Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on rear-view mirrors for wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors (Codified version) COM(2007) 236 final — 2007/0081 (COD)
Date: 2007-07-11
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: approximation of laws, marketing, safety device, technical regulations, tractor

27.10.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 256/31

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a Directive of the
European Parliament and of the Council on rear-view mirrors for wheeled agricultural or forestry
tractors (Codified version)’

COM(2007) 236 final — 2007/0081 (COD)

(2007/C 256/06)

On 29 May 2007 the Council decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee, under
Article 95 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the abovementioned proposal.

Since the Committee unreservedly endorses the proposal and feels that it requires no comment on its part,
it decided, at its 437th plenary session of 11 and 12 July 2007 (meeting of 11 July), by 145 votes to two
and four abstentions, to issue an opinion endorsing the proposed text.

Brussels, 11 July 2007.

The President

of the European Economic and Social Committee

Dimitris DIMITRIADIS

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘The definition of an energy policy
for Europe (Lisbon strategy)’

(2007/C 256/07)

On 14 September 2006 (confirmed on 26 October 2006) the European Economic and Social Committee
acting under Rule 31 of its Rules of Procedure decided to draw up an information report on The definition of
an energy policy for Europe.

At the plenary session of 14 and 15 March 2007, it was decided to transform the information report into
an own-initiative opinion (Article 29(2) of the Rules of Procedure).

The Section for Transport, Infrastructure and the Information Society, which was responsible for preparing
the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 19 June 2007. The rapporteur was
Ms Sirkeinen.

At its 437th plenary session, held on 11 and 12 July 2007 (meeting of 12 July 2007), the European
Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 126 votes with four abstentions.

1. Recommendations

in external energy relations as well as other potential
measures.

Energy has become a central political issue with strong

1.1
links to the Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs.

— Energy exercises a growing influence on the European
economy. To meet the energy policy challenges of climate
change, security of supply and competitiveness, EU needs to
change into a highly efficient, low carbon energy economy.

— The creation and uptake of innovations, which will make
this shift possible, require certain conditions and some
specific measures at EU, Member State, regional and local
levels.

— To this end, what is needed is a global approach and a
Union-level debate about: how to curb Europe's demand for
energy; ways of securing energy supplies by sources which
are highly diversified,access to networks and a unified voice

1.2 More and better jobs are at the heart of
the Lisbon
strategy. When market conditions change, some jobs are lost in
the energy sector. At the same time new energy solutions can
be strong drivers for creating high quality jobs. Education and
training are key facilitators.