DOCSLIB.ORG

IMCO-PV-2021-03-17-1 EN.Pdf

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
IMCO-PV-2021-03-17-1 EN.Pdf European Parliament 2019-2024 Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection IMCO_PV(2021)0317_1 MINUTES Meeting of 17 March 2021, 13.45-16.15 and 16.45-18.45, and 18 March 2021, 9.30-12.30 BRUSSELS The meeting was held with the remote participation of most attendants and opened at 13.48 on Wednesday, 17 March 2021, with Anna Cavazzini (Chairwoman) presiding. 1. Adoption of agenda IMCO_OJ(2021)0317_1 Decision: The draft agenda was adopted in the form shown in these minutes. 2. Chair’s announcements A. Interpretation Interpretation is available for the following languages FR DE IT NL EN DA ES PT SV CS ET PL SK BG RO HR. Speakers were invited to speak their mother tongue if it is one of languages for which interpretation is available. B. Time Management The chair reminded MEPs that Coordinators have agreed an adapted framework for the exchange of views on Reports/Opinions which restricts the floor to one MEP per Political Group (usually the shadow or his/her replacement) for a limited duration. This reflects the limitation imposed to all committee meetings and the necessity to give priority to items of business in relation to COVID-19 issues. PV\1227931EN.docx PE691.179v01-00 EN United in diversityEN C. Webstreaming and eMeeting The Chairwoman reminded Members that the meeting is webstreamed live and that the eMeeting application is available on tablet or laptop to access the meeting documents, as IMCO is totally paperless. D. Newsletter Members were also informed that the new issue of IMCO's Newsletter (Nr.117) is available. 3. Approval of minutes of meetings 22 and 23 February 2021 PV – PE689.606v01-00 The Chairwoman announced the opening of the vote on the final vote under point 4 from 13.50 to 14.20. The results of the final vote were communicated in writing and published on IMCO’s website. Adoption of question for oral answer and of motion for resolution on EU-EEA- Switzerland: Internal market cooperation in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 25 years of efforts to fully implement internal market rules (Anna Cavazzini) Result: 34 votes in favour, 1 against and 10 abstention 4. EU-EEA-Switzerland: Internal market cooperation in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 25 years of efforts to fully implement internal market rules IMCO/9/05263 2021/2551(RSP) Rapporteur: Anna Cavazzini (Verts/ALE) Responsible: IMCO Adoption of question for oral answer Adoption of motion for a resolution ------ Report on ongoing interinstitutional negotiations 5. Establishing, as part of the Integrated Border Management Fund, the instrument for financial support for customs control equipment IMCO/9/01387 ***I 2018/0258(COD) COM(2018)0474 – C8-0273/2018 Rapporteur: Jiří Pospíšil (PPE) Responsible: IMCO PE691.179v01-00 2/20 PV\1227931EN.docx EN Reporting back to committee on the negotiations (Rule 74(3)) Speakers: Jiří Pospíšil 6. Shaping the digital future of Europe: removing barriers to the functioning of the digital single market and improving the use of AI for European consumers IMCO/9/04404 2020/2216(INI) Rapporteur: Deirdre Clune (PPE) PR – PE661.999v01-00 AM – PE663.012v01-00 Responsible: IMCO* Consideration of compromise amendments Speakers: Deirdre Clune, Evelyne Gebhardt, Svenja Hahn, Alessandra Basso, Marcel Kolaja, Kateřina Konečná 7. Regulation concerning batteries and waste batteries, repealing Directive 2006/66/EC and amending Regulation (EU) No 2019/1020 IMCO/9/04957 ***I 2020/0353(COD) COM(2020)0798 – C9-0400/2020 Rapporteur: Antonius Manders (PPE) Responsible: IMCO First exchange of views Speakers: Joaquim Nunes de Almeida (Director of Directorate C in DG GROW), Kestutis Sadauskas (Director of Directorate B in DG ENV), Antonius Manders, Adriana Maldonado López, Claudia Gamon, Anna Cavazzini, Eugen Jurzyca, Kateřina Konečná 8. Regulation on serious cross-border threats to health repealing Decision No 1082/2013/EU IMCO/9/04628 ***I 2020/0322(COD) COM(2020)0727 – C9-0367/2020 Rapporteur for the opinion: Rasmus Andresen (Verts/ALE) PA – PE689.513v01-00 Responsible: ENVI – Véronique Trillet-Lenoir (Renew) Consideration of draft opinion Speakers: Rasmus Andresen, Tomislav Sokol, Adriana Maldonado López, Jordi Cañas, Adam Bielan, Kateřina Konečná PV\1227931EN.docx 3/20 PE691.179v01-00 EN Studies 9. Presentation of Policy Department study on Legal obstacles in Member States to Single Market rules Speakers: Erik Dahlberg (Copenhagen Economics, author of the study), Anna Cavazzini, Marion Walsmann, Christel Schaldemose, Marcel Kolaja, Kosma Złotowski, Kateřina Konečná, Maria-Manuel Leitão-Marques, Evelyne Gebhardt 11. Exchange of views with Didier Reynders, Commissioner for Justice - as part of the structured dialogue Speakers: Anna Cavazzini, Didier Reynders (Commissioner for Justice - as part of the structured dialogue), Andreas Schwab, Christel Schaldemose, Sandro Gozi, Alessandra Basso, Marcel Kolaja, Kosma Złotowski, Anne-Sophie Pelletier, Pablo Arias Echeverría, Biljana Borzan, Stéphanie Yon-Courtin, Róża Thun und Hohenstein, Alessandra Basso, Anna Cavazzini, Alex Agius Saliba, Arba Kokalari 12. European Union regulatory fitness and subsidiarity and proportionality - report on Better Law Making covering the years 2017, 2018 and 2019 IMCO/9/04858 2020/2262(INI) Rapporteur for the opinion: Barbara Thaler (PPE) PA – PE680.764v01-00 AM – PE681.008v01-00 Responsible: JURI – Mislav Kolakušić (NI) Consideration of amendments and compromise amendments Speakers: Barbara Thaler, Leszek Miller, Vlad-Marius Botoş, Jean-Lin Lacapelle, Alexandra Geese, Eugen Jurzyca, Martin Schirdewan * * * The meeting closed at 18.29 on Wednesday 17 March and resumed on Thursday 18 March at 09.33 with Anna Cavazzini (Chairwoman) presiding. Report on ongoing interinstitutional negotiations 10. Insurance against civil liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles, and the enforcement of the obligation to ensure against such liability IMCO/9/00321 ***I 2018/0168(COD) COM(2018)0336 – C8-0211/2018 Rapporteur: Dita Charanzová (Renew) Responsible: IMCO Reporting back to committee on the negotiations (Rule 74(3)) PE691.179v01-00 4/20 PV\1227931EN.docx EN Speakers: Dita Charanzová Public hearing 13. Consumer protection in the context of digitalisation of retail financial services (CCD and DMFSD) during the Covid-19 pandemic Speakers: Edoardo Carlucci (Better Finance), Peter Norwood (Finance Watch), Olha Cherednychenko, Patricia Boydens (Fintech Belgium), Deirdre Clune, Brando Benifei, Stéphanie Yon-Courtin, Rasmus Andresen, Adam Bielan, Kateřina Konečná, Timothy Shakesby (European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority - EIOPA), Daniela Bankier (European Commission – DG JUST), Andreas Schwab, Maria-Manuel Leitão-Marques, Beata Mazurek, Anne-Sophie Pelletier 14. Any other business 15. Next meetings Wednesday, 14 April, 13.45 – 15.45 Wednesday, 14 April, 16.45 – 18.45 Thursday, 15 April, 09.30 – 12.30 The Chairwoman closed the meeting at 11.30 on Thursday, 18 March 2021. In camera 16. Coordinators’ meeting PV\1227931EN.docx 5/20 PE691.179v01-00 EN Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection DRAFT DECISIONS Coordinators' webmeeting Thursday, 18 March 2021 from 11:30 to 12:30 In the Chair: Anna Cavazzini Part I: items for decision with debate I.1 Adoption of the draft agenda The agenda was adopted, as shown in these decisions. I.2 Announcements I.2.1 Main items of the Conference of Committee Chairs The Chair informed of the discussions on UK-EU TCA, and on committees’ staffing situation with the Rapporteur on the budget 2022. As at the next meeting, CCC will discuss remote working best practices in parliamentary committees, the Chair invited the Coordinators to inform her of their suggestions for improvements. I.2.2 Conflicts with other Committees Title Procedure n° State of Play CULT INI “Towards On 29 October 2020, the CULT Committee European Digital requested authorisation to draw up a non- Public Sphere” legislative own-initiative report on “Towards European Digital Public Sphere”. This concept is (PS/BM) described as a digital ecosystem that would observe, in its technical design, values such as transparency and openness and that would create a digital space, thereby strengthening public debate and safeguarding and promoting media pluralism and cultural diversity that form part of Europe’s identity. The report intends to PE691.179v01-00 6/20 PV\1227931EN.docx EN look into, among others, the organisation and financing of that sphere as well as the infrastructure-related aspects of the sphere’s expansion. On 12 November 2020, IMCO requested clarification of the scope and the aim of the requested report, reserving a decision as to the scope of involvement that IMCO would request (potentially an association under Rule 57) on the CULT report, until that clarification is provided. Following exchanges on the requested report between the secretariats, CULT offered IMCO association under Rule 57 RoP with shared competences. Detailed modalities of the association are still under discussion. IMCO INI “Tackling IMCO requested modification of the title of the non-tariff barriers in INI, including the corresponding modification of the Single Market” its scope. New title: “Tackling non-tariff and non- tax barriers in the Single Market”. The (SvS/BM/CM) modification was endorsed by the CCC on 9 March 2021. JURI INL On 18 December 2020, JURI requested "Digitalisation and authorisation to draw up a legislative own- Administrative Law” initiative report on “Digitalisation and Administrative Law”. IMCO asked for an (TKV/SD) involvement
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Romanian Political Science Review Vol. XXI, No. 1 2021
    Romanian Political Science Review vol. XXI, no. 1 2021 The end of the Cold War, and the extinction of communism both as an ideology and a practice of government, not only have made possible an unparalleled experiment in building a democratic order in Central and Eastern Europe, but have opened up a most extraordinary intellectual opportunity: to understand, compare and eventually appraise what had previously been neither understandable nor comparable. Studia Politica. Romanian Political Science Review was established in the realization that the problems and concerns of both new and old democracies are beginning to converge. The journal fosters the work of the first generations of Romanian political scientists permeated by a sense of critical engagement with European and American intellectual and political traditions that inspired and explained the modern notions of democracy, pluralism, political liberty, individual freedom, and civil rights. Believing that ideas do matter, the Editors share a common commitment as intellectuals and scholars to try to shed light on the major political problems facing Romania, a country that has recently undergone unprecedented political and social changes. They think of Studia Politica. Romanian Political Science Review as a challenge and a mandate to be involved in scholarly issues of fundamental importance, related not only to the democratization of Romanian polity and politics, to the “great transformation” that is taking place in Central and Eastern Europe, but also to the make-over of the assumptions and prospects of their discipline. They hope to be joined in by those scholars in other countries who feel that the demise of communism calls for a new political science able to reassess the very foundations of democratic ideals and procedures.
    [Show full text]
  • Green Deal – the Coordinators
    Green Deal – The Coordinators David Sassoli S&D ”I want the European Green Deal to become Europe’s hallmark. At the heart of it is our commitment to becoming the world’s first climate-neutral continent. It is also a long-term economic imperative: those who act first European Parliament and fastest will be the ones who grasp the opportunities from the ecological transition. I want Europe to be 1 February 2020 – H1 2024 the front-runner. I want Europe to be the exporter of knowledge, technologies and best practice.” — Ursula von der Leyen Lorenzo Mannelli Klaus Welle President of the European Commission Head of Cabinet Secretary General Chairs and Vice-Chairs Political Group Coordinators EPP S&D EPP S&D Renew ID Europe ENVI Renew Committee on Europe Dan-Ştefan Motreanu César Luena Peter Liese Jytte Guteland Nils Torvalds Silvia Sardone Vice-Chair Vice-Chair Coordinator Coordinator Coordinator Coordinator the Environment, Public Health Greens/EFA GUE/NGL Greens/EFA ECR GUE/NGL and Food Safety Pacal Canfin Chair Bas Eickhout Anja Hazekamp Bas Eickhout Alexandr Vondra Silvia Modig Vice-Chair Vice-Chair Coordinator Coordinator Coordinator S&D S&D EPP S&D Renew ID Europe EPP ITRE Patrizia Toia Lina Gálvez Muñoz Christian Ehler Dan Nica Martina Dlabajová Paolo Borchia Committee on Vice-Chair Vice-Chair Coordinator Coordinator Coordinator Coordinator Industry, Research Renew ECR Greens/EFA ECR GUE/NGL and Energy Cristian Bușoi Europe Chair Morten Petersen Zdzisław Krasnodębski Ville Niinistö Zdzisław Krasnodębski Marisa Matias Vice-Chair Vice-Chair
    [Show full text]
  • Protokół Posiedzenia W Dniu 19 Września 2019 R. (2021/C 107/04)
    C 107/84 PL Dziennik Urzędo wy U nii Europejskiej 26.3.2021 Czwartek, 19 września 2019 r. PROTOKÓŁ POSIEDZENIA W DNIU 19 WRZEŚNIA 2019 R. (2021/C 107/04) Spis treści Strona 1. Otwarcie posiedzenia . 87 2. Zdolność patentowa roślin i podstawowych procesów biologicznych (złożone projekty rezolucji) . 87 3. Składanie dokumentów . 87 4. Debata na temat przypadków naruszania praw człowieka, zasad demokracji i państwa prawa (debata) . 88 4.1. Sytuacja w Turcji, w szczególności odwołanie burmistrzów wyłonionych w wyborach . 88 4.2. Mjanma/Birma, w szczególności sytuacja Rohingjów . 89 4.3. Iran, w szczególności sytuacja obrońców praw kobiet i uwięzionych obywateli UE o podwójnym 89 obywatelstwie . 5. Wznowienie posiedzenia . 90 6. Skład komisji i delegacji . 90 7. Głosowanie . 90 7.1. Sytuacja w Turcji, w szczególności odwołanie burmistrzów wyłonionych w wyborach 90 (głosowanie) . 7.2. Mjanma/Birma, w szczególności sytuacja Rohingjów (głosowanie) . 91 7.3. Iran, w szczególności sytuacja obrońców praw kobiet i uwięzionych obywateli UE o podwójnym 92 obywatelstwie (głosowanie) . 7.4. Zdolność patentowa roślin i podstawowych procesów biologicznych (głosowanie) . 92 7.5. Znaczenie pamięci o przeszłości Europy dla jej przyszłości (głosowanie) . 93 7.6. Stan wdrażania przepisów dotyczących przeciwdziałania praniu pieniędzy (głosowanie) . 94 8. Wyjaśnienia dotyczące stanowiska zajętego w głosowaniu . 94 9. Korekty oddanych głosów i zgłoszenia zamiaru oddania głosu . 94 10. Wznowienie posiedzenia . 94 11. Zatwierdzenie protokołu poprzedniego posiedzenia . 95 26.3.2021 PL Dziennik Urzędo wy U nii Europejskiej C 107/85 Czwartek, 19 września 2019 r. Spis treści Strona 12. Skład komisji i delegacji . 95 13. Zagrożenie statusu służb ochotniczej straży pożarnej w Unii Europejskiej (debata) .
    [Show full text]
  • European Parliament Elections 2019 - Forecast
    Briefing May 2019 European Parliament Elections 2019 - Forecast Austria – 18 MEPs Staff lead: Nick Dornheim PARTIES (EP group) Freedom Party of Austria The Greens – The Green Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) (EPP) Social Democratic Party of Austria NEOS – The New (FPÖ) (Salvini’s Alliance) – Alternative (Greens/EFA) – 6 seats (SPÖ) (S&D) - 5 seats Austria (ALDE) 1 seat 5 seats 1 seat 1. Othmar Karas* Andreas Schieder Harald Vilimsky* Werner Kogler Claudia Gamon 2. Karoline Edtstadler Evelyn Regner* Georg Mayer* Sarah Wiener Karin Feldinger 3. Angelika Winzig Günther Sidl Petra Steger Monika Vana* Stefan Windberger 4. Simone Schmiedtbauer Bettina Vollath Roman Haider Thomas Waitz* Stefan Zotti 5. Lukas Mandl* Hannes Heide Vesna Schuster Olga Voglauer Nini Tsiklauri 6. Wolfram Pirchner Julia Elisabeth Herr Elisabeth Dieringer-Granza Thomas Schobesberger Johannes Margreiter 7. Christian Sagartz Christian Alexander Dax Josef Graf Teresa Reiter 8. Barbara Thaler Stefanie Mösl Maximilian Kurz Isak Schneider 9. Christian Zoll Luca Peter Marco Kaiser Andrea Kerbleder Peter Berry 10. Claudia Wolf-Schöffmann Theresa Muigg Karin Berger Julia Reichenhauser NB 1: Only the parties reaching the 4% electoral threshold are mentioned in the table. Likely to be elected Unlikely to be elected or *: Incumbent Member of the NB 2: 18 seats are allocated to Austria, same as in the previous election. and/or take seat to take seat, if elected European Parliament ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• www.eurocommerce.eu Belgium – 21 MEPs Staff lead: Stefania Moise PARTIES (EP group) DUTCH SPEAKING CONSITUENCY FRENCH SPEAKING CONSITUENCY GERMAN SPEAKING CONSTITUENCY 1. Geert Bourgeois 1. Paul Magnette 1. Pascal Arimont* 2. Assita Kanko 2. Maria Arena* 2.
    [Show full text]
  • Greens/EFA Group - Distribution of Seats in EP Parliamentary Committees
    Seats in Committees Update 04.02.2021 Greens/EFA group - Distribution of Seats in EP Parliamentary Committees Parliamentary Committees Seats FULL Members SUBSTITUTE Members Foreign Affairs (AFET) Marketa GREGOROVÁ Alviina ALAMETSÄ Pierrette HERZBERGER- Reinhard BÜTIKOFER FOFANA Viola VON CRAMON Sergey LAGODINSKY 7 Jordi SOLE Katrin LANGENSIEPEN Tineke STRIK Hannah NEUMANN Thomas WAITZ Mounir SATOURI Salima YENBOU Ernest URTASUN Agriculture (AGRI) Claude GRUFFAT Benoit BITEAU 5 Anna DEPARNAY- Francisco GUERREIRO GRUNENBERG Martin HÄUSLING Pär HOLMGREN Bronis ROPĖ Tilly METZ Sarah WIENER Thomas WAITZ Budgets (BUDG) Rasmus ANDRESEN Damien BOESELAGER 4 David CORMAND Henrike HAHN Alexandra GEESE Monika VANA Francisco GUERREIRO Vacant Culture & Education (CULT) Romeo FRANZ Marcel KOLAJA 3 Niklas NIENASS Diana RIBA Salima YENBOU Vacant Development (DEVE) Pierrette HERZBERGER- Alviina ALAMETSÄ FOFANA Benoit BITEAU 3 Erik MARQUARDT Caroline ROOSE Michelle RIVASI Economic & Monetary Affairs Sven GIEGOLD Damien CARÊME (ECON) Claude GRUFFAT Karima DELLI Stasys JAKELIŪNAS Bas EICKHOUT 7 Philippe LAMBERTS Henrike HAHN Kira PETER-HANSEN Ville NIINISTÖ Ernest URTASUN Mikulas PEKSA Piernicola PEDICINI Vacant Committee seats - UPDATE 30.9.20 Employment & Social Affairs Kira PETER-HANSEN Romeo FRANZ 4 (EMPL) Katrin LANGENSIEPEN Terry REINTKE Mounir SATOURI Kim VAN SPARRENTAK Tatjana ŽDANOKA Sara MATTHIEU Environment, Public Health & Margarete AUKEN Michael BLOSS Food safety (ENVI) Bas EICKHOUT Manuela RIPA Pär HOLMGREN Sven GIEGOLD Yannick JADOT Martin HÄUSLING
    [Show full text]
  • Brussels, 14 April 2020 Dear Ms Elżbieta Witek, Marshal of the Sejm
    Brussels, 14 April 2020 Dear Ms Elżbieta Witek, Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, Dear Members of the Polish Parliament, Dear Colleagues, As Members of the European Parliament, we are writing to express our deep concern regarding the Parliamentary Document no 39 on amending the act of June 6, 1997 - the Penal Code - known as the “Stop paedophilia” bill - and Parliamentary Document No 36 on the amendment to the Act of 7 January 1993 on family planning, protection of the human fetus and conditions for the termination of pregnancy -known as “Stop Abortion” bill - that will be debated in a first reading in the Sejm of the Republic of Poland in your sitting of the 15-16 April 2020. We are convinced that measures that roll back protections for women’s human rights and self- determination are of grave concern as they undermine a core European Union value, that of advancing gender equality. Under human rights law measures that undermine or restrict exist- ing rights are not permitted and these draft bills violate Poland’s obligation to ensure ever greater protection of human rights. We are deeply concerned that the “Stop Abortion” bill provide for the prohibition of termina- tion of pregnancy due to severe or fatal foetal anomalies, currently a legal ground for abortion in Poland. Poland’s Act of 1993 on Family Planning, Protection of Human Fetus and the Con- ditions of Legal Pregnancy Termination is one of the most restrictive laws on abortion in the European Union. The bill would in effect result in a near total denial of access to legal abortion in Poland as most legal abortions are performed under this ground.
    [Show full text]
  • A Look at the New European Parliament Page 1 INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMITTEE (INTA)
    THE NEW EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT KEY COMMITTEE COMPOSITION 31 JULY 2019 INTRODUCTION After several marathon sessions, the European Council agreed on the line-up for the EU “top jobs” on 2 July 2019. The deal, which notably saw German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen (CDU, EPP) surprisingly designated as the next European Commission (EC) President, meant that the European Parliament (EP) could proceed with the election of its own leadership on 3 July. The EPP and Renew Europe (formerly ALDE) groups, in line with the agreement, did not present candidates for the EP President. As such, the vote pitted the S&D’s David-Maria Sassoli (IT) against two former Spitzenkandidaten – Ska Keller (DE) of the Greens and Jan Zahradil (CZ) of the ACRE/ECR, alongside placeholder candidate Sira Rego (ES) of GUE. Sassoli was elected President for the first half of the 2019 – 2024 mandate, while the EPP (presumably EPP Spitzenkandidat Manfred Weber) would take the reins from January 2022. The vote was largely seen as a formality and a demonstration of the three largest Groups’ capacity to govern. However, Zahradil received almost 100 votes (more than the total votes of the ECR group), and Keller received almost twice as many votes as there are Greens/EFA MEPs. This forced a second round in which Sassoli was narrowly elected with just 11 more than the necessary simple majority. Close to 12% of MEPs did not cast a ballot. MEPs also elected 14 Vice-Presidents (VPs): Mairead McGuinness (EPP, IE), Pedro Silva Pereira (S&D, PT), Rainer Wieland (EPP, DE), Katarina Barley (S&D, DE), Othmar Karas (EPP, AT), Ewa Kopacz (EPP, PL), Klara Dobrev (S&D, HU), Dita Charanzová (RE, CZ), Nicola Beer (RE, DE), Lívia Járóka (EPP, HU) and Heidi Hautala (Greens/EFA, FI) were elected in the first ballot, while Marcel Kolaja (Greens/EFA, CZ), Dimitrios Papadimoulis (GUE/NGL, EL) and Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI, IT) needed the second round.
    [Show full text]
  • Brussels, 24 February 2021
    Brussels, 24 February 2021 Declaration from Members of the European Parliament to urge the Commission and Member States not to block the TRIPS waiver at the WTO and to support global access to COVID-19 vaccines We, Members of the European Parliament, urge the European Commission and the European Council to review their opposition to the TRIPS waiver proposal at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which serves to enable greater access to affordable COVID-19 health technologies, including vaccines, in particular for developing and middle income countries. This call comes in view of the European Council meeting of 25 February 2021 and the crucial decision to be made by all Member States at the WTO General Council on 1-2 March 2021. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the need to ensure global open access to COVID-19 health technologies and to rapidly scale up their manufacturing and supply has been widely acknowledged. However, despite efforts and statements made by the European Commission and several heads of state in support of treating COVID-19 medical products as global public goods, this has not yet translated into actionable realities. In this context, the EU’s open opposition to the TRIPS waiver risks exacerbating a dangerous North-South divide when it comes to affordable access to COVID-19 diagnostics, personal protective equipment, treatments and vaccines. The WTO decision on a potential waiver offers a crucial and much-needed act of effective solidarity, as it is an important step towards increasing local production in partner countries and, ultimately, suppressing this pandemic on a global scale.
    [Show full text]
  • Wednesday, 26 May 2021, with Anna Cavazzini (Chairwoman) Presiding
    European Parliament 2019-2024 Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection IMCO_PV(2021)0526_1 MINUTES Meeting of 26 May 2021, 9.30-12.30 and 13.45-16.15 and 16.45-18.45, and 27 May 2021, 9.30-12.30 and 16.45-17.45 (joint meeting) BRUSSELS The meeting was held with the remote participation of most attendants and opened at 9.33 on Wednesday, 26 May 2021, with Anna Cavazzini (Chairwoman) presiding. 1. Adoption of agenda IMCO_OJ(2021)0526_1 Decision: The draft agenda was adopted in the form shown in these minutes. 2. Chair's announcements A. Interpretation Interpretation is available for the following languages: Wednesday, 26 May, 9.30 – 12.30: FR DE IT EN DA (passive) ES CS PL (passive) SK RO Wednesday, 26 May, 13.45 – 16.15 and 16.45-18.45: FR DE IT EN DA ES CS PL SK RO Thursday, 27 May: FR DE IT EN DA ES CS PL SK RO Speakers were invited to speak their mother tongue if it is one of languages for which interpretation is available. PV\1233909EN.docx PE693.838v01-00 EN United in diversityEN B. Time Management The chair reminded MEPs that Coordinators have agreed an adapted framework for the exchange of views on Reports/Opinions which restricts the floor to one MEP per Political Group (usually the shadow or his/her replacement) for a limited duration. This reflects the limitation imposed to all committee meetings and the necessity to give priority to items of business in relation to COVID-19 issues.
    [Show full text]
  • RED 4 RES(Pdf, 59.26 KB )
    Executive Vice-President Timmermans Commissioner Simson Director-General Juul-Jorgensen 31 March 2021 Dear Executive Vice-President, Dear Commissioner, Dear Director-General, Keep the Renewable Energy Directive for renewables – “low-carbon” fuels and non-renewable energies should not be included in any provision of the Renewable Energy Directive Climate change is the defining challenge of this century. And renewable energy is one of the main pillars of European climate action, resulting in more than one-third of emission reductions to date. All scenarios for the EU achieving its targets under the Paris climate agreement rely on the rapid scaling up of renewable energy. Beyond emission reductions, investment in renewables brings many benefits: better European energy security, lower fossil fuel import bills, local job creation, better public health, economic development, and the possibility of millions of Europeans to actively participate in and benefit directly from the energy transition. The main policy tool for promoting renewable energy is the Renewable Energy Directive. It has proven successful in driving down the price of renewable energy technologies and boosting investments in renewables across Europe. However, the current intention to broaden the scope of the Directive beyond renewables is counter-productive and risks promoting the very fossil fuels that renewables should be displacing in Europe’s energy system, as defined in the European Commission’s long-term strategy. Non-renewable and low-carbon fuels, including so-called ‘low carbon’ fossil fuels, should not be included in any provision under the Renewable Energy Directive nor should they count towards the EU’s binding 2030 renewable energy target.
    [Show full text]
  • To the European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen, President Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President
    To the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, President Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President “A Europe Fit for the Digital Age” Věra Jourová, Vice-President “Values and Transparency” Thierry Breton, Commissioner “Internal Market” Helena Dalli, Commissioner “Equality” Didier Reynders, Commissioner “Justice” Brussels, 15 April 2021 We are happy to see that the draft AI legislation as leaked on Tuesday1 addresses the urgent issue of mass surveillance. People who constantly feel watched and under surveillance cannot freely and courageously stand up for their rights and for a just society. Surveillance, distrust and fear risk gradually transforming our society into one of uncritical consumers who believe they have “nothing to hide” and - in a vain attempt to achieve total security - are prepared to give up their liberties. That is not a society worth living in! For these reasons the processing of personal data for indiscriminate surveillance, profiling which threatens personal integrity, the targeted exploitation of vulnerabilities, addictive designs and dark patterns, and methods of influencing political elections that are incompatible with the principle of democracy should be banned. The inclusion of ‘Prohibited Artificial Intelligence Practices’ (Article 4(1)) in principle establishes a powerful basis for refusing to permit discriminatory and harmful applications of AI. While the draft proposal prohibits the use of AI systems for indiscriminate surveillance, no such system can possibly affect “all natural persons” in the world (8 billion people). This needs to be re-worded to cover all untargeted and indiscriminate mass surveillance, no matter how many people are exposed to the system. We strongly protest the proposed second paragraph of this Article 4 which would exempt public authorities and even private actors acting on their behalf “in order to safeguard public security”.
    [Show full text]
  • European Parliament: Facts and Figures
    BRIEFING October 2019 European Parliament: Facts and Figures This Briefing, published by the European Parliamentary Research Service, is designed to provide key facts and figures about the European Parliament, both in the 2019 to 2024 parliamentary term now starting - and in the eight previous terms since direct elections were introduced in June 1979. On the following pages you will find graphics of various kinds which: • detail the composition of the European Parliament now and in the past; • trace the increase in the number of parties represented in the EP and evolution of political groups; • chart the rise in the number of women sitting in the Parliament; • explain the electoral systems used in the 2019 elections to the Parliament across the Member States; • show how turnout in European elections compares with that in national elections; • summarise the activity of the Parliament in the current and previous five-year terms; • outline the composition of the Parliament’s committees and governing bodies. The Briefing will be updated regularly over the coming term to take account of latest developments. European Parliament, 2019-24 Size of the political groups Proportion of Members in each political group Number of MEPs in each political group as of Share by political group of the total 748 Members in the 1 October 2019. Parliament. Renew Europe: 14.4% EPP: 24.3% 182 154 108 Greens/EFA: 9.9% 74 73 62 54 41 ECR: 8.3% 748 EPP S&D Renew Greens/ ID ECR GUE/ NI S&D: 20.6% MEPs * Europe EFA NGL ID: 9.8% 748 GUE/NGL: 5.5% NI: 7.2% MEPs Note: The Spanish authorities have not yet notied the Parliament of the Members elected to three seats; therefore the total does not reach the 751 provid- ed for in EU law.
    [Show full text]