestämmelser som antas av unionslagstiftaren”
 7
 .
 4.1.2.Tillämpning i det aktuella fallet
 Internationella sockerrådets planerade akt kommer att ändra avtalet, vilket är ett internationellt avtal som är bindande för unionen. Den planerade akten har därför rättslig verkan.
 Den planerade akten varken kompletterar eller ändrar den institutionella ramen för sockeravtalet.
 Den förfarandemässiga rättsliga grunden för det föreslagna beslutet är därför artikel 218.9 i EUF-fördraget.
 4.2.Materiell rättslig grund
 4.2.1.Principer
 Den materiella rättsliga grunden för ett beslut enligt artikel 218.9 i EUF-fördraget är främst beroende av syftet med och innehållet i den planerade akt avseende vilken en ståndpunkt intas på unionens vägnar. Om den planerade akten har två syften eller två beståndsdelar av vilka det ena syftet eller den ena beståndsdelen kan identifieras som det eller den huvudsakliga, medan det eller den andra endast är av underordnad betydelse, måste det beslut som antas enligt artikel 218.9 i EUF-fördraget ha en enda materiell rättslig grund, nämligen den som krävs med hänsyn till det huvudsakliga eller avgörande syftet eller den huvudsakliga eller avgörande beståndsdelen.
 4.2.2.Tillämpning i det aktuella fallet
 Den planerade aktens huvudsakliga syfte och innehåll avser den gemensamma handelspolitiken (handel med jordbruksprodukter).
 Den materiella rättsliga grunden för förslaget till beslut är därför artikel 207 i EUF-fördraget.
 4.3.Slutsats
 Den rättsliga grunden för förslaget till beslut bör vara artikel 207 i EUF-fördraget jämförd med artikel 218.9 i EUF-fördraget.
 5.Offentliggörande av den planerade akten
 Eftersom Internationella sockerrådets akt kommer att ändra avtalet, är det lämpligt att den offentliggörs i Europeiska unionens officiella tidning efter antagandet.
 2021/0286 (NLE)
 Förslag till
 RÅDETS BESLUT
 om den ståndpunkt som på Europeiska unionens vägnar ska intas i Internationella sockerrådet med avseende på ändring av Internationella sockeravtalet 1992
 EUROPEISKA UNIONENS RÅD HAR ANTAGIT DETTA BESLUT
 med beaktande av fördraget om Europeiska unionens funktionssätt, särskilt artikel 207 jämförd med artikel 218.9,
 med beaktande av Europeiska kommissionens förslag, och
 av följande skäl:
 (1)Unionen är part i Internationella sockeravtalet 1992 (sockeravtalet), som ingicks av unionen genom rådets beslut 92/580/EEG
 8
 1, och medlem i Internationella sockerorganisationen (organisationen).
 (2)Enligt artikel 8 i sockeravtalet ska Internationella sockerrådet vidta eller föranstalta om vidtagandet av alla de åtgärder som är nödvändiga för att genomföra bestämmelserna i avtalet. Enligt artikel 13 i sockeravtalet ska alla beslut i Internationella sockerrådet i huvudsak fattas med konsensus. Om konsensus inte kan uppnås ska beslut fattas med enkel majoritetsomröstning, såvida bestämmelserna i avtalet inte föreskriver särskild omröstning.
 (3)Enligt artikel 25 i avtalet ska medlemmarna i organisationen inneha totalt 2 000 röster. Varje medlem i organisationen har ett visst antal röster som årligen anpassas enligt de kriterier som fastställs i den artikeln.
 (4)Röstfördelningen bland medlemmarna som också avgör medlemmarnas ekonomiska bidrag till organisationen överensstämmer dock inte längre med verkligheten på världsmarknaden för socker.
 (5)I enlighet med avtalets bestämmelser från 1992 om ekonomiska bidrag till organisationen har unionens andel förblivit densamma, trots att världsmarknaden för socker, och framför allt unionens relativa ställning på den, har genomgått stora förändringar sedan dess. Följaktligen har unionen under de senaste åren stått för en oproportionellt stor andel av budgetkostnaderna och burit ett ansvar motsvarande dessa kostnader i organisationen.
 (6)Genom rådets beslut (EU) 2017/2242
 9
 2 bemyndigade rådet kommissionen att inom ramen för Internationella sockerrådet inleda förhandlingar med övriga parter i sockeravtalet, i syfte att modernisera avtalet, särskilt när det gäller skillnaderna mellan å ena sidan det antal röster medlemmarna har i organisationen och det ekonomiska bidrag som krävs av dem, å andra sidan deras relativa ställning på världsmarknaden för socker. Bemyndigandet förlängdes till och med den 31 december 2021 genom rådets beslut (EU) 2019/2136
 10
 3.
 (7)På grundval av det bemyndigande som kommissionen fick har den inlett förhandlingar med medlemsländerna i organisationen och lagt fram konkreta förslag till ändring av artikel 25 i sockeravtalet, som reglerar antagandet av den administrativa budgeten och bidrag från medlemmarna. Vid sitt 55:e sammanträde den 19 juli 2019 beslutade Internationella sockerrådet att inleda förhandlingar om en partiell översyn av sockeravtalet före nästa sammanträde i november 2019, under ledning av Förenta nationernas konferens för handel och utveckling (Unctad).
 (8)Till följd av begäranden från flera medlemmar i organisationen beslutade Internationella sockerrådet att, utöver den översyn av artikel 25 i avtalet som föreslogs av unionen, bör även andra områden i avtalet omfattas av formella förhandlingar, särskilt syftena inom ramen för artikel 1, organisationens arbetsprioriteringar inom ramen för artiklarna 32, 33 och 34 och bestämmelserna för utnämning av exekutivdirektör inom ramen för artikel 23. Internationella sockerrådet enades om den slutliga formuleringen av ändringarna vad gäller dessa artiklar vid sitt 57:e sammanträde i november 2020 och sitt 58:e sammanträde i juni 2021.
 (9)Eventuella ändringar som överenskommits i dessa förhandlingar ska antas i enlighet med det förfarande som anges i artikel 44 i avtalet. Enligt den artikeln kan Internationella sockerrådet genom särskild omröstning rekommendera en ändring av avtalet till medlemmarna i organisationen. Unionen kan, i egenskap av medlem i Internationella sockerrådet, i enlighet med artikel 7 i avtalet delta i den särskilda omröstning som syftar till att inleda förfarandet för att ändra avtalets institutionella ram.
 (10)Enligt tidsplanen för genomförande av den partiella översynen av avtalet kommer den särskilda omröstningen, i enlighet med artikel 44 i avtalet, för att rekommendera medlemmarna en ändring av avtalet att hållas vid rådets 59:e sammanträde, som planeras till november 2021.
 (11)Det är därför lämpligt att fastställa den ståndpunkt som ska intas på unionens vägnar vid Internationella sockerrådets 59:e sammanträde eftersom en ändring av avtalet som återspeglar resultaten från förhandlingarna gällande den partiella översynen ligger i unionens intresse.
 (12)Det är dessutom lämpligt att fastställa den ståndpunkt som ska intas på unionens vägnar vid Internationella sockerrådets 59:e sammanträde vad gäller tidsplanen för genomförande av ovanstående ändringar av avtalet eftersom ett genomförande av ändringen senast den 1 januari 2024 ligger i unionens intresse.
 HÄRIGENOM FÖRESKRIVS FÖLJANDE.
 Artikel 1
 Den ståndpunkt som ska intas på unionens vägnar vid Internationella sockerrådets 59:e sammanträde den 26 november 2021, i enlighet med artikel 44 i Internationella sockeravtalet 1992, fastställs i bilagan till detta beslut.
 Artikel 2
 Detta beslut riktar sig till kommissionen.
 Utfärdat i Bryssel den
 På rådets vägnar
 Ordförande
 FINANSIERINGSÖVERSIKT
 FinancSt/10/
 PSH/hn/xxxxxx
 6.22.2021.1
 DATUM: 12.7.2021
 1.
 BUDGETRUBRIK
 14 20 03 06 Internationella organisationer och avtal
 ANSLAG:
 B2021 6 300 000 euro
 2.
 TITEL:
 Förslag till rådets beslut om den ståndpunkt som på Europeiska unionens vägnar ska intas i Internationella sockerrådet med avseende på ändring av Internationella sockeravtalet 1992
 3.
 RÄTTSLIG GRUND: Artikel 207 jämförd med artikel 218.9 i fördraget om Europeiska unionens funktionssätt.
 4.
 SYFTEN:
 Att fastställa den ståndpunkt som ska intas på unionens vägnar i Internationella sockerrådet (sockerrådet) i anslutning till den särskilda omröstning som ska genomföras i enlighet med artikel 44.1 i Internationella sockeravtalet (sockeravtalet) för att rekommendera medlemmarna i Internationella sockerorganisationen (sockerorganisationen) en ändring av avtalet
 i enlighet med resultaten från förhandlingarna om den partiella översyn som inleddes i juli 2019. Översynen avser huvudsakligen ändrad beräkningsmetod och en mer effektiv moderniserad justeringsmekanism för att normalisera EU:s andel av budgetkostnaderna och ansvaret inom ramen för Internationella sockerorganisationen.
 5.
 BUDGETKONSEKVENSER
 TOLVMÅNADERSPERIOD
 (i miljoner euro)
 INNEVARANDE BUDGETÅR
 2021
 (i miljoner euro)
 FÖLJANDE BUDGETÅR
 2022
 (i miljoner euro)
 5.0
 UTGIFTER
 –
 SOM BELASTAR EU:S BUDGET
 (BIDRAG/STÖD)
 –
 NATIONELLA MYNDIGHETER
 –
 ÖVRIGT
 5.1
 INTÄKTER
 –
 EU:S EGNA MEDEL (AVGIFTER/TULLAR)
 –
 NATIONELLA MEDEL
 2023 (i miljoner euro)
 5.0.1
 BERÄKNADE UTGIFTER
 5.1.1
 BERÄKNADE INTÄKTER
 5.2
 BERÄKNINGSMETOD:
 6.0
 KAN PROJEKTET FINANSIERAS MED DE MEDEL SOM ANSLAGITS UNDER DET BERÖRDA KAPITLET I BUDGETEN FÖR INNEVARANDE ÅR?
 JA
 6.1
 KAN PROJEKTET FINANSIERAS GENOM ÖVERFÖRING MELLAN KAPITEL I DEN GÄLLANDE BUDGETEN?
 –
 6.2
 KOMMER DET ATT BEHÖVAS EN TILLÄGGSBUDGET?
 –
 6.3
 KOMMER DET ATT BEHÖVAS ANSLAG I KOMMANDE BUDGETAR?
 JA
 ANMÄRKNINGAR:
 Förslaget kan komma att innebära ekonomiska konsekvenser från och med 2024, men dessa kan i nuläget inte kvantifieras. Unionens andel av det ekonomiska bidraget kommer att variera beroende på det slutliga antalet röster som tilldelas EU efter det att ändringarna av avtalet har gjorts. Mest troligt är att EU:s andel kommer minska.
 (1)
 Rådets beslut (92/580/EEG) av den 13 november 1992 (EGT L 379, 23.12.1992, s.15).
 (2)
 Rådets beslut (EU) 2019/1251 av den 15 juli 2019 om den ståndpunkt som ska intas på Europeiska unionens vägnar i Internationella sockerrådet vad gäller förlängningen av Internationella sockeravtalet 1992 (EUT L195, 23.7.2019, s.18).
 (3)
 Rådets beslut (EU) 2017/2242 av den 30 november 2017 om bemyndigande att inleda förhandlingar om en ändring av Internationella sockeravtalet 1992 (EUT L 322, 7.12.2017, s. 29).
 (4)
 Rådets beslut (EU) 2019/2136 av den 5 december 2019 om bemyndigande att inleda förhandlingar om ändring av Internationella sockeravtalet 1992 (EUT L 324, 13.12.2019, s. 3).
 (5)
 Antalet röster som fastställts i enlighet med artikel 25 tillsammans med beloppet per röst används för att beräkna det ekonomiska bidraget från varje medlem till sockerorganisationens årliga budget.
 (6)
 Kommissionen har utarbetat ett förslag till rådets beslut för att ytterligare förlänga avtalet till och med december 2023. Antagningsförfarandet gällande detta förslag pågår.
 (7)
 Domstolens dom av den 7 oktober 2014, Tyskland/rådet, C-399/12, ECLI:EU:C:2014:2258, punkterna 61–64.
 (8)
 1
 Rådets beslut 92/580/EEG av den 13 november 1992 om undertecknande och ingående av Internationella sockeravtalet 1992 (EGT L 379, 23.12.1992, s. 15).
 (9)
 2
 Rådets beslut (EU) 2017/2242 av den 30 november 2017 om bemyndigande att inleda förhandlingar om en ändring av Internationella sockeravtalet 1992 (EUT L 322, 7.12.2017, s. 29).
 (10)
 3
 Rådets beslut (EU) 2019/2136 av den 5 december 2019 om bemyndigande att inleda förhandlingar om en ändring av Internationella sockeravtalet 1992 (EUT L 324, 13.12.2019, s. 3).
 ---documentbreak---
 EUROPEISKA KOMMISSIONEN
 Bryssel den 8.9.2021
 COM(2021) 537 final
 BILAGA
 till
 FÖRSLAG TILL RÅDETS BESLUT
 om den ståndpunkt som på Europeiska unionens vägnar ska intas i Internationella sockerrådet med avseende på ändring av Internationella sockeravtalet 1992
 {SWD(2021) 235 final}
 BILAGA
 Den ståndpunkt som ska intas på unionens vägnar under den särskilda omröstningen vid Internationella sockerrådets 59:e sammanträde ska vara att rösta för att
 (a)rekommendera medlemmarna i Internationella sockerorganisationen en ändring av Internationella sockeravtalet som återspeglar de ändringar som följer på förhandlingarna om den partiella översynen med avseende på artiklarna 1, 23, 25, 32, 33 och 34 i avtalet,
 (b)godkänna tidsplanen, som godkändes vid rådets 58:e sammanträde i juni 2021, och som fastställer tidsfristerna för de olika förfaranden som anges i artikel 44 i avtalet, och
 (c)genomföra de ändringar som avses i led a i enlighet med den tidsplan som avses i led b, och säkerställa att ändringarna träder i kraft senast den 1 januari 2024.
 Tekniska anpassningar av andra handlingar tillhörande sockerrådet kan godkännas av unionens företrädare i sockerrådet utan ytterligare beslut från rådet om fastställande av den ståndpunkt som ska intas på unionens vägnar, om anpassningarna är ett resultat av de ändringar som avses i led a, första stycket.


type: contracts

text:
 27.11.2014
 NL
 Publicatieblad van de Europese Unie
 L 342/48
 BESLUIT VAN HET GEMENGD COMITÉ VAN DE EER
 Nr. 140/2014
 van 27 juni 2014
 tot wijziging van bijlage XX (Milieu) bij de EER-overeenkomst
 HET GEMENGD COMITÉ VAN DE EER,
 Gezien de Overeenkomst betreffende de Europese Economische Ruimte (de „EER-overeenkomst”), en met name artikel 98,
 Overwegende hetgeen volgt:
 (1)
 Besluit nr. 1359/2013/EU van het Europees Parlement en de Raad van 17 december 2013 houdende wijziging van Richtlijn 2003/87/EG ter verduidelijking van de bepalingen inzake de tijdstippen van de veilingen van broeikasgasemissierechten (1) moet in de EER-overeenkomst worden opgenomen.
 (2)
 Bijlage XX bij de EER-overeenkomst dient derhalve dienovereenkomstig te worden gewijzigd,
 HEEFT HET VOLGENDE BESLUIT VASTGESTELD:
 Artikel 1
 In bijlage XX bij de EER-overeenkomst wordt in punt 21al (Richtlijn 2003/87/EG van het Europees Parlement en de Raad) het volgende streepje toegevoegd:
 „—
 32013 D 1359: Besluit nr. 1359/2013/EU van het Europees Parlement en de Raad van 17 december 2013 (PB L 343 van 19.12.2013, blz. 1).”
 Artikel 2
 De in het EER-supplement bij het Publicatieblad van de Europese Unie bekend te maken teksten in de IJslandse en de Noorse taal van Besluit nr. 1359/2013/EU zijn authentiek.
 Artikel 3
 Dit besluit treedt in werking op 28 juni 2014, op voorwaarde dat alle in artikel 103, lid 1, van de EER-overeenkomst bedoelde kennisgevingen hebben plaatsgevonden (2).
 Artikel 4
 Dit besluit wordt bekendgemaakt in het EER-gedeelte van en in het EER-supplement bij het Publicatieblad van de Europese Unie.
 Gedaan te Brussel, 27 juni 2014.
 Voor het Gemengd Comité van de EER
 De voorzitter
 Gianluca GRIPPA
 (1) PB L 343 van 19.12.2013, blz. 1.
 (2) Geen grondwettelijke vereisten aangegeven.


text:
 Avis juridique important
 |
 21999D0170
 Gemensamma EES-kommitténs beslut nr 170/1999 av den 26 november 1999 om ändring av bilaga XIII (Transport) till EES-avtalet
 Europeiska gemenskapernas officiella tidning nr L 061 , 01/03/2001 s. 0029 - 0029
 Gemensamma EES-kommitténs beslutnr 170/1999av den 26 november 1999om ändring av bilaga XIII (Transport) till EES-avtaletGEMENSAMMA EES-KOMMITTÉN HAR FATTAT DETTA BESLUTmed beaktande av Avtalet om Europeiska ekonomiska samarbetsområdet, ändrat genom protokollet med justeringar av Avtalet om Europeiska ekonomiska samarbetsområdet, nedan kallat avtalet, särskilt artikel 98 i detta, ochav följande skäl:(1) Bilaga XIII till avtalet ändrades genom Gemensamma EES-kommitténs beslut nr 33/97 av den 29 maj 1997(1).(2) Kommissionens direktiv 1999/52/EG av den 26 maj 1999 om anpassning till den tekniska utvecklingen av rådets direktiv 96/96/EG om tillnärmning av medlemsstaternas lagstiftning om provning av motorfordons och tillhörande släpfordons trafiksäkerhet(2) bör införlivas med avtalet.HÄRIGENOM FÖRESKRIVS FÖLJANDE.Artikel 1Följande skall läggas till i punkt 16 a (rådets direktiv 96/96/EG) i bilaga XIII till avtalet:", ändrad genom:- 399 L 0052: Kommissionens direktiv 1999/52/EG av den 26 maj 1999 (EGT L 142, 5.6.1999, s. 26)."Artikel 2Texterna till direktiv 1999/52/EG på isländska och norska, som bifogas respektive språkversion av detta beslut, är giltiga.Artikel 3Detta beslut träder i kraft den 27 november 1999 under förutsättning att alla anmälningar enligt artikel 103.1 i avtalet har gjorts till Gemensamma EES-kommittén.Artikel 4Detta beslut skall offentliggöras i EES-delen av och EES-supplementet till Europeiska gemenskapernas officiella tidning.Utfärdat i Bryssel den 26 november 1999.På Gemensamma EES-kommitténs vägnarN. v. LiechtensteinOrdförande(1) EGT L 270, 2.10.1997, s. 19.(2) EGT L 142, 5.6.1999, s. 26.


text:
 6.10.2011
 ES
 Diario Oficial de la Unión Europea
 L 262/21
 DECISIÓN DEL COMITÉ MIXTO DEL EEE
 No 67/2011
 de 1 de julio de 2011
 por la que se modifica el anexo II (Reglamentaciones técnicas, normas, ensayos y certificación) y el anexo IV (Energía) del Acuerdo EEE
 EL COMITÉ MIXTO DEL EEE,
 Visto el Acuerdo sobre el Espacio Económico Europeo, en la redacción dada al mismo por el Protocolo por el que se adapta el Acuerdo sobre el Espacio Económico Europeo (en lo sucesivo denominado «el Acuerdo»), y, en particular, su artículo 98,
 Considerando lo siguiente:
 (1)
 El anexo II del Acuerdo fue modificado por la Decisión del Comité Mixto del EEE no 2/2011, de 11 de febrero de 2011 (1).
 (2)
 El anexo IV del Acuerdo fue modificado por la Decisión del Comité Mixto del EEE no 7/2011, de 1 de abril de 2011 (2).
 (3)
 Debe incorporarse al Acuerdo la Directiva 2009/125/CE del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo, de 21 de octubre de 2009, por la que se instaura un marco para el establecimiento de requisitos de diseño ecológico aplicables a los productos relacionados con la energía (3).
 (4)
 Debe incorporarse al Acuerdo el Reglamento (UE) no 347/2010 de la Comisión, de 21 de abril de 2010, por el que se modifica el Reglamento (CE) no 245/2009 de la Comisión en lo relativo a los requisitos de diseño ecológico para lámparas fluorescentes sin balastos integrados, para lámparas de descarga de alta intensidad y para balastos y luminarias que puedan funcionar con dichas lámparas (4).
 (5)
 La Directiva 2009/125/CE deroga la Directiva 2005/32/CE del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo (5), incorporada al Acuerdo, y que, en consecuencia, debe suprimirse del mismo.
 HA ADOPTADO LA PRESENTE DECISIÓN:
 Artículo 1
 El capítulo IV del anexo II del Acuerdo queda modificado como sigue:
 1)
 El texto del punto 6 (Directiva 2005/32/CE del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo) se sustituye por el siguiente:
 «32009 L 0125: Directiva 2009/125/CE del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo, de 21 de octubre de 2009, por la que se instaura un marco para el establecimiento de requisitos de diseño ecológico aplicables a los productos relacionados con la energía (DO L 285 de 31.10.2009, p. 10).
 A efectos del presente Acuerdo, las disposiciones de la Directiva se entenderán con arreglo a la adaptación siguiente:
 Los Estados de la AELC participarán plenamente en el trabajo del Comité establecido por el artículo 19, pero no tendrán derecho de voto.».
 2)
 En el punto 10 [Reglamento (CE) no 244/2009 de la Comisión], se añade el guion siguiente:
 «—
 32010 R 0347: Reglamento (UE) no 347/2010 de la Comisión, de 21 de abril de 2010 (DO L 104 de 24.4.2010, p. 20).».
 Artículo 2
 El anexo IV del Acuerdo se modifica como sigue:
 1)
 El texto del punto 26 (Directiva 2005/32/CE del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo) se sustituye por el siguiente:
 «32009 L 0125: Directiva 2009/125/CE del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo, de 21 de octubre de 2009, por la que se instaura un marco para el establecimiento de requisitos de diseño ecológico aplicables a los productos relacionados con la energía (DO L 285 de 31.10.2009, p. 10).
 A efectos del presente Acuerdo, las disposiciones de la Directiva se entenderán con arreglo a la adaptación siguiente:
 Los Estados de la AELC participarán plenamente en el trabajo del Comité establecido por el artículo 19, pero no tendrán derecho de voto.».
 2)
 En el punto 34 [Reglamento (CE) no 245/2009 de la Comisión], se añade el texto siguiente:
 « , modificado por:
 —
 32010 R 0347: Reglamento (UE) no 347/2010 de la Comisión, de 21 de abril de 2010 (DO L 104 de 24.4.2010, p. 20).».
 Artículo 3
 Los textos del Reglamento (UE) no 347/2010 y de la Directiva 2009/125/CE en lenguas islandesa y noruega, que se publicarán en el Suplemento EEE del Diario Oficial de la Unión Europea, son auténticos.
 Artículo 4
 La presente Decisión entrará en vigor el 2 de julio de 2011, siempre que se hayan efectuado al Comité Mixto del EEE (6) todas las notificaciones previstas en el artículo 103, apartado 1, del Acuerdo.
 Artículo 5
 La presente Decisión se publicará en la sección EEE y en el Suplemento EEE del Diario Oficial de la Unión Europea.
 Hecho en Bruselas, el 1 de julio de 2011.
 Por el Comité Mixto del EEE
 El Presidente
 Kurt JÄGER
 (1) DO L 93 de 7.4.2011, p. 31.
 (2) DO L 171 de 30.6.2011, p. 1.
 (3) DO L 285 de 31.10.2009, p. 10.
 (4) DO L 104 de 24.4.2010, p. 20.
 (5) DO L 191 de 22.7.2005, p. 29.
 (6) Se han indicado preceptos constitucionales.