Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending the Directive 2006/66/EC on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators, as regards the implementing powers conferred on the Commission COM(2007) 93 final — 2007/0036 (COD)
Date: 2007-05-30
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: European Commission, electricity storage device, environmental protection, powers of the institutions (EU), waste management

27.7.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 175/57

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a directive of the
European Parliament and of the Council amending the Directive 2006/66/EC on batteries and accu-
mulators and waste batteries and accumulators, as regards the implementing powers conferred on
the Commission’

COM(2007) 93 final — 2007/0036 (COD)

(2007/C 175/15)

On 19 April 2007 the Council of the European Union decided to consult the European Economic and
Social Committee, under Article 175, paragraph 1 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on
the abovementioned proposal.

Since the Committee has already set out its views on the contents of the proposal in question in its opinion,
adopted on 28 April 2004 (1), it decided, at its 436th plenary session of 30 and 31 May 2007 (meeting of
30 May), by 159 votes with 11 abstentions, not to draw up a new opinion on the subject, but to refer to
the position it had taken in the above-mentioned document.

Brussels, 30 May 2007.

The President

of the European Economic and Social Committee

Dimitris DIMITRIADIS

(1) 2003/0282 COD, OJ C 117 of 30.4.2004.

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘The Challenges and Opportunities
for the EU in the Context of Globalisation’

(2007/C 175/16)

On 26 September 2006, in connection with the activities of the German Presidency of the European Union,
H.E. Michael Glos, German Federal Minister for the Economy and Technology, requested by letter an opinion
of the European Economic and Social Committee on: The challenges and opportunities for the EU in the context
of globalisation.

The Section for External Relations, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the
subject, adopted its opinion on 4 May 2007. The rapporteur was Mr Henri Malosse and the co-rapporteur
was Mr Staffan Nilsson.

At its 436th plenary session, held on 30 and 31 May 2007 (meeting of 31 May 2007), the European
Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion unanimously

1. Summary

Advocating a common strategy to contend with globalisation

The EU may be regarded as a test-bed for a globalised world. It
has been established in a democratic way, has no desire to
achieve hegemony and shows respect for diversity of opinion
and cultural diversity, whilst seeking to bring about economic
and social cohesion and to open up markets. Even if the new
world order cannot be cast in its image, the European Union
must uphold its values and principles, whilst seeking to bring
about a system of global governance based on the main achieve-
ments of the European venture. If it is to be credible, the EU
needs to reflect its values and set out its integration model
without any display of arrogance or desire to achieve hegemony.

If the Union fails to have a vision or a common strategy for
addressing the challenges and opportunities of globalisation, the
peoples of Europe may feel themselves abandoned and wonder
about the usefulness of the European Union.

1.1 Establishing a ‘planetary state governed by the rule of law’

The initial response of the European Union must be to contri-
bute more forcefully to the establishment of a ‘state governed by
the rule of law’ which takes account of realities, without enga-
ging in otherworldliness; the EU should, however, also not be
sparing in its efforts to promote, by all means, a humanist
globalisation based on the following criteria: multilateralism