EUROPEAN UNION
EN
CIVEX-VI/007
COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
114th CoR plenary session
12-14 October 2015
DRAFT OPINION
Plenary Session of the Committee of the Regions
EU AGENDA ON BETTER REGULATION
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Rapporteur-general: Spyros Spyridon (EL/EPP)
(Member of Poros Municipal Council)
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RAPPORTEUR'S AMENDMENT – Rule 23(3)
SPYRIDON
This amendment relates to amendments 15, 16 and 17
Point 14
Draft opinion stresses that the involvement of stakeholders or citizens in consultations through their institutional representatives, such as the CoR and the EESC, will contribute to the objective of better regulation, particularly in view of the fact that time frames are often limited and it is easier to obtain a response from the above bodies, which have extensive networks. The active and meaningful involvement of the consultative bodies of the EU in the process of good lawmaking is a prerequisite for high quality results;
Amendment stresses that the involvement of local and regional authorities, stakeholders or citizens in consultations through their institutional representatives, such as the
CoR and the EESC, which must be clearly distinguished from other stakeholders, will contribute to the objective of better regulation, particularly in view of the fact that time frames are often limited and it is easier to obtain a response from the above bodies, which have extensive networks.
Their active and meaningful involvement in the process of better regulation is a prerequisite for high quality results.
Reason
Retains the spirit of amendments 15-17 and incorporates them into one single amendment.
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RAPPORTEUR'S AMENDMENT – Rule 23(3)
SPYRIDON
This amendment relates to amendments 20, 21 and 22
Point 17
Draft opinion draws attention to the need for assessments, so that
multifaceted impact
they are not confined only to the economic dimension, but include both the possibility of non-regulation and, in the case of regulation, an exploration of the implications in terms of safeguarding the fundamental principles of the EU;
Amendment considers multifaceted impact assessments to be useful , as they are not confined only to the economic dimension, but equally encompass protection of the environment and nature, consumers, health and employment, social protection and labour law. They also include both the possibility of non-regulation and, in the case of regulation, an exploration of the implications in terms of safeguarding the fundamental principles of the EU and their impact on social and territorial cohesion ;
Reason
Merges amendments 20-22 into one, whilst remaining in keeping with the spirit of all three.
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RAPPORTEUR'S AMENDMENT – Rule 23(3)
This amendment relates to amendments 23 and 24
Point 18
Draft opinion in particular, for each piece of new or secondary legislation, it insists on the need to carry out territorial impact assessments. The CoR, with its know-how, will actively contribute to this. Following the Commission's commitment to "keeping the EU competitive and the EU's development sustainable"[1], it also calls for competitiveness proofing;
[1] COM(2015) 215 final, point 3.1.
SPYRIDON
Amendment in particular, for each piece of new or secondary legislation, it insists on the need to carry out territorial impact assessments. The CoR, with its know-how, will actively contribute to this , including through its platforms and networks which provide a good access point to regional and local authorities .
Following the Commission's commitment to
"keeping the EU competitive and the EU's development sustainable"[1], it also calls for competitiveness and sustainability proofing;
[1] COM(2015) 215 final, point 3.1.
Reason
Merges amendments 23 and 24 into one.
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RAPPORTEUR'S AMENDMENT – Rule 23(3)
SPYRIDON
This amendment relates to amendment 37
Point 30 NEW
Draft opinion Amendment calls on the Member States concerned to provide a national EU consultation process that involves local and regional authorities, including through their national organisations, in a timely manner and at all stages. These authorities have considerable technical knowledge, expertise and experience in implementing legislation.
Reason
Amendment 37 is accepted apart from the last sentence, in the interests of making the text more readily comprehensible.
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RAPPORTEUR'S AMENDMENT – Rule 23(3)
SPYRIDON
This amendment refers to amendment 38
Point 32 guidelines
Draft opinion believes that the Commission's intention to publish implementation plans for legislation and important
, in addition to controls ‒ not only for the formal but also for the practical transposition of provisions into national law ‒ are a step in the right direction;
Amendment emphasises that the transposition of directives into national law is a national process where both national and regional and local administrative arrangements have to be adapted. This requires both sufficient time and room for manoeuvre. The
CoR believes that the Commission's intention to publish implementation plans for legislation and guidelines , in addition to controls ‒ not only for the formal but also for the practical transposition of provisions into national law ‒ are a step in the right direction;
Reason
Amendment 38 is accepted regarding both the acknowledgement of Member States' responsibility and competence in transposing directives and the inclusion of the term "guidelines". The rapporteur's amendment retains the original wording as regards the need for substantive, and not only formal, transposition of directives into national law.
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RAPPORTEUR'S AMENDMENT – Rule 23(3)
SPYRIDON
This amendment refers to amendment 46
Point 43 to proper have a chance
Draft opinion
European governance, but should be undertaken with care to avoid it becoming a means of applying pressure on co-legislators. They should
to express their views on the proposals to be withdrawn; believes that withdrawing legislative proposals that have been in the pipeline for a long time contributes
Amendment believes that withdrawing legislative proposals that have been in the pipeline for a long time could contribute to good European governance, but should be undertaken with care to avoid it becoming a means of applying pressure on co-legislators . Clearly the co-legislators, being competent, should be allowed a reasonable period of time and the general possibility to express their views on the proposals to be withdrawn;
Reason
Amendment 46 is accepted, but has been worded more concisely and comprehensively.
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