L 229/2
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
18.9.2023
(3)
This framework pursues two general objectives.
The first objective is to ensure the conditions necessary for the competitiveness and innovation capacity of the Union, to ensure the adjustment of the industry to structural changes due to fast innovation cycles and the need for sustainability, and to strengthen the Union-wide semiconductor ecosystem with pooled knowledge, expertise, resources and common strengths.
The second objective, separate from and complementary to the first, is to improve the functioning of the internal market by laying down a uniform Union legal framework for increasing the Union’s long-term resilience and its ability to innovate and provide security of supply in the field of semiconductor technologies with a view to increasing robustness in order to counter disruptions.
(4)
It is necessary to take measures to build capacity and strengthen the Union’s semiconductor ecosystem in accordance with Article 173(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
Those measures should not entail the harmonisation of national laws and regulations.
In this regard, the Union should reinforce the competitiveness and resilience of the semiconductor technological and industrial base, whilst strengthening the innovation capacity of its semiconductor ecosystem across the Union, reducing dependence on a limited number of third-country companies and geographies, and strengthening its capacity to design and produce, package, reuse and recycle advanced semiconductors.
The Chips for Europe Initiative (the ‘Initiative’) established by this Regulation should support those aims by bridging the gap between the Union’s advanced research and innovation capabilities and their sustainable industrial exploitation.
The Initiative should promote capacity building to enable design, production and systems integration in next-generation semiconductor technologies, and should enhance collaboration among key players across the Union, strengthening the Union’s semiconductor supply and value chains, serving key industrial sectors and creating new markets.
(5)
Due to the ubiquity of semiconductors, the recent shortages have either directly or indirectly adversely affected businesses across the Union and induced strong economic repercussions.
The economic and social impact has led to an increased consciousness of the public and of economic operators and a resulting pressure for Member States to address the strategic dependencies as regards semiconductors.
At the same time, the semiconductor sector is characterised by interdependencies across the value chain, where no single geography dominates all steps of the value chain.
This cross-border nature is further emphasised by the nature of semiconductor products as an enabler for downstream industries.
While semiconductor manufacturing may be concentrated in some regions, user industries are spread out across the Union.
Against this background, the security of supply of semiconductors and resilience of the semiconductor ecosystem can be best addressed through Union harmonising law on the basis of Article 114 TFEU.
A single coherent regulatory framework harmonising certain conditions for operators to carry out specific projects that contribute to the security of supply and resilience of the Union’s semiconductor ecosystem is necessary.
Additionally, a coordinated mechanism for monitoring, strategic mapping, crisis prevention and response should be established to address shortages of supply and prevent obstacles to the unity of the internal market, avoiding differences in response among Member States.
(6)
Strengthening the Union’s critical infrastructure and security as well as its technological leadership requires both leading-edge and mature chips, in particular for future-proofing strategic sectors.
(7)
The achievement of those objectives should be supported by a governance mechanism.
At Union level, this Regulation should establish a European Semiconductor Board, composed of representatives of the Member States and chaired by the Commission, to facilitate a smooth, effective and harmonised implementation of this Regulation, cooperation and the exchange of information.
The European Semiconductor Board should provide advice to and assist the Commission on specific questions, including the consistent implementation of this Regulation, facilitating cooperation among Member States and exchanging information on issues relating to this Regulation.
The European Semiconductor Board should also advise the Commission on international cooperation related to semiconductors.
The European Semiconductor Board should hold separate meetings for its tasks under the different chapters of this Regulation.
The different meetings may include different compositions of the high-level representatives and the Commission may establish subgroups.