Brev fra Kommissionen til Folketingets formand vedr. Kommissionens arbejdsprogram for 2016

EN EN
EUROPEAN
COMMISSION
Strasbourg, 27.10.2015
COM(2015) 610 final
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
Commission Work Programme 2016
No time for business as usual
Ref. Ares(2015)4622146 - 27/10/2015
Europaudvalget 2015
KOM (2015) 0610 Bilag 1
Offentligt
2
One year ago, this Commission made a new start. Based on the Political Guidelines1
, we
defined the priorities of the Commission and committed to focus on the big things where
citizens expect Europe to make a difference. We decided we would change the way we work,
and be open and accountable for our actions. And we invited the European Parliament and the
Council to work together with us to deliver this change, because delivering results together on
the things that really matter is the only way to regain Europeans' trust that our Union is there
to serve them.
Citizens will judge the EU by its ability to deliver on the major challenges facing our societies
today. The jobs, growth, and investment gap. Refugees fleeing instability and war to seek safe
haven. Climate change and the pressure on natural resources. Inequality, intolerance and a
sense of insecurity in some parts of our communities. The reality of global interdependence
and our lack of self-confidence in Europe's place in an emerging new world order.
The ten priorities set out in the Agenda for Jobs, Growth, Fairness and Democratic Change –
which is both the Juncker Commission's mission statement and the basis on which we were
elected – address these challenges. The defining events of the last year – from the slower than
expected recovery of our economies and the need to restore stability to the Greek economy, to
the migratory pressure on our external borders and the insecurity in our neighbourhood which
is fuelling it, to the terrorist attacks on Charlie Hebdo and elsewhere on European soil – have
only strengthened our resolve to maintain the focus on these priorities, to do different things
and to do things differently.
Doing different things
Last year we said we would do different things and concentrate on the big things. Since then
we have set out our vision and the concrete measures that need to be taken in the Investment
Plan, the Digital Single Market, the Energy Union, the European Agenda on Security, the
European Agenda on Migration, the Capital Markets Union, the Action Plan for Fair and
Efficient Corporate Taxation, the new Trade Strategy and our most recent proposals to deepen
and strengthen our Economic and Monetary Union. This week we present our Single Market
Strategy for goods and services2
, and we will complete the picture with our plans for a
sustainable circular economy, labour mobility and better management of our external borders
before the end of the year. All these actions are underpinned by the Commission's new Better
Regulation Agenda.
Following a continuous dialogue with the European Parliament and the Council launched by
the President's State of the Union address of 9 September3
, this Work Programme sets out the
1
http://ec.europa.eu/priorities/docs/pg_en.pdf
2
COM (2015) 550, 28.10.2015.
3
http://ec.europa.eu/priorities/soteu.
See also the Letter of Intent signed by the President and the First Vice-President and addressed to the Presidents
of the European Parliament and of the Council. On this basis, meetings took place between the President and the
Coreper on 10 September, the First Vice-President discussed with the General Affairs Council on 13 October,
the Commission met with the Conference of Committee Chairs on 6 October and the President and the First -
Vice-President met with the Conference of Presidents on 20 October.
3
key initiatives we will take in the next twelve months to deliver on these commitments4
. Not
everything can be done in one year but what we are committing to represents a substantive
legislative agenda, and a framework for further actions that will be included in future work
programmes, for which preparatory work, including evaluation, consultations and impact
assessments, will start in 2016.
We have given priority to the legislative changes which – if agreed quickly – can have a direct
impact on jobs and growth, on our environment and social well-being, on our security and the
way we engage with an interconnected world.
The directly elected European Parliament and the Council of ministers of each national
government, which are the EU's co-legislators, have agreed with unprecedented speed the
Commission's proposals for the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), for
amending the EU budget for 2015 in order to strengthen financial support in the context of the
refugee crisis, for a €35 billion package for jobs and growth in Greece and for the emergency
decisions for relocation within the EU of refugees in need of international protection. This
joint effort to deliver rapidly where decisions are quickly and most needed should no longer
be the exception but must become the norm.
So before designing this Work Programme the Commission has engaged in intensive and
constructive discussions with our institutional partners to build a common understanding of
where the focus should be. The best proposals will change nothing if they lie on the
negotiating table for years without agreement. That is also why we have identified some
existing proposals which merit speedy adoption by the co-legislators5
, and why we intend to
withdraw a number of earlier Commission proposals which are no longer relevant, have been
blocked or no longer meet the necessary level of ambition, in order to free up space to focus
on the priority proposals which do have a good chance of being agreed6
.
Doing things differently
New challenges require new and ambitious responses, but we must remain just as ambitious in
meeting ongoing challenges and, above all, check that where a European response is merited,
this is as effective as possible in delivering our common goals. Results are what matter, not
good intentions. This Commission's commitment to better regulation is about looking at the
evidence and making sure that when the EU intervenes it does so in a way that actually will
make a positive difference on the ground. So we need to be constantly attentive to make sure
our legislation and spending programmes perform effectively and remain fit for purpose.
In many areas a common approach at European level is needed if we are to achieve our
ambitious policy goals – a high level of environmental protection, high social and
employment standards, energy security, a thriving economy that benefits all, a migration
policy that reflects our common values. But rules which are outdated or are too heavy or too
complex to be applied in practice will not achieve their objectives.
4
Annex I.
5
Annex III.
6
Annex IV.
4
Checking that our rules actually deliver on our ambitions in these areas is not something to be
feared but an opportunity to improve them – a chance to make sure that in areas such as health
and safety legislation the rules are workable and will be enforced, so the high standards we
have set are actually applied in workplaces everywhere, to the benefit of workers across the
Union.
That is why we have decided to include in this Work Programme our plans to review key
areas of existing legislation and to make sure they are fit to make a real difference on the
ground7
. And we are proposing to repeal some laws that are no longer relevant8
. In the same
spirit we are highlighting for the information of citizens and businesses the new EU
legislation that will apply for the first time in the course of next year9
.
Monitoring and where necessary enforcing the application of European legislation is one of
the Commission's most important responsibilities, but has not always had the political
attention it merits. We are changing that and stepping up enforcement activities in the areas
which matter most, for example our common rules on asylum which must work properly if
there is to be confidence in the Schengen area without internal borders. Applying our common
European rules on the ground means working in close partnership with actors at all levels –
national, regional and local.
We are determined to leverage all the tools at our disposal to deliver on our objectives. At a
time when resources are under more demand than ever, the EU budget must be geared to
results. The mid-term review of the Multi-annual Financial Framework will look at how better
to target funding on the priorities we face, such as the internal and external dimensions of the
refugee crisis. Furthermore the Commission will propose a strategy on 'An EU budget focused
on results' to ensure that future financing has a stronger focus on achieving results. More can
be done to facilitate the use of innovative financial instruments, and there is considerable
scope for simplification (in particular in agriculture, the European Structural and Investment
Funds and further efforts on research), performance-enhancement and measures linking
effectiveness of funds to sound economic governance.
In this second year of our mandate this Commission's focus remains clear: being big on the
big things, and better in how we deliver them10
; and remaining small and modest on small
things which do not require common EU action. With this Work Programme, structured
around the ten priorities set out by President Juncker at the start of our mandate, we reaffirm
our commitment to work with our partners in the European Parliament and the Council to
deliver the results Europeans expect. Given the challenges Europe faces today, this is no time
for business as usual.
***
7
Annex II.
8
Annex V.
9
Annex VI.
10
In this context, the Commission will focus its communication work in 2016 on the priorities of the
Commission, on the basis of the corporate communication action in 2016 under the Multiannual Financial
Framework 2014-2020 (C(2015) 7346 of 27.10.2015).
5
1. A New Boost for Jobs, Growth and Investment
History has shown that Europeans have an inherent capacity to work hard, innovate, to create
and to sell their ideas to the world. We cannot afford to lose a generation of this talent and
potential. The Commission will continue helping Member States in their efforts to get people
back to work. We have frontloaded €1 billion to speed up the implementation of the Youth
Employment Initiative to help up to 650,000 young people find jobs, apprenticeships,
traineeships or continued education across Europe. We have proposed guidance to Member
States to better help long-term unemployed return to work.
We need to equip Europeans to adapt to the needs of the rapidly changing world and
emerging labour markets. Our New Skills Agenda will promote life-long investment in
people, from vocational training and higher education through to digital and high-tech
expertise and the life skills needed for citizens' active engagement in changing workplaces
and societies. Special attention will be paid to work-life balance of working families, with a
view to increasing women's participation in the labour market. The Women on Boards
Directive should be adopted in 2016 and the Commission will continue its practical work to
promote gender equality.
We also want to see European companies make the most of the opportunities of the Single
Market, to grow and compete on a global scale. For that they need stable financing, a sound
business environment, and modern infrastructure. The Investment Plan for Europe is now up
and running. The European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) is operational and
delivering high quality investments to further boost the European economy, including in
research. We now will focus on improving the investment environment and deepening the
Single Market so it delivers better outcomes for Europeans, fewer barriers for businesses and
the right environment for innovation.
We need to start work now to secure Europe's future sustainability. We will present a new
approach to ensuring economic growth and social and environmental sustainability beyond
the 2020 timeframe, taking into account the Europe 2020 review and the internal and external
implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Optimising the use of resources is essential to ensure that growth is green and inclusive.
Starting next year, we will implement an Action Plan on the Circular Economy to create a
single market for the re-use of materials and resources, supporting the move away from a
linear economy. This will require action in all parts of the economic cycle, from sourcing to
production, consumption, waste and recycling and innovation to harness economically and
environmentally efficient business opportunities.
A sustainable future also means foreseeing and mitigating threats to a healthy environment.
The Commission will continue its work to help Member States address the challenge of anti-
microbial resistance and contribute to global efforts to tackle this threat. We will also launch
preparatory work and will enhance consultation on Health Technology Assessment to
improve the functioning of the single market for health products. We will conclude the
complex preparatory work already under way to protect Europeans from the dangers of
6
endocrine disruptors11
and follow up on it. Our review of the existing occupational health and
safety legislation, including on carcinogens and mutagens, will improve the efficiency and
effectiveness of an EU framework for protecting workers.
2. A Connected Digital Single Market
A thriving digital economy can expand markets and create new sources of employment.
Europe can lead here if we can overcome fragmentation, improve the offer to European
consumers and open up new opportunities for business. That is why the Commission
proposed the Digital Single Market Strategy in May 2015. Our aim is to present all relevant
proposals before the end of 2016 so that the Union can achieve a fully functional Digital
Single Market during the mandate of this Commission.
In December we will present our vision for a more modern, more European approach on
copyright to take account of the digital revolution. We will also present proposals on digital
contract rights. Further initiatives on copyright, geo-blocking, free flow of data, the cloud, and
VAT for electronic commerce will follow in the course of 2016.
Following the agreement on the Connected Continent proposals, including an end to roaming
charges by 2017, we are working on a comprehensive review of the telecoms regulatory
framework. Further to the respective REFIT reviews, we will revise the audio-visual and
media services directive, the satellite and cable directive, and the regulation on consumer
protection cooperation to make sure the system actually delivers for citizens. We will work
with the co-legislators to reach agreement by the end of the year on the data protection reform
and the network and information security directive – two essential elements for building trust
and security in the growing digital single market.
Our ambitious aim is and remains12
to break down national silos in telecoms regulation, in
copyright and data protection legislation, in the management of frequencies and in the
application of competition law, taking full account of cultural diversity. By creating a
connected Digital Single Market, we can generate up to €250 billion of additional growth in
Europe in the course of the mandate of this Commission, thereby creating hundreds of
thousands of new jobs, notably for younger job-seekers, and a vibrant knowledge-based
society.
3. A Resilient Energy Union with a Forward-Looking Climate Change Policy
In our Energy Union Strategy the Commission has set out the key actions needed to secure
Europe's energy supply and reduce import dependency, to integrate national energy markets,
to put energy efficiency first, to de-carbonise the economy and to promote research,
innovation and competitiveness. In 2016 we will bring forward the bulk of the items foreseen
11
Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that, at certain doses, can interfere with the hormone system in mammals.
12
http://ec.europa.eu/priorities/docs/pg_en.pdf
7
in the Energy Union roadmap. We will report on the progress made and what still needs to be
done in a regular State of the Energy Union report.
The EU being a lead player in the Paris climate talks, the implementation of the 2030 energy
and climate package will be a key priority next year to ensure the targets are duly met. In
2016, the Commission will come up with an effort-sharing proposal for sectors outside the
Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), such as buildings, agriculture, and the de-carbonisation of
transport. We will be promoting the use of non-discriminatory road charging schemes based
on the polluter-pays and user-pays principles and efforts to create a single European transport
area, allowing a more efficient use of the existing road infrastructure and a more flexible use
of fleet capacity. To accelerate the energy transition, the Commission will also propose
initiatives on a new energy market design, on reaching the 15% electricity interconnection
target by 2030, on energy security of supply, on renewables and energy efficiency. Finally,
we will develop an integrated strategy for Energy Union research, innovation and
competitiveness in order to tap into the jobs and growth potential of the low-carbon economy.
4. A Deeper and Fairer Internal Market with a Strengthened Industrial Base
The Single Market is Europe’s greatest and unique asset. It allows people, products, services
and capital to move more freely. It ensures more choices and lower prices for consumers. It
enables people to live, work and study where they wish. It offers opportunities for
professionals and businesses, by reducing the red tape they would otherwise face when
operating across borders. It is the bedrock for the competitiveness of our European industries.
In adopting the Single Market Strategy this week, we have stressed the need to build on these
strengths and further unleash our internal market's full potential, adapting to changing
economic conditions and making it the launch pad for our companies and industry to thrive in
the global economy. Now we will focus on concrete measures, from helping start-ups to grow,
to releasing the potential of new business models emerging from the collaborative economy,
to facilitating the cross-border provision of services, to upgrading our standards system and
ensuring that Single Market legislation is properly applied and enforced in practice. We will
work to remove legal and technical access barriers to the road transport market and to
strengthen the enforcement of applicable social legislation. We are focused on helping SMEs
and start-ups to grow by addressing regulatory obstacles and facilitating access to finance. We
will table a new initiative on preventive restructuring procedures and to give a second chance
to entrepreneurs after bankruptcy.
Implementing the Capital Markets Union is a key part of this work, since achieving a single
market for capital, funding and savings will play a critical role in removing investment
bottlenecks and helping businesses to grow across the Single Market. It will be important that
the co-legislators swiftly agree on the Commission's proposal on securitisation. Later this
year, the Commission will also put forward a proposal to review the Prospectus Directive to
make it easier for small firms to list and access market funding, as well as further measures to
assist the creation of venture capital funds and develop a new venture capital culture to create
opportunities for entrepreneurship.
8
To help Europeans make the most of the job opportunities in the Single Market, we have
already proposed measures to strengthen the European job mobility portal (EURES) and
cooperation between employment services. The Labour Mobility proposals we will present
later this year will include measures to tackle abuse by means of better enforcement and
coordination of social security systems, and we will present a targeted revision of the Posting
of Workers Directive to address unfair practices leading to social dumping and brain drain by
ensuring that the same work in the same place is rewarded by the same pay.
We will also put a particular emphasis on improving access to selected goods and services for
people with disabilities.
In 2016 we will also look more closely at a few selected sectors either because of their growth
potential or because they face specific challenges. We will present a strategy for releasing the
full benefits of the European space programmes such as Galileo and Copernicus for the
European economy and citizens. We will develop and implement a European action plan to
ensure that our defence market is ready to meet future security needs. We will deliver the
follow-up to the aviation strategy that will be presented later this year. And given
developments in the agricultural sector, we will bring forward our report on the functioning of
the milk market already to next year.
The Commission will present an action plan on VAT with further steps towards an efficient
and fraud-proof definitive regime and initiatives on VAT rates and e-commerce in the context
of the Digital Single Market. We also intend to withdraw a number of VAT proposals on the
table that have made little progress in the Council or where their significant simplification
potential has been unacceptably watered down, as is the case for the standard VAT
declaration.
We also want to make further progress towards fair, efficient and growth-friendly corporate
taxation, based on the principle that companies should pay taxes in the country where profits
are generated. We will present a set of measures to enhance transparency of the corporate tax
system and fight tax avoidance, including by implementing international standards on base
erosion and profit-shifting. We intend to withdraw the blocked proposal for a Common
Consolidated Corporate Tax Base and replace it with proposals for a staged approach starting
with agreeing a mandatory tax base. This will improve the Single Market for businesses
whilst closing loopholes and ensuring that all companies pay their fair share of tax.
5. A Deeper and Fairer Economic and Monetary Union
The Commission has just tabled key elements of the first stage of the process to complete
Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) as set out in the Five Presidents' Report13
. We have
proposed a renewed approach to the European Semester and an improved toolbox for
economic governance, including the introduction of national Competitiveness Boards and an
advisory European Fiscal Board. We propose to build a better dialogue between the
Commission and the European Parliament to improve the democratic accountability of our
13
http://ec.europa.eu/priorities/economic-monetary-union/docs/5-presidents-report_en.pdf
9
economic governance system. We also call for a more unified representation of the euro area
within international organisations (notably the IMF). By the end of the year we will present a
European bank deposit scheme based on a reinsurance mechanism and set out ways to further
reduce risk and ensure a level playing field in the banking sector.
These measures represent an important step forward towards a more resilient and prosperous
EMU. In that context, the 2016 European Semester will also put a stronger focus on the
economic and fiscal situation in the euro area as a whole, enhance further the emphasis on
Member States' employment and social performance, and promote convergence, including by
removing national barriers to investment.
The development of a European pillar of social rights will contribute to this. The Commission
will pursue two complementary work strands: firstly, modernising and addressing the gaps in
existing social policy legislation to take account of today's work environment and to ensure
that new models of work maintain a fair balance in the relationship between employers and
workers; and secondly, identifying social benchmarks, notably as concerns the flexicurity
concept, built on best practices in the Member States with a view to upwards convergence, in
particular in the euro area, as regards the functioning of the labour market, skills and social
protection.
We will take this work forward in enhanced dialogue with the European Parliament, Member
States, national Parliaments and social partners. To prepare the transition from stage 1 to stage
2 of completing the EMU and the Commission White Paper scheduled for spring 2017, the
Commission will launch a wide consultation and debate across the EU. We will also draw on
analytical input from a High Level Expert Group which we will set up in summer 2016. The
European Parliament will be closely involved in all these preparatory steps.
6. A Reasonable and Balanced Free Trade Agreement with the US
International trade and investment are key drivers for the European economic recovery. The
EU is uniquely well-placed to ensure the opportunities of globalisation are made to work for
the benefit of Europeans, in a transparent and socially and environmentally responsible
manner. An active trade policy will ensure that we connect to new emerging centres of global
growth and are part of new digital and global value chains. This will provide openings for our
businesses and create high-quality jobs without compromising on our European values or
standards.
The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Agreement (TTIP) with the United States
remains a top priority for 2016. We are committed to negotiating a fair and balanced deal with
the US, with a new approach to investment protection. We plan to step up cooperation with
the Asia-Pacific region, for example through the EU-Japan Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
negotiations and an EU-China investment agreement, by requesting authorisation to negotiate
FTAs with Australia and New Zealand, as well as opening free trade negotiations with the
Philippines and with Indonesia, once the conditions are right. This ambitious bilateral trade
10
agenda, which already covers 27 negotiating partners, complements the multilateral World
Trade Organisation system which remains at the heart of the EU approach.
In 2016 the Commission aims to see the provisional application of a number of new
agreements, including those ones with Canada and with several African, Caribbean and
Pacific regions. We will closely monitor existing agreements such as those with our Eastern
Neighbourhood. Work will begin on modernising some of our existing agreements in light of
new economic realities, including with countries like Turkey, Mexico and Chile.
With the new Trade and Investment Strategy we presented earlier this month, we aim to
update the tools of trade policy and gear it more to services, digital trade, mobility, access to
natural resources, innovation and other drivers of jobs and growth. We will work more on
implementation and enforcement, to ensure that the opportunities created by trade agreements
deliver real results, while paying particular attention to SMEs and helping workers adapt to
change. We will also take forward our work on enhancing transparency for stakeholders and
citizens about our trade negotiations.
7. An Area of Justice and Fundamental Rights Based on Mutual Trust
Terrorism and radicalisation, organised crime, and cybercrime threaten the security of
Europeans and are by nature transnational and require an EU response. The Commission will
focus on the implementation of the European Agenda on Security, with proposals such as a
revision of the Framework Decision on terrorism to address the phenomenon of foreign
terrorist fighters and a proposal on combatting fraud and counterfeiting on non-cash means of
payment. Work will continue to overhaul the legislative framework for controlling firearms.
We will pay increased attention to developing the operational cooperation and tools which
underpin the mutual trust that is essential for effective cross-border law enforcement work,
whilst fully respecting fundamental rights.
The data protection reform (Regulation and Directive) and the proposal on EU Passenger
Name Records should be agreed by the co-legislators by the end of the year. The Commission
aims to conclude a solid agreement with the United States on transfer of personal data for law
enforcement purposes which provides the necessary guarantees including judicial review for
individuals. In the light of recent case-law we will work towards a new framework ensuring
proper protection of personal data stored by companies in the US.
In 2016 it will be important that the co-legislators move forward on the European Public
Prosecutor's Office and the reform of Europol. The Commission will also take forward work
to clarify access to justice in environmental matters.
The Commission will also pursue the work towards the accession of the EU to the European
Convention on Human Rights, taking full account of the Opinion of the Court of Justice14
.
14
OJ C 65, 23.2.2015, p. 2
11
8. Towards a New Policy on Migration
Addressing the refugee crisis and managing the migratory pressure on our external borders is
the most pressing priority the Union faces today, and instability, war and poverty in our
neighbourhood mean that this issue will need to remain at the top of the political agenda for
some years to come.
The European Agenda on Migration which we presented in May 2015 provides a
comprehensive approach to migration management based on the principles of solidarity and
responsibility. Two emergency schemes to relocate 160,000 people in need of international
protection from the Member States most affected to other EU Member States are already
operational. Every day the Frontex Joint Operations Poseidon and Triton are rescuing people
shipwrecked in the Mediterranean Sea. Migration management support teams in "hotspot"
areas are now helping national authorities in Greece and Italy with the identification,
registration and processing of new arrivals. Efforts have been stepped up to tackle people
smuggling and dismantle human trafficker groups. Action is being taken to return more
people who are not in need of international protection.
The EU has already mobilised €4 billion in humanitarian, development, economic and
stabilisation assistance to Syrians in their country and in host communities in Lebanon,
Jordan, Iraq, Turkey and Egypt. An additional €1.8 billion will be used to set up an
'Emergency Trust Fund for stability and addressing root causes of irregular migration and
displaced persons in Africa'. Stronger and deeper cooperation with third countries of origin
and transit is key to managing migration better, including a concerted effort to provide
support for the growing number of refugees and internally-displaced persons in third
countries.
The crisis has shown that beyond these immediate steps, we need to fundamentally rethink the
way we manage our common external border and our European asylum framework. Later this
year the Commission will present proposals for a European Border and Coast Guard, building
on a significant strengthening of Frontex.
We will overhaul our common asylum system to correct the gaps and weaknesses exposed in
the Dublin system and to strengthen the role of the European Asylum Support Office. We will
press for the Action Plan on return to be fully and quickly put into operation, and for
agreement on the pending proposals implementing the European Agenda on Migration. We
will also present proposals for a structured system for resettlement so that those in need of
protection can be given safe passage into the EU, without risking their lives in the hands of
smugglers, together with better protection schemes in neighbouring regions.
And to meet Europe's future demographic and labour market needs, we will present a renewed
approach on legal migration, including measures to improve the Blue Card Directive.
12
9. A Stronger Global Actor
In an increasingly connected, contested and complex world marked by dynamic changes, the
coherence of the EU's external action and our ability to use all available instruments in a
joined up manner to achieve our objectives and complement our internal policies are ever
more important. Challenges such as migration, access to energy and other resources, and
climate change demonstrate the need for an effective external dimension to deliver on major
internal policy objectives and to allow the EU to take advantage of opportunities to advance
its values, such as democracy, human rights, equality and solidarity, as well as European
history and culture, in the wider world. The Commission will therefore make a substantive
contribution in support of the work of the High Representative/Vice-President on a new
Global Strategy on foreign and security policy.
In addressing acute crisis such as the conflicts in Syria, Libya and Ukraine, the Commission
will continue to be pro-actively engaged in support of international actors such as the United
Nations and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, drawing on the full
range of policies, financing and other tools at its disposal. We will review and further develop
our instruments to enhance security and development in partner countries, and will bring
forward measures to support them in improving security sector governance and capacity
building.
Following the ongoing public consultation, we will present a new post-Cotonou policy
framework to govern relations with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries and regions. The
Commission's development policy, as well as the new Trade and Investment Strategy, will
also promote economic development, support social and environmental protection, defend
human rights, tackle corruption, and improve migration management whilst addressing its
root causes.
The Commission will continue to work towards a further concretisation of the accession
perspective of the candidate countries. In this context, we will strengthen our partnership with
Turkey, including by implementing the action plan on migration and modernising the customs
union. The new European Neighbourhood Policy will provide a more focussed and tailor-
made framework for the support of the stabilisation and democratic development of the
countries in the Eastern and Southern neighbourhood.
We will also support the High Representative/Vice-President in deepening bilateral relations
with the EU's key partners. Tailored strategic approaches will need to be regularly updated,
with the EU policy on China being a first example. Following on from the successful
conclusion of the nuclear negotiations with Iran, a renewed framework for the EU's
engagement with the country could be envisaged subject to the full implementation of the
agreement.
10. A Union of Democratic Change
The Commission will work in partnership with the European Parliament and the Council to
ensure that the negotiations on a new Inter-institutional Agreement on Better Regulation can
13
conclude by the end of the year, to strengthen our common commitment to better regulation
as a tool for better results, increase transparency about how European decisions are made, and
equip the three institutions to better work together in the future.
We will bring forward in 2016 our proposal for an Inter-institutional Agreement on a
mandatory transparency register for interest representatives seeking to influence policy
making in the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission.
In the past year we have stepped up the Commission's engagement and dialogue with national
Parliaments, both in terms of meetings and exchanges of view with parliamentary committees,
and by a renewed commitment to the political dialogue on draft proposals. We plan to build
on this further in 2016 with further steps to ensure that national parliaments have a strong
voice in European policy-making.
Finally, we will continue to expand our 'Citizens' Dialogues' which allow the Members of the
Commission to listen directly to citizens in their own regions and reply on the issues that
matter most to them.
***
The European Union is at a defining moment. We are facing several unprecedented
challenges: the refugee crisis, unemployment and the jobs and growth gap, the need to deepen
our Economic and Monetary Union, climate change, instability in our Eastern and Southern
neighbourhood, and a fair deal for the UK within a European Union committed to the four
freedoms of the single market and the values which all 28 Member States share.
This is therefore no time for business as usual, which is why in this Work Programme the
Commission commits to bold, focussed and pragmatic action that will allow us to overcome
these challenges and emerge stronger in a spirit of European solidarity and responsibility. We
look to our partners in the European Parliament and the Council to engage with us to bring
about swiftly the results Europeans expect their Union to deliver.
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EUROPEAN
COMMISSION
Strasbourg, 27.10.2015
COM(2015) 610 final
ANNEX 1
ANNEX
to the
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
Commission Work Programme 2016
No time for business as usual
2
Annex I: New initiatives
Nº Title Type of initiative Description of scope and objectives
A New Boost for Jobs, Growth and Investment
1. New Skills Agenda for Europe Legislative / Non-
legislative
The Agenda aims at promoting skills development, including the mutual recognition of qualifications,
supporting vocational training and higher education and reaping the full potential of digital jobs.
2. New start for working parents Legislative / Non-
legislative
A set of legislative and non-legislative measures to better address the challenges of work-life balance faced
by working parents and support the participation of women in the labour market.
3. Circular Economy Package Legislative / Non-
legislative
The aim is to address economic and environmental concerns by maximizing efficiency in the use of
resources, covering the whole value chain (including sustainable consumption, production, waste
management) and through innovation, thereby enabling the development of new markets and business
models. The package will consist of a broad action plan, including actions on monitoring effective progress,
and a waste proposal with long-term targets.
4. Review of the Multiannual Financial
Framework (MFF) 2014-2020
Legislative / Non-
legislative
The mid-term review of the MFF will address how better to target funding on the priorities the EU faces. The
review will also look for ways to further orientate the EU budget towards results and simplify the applicable
rules (REFIT) e.g. for the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) and the Common Agricultural
Policy (CAP), and will explore the scope for further simplification under Horizon 2020 funding.
5. Next steps for a sustainable European
future
Non-legislative This initiative will set out a new approach to ensure Europe's economic growth and social and environmental
sustainability beyond the 2020 timeframe, taking into account the Europe 2020 review and the internal and
external implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
3
Nº Title Type of initiative Description of scope and objectives
A Connected Digital Single Market
6. Implementation of the Digital Single
Market Strategy
Legislative / Non-
legislative
The Digital Single Market Strategy outlined in May 2015 will be taken forward with three sets of actions: 1)
a Communication on copyright and legislative proposal on portability, followed by legislative proposals on
copyright and the review of the satellite and cable directive (REFIT), legislative proposals on digital contract
rights, geo-blocking, and VAT for electronic commerce (REFIT), and the review of the Regulation on
consumer protection cooperation (REFIT); 2) reviews of the telecoms regulatory framework (REFIT) and the
audiovisual and media services Directive (REFIT), and 3) a legislative proposal on the free flow of data.
A Resilient Energy Union with a Forward-Looking Climate Change Policy
7. Energy Union Package Legislative / Non-
legislative
Following up on the Framework Strategy, the Package is composed of: legislative proposals on electricity
market design and the regulatory framework, including the review of the Agency for the Cooperation of
Energy Regulators (ACER), and the revision of the Regulation on security of electricity supply; the revision
of the Regulation on security of gas supply and the revision of the Decision on inter-governmental
agreements; the effort sharing decision and integration of the Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry
sector (LULUCF) into the 2030 climate framework; a renewable energy package (REFIT), including
sustainability criteria for biomass, and an energy efficiency package, including energy efficiency for
buildings (REFIT).
A Deeper and Fairer Internal Market with a Strengthened Industrial Base
8. Labour Mobility Package Legislative / Non-
legislative
This initiative consists of a Communication on labour mobility, a targeted revision of the Directive on the
posting of workers, and the revision of Regulations on social security coordination.
4
Nº Title Type of initiative Description of scope and objectives
9. Follow-up to Single Market Strategy Legislative / Non-
legislative
The Single Market Strategy will be taken forward through guidance on how EU law applies to collaborative
economy business models; action to help SMEs and start-ups grow; initiatives on the regulation of
professions; a legislative initiative framing a new approach to business failure and insolvency; legislative
initiatives to facilitate cross-border provision of services, tackle regulatory barriers in key business services
and construction services, and address discrimination based on nationality or place of residence; review of the
EU intellectual property enforcement framework (REFIT); action on standardisation including service
standards; proposals for market information tools and an improved notification procedure under the Services
Directive; and an action plan to increase awareness of the mutual recognition principles in the goods sector.
10. European Defence Action Plan Legislative / Non-
legislative
The aim is a legal and policy framework to ensure that the European market and industrial and skills base will
be able to deliver the military capability priorities that Member States may need to meet future security needs.
11. Action Plan on VAT Legislative / Non-
legislative
The action plan aims at delivering efficient and fraud-proof VAT regimes and will include initiatives on VAT
rates (REFIT) and a proposal on VAT for electronic commerce (REFIT) in the context of the Digital Single
Market Strategy, and a Communication setting out the definitive VAT regime (REFIT).
12. Corporate Tax Package Legislative / Non-
legislative
Following up on the Communication on A fair and efficient corporate tax system in the European Union: 5
key areas for action, the package includes a set of measures to enhance transparency of the corporate tax
system and fight tax avoidance, including by implementing international standards on base erosion and profit
shifting, and a staged approach starting with a mandatory tax base (REFIT) together with withdrawal of the
existing CCCTB proposal.
13. A Space Strategy for Europe Non- legislative The Strategy will coordinate the different strands of EU space activities, including a roadmap for concrete
actions enabling targeted sectorial applications and further developing the EU space programmes to benefit
the economy, public authorities and society as a whole.
A Deeper and Fairer Economic and Monetary Union
14. Pillar of Social Rights Legislative / Non-
legislative
The initiative will address gaps in existing legislation and identify common principles and reference
benchmarks with a view to a greater convergence of employment and social performance over time.
5
Nº Title Type of initiative Description of scope and objectives
15. European Bank Deposit Insurance
Scheme / Completion of the Banking
Union
Legislative / Non-
legislative
Following up to the Five Presidents' Report, the proposal will outline steps towards a European Bank Deposit
Insurance Scheme based on a reinsurance mechanism. A Communication will set out further measures to
complete the Banking Union.
Trade: A Reasonable and Balanced Free Trade Agreement with the U.S.
16. Follow-up to the Trade and
Investment Strategy
Legislative / Non-
legislative
Against the background of the Trade for All strategy for a more effective and transparent trade and
investment policy based on values, the Commission will pursue the TTIP negotiations with the US, as well as
make progress at WTO, engage strategically with Asia and ensure that EPAs are well implemented.
An Area of Justice and Fundamental Rights Based on Mutual Trust
17. Implementation of European Agenda
on Security
Legislative / Non-
legislative
Actions to implement the European Agenda on Security including a proposal to amend the Framework
Decision on terrorism, improved rules on firearms and a proposal on combatting fraud and counterfeiting on
non-cash means of payment.
Towards a New Policy on Migration
18. Better Migration Management Legislative / Non-
legislative
The initiative has two dimensions: 1) legal migration: a Communication and further legislative measures
including extension of the Blue Card approach; 2) asylum and refugees: a proposal for a structured system on
resettlement of refugees and revision of the Dublin system on asylum.
19. Border Management Package Legislative / Non-
legislative
The aim is to progress towards a European Border and Coast Guard building on a reinforced Frontex.
A Stronger Global Actor
20. Post-Cotonou Framework Non-legislative New policy framework to govern relations with the ACP countries and regions.
21. Capacity building in the security
sector
Legislative / non-
legislative
The package covers security sector reform and a possible new dedicated instrument for capacity building in
support of security and development in third countries.
6
Nº Title Type of initiative Description of scope and objectives
22. Commission contribution to the
Global Strategy
Non-legislative The Commission will actively contribute to the Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy under the
responsibility of the High Representative/Vice-President with a view to a better sense of direction to the EU
external action.
A Union of Democratic Change
23. Proposal for an Inter-Institutional
Agreement on a mandatory
Transparency Register
Non-legislative The proposal for an IIA with the European Parliament and the Council aims at enhancing openness and
accountability by making the Trasparency Register mandatory for all interest representatives seeking to
influence policy making in any of the three institutions.
EN EN
EUROPEAN
COMMISSION
Strasbourg, 27.10.2015
COM(2015) 610 final
ANNEX 2
ANNEX
to the
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
Commission Work Programme 2016
No time for business as usual
2
Annex II: REFIT Initiatives1
REFIT is the European Commission's Regulatory Fitness and Performance programme to make EU law simpler and to reduce regulatory costs without
compromising policy objectives. REFIT thus contributes to a clear, stable and predictable regulatory framework supporting growth and jobs.
Nº Title Type of initiative2
Description of scope and objectives
A New Boost for Jobs, Growth and Investment
1. REACH Legislative /
Evaluation
Actions include a Commission Implementing Regulation on simplification of the authorisation procedure
under REACH, a Commission Implementing Regulation on transparency and cost sharing in substance
information exchange fora (SIEF) under REACH, and the launching of an evaluation to be completed in
2017 in view of the obligation stemming from Article 117(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 for the
Commission to report by 1 June 2017 on the implementation of REACH.
2. Standard Procurement Document and
Standard Forms for Public
Procurement
Legislative Commission Implementing Regulation on the European Standard Procurement Document (introduced by
the new Public Procurement Directives to avoid having to repeatedly file information for each tender
submission). Commission Implementing Regulation – update to the standard forms for tender notices in
public procurement.
3. Lifts (Directive 95/16/EC) Evaluation The evaluation will cover the scope, the essential health and safety requirements and their links with the
related conformity assessment procedure.
1
This annex lists new initiatives to be undertaken in 2016 not already listed in Annex I. All items are additional to those listed in the latest version of the REFIT Scoreboard:
http://ec.europa.eu/smart-regulation/better_regulation/key_docs_en.htm
2
The type of initiative is indicative only and might change, notably in view of the outcome of an impact assessment process. The table refers to "evaluation follow up" for
those cases where a REFIT evaluation is still on-going and, while some form of follow up action is planned for 2016, its scope and nature remains too uncertain at this stage.
During 2016, Roadmaps / Inception Impact Assessments will be published to inform the public about any such follow up action under consideration and allow for
stakeholders' feedback: http://ec.europa.eu/smart-regulation/roadmaps/index_en.htm
3
Nº Title Type of initiative2
Description of scope and objectives
4. State Aid: Commission Notice on a
Simplified Procedure for the
treatment of certain types of State Aid
('Simplified procedure Notice')
(2009/C136/03)
Evaluation The objective of this evaluation will be to take account of the evolution of State aid law, the decision-
making practice, and the experience gained in applying the Simplified Procedure. The evaluation will also
identify further administrative/procedural simplification.
A Resilient Energy Union with a Forward-Looking Climate Change Policy
5. Targeted review of Commission
Delegated Regulation (EU) No
639/2014 (Ecological Focus Areas)
Legislative Revised delegated/implementing act following up to the Commission undertaking to evaluate the
experience with the implementation of Ecological Focus Areas (EFA) in the Commission Delegated
Regulation (EU) No 639/2014 after the first year of application. Part of the CAP simplification exercise.
6. EU Nature Legislation Evaluation follow up Follow-up to the Fitness Check of Directive 2009/147/EEC on the conservation of wild birds, and
Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora.
7. European Pollutant Release and
Transfer Register (E-PRTR)
Regulation
Evaluation follow up This initiative would follow on an evaluation under the Commission's REFIT programme and a report
regarding the implementation of the E-PRTR Regulation for the period 2010 to 2013.
8. Fuel Quality Directive Evaluation follow up This initiative would follow up on the results of a REFIT evaluation.
9. Environmental Reporting Initiative Evaluation Fitness Check to identify opportunities to simplify and alleviate reporting obligations stemming from EU
environmental law with a view to develop a more modern, efficient and effective system for regulatory
monitoring.
10. Energy Union Reporting initiative Evaluation Fitness Check / evaluations in the area of Energy and Climate Policy in order to assess the consistency and
administrative burden of reporting obligations.
A Deeper and Fairer Internal Market with a Strengthened Industrial Base
11. Prospectus Directive Review Legislative Part of the Capital Markets Union following up on a REFIT evaluation of the Prospectus Directive.
4
Nº Title Type of initiative2
Description of scope and objectives
12. Review of the European Venture
Capital (EuVECA) and European
Social Entrepreneurship Fund
(EuSEF) regulations
Legislative Legislative review of the European Venture Capital Funds (EuVECA) regulation (No 345/2013) and
European Social Entrepreneurship Funds (EuSEF) regulation (No 346/2013) with a view to improve the
take-up of these funds as part of the Capital Markets Union without reducing the level of investors
protection. These specialist venture capital investment funds have been available since 2013 but only a
small number of funds set up as EuVECA and EuSEF have so far been launched.
13. Tariff and statistical nomenclature
and on the Common Customs Tariff
(Council Regulation (EEC) No
2658/87 of 23 July 1987) - Recast
Legislative The aim of the recast is to align the existing legislation to the Lisbon Treaty. The Commission will also
simplify and reduce regulatory burden by increasing clarity and improving the readability of the
regulation.
14. Tobacco excise duty (Council
Directive No 2011/64/EU) - revision
Legislative Planned to address the results of a REFIT evaluation of Council Directive 2011/64/EU of 21 June 2011 on
the structure and rates of excise duty applied to manufactured tobacco.
15. Port reception facilities (Directive
2000/59/EC) – revision
Legislative Initiative to adapt the Directive to substantial changes in the MARPOL Convention. In so doing, The
revision also follows up on the results of the 2015 REFIT evaluation of the Directive.
16. Occupational Health and Safety
Legislation
Evaluation follow up
/ Legislative
Follow-up to the REFIT Evaluation of Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction
of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work and 23 related
Directives with the aim of increasing its effectiveness and efficiency.
17. Food Legislation Evaluation follow up Follow-up to the Fitness Check on the General Food Law.
18. Follow-up to the 'Report of the
Financial Legislation Review'
Follow up The Commission is seeking to identify possible inconsistencies, incoherence and gaps in financial rules, as
well as unnecessary regulatory burdens and factors negatively affecting long-term investment and growth.
Following this call for evidence, Commission services will report on the main findings and next steps by
mid-2016.
5
Nº Title Type of initiative2
Description of scope and objectives
19. Financial Conglomerates Directive Evaluation The Financial Conglomerates Directive (2011/89/EC amending 2002/87/EC) aims at the supplementary
supervision of regulated entities that form part of a financial conglomerate, i.e. groups with licenses in
both the banking and the insurance sector, by focusing on potential risks of double gearing (multiple use
of capital) and on “group risks” (the risks of contagion, management complexity, risk concentration, and
conflicts of interest). The evaluation will assess whether the Directive can be considered 'fit for purpose'
20. Nutrition and Health Claims made on
Food
Evaluation /
Legislative
The purpose of this evaluation is to assess whether the current requirements for nutrient profiles and
claims made on botanicals are fit-for-purpose.
21. Maritime Legislation Fitness Check Evaluation The Fitness Check will cover legislation on flag state responsibilities, port state control, the Vessel Traffic
Monitoring and Information System and the Reporting Formalities Directive.
22. Seafarers (Directive 2008/106/EC and
Directive 2005/45/EC)
Evaluation Directive 32008/106/EC sets Minimum standards of training, certification and watch keeping for seafarers
serving on board Community vessels. Directive 2005/45/EC covers the mutual recognition of seafarers'
certificates issued by the Member States (amending Directive 2001/25/EC).
23. Written Statement Directive
91/533/EC
Evaluation Council Directive 91/533/EEC of 14 October 1991 on an employer's obligation to inform employees of
the conditions applicable to the contract or employment relationship.
24. Pesticides: legislation covering
Maximum Residue limit setting and
placing on the market of plant
protection products
Evaluation The purpose is to launch an evaluation of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 and Regulation (EC) No
396/2005 and to fulfil Commission's obligation under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 (Article 82 and
62(5) and Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 (Article 47) including the preparation of reports to the European
Parliament and the Council.
25. Motor Insurance Directive Evaluation Evaluation of Directive 2009/103/EC intended to help EU residents involved in a road accident in another
EU country. Under the Directive, subscribers to compulsory motor insurance policies in all EU countries
are covered for motoring throughout the EU.
A Deeper and Fairer Economic and Monetary Union
26. Statistics Package Legislative / Non-
legislative
The package includes the integration of social statistics, the integration of business statistics (FRIBS) and
the Framework Regulation in Agricultural Statistics.
6
Nº Title Type of initiative2
Description of scope and objectives
An Area of Justice and Fundamental Rights Based on Mutual Trust
27. Judgments in matrimonial matters and
matters of parental responsibility
(Brussels IIa)
Legislative This initiative follows up on an assessment of the application of Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003 on
jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and matters of parental
responsibility.
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EUROPEAN
COMMISSION
Strasbourg, 27.10.2015
COM(2015) 610 final
ANNEX 3
ANNEX
to the
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
Commission Work Programme 2016
No time for business as usual
2
Annex III: Priority pending proposals
Item Full title Reference
A New Boost for Jobs, Growth and Investment
1. Integration of long-term unemployed Proposal for a COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION on the integration of the long-term unemployed into the
labour market
2015/0219/NLE
2. EURES Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on a
European network of Employment Services, workers' access to mobility services and the further integration of
labour markets
2014/0002/COD
3. Women on Boards Proposal for a DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on improving
the gender balance among non-executive directors of companies listed on stock exchanges and related measures
2012/0299/COD
A Connected Digital Single Market
4. Network and Information Security
(NIS)
Proposal for a DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL concerning
measures to ensure a high common level of network and information security across the Union
2013/0027/COD
A Resilient Energy Union with a Forward-Looking Climate Change Policy
5. Reduction of national emissions (NEC) Proposal for a DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the reduction
of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants and amending Directive 2003/35/EC
2013/0443/COD
A Deeper and Fairer Internal Market with a Strengthened Industrial Base
6. Financial transaction tax (FTT) –
enhanced cooperation
Proposal for a COUNCIL DIRECTIVE implementing enhanced cooperation in the area of financial transaction
tax
2013/0045/CNS
7. EU securitisation framework Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL laying down
common rules on securitisation and creating a European framework for simple, transparent and standardised
securitisation and amending Directives 2009/65/EC, 2009/138/EC, 2011/61/EU and Regulations (EC) No
1060/2009 and (EU) No 648/2012
2015/0226/COD
8. Port Services Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL establishing a
framework on market access to port services and financial transparency of ports
2013/0157/COD
A Deeper and Fairer Economic and Monetary Union
9. European Platform on undeclared work Proposal for a DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on establishing a
European Platform to enhance cooperation in the prevention and deterrence of undeclared work
2014/0124/COD
3
Item Full title Reference
An Area of Justice and Fundamental Rights Based on Mutual Trust
10. Data Protection Reform Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the
protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data
(General Data Protection Regulation)
Proposal for a DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the
protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by competent authorities for the
purposes of prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of criminal offences or the execution of criminal
penalties, and the free movement of such data
2012/0010,
0011/COD
11. European Public Prosecutor's Office
(EPPO)
Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION on the establishment of the European Public Prosecutor's Office 2013/0255/APP
12. EU Agency for Law Enforcement
Cooperation and Training (Europol)
Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the
European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation and Training (Europol) and repealing Decisions
2009/371/JHA and 2005/681/JHA
2013/0091/COD
13. EU Passenger Name Record (PNR) Proposal for a DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the use of
Passenger Name Record data for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences
and serious crime
2011/0023/COD
14. Anti-discrimination Proposal for a Council Directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective
of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation
2008/0140/CNS
Towards a New Policy on Migration
15. Permanent relocation scheme Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL establishing a
crisis relocation mechanism and amending Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 26 June 2013 establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible
for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by a third country
national or a stateless person
2015/0208/COD
16. EU list of safe countries of origin Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL establishing
an EU common list of safe countries of origin for the purposes of Directive 2013/32/EU of the European
Parliament and of the Council on common procedures for granting and withdrawing international protection,
and amending Directive 2013/32/EU
2015/0211/COD
A Union of Democratic Change
17. Genetically modified organisms
(GMO)
Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL amending
Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 as regards the possibility for the Member States to restrict or prohibit the use of
genetically modified food and feed on their territory
2015/0093/COD
EN EN
EUROPEAN
COMMISSION
Strasbourg, 27.10.2015
COM(2015) 610 final
ANNEX 4
ANNEX
to the
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
Commission Work Programme 2016
No time for business as usual
2
Annex IV: List of withdrawals or modifications of pending proposals
The Commission intends to withdraw the proposals listed below within six months (by April 2016).
Withdrawals for reasons other than obsolescence, as well as modifications, are indicated in bold.
N°
COM/ Inter-
institutional
reference
Title Reasons for withdrawal/modification
Economic & Financial Affairs, Taxation & Customs
1. COM/2007/0746 Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION laying down
implementing measures for Directive 2006/112/EC on the
common system of value added tax, as regards the treatment of
insurance and financial services
The proposal dates from 2007 and no agreement is foreseen (no Council
Presidency has recently taken up discussions).
2. COM/2007/0747
2007/0267/CNS
Proposal for a COUNCIL DIRECTIVE amending Directive
2006/112/EC on the common system of value added tax, as
regards the treatment of insurance and financial services
The proposal dates from 2007 and no agreement is foreseen (no Council
Presidency has recently taken up discussions).
3. COM/2013/0721
2013/0343/CNS
Proposal for a COUNCIL DIRECTIVE amending Directive
2006/112/EC on the common system of value added tax as
regards a standard VAT return
Negotiations have resulted in a draft compromise text that has fully
denatured the substance of the Commission proposal. In particular, the
latest developments have run counter to the simplification,
harmonisation and substantial burden reduction objectives of the
Commission proposal.
4. COM/2011/0594
2011/0261/CNS
Proposal for a COUNCIL DIRECTIVE on a common system of
financial transaction tax and amending Directive 2008/7/EC
This proposal has been superseded by a corresponding proposal of 2013
under the procedure of enhanced cooperation.
3
N°
COM/ Inter-
institutional
reference
Title Reasons for withdrawal/modification
5. COM/2011/0738
2011/0334/CNS
Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION on the methods and
procedure for making available the own resource based on the
financial transaction tax
The European Council of February 2013, when deciding on the 2014-2020
package, "called upon participating Member States to examine if it (i.e. the
financial transaction tax) could become the base for a new own resource". It
should be noted that the high-level Group on Own Resources has been
tasked with undertaking "a general review of the own resources system
guided by the overall objectives of simplicity, transparency, equity and
democratic accountability". As the making available regulation was based
on the Commission proposal of June 2011 for a new Own resources
decision, which was in this respect not retained, the proposed making
available regulation is no longer relevant and the Commission therefore
intends to withdraw the proposal. Any possible future Commission proposal
on a FTT own resource would again have to be accompanied by a
corresponding making available regulation.
6. COM/2011/0121
2011/0058/CNS
Proposal for a COUNCIL DIRECTIVE on a Common
Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB)
As announced in the Communication on "A fair and efficient corporate
tax system in the European Union: 5 key areas for action"
(COM(2015)302), the Commission is re-launching the work with a new
staged approach. The existing proposal will be withdrawn in parallel.
7. COM/1998/0637 Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the representation and
position taking of the Community at international level in the
context of Economic and Monetary Union
The proposal was withdrawn (C(2015)8001) and replaced by a new
proposal on 21 October 2015 (COM(2015)603).
Foreign Affairs & Security Policy
8. COM2007/0141
2007/0049/APP
Proposal for a COUNCIL AND COMMISSION DECISION on the
conclusion of the Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation
Agreement between the European Communities and their Member
States, of the one part, and the Republic of Turkmenistan, of the
other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of
Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union
Obsolete: this Protocol of adaptation was to reflect the accession of Bulgaria
and Romania, however it was never finalised and it was subsequently
decided to propose a Decision covering all Member State accessions since
2004.
4
N°
COM/ Inter-
institutional
reference
Title Reasons for withdrawal/modification
9. COM/2007/0144 Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the signing and
provisional application of a Protocol to the Partnership and
Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and
their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of
Turkmenistan, of the other part, to take account of the accession of
the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union
Obsolete: this Protocol of adaptation was to reflect the accession of Bulgaria
and Romania, however it was never finalised and it was subsequently
decided to propose a Decision covering all Member State accessions since
2004.
10. COM/2004/808 Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the signature on behalf of
the European Community and provisional application of certain
provisions of a Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement
between the European Community and its Member States and the
Syrian Arab Republic
This agreement will not be finalised and the legal texts from 2004 and 2008
have become obsolete in the meantime.
11. COM/2008/853 Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the signature on behalf of
the European Community and provisional application of certain
provisions of a Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement
between the European Community and its Member States and the
Syrian Arab Republic
This agreement will not be finalised and the legal texts from 2004 and 2008
have become obsolete in the meantime.
Trade
12. COM/2008/0522
2008/0169/APP
Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION concluding the agreement
establishing a framework for an Economic Partnership Agreement
between the European Community and its Member States, on one
part, and the East African Community Partner States, on the other
part
This agreement will not be finalised as it is overtaken by a more
comprehensive agreement negotiated after 2007 and initialled in 2014.
13. COM/2008/0565
2008/0177/APP
Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION concluding the Interim
Economic Partnership Agreement between the European
Community and its Member States, on the one part, and the SADC
EPA States, on the other part
This agreement will not be finalised as it is overtaken by a more
comprehensive agreement negotiated after 2007 and initialled in 2014.
5
N°
COM/ Inter-
institutional
reference
Title Reasons for withdrawal/modification
14. COM/2012/0593
2012/0287/NLE
Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the position to be taken on
behalf of the European Union within the Cooperation Committee set
up by the Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation establishing a
partnership between the European Communities and their Members
States, of one part, and the Russian Federation of the other part, of
24 June 1994 as regards the establishment of a list of conciliators
Obsolete. Russia officially refused on 13 December 2012 to establish a list
of conciliators to operationalise the dispute settlement system of the
Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation. The EU has recourse to the
general provisions of the WTO.
Transport
15. COM/2014/0083
2014/0042/NLE
Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the position to be adopted
on behalf of the European Union at the International Maritime
Organization during the 66th session of the Marine Environment
Protection Committee on the adoption of amendments to MARPOL
Annex VI concerning the delay of the Tier III NOx emission
standards
Although the position of the Commission as contained in the proposed
Decision is still valid, the proposal has become obsolete as the 66th
session
of the Marine Environment Protection Committee has already taken place
(31 March – 4 April 2014).
16. COM/2013/484
2013/0226/COD
Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL amending
Regulation (EC) No 1365/2006 on statistics of goods transport
by inland waterways as regards conferring of delegated and
implementing powers upon the Commission for the adoption of
certain measures
If not agreed in six months, the proposal should be withdrawn.
17. COM/2013/0611
2013/0297/COD
Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL amending
Regulation (EC) No 91/2003 of the European Parliament and of
the Council of 16 December 2002 on rail transport statistics, as
regards the collection of data on goods, passengers and
accidents
If not agreed in six months, the proposal should be withdrawn.
6
N°
COM/ Inter-
institutional
reference
Title Reasons for withdrawal/modification
Migration, Home Affairs & Citizenship
18. COM/2013/0095
2013/0057/COD
Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL establishing an
Entry/Exit System (EES) to register entry and exit data of third
country nationals crossing the external borders of the Member
States of the European Union (Smart Borders Package)
The Commission has announced in its ˮEuropean Agenda on
Migrationˮ (COM(2015)240) its intention to present a modified
proposal in 2016.
19. COM/2013/0097
2013/0059/COD
Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL establishing a
registered traveller programme (Smart Borders Package)
The Commission has announced in its ˮEuropean Agenda on
Migrationˮ (COM(2015)240) its intention to present a modified
proposal in 2016.
20. COM/2013/0096
2013/0060/COD
Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL amending
Regulation (EC) No 562/2006 as regards the use of the
Entry/Exit System (EES) and the Registered Traveller
Programme (RTP) (Smart Borders Package)
The Commission has announced in its ˮEuropean Agenda on
Migrationˮ (COM(2015)240) its intention to present a modified
proposal in 2016.
EN EN
EUROPEAN
COMMISSION
Strasbourg, 27.10.2015
COM(2015) 610 final
ANNEX 5
ANNEX
to the
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
Commission Work Programme 2016
No time for business as usual
2
Annex V: List of envisaged repeals
Nº Policy Area Title Reasons for repeal
1. Agriculture Horizontal action declaring the obsolescence of a number of
defunct acts in relation to the Common Agricultural Policy
The aim of this action is to formally declare that acts that have exhausted their effects
are obsolete while they cannot be repealed for lack of a legal base.
2. Environment Council Directive of 23 December 1991 standardizing and
rationalizing reports on the implementation of certain Directives
relating to the environment (91/692/EEC)
In 2016 the Commission intends to prepare a Communication which sets out the
strategy and the ambition level of the Fitness Check of monitoring and reporting
obligations in environment policy and documents some early actions in this field,
among other things the state of play of the Standardised Reporting Directive and
related questionnaires, including a possible proposal for its repeal.
3. Environment "Water Questionnaire" (Commission Decision 95/337/EEC) This decision is an implementing decision based on the Standardised Reporting
Directive which will potentially be repealed in 2016. In 2016 the Commission intends
to prepare a Communication which sets out the strategy and the ambition level of the
Fitness Check of monitoring and reporting obligations in environment policy and
documents some early actions in this field, among other things the state of play of the
Standardised Reporting Directive and related questionnaires, including a possible
proposal for its repeal.
4. Home
Affairs
Commission Decision (2008/602/EC) of 17 June 2008 laying
down the physical architecture and requirements of the national
interfaces and of the communication infrastructure between the
central Visa Information System (VIS) and the national interfaces
for the development phase (notified under document number
C(2008) 2693) (OJ L 194, 23.7.2008, p. 3)
This act is obsolete VIS has been developed and it is operational since October 2011.
3
Nº Policy Area Title Reasons for repeal
5. Home
Affairs
Commission Decision (2006/752/EC) of 3 November 2006
establishing the sites for the Visa Information System during the
development phase (OJ L 305 of 4.11.2006, p. 13)
This act is obsolete VIS has been developed and it is operational since October 2011.
6. Home
Affairs
Council Regulation (EC) No 189/2008 of 18 February 2008 on the
tests of the second generation Schengen Information System (SIS
II) (OJ L 57, 1.3.2008, p. 1);
This Regulation was related to the testing of the SIS II Central system prior the entry
into operation of the system. Its content is obsolete for the testing of the live system.
7. Home
Affairs
Council Decision (2008/173/EC) of 18 February 2008 on the tests
of the second generation Schengen Information System (SIS II)
(OJ L 57, 1.3.2008, p. 14; Corrigendum OJ L 24, 28.1.2009, p. 24)
This Regulation was related to the testing of the SIS II Central system prior the entry
into operation of the system. Its content is obsolete for the testing of the live system.
8. Home
Affairs
Council Regulation (EC) No 1295/2003 of 15 July 2003 relating to
measures envisaged to facilitate the procedures for applying for
and issuing visas for members of the Olympic family taking part
in the Olympic or Paralympic Games in Athens in 2004
(Schengen)
This act is obsolete as its application had a temporal limitation (Athens Olympic
games)
9. Home
Affairs
European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) No 2046/2005
of 14 December 2005 relating to measures envisaged to facilitate
the procedures for applying for and issuing visas for members of
the Olympic family taking part in the Olympic and/or Paralympic
Winter Games in Turin (Schengen) 2006
This act is obsolete as its application had a temporal limitation (Turin Olympic
games)
4
Nº Policy Area Title Reasons for repeal
10. Home
Affairs
The Schengen acquis: decision of the Executive Committee of 7
October 1997 on contributions from Norway and Iceland to the
costs of installing and operating of the C.SIS (SCH/Com-ex (97)
18)
The financing of the SIS II central system and the contribution to eu-LISA by the
associated countries is based on the Association agreement and the eu-LISA founding
regulation.
11. Home
Affairs
The Schengen acquis: decision of the Executive Committee of 7
October 1997 on the development of the SIS (SCH/Com-ex (97)
24)
This act is obsolete as SIS II has been developed and entered into operation on 9 April
2013.
12. Home
Affairs
The Schengen acquis: decision of the Executive Committee of 16
September 1998 on forwarding the Common Manual to EU
applicant States (SCH/Com-ex (98) 35 rev. 2)
This act is obsolete as the Common Manual (which was "restricted") has been
abolished at the moment the adoption of the Schengen Borders Code which is a
Regulation published in the OJ
13. Home
Affairs
The Schengen acquis: decision of the Executive Committee of 16
September 1998 setting up an ad hoc committee for Greece
(SCH/Com-ex (98) 43 rev.);
This act is obsolete as of the moment that Greece joined the Schengen zone
14. Maritime
Affairs and
Fisheries
Council Regulation (EU) No 1242/2012 of 18 December 2012
fixing for the 2013 fishing year the guide prices and Union
producer prices for certain fishery products pursuant to Regulation
(EC) No 104/2000.
The act lacks a sunset clause but it is de facto no longer in force because it refers to
past action(s).
15. Maritime
Affairs and
Fisheries
Council Regulation (EC) No 645/2008 of 8 July 2008 opening and
providing for the administration of autonomous Community tariff
quotas on imports of certain fishery products into the Canary
Islands.
The act lacks a sunset clause but it is de facto no longer in force because it refers to
past action(s). Has been replaced by Council Regulation (EU) No 1412/2013 of 17
December 2013 opening and providing for the administration of autonomous Union
tariff quotas for imports of certain fishery products into the Canary Islands from 2014
to 2020.
5
Nº Policy Area Title Reasons for repeal
16. Maritime
Affairs and
Fisheries
Council Regulation (EU) No 1388/2011 of 16 December 2011
fixing for the 2012 fishing year the guide prices and Union
producer prices for certain fishery products pursuant to Regulation
(EC) No 104/2000.
The act lacks a sunset clause but it is de facto no longer in force because it refers to
past action(s).
17. Maritime
Affairs and
Fisheries
Council Regulation (EEC) No 110/76 of 19 January 1976 laying
down general rules for granting export refunds on fishery products
and criteria for fixing the amount of such refunds.
The act lacks a sunset clause but it is de facto no longer in force because it refers to
past action(s).
18. Maritime
Affairs and
Fisheries
Council Regulation (EC) No 1299/2008 of 9 December 2008
fixing for the 2009 fishing year the guide prices and Community
producer prices for certain fishery products pursuant to Regulation
(EC) No 104/2000.
The act lacks a sunset clause but it is de facto no longer in force because it refers to
past action(s).
19. Maritime
Affairs and
Fisheries
Council Regulation (EC) No 2326/2003 of 19 December 2003
fixing for the fishing year 2004 the guide prices and Community
producer prices for certain fishery products pursuant to Regulation
(EC) No 104/2000.
The act lacks a sunset clause but it is de facto no longer in force because it refers to
past action(s).
20. Statistics Regulation (EC) No 48/2004 of 5 December 2003 on the
production of annual Community statistics on the steel industry for
the reference years 2003-2009
The Regulation has become obsolete as the respective data is no longer collected. The
Steel statistics regulation will be formally proposed for repeal as part of the Proposal
for a Regulation on business statistics, planned for Commission adoption in 4th
quarter 2016.
21. Transport Council Regulation (EEC) No 1101/89 on structural
improvements in inland waterway transport
This Council Regulation expired on 28 April 1999 (see recital N1 of Council
Regulation (EC) No 718/1999).
6
Nº Policy Area Title Reasons for repeal
22. Transport Commission Regulation (EC) No 2812/94 as regards the
conditions which apply to the putting into service of new capacity
in inland waterway transport
This Regulation amends Regulation (EEC) No 1101/89 which expired on 28 April
1999.
23. Transport Regulation (EC) No 685/2001 of the European Parliament and of
the Council concerning the distribution of authorisations among
Member States received through the Agreements establishing
certain conditions for the carriage of goods by road and the
promotion of combined transport between the European
Community and the Republic of Bulgaria and between the
European Community and the Republic of Hungary
The Regulation is no longer needed as Bulgaria and Hungary are EU Member States
(they are no longer subject to a system of authorisations as far as access to the haulage
market is concerned).
24. Transport Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2158/93 concerning the
application of amendments to the International Convention for the
Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, and to the International Convention
for the Prevention of Pollution from ships, 1973, for the purpose
of Council Regulation (EEC) No 613/91
The Commission regulation is no longer applicable because it refers to an instrument
(Council regulation 613 of 1991) which has been repealed by Regulation (EC)
789/2004 on the transfer of cargo and passenger ships between registers).
25. Transport Commission Regulation (EC) No 3298/94 laying down detailed
measures concerning the system of Rights of Transit (Ecopoints)
for heavy goods vehicles transiting through Austria
The system of Ecopoints, which was intended to reduce the environmental impact of
transit traffic by heavy goods vehicles, has become obsolete with the introduction of
the HGV toll ("Maut") on Austrian motorways and expressways on 1 January 2004
and is no longer applied by Austria. The legal basis for Ecopoints has therefore also
become obsolete and can therefore be repealed.
7
Nº Policy Area Title Reasons for repeal
26. Transport Regulation (EC) No 2888/2000 of the European Parliament and of
the Council on the distribution of permits for heavy goods vehicles
travelling in Switzerland
This Regulation on permits, which distributes the quotas which the Community
received from Switzerland for the years 2001 to 2004 among the EU Member States,
is no longer applied. The access to haulage market is now regulated by the EU-Swiss
agreement.
27. Transport Commission Regulation (EC) No 103/2007 on the extension of the
transitional period referred to in Article 53(4) of Regulation (EC)
No 1592/2002
The transitional period was extended until 31 December 2007, this regulation is
therefore obsolete.
28. Taxation Commission Regulation (EC) No 2579/98 of 30 November 1998
establishing the list of textile products for which no proof of origin
is required on release for free circulation in the Community
This Commission Regulation was an implementing act to Council Regulation (EC)
No 1541/98, which itself has been repealed in 2011.
EN EN
EUROPEAN
COMMISSION
Strasbourg, 27.10.2015
COM(2015) 610 final
ANNEX 6
ANNEX
to the
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
Commission Work Programme 2016
No time for business as usual
2
Annex VI: Legislation that becomes applicable in 2016
Further information on delegated and implementing acts that become applicable in 2016 will be available at: http://ec.europa.eu/atwork/key-documents/index_en.htm.
As regards the date(s) of application, an asterisk (*) means that, in addition to the date indicated, other dates may also apply to other parts of the legislative act.
Nº Title
Policy area Date of
application
1. Council Directive 2014/48/EU of 24 March 2014 amending Directive 2003/48/EC on taxation of savings income in the form
of interest payments
Taxation 01 January 2016
2. Directive 2009/138/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the taking-up and pursuit of
the business of Insurance and Reinsurance (Solvency II) (Text with EEA relevance)
Financial Services 01 January 2016*
3. Directive 2014/61/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on measures to reduce the cost of
deploying high-speed electronic communications networks
Digital Economy and
Society
01 January 2016
4. Regulation (EU) No 806/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 July 2014 establishing uniform rules and
a uniform procedure for the resolution of credit institutions and certain investment firms in the framework of a Single
Resolution Mechanism and a Single Resolution Fund and amending Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010
Financial Stability 01 January 2016*
5. Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common
organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79,
(EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/2007
Agriculture and Rural
Development
01 January 2016*
6. Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 February 2013 on the approval and market
surveillance of agricultural and forestry vehicles
Internal Market 01 January 2016*
7. Regulation (EU) No 168/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2013 on the approval and market
surveillance of two- or three-wheel vehicles and quadricycles
Internal Market 01 January 2016*
8. Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on prudential requirements for
credit institutions and investment firms and amending Regulation (EU) No 648/2012
Financial Services 01 January 2016*
3
Nº Title
Policy area Date of
application
9. Regulation (EU) No 660/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 amending Regulation (EC)
No 1013/2006 on shipments of waste
Environment 01 January 2016*
10. Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the statute
and funding of European political parties and European political foundations
Institutional 01 January 2016*
11. Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 November 2012 on quality schemes for
agricultural products and foodstuffs
Agriculture and Rural
Development
04 January 2016*
12. Regulation (EU) No 524/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2013 on online dispute resolution
for consumer disputes and amending Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 and Directive 2009/22/EC (Regulation on consumer
ODR)
Consumers 09 January 2016*
13. Directive 2013/53/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 November 2013 on recreational craft and
personal watercraft and repealing Directive 94/25/EC
Internal Market 18 January 2016
14. Directive 2013/55/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 November 2013 amending Directive 2005/36/EC
on the recognition of professional qualifications and Regulation (EU) No 1024/2012 on administrative cooperation through
the Internal Market Information System (‘the IMI Regulation’)
Internal Market 18 January 2016
15. Directive 2014/64/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 amending Council Directive
64/432/EEC as regards computer databases which are part of the surveillance networks in the Member States
Food Safety 18 January 2016
16. Directive (EU) 2015/254 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 February 2015 repealing Council Directive
93/5/EEC on assistance to the Commission and cooperation by the Member States in the scientific examination of questions
relating to food
Food Safety 29 February 2016
17. Council Decision (EU) 2015/137 of 26 January 2015 renewing the terms of office of the Vice-President of the Office for
Harmonization in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) and of two Chairmen of the Boards of Appeal of the Office
for Harmonization in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs)
Internal Market 01 March 2016*
4
Nº Title
Policy area Date of
application
18. Regulation (EU) No 165/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 February 2014 on tachographs in road
transport, repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 3821/85 on recording equipment in road transport and amending
Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the harmonisation of certain social
legislation relating to road transport
Transport 02 March 2016*
19. Directive 2014/91/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 amending Directive 2009/65/EC on
the coordination of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to undertakings for collective investment in
transferable securities (UCITS) as regards depositary functions, remuneration policies and sanctions
Financial Services 18 March 2016
20. Directive 2014/17/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 February 2014 on credit agreements for
consumers relating to residential immovable property and amending Directives 2008/48/EC and 2013/36/EU and Regulation
(EU) No 1093/2010
Financial Services 21 March 2016
21. Directive 2014/26/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on collective management of
copyright and related rights and multi-territorial licensing of rights in musical works for online use in the internal market
Digital Economy and
Society
10 April 2016
22. Directive 2014/23/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the award of concession
contracts
Internal Market 18 April 2016
23. Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on public procurement and
repealing Directive 2004/18/EC
Internal Market 18 April 2016
24. Directive 2014/25/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on procurement by entities
operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors and repealing Directive 2004/17/EC
Internal Market 18 April 2016
25. Directive 2014/33/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws
of the Member States relating to lifts and safety components for lifts
Internal Market 19 April 2016
26. Directive 2014/28/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws
of the Member States relating to the making available on the market and supervision of explosives for civil uses (recast)
Internal Market 20 April 2016
5
Nº Title
Policy area Date of
application
27. Directive 2014/29/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws
of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of simple pressure vessels
Internal Market 20 April 2016
28. Directive 2014/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws
of the Member States relating to electromagnetic compatibility (recast)
Internal Market 20 April 2016
29. Directive 2014/31/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws
of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of non-automatic weighing instruments
Internal Market 20 April 2016
30. Directive 2014/32/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws
of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of measuring instruments (recast)
Internal Market 20 April 2016
31. Directive 2014/34/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws
of the Member States relating to equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres
(recast)
Internal Market 20 April 2016
32. Directive 2014/35/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws
of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of electrical equipment designed for use within certain
voltage limits
Internal Market 20 April 2016
33. Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 October 2013 laying down the Union
Customs Code
Taxation 01 May 2016*
34. Directive 2014/40/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 on the approximation of the laws,
regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco
and related products and repealing Directive 2001/37/EC
Health 20 May 2016
35. Directive 2014/54/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on measures facilitating the exercise
of rights conferred on workers in the context of freedom of movement for workers
Employment 21 May 2016
36. Directive 2014/62/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on the protection of the euro and other
currencies against counterfeiting by criminal law, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2000/383/JHA
Anti-Fraud 23 May 2016
6
Nº Title
Policy area Date of
application
37. Regulation (EU) 2015/751 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2015 on interchange fees for card-
based payment transactions
Financial Services 09 June 2016*
38. Directive 2014/53/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of
the Member States relating to the making available on the market of radio equipment and repealing Directive 1999/5/EC
Internal Market 13 June 2016
39. Regulation (EU) No 598/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on the establishment of rules
and procedures with regard to the introduction of noise-related operating restrictions at Union airports within a Balanced
Approach and repealing Directive 2002/30/EC
Environment 13 June 2016
40. Directive 2014/56/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 amending Directive 2006/43/EC on
statutory audits of annual accounts and consolidated accounts
Internal Market 17 June 2016
41. Regulation (EU) No 537/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on specific requirements
regarding statutory audit of public-interest entities and repealing Commission Decision 2005/909/EC
Internal Market 17 June 2016*
42. Directive 2014/67/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on the enforcement of Directive
96/71/EC concerning the posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services and amending Regulation (EU)
No 1024/2012 on administrative cooperation through the Internal Market Information System (‘the IMI Regulation’)
Employment 18 June 2016
43. Regulation (EU) 2015/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2015 on insolvency proceedings Justice 26 June 2016*
44. Council Directive 2013/64/EU of 17 December 2013 amending Council Directives 91/271/EEC and 1999/74/EC, and
Directives 2000/60/EC, 2006/7/EC, 2006/25/EC and 2011/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, following
the amendment of the status of Mayotte with regard to the European Union
Regional Policy 30 June 2016*
45. Directive 2013/35/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on the minimum health and safety
requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (electromagnetic fields) (20th
individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) and repealing Directive 2004/40/EC
Employment 01 July 2016
7
Nº Title
Policy area Date of
application
46. Regulation (EU) No 540/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on the sound level of motor
vehicles and of replacement silencing systems, and amending Directive 2007/46/EC and repealing Directive 70/157/EEC
Internal Market 01 July 2016*
47. Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 on electronic identification
and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market and repealing Directive 1999/93/EC
Internal Market 01 July 2016*
48. Directive 2014/57/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on criminal sanctions for market
abuse (market abuse directive)
Internal Market 03 July 2016
49. Directive 2014/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on markets in financial instruments
and amending Directive 2002/92/EC and Directive 2011/61/EU
Financial Services 03 July 2016
50. Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on market abuse (market
abuse regulation) and repealing Directive 2003/6/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission
Directives 2003/124/EC, 2003/125/EC and 2004/72/EC
Internal Market 03 July 2016*
51. Regulation (EU) No 655/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 establishing a European
Account Preservation Order procedure to facilitate cross-border debt recovery in civil and commercial matters
Justice 18 July 2016
(Art. 50 only, the
rest of the
regulation 18
January 2016)
52. Directive 2014/68/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of
the Member States relating to the making available on the market of pressure equipment
Internal Market 19 July 2016*
53. Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013 on food intended for infants
and young children, food for special medical purposes, and total diet replacement for weight control and repealing Council
Directive 92/52/EEC, Commission Directives 96/8/EC, 1999/21/EC, 2006/125/EC and 2006/141/EC, Directive 2009/39/EC
of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Regulations (EC) No 41/2009 and (EC) No 953/2009
Food Safety 20 July 2016*
54. Directive 2014/89/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 establishing a framework for maritime
spatial planning
Maritime Affairs 18 September
2016
8
Nº Title
Policy area Date of
application
55. Directive 2014/90/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 on marine equipment and repealing
Council Directive 96/98/EC
Transport 18 September
2016
56. Directive 2014/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 on the comparability of fees related to
payment accounts, payment account switching and access to payment accounts with basic features
Financial Services 18 September
2016
57. Directive 2014/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the conditions of entry and
stay of third-country nationals for the purpose of employment as seasonal workers
Home Affairs 30 September
2016
58. Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/1763 of 1 October 2015 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Burundi External Affairs 03 October 2016
59. Directive 2014/42/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 on the freezing and confiscation of
instrumentalities and proceeds of crime in the European Union
Justice 04 October 2016
60. Directive 2014/94/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the deployment of alternative
fuels infrastructure
Energy 18 November
2016
61. Directive (EU) 2015/720 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2015 amending Directive 94/62/EC as
regards reducing the consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags
Environment 27 November
2016
62. Directive 2013/48/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2013 on the right of access to a lawyer
in criminal proceedings and in European arrest warrant proceedings, and on the right to have a third party informed upon
deprivation of liberty and to communicate with third persons and with consular authorities while deprived of liberty
Justice 27 November
2016
63. Directive 2014/66/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on the conditions of entry and
residence of third-country nationals in the framework of an intra-corporate transfer
Home Affairs 29 November
2016
64. Directive 2014/95/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 amending Directive 2013/34/EU as
regards disclosure of non-financial and diversity information by certain large undertakings and groups
Internal Market 06 December
2016
9
Nº Title
Policy area Date of
application
65. Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food
information to consumers, amending Regulations (EC) No 1924/2006 and (EC) No 1925/2006 of the European Parliament
and of the Council, and repealing Commission Directive 87/250/EEC, Council Directive 90/496/EEC, Commission Directive
1999/10/EC, Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, Commission Directives 2002/67/EC and
2008/5/EC and Commission Regulation (EC) No 608/2004
Consumers 13 December
2016*
66. Directive 2014/104/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 November 2014 on certain rules governing
actions for damages under national law for infringements of the competition law provisions of the Member States and of the
European Union
Competition 27 December
2016
67. Council Directive 2014/112/EU of 19 December 2014 implementing the European Agreement concerning certain aspects of
the organisation of working time in inland waterway transport, concluded by the European Barge Union (EBU), the
European Skippers Organisation (ESO) and the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF)
Employment 31 December
2016
68. Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 November 2014 on key information
documents for packaged retail and insurance-based investment products (PRIIPs)
Financial Services 31 December
2016*