Europaudvalget 2019-20
EUU Alm.del
Offentligt
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-- AKT 5748215 -- BILAG 1 -- [ Letter from Nordic Ministers ] --
The European Commission
Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights
Mr. Nicolas Schmit
Shared EU and Nordic priorities for the future of our labour mar-
kets
Dear Commissioner
Congratulations on your recent appointment as European Commissioner for Jobs
and Social Rights.
The Nordic Council of Ministers for Labour looks forward to starting a fruitful
and constructive cooperation and dialogue with you. We agree with you on the
need to develop an even stronger, more sustainable and socially inclusive Europe.
In order to begin this dialogue we would like to invite you to participate in our
next Ministerial Meeting on 2 April 2020 in Copenhagen.
Based on our Nordic Models and experiences, we would like to share with you
some priorities that we, with the respect of the division of competences and the
autonomy of the social partners, believe should be at the center of
the Union’s
policies.
A future based on social responsibility and fair mobility
Across the EU and the Nordic countries, the past years of economic growth and
improved employment outcomes have positively contributed to the overall well-
being of women and men. At the same time, the good years give us the oppor-
tunity and responsibility to bring more people into employment, not least by
equipping our workforce with the skills of tomorrow. In doing so, we would cre-
ate a more socially inclusive Europe
Based on our Nordic experiences, we look forward to continued cooperation,
sharing of experiences and good practice on the topic of labour market adjust-
ments, as well as on the broader issue of “the
future of work”,
including the
plat-
form economy. It is important to reflect on these issues in the years ahead as EU
activities should respond to the current challenges in our labour markets.
Labour mobility, including the free movement of workers, is of central im-
portance to
businesses’ access to qualified labour, preventing
bottlenecks and al-
lowing businesses to compete on a global scale.
However, in order to achieve a more socially responsible Europe and ensure the
continued public support for labour mobility, it needs to be
fair.
It is important to fight social dumping and abusive practices in the EU and ensure
a level playing field in the Single Market.
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A safe and healthy work environment across the EU
No one should go to work fearing for her/his health and safety. The
EU’s occupa-
tional safety and health rules should be ambitious, up-to-date and effectively im-
plemented and enforced. The Nordic countries support the new Commission’s ef-
forts in the area of occupational safety and health, including the adoption of a
new EU Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work. Addressing occupa-
tional safety and health challenges is important for many reasons such as chang-
ing working life, psychosocial risks, gender equality, preventing fatal accidents
and protecting workers from diseases such as cancer caused by the use of danger-
ous substances. The work should be based on the latest research while involving
the social partners.
A future European success based on strong social dialogue and national labour
markets
The European Union is playing a crucial role in ensuring economic and social
growth in Europe, including the Nordic countries. The EU needs to continue hav-
ing jobs and growth at the center of EU policies post 2020.
The challenges that the Member States face are often similar, but not identical.
That is why it is important that the specificities of each country are taken into ac-
count and respected.
In our view, the
principle “big on big
issues, small on small issues” has served
the outgoing Commission well and should continue to be a guiding principle. In a
Nordic spirit, an essential aspect of achieving this is to strengthen the social dia-
logue both nationally and at EU-level, including by encouraging higher union
density and promoting the possibility for the social partners to find solutions to
labour market challenges, many of which require nationally tailored measures.
Therefore, we very much welcome the assurances you gave inter alia at the hear-
ing in the European Parliament of your respect for systems based on collective
bargaining, i.e. that any future initiative on minimum wage will not interfere with
labour market models where wages are regulated by collective agreements. For
the Nordic countries, it is crucial that we can secure the functioning of our labour
market model that relies on collective bargaining.
Equal economic independence of women and men
There is a close link between gender equality and economic growth. High levels
of employment for both women and men are crucial for economic growth, and in-
vestments in gender equality contribute to the sustainability of society. This is an
integral part of the Nordic model.
However, both in the Nordic countries and the EU women still take a larger re-
sponsibility for the unpaid work at home and the care of children and other de-
pendents than men. Women also take longer career breaks than men and are more
likely to choose part-time work to reconcile work and care responsibilities. Fur-
thermore, the European labour markets are still occupationally gender segregated,
and equal pay continues to be an issue.
In the view of the Nordic countries, it is imperative to strengthen the promotion
of gender equality in the EU. Therefore, we warmly welcome the new Commis-
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sion’s plan to set
forth an EU gender equality strategy and suggest that the Com-
missioner for Jobs and Social Rights contributes actively to the realization of this.
The EU needs a powerful, comprehensive and sustainable Gender Equality Strat-
egy. The strategy should have clear goals, be followed-up, and its implementation
evaluated and reviewed within the Council.
To conclude, the Nordic Council of Ministers for Labour is looking into the fu-
ture of the EU labour markets with great anticipation and ambition, while empha-
sizing the importance of implementing and applying existing measures, legisla-
tion and systems, as well as the recognition of effective and well-functioning la-
bour market models such as the Nordic. We hope to have a chance to discuss
these topics with you in a near future.
Yours sincerely
Sweden
Finland
Eva Nordmark
Minister for Employment
Norway
Tuula Haatainen
Minister of Employment
Anniken Hauglie
Minister of Labour and Social Af-
fairs
Iceland
Ásmundur Einar Daðason
Minister of Social Affairs and
Equality
Aino-Kaisa Pekonen
Minister of Social Affairs and
Health
Denmark
Peter Hummelgaard
Minister for Employment
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-- AKT 5748215 -- BILAG 2 -- [ Breton ] --
Thierry Breton
Commissioner for Internal Market
European Commission
MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY,
BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL
AFFAIRS
Dear Commissioner Thierry Breton,
Please accept my warmest congratulations on your appointment as
Commissioner for Internal Market.
A timely response to the challenges and seizing the opportunities posed
by climate change and rapid digitalization is of critical importance to
ensure a prosperous EU. I would like to present you with the overall
Danish agenda in your area of responsibility, as priorities for the Single
Market are elaborated further in the attached non-papers. I hope you will
read these with interest.
Towards a competitive and climate-friendly European industry
European industry is a key player in restoring the
EU’s
global competi-
tiveness as well as fulfilling the Paris Agreement. The upcoming action-
plan for industry should set a clear political direction with an emphasis
on cost-effective and market-based measures that encourage businesses
to make necessary investments needed for the transition to a competitive,
circular and climate-neutral European industry.
Furthermore, I would encourage you to make sure that the work on Im-
portant Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs) related to strate-
gic value chains contribute to our climate and environmental objectives.
Moreover, we should improve the transparency of IPCEIs by introducing
ex-ante consultation. This will allow all Member States to easily partici-
pate and contribute.
There is also a need to re-think the future set-up for identifying strategic
value chains. To this end, we need a new procedure for identifying,
amending or phasing out strategic value chains. The procedure should
maintain the original bottom-up approach characterizing the current Stra-
tegic Forum while ensuring political legitimacy and governance and di-
recting initiatives towards major challenges such as climate change.
Moreover, I encourage you to lay down the pillars for a robust frame-
work for secure, interoperable and trustworthy data sharing that can sus-
tain public trust in data usage and contribute to the green transition of
industry. We should openly discuss how best to encourage and ensure
more data sharing through an ethical and coherent European framework,
as the use of data is vital for European businesses if they are to be global
frontrunners of the data economy.
MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY, BUSI-
NESS AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS
Slotsholmsgade 10-12
DK-1216 Copenhagen K
Tlf.
Fax
+45 33 92 33 50
+45 33 12 37 78
CVR-nr. 10 09 24 85
EAN nr. 5798000026001
[email protected]
www.em.dk
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Regarding the external dimension of EU industrial competitiveness, I
recognize the tendency towards increased unfair competition and the need
to react and safeguard European interests. The best way to preserve fair
global competition and a level playing field is through common rules
applicable to all, rooted in the WTO. Thus, it is encouraging that the in-
coming Commission aims to make reform of the multilateral trading sys-
tem a top priority. This must include an update of the rules so they ad-
dress unfair market-distorting trade practices
and reflect today’s digital
economy. In parallel, we may need EU instruments to handle distortive
behaviour from companies from third countries operating within the Sin-
gle Market without relaxing the principles of independent enforcement
and free and fair competition.
A fair Single Market fit for the digital age
Effective implementation and enforcement are key components towards
making the Single Market both fairer and smoother for law-abiding busi-
nesses, consumers and workers. We need a firm and ambitious long-term
action plan for better implementation and enforcement, containing con-
crete initiatives on how to improve the uniform implementation, applica-
tion and enforcement of our common rules. We have several proposals,
highlighted in the attached non-paper regarding better implementation
and enforcement.
Moreover, I encourage you to ensure that European legislation is digital-
by-default and future-proof as this it is a precondition for a well-
functioning Digital Single Market. In Denmark, we have introduced a set
of principles on digital-by-default and future-proof regulation. I would be
happy to share our experience on the use of these principles in lawmaking
and further discuss how such principles could be implemented at the Eu-
ropean level. Attached you will find a non-paper explaining the Danish
principles and priorities on this agenda.
Cross-border digital services is a vital tool to make life easier for citizens
and businesses within the Single Market. In this context, I would urge
you to take into account the special situation of the public sector as a
guarantor of maintaining public confidence in digital infrastructure sys-
tems and public digital procedures for instance regarding data trans-
parency and interoperability, and trustworthy electronic identification.
Regarding the new SME Strategy, I hope focus would be on the possibili-
ties for SMEs, solutions to the challenges posed by climate change and
rapid digitalization and ways to make it easier to scale-up and participate
in European and global value-chains.
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Digital trust as an enabler of Artificial Intelligence
I have positively noticed the aim of the new Commission to deliver a
European approach to artificial intelligence within your first 100 days in
office. In this regard, the aim should be to make data ethics a competitive
advantage for European businesses going hand-in-hand with innovation.
A European approach could make us a frontrunner in the responsible use
of artificial intelligence and data. By introducing a European Data Ethics
Seal we would enable consumers to easily identify companies who take
data ethics seriously. Together with a requirement for the largest Europe-
an companies to publish their data ethics policies, the digital economy
would become more transparent for consumers. Attached you will find a
non-paper explaining our suggestions to this agenda.
Moreover, access to cross-border digital service in the EU is important
for the non-discrimination of businesses, workers and citizens when op-
erating and acting on the internal market. However, I would urge you to
take into account the special situation of the public sector as a guarantor
of maintaining public confidence in digital infrastructure systems and
public digital procedures when making new proposals for the use of data,
AI and the further development of cross-border digital ecosystems in the
EU.
A modern and responsible framework for the platform-economy
It is time to modernize the regulatory framework of the platform econo-
my in order to ensure digital responsibility, better cross-border enforce-
ment and to address emerging issues that are not dealt with under the
current rules. In doing so, we should also tackle the increasing fragmen-
tation of the regulatory framework for digital services that constitute bar-
riers to scaling up within the Digital Single Market. A modernized
framework for the European platform economy should maintain the es-
sence of the e-Commerce Directive, namely the country of origin princi-
ple, which the European platform economy has benefitted immensely
from. At the same time, we face an important and necessary discussion
regarding liability regimes and the responsibilities of especially large and
influential companies in handling data versus the possibilities for smaller
companies to develop new business models and scale up across the Sin-
gle Market. We should modernize the regulatory framework to find hori-
zontal solutions that address the emerging issues in the platform econo-
my, eradicates regulatory fragmentation through uniform application and
enforcement of the notice and take down of illegal content across the EU
while strengthening the competitiveness of the European platform econ-
omy.
Strengthening the European defence industry through competition
The development of a well-functioning and competitive Single European
Defence Market, open also to SMEs, is crucial if the EU is to strengthen
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the technological and industrial base that is able to deliver the defence
capabilities that Europe needs. The European Defence Fund can be an
important instrument in this regard - if the key principle of ensuring
strong competition for all funds is adopted in its implementation and
work programmes.
I hope these ideas will be useful for you in laying out the agenda for your
important portfolio for the coming years and I look forward to working
together with you to strengthen European competitiveness to the benefit
of all Europeans.
Yours sincerely,
Simon Kollerup
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Strengthening the Single Market through better implementation and enforcement
Proposal
New transposition and application tools are needed to ensure that current rules are transparent and
uniformly implemented and complied with across Member States. Among these are:
Templates and analyses to ensure transparent implementation: Drawing on the experiences in financial
services, the use of implementation templates should be made obligatory on a trial basis to ensure that
businesses have access to an overview of the specific areas where national rules differ from the
adopted EU legislation. This should be supported by ongoing analyses on the differences in
implementation across Member States which should be initiated by the Commission in order to
increase knowhow and transparent implementation.
A strengthened Single Market Scoreboard: The Single Market Scoreboard should be developed to
promote enforcement and strengthen compliance in practice. The Commission is for example
encouraged to broaden its scope to cover the qualitative implementation of legislation. Furthermore,
the Single Market Scoreboard should reflect the developments in terms of national rules on goods and
services by linking the Scoreboard with the number of notifications in the TRIS and IMI databases.
Criteria for infringement procedures: Building on the principles set out in the Communication EU law:
Better results through etter appli atio ,
the Commission should develop and apply a set of criteria as
a basis for launching infringement procedures. These criteria should be used to ensure consistency in
the detailed process of assessment and selection. The criteria should also indicate overall political and
strategic priority areas of the Commission, including prioritisation of violations entailing distortion of
competition.
Single Market implementation reviews: With inspiration from the Environmental Implementation
Review (EIR), the Commission should conduct implementation reviews on a regular basis of each
Me er State’s i ple e tatio of sele ted
pieces of horisontal Single Market legislation. The aim
should be in constructive dialogue with Member States to set out proposals on how to improve the
implementation to strengthen the basic principles governing the Single Market. Inspiration may also be
found in the better regulation method related to neighbour
he ks .
Strengthening enforcement: Efficient and systematic efforts to enforce regulation are indispensable to
the optimization of the entire policy process. It must be clear what determines policy outcomes
the
rules or their a tual appli atio . I order to stre gthe the Co
issio ’s ork i this area an
institutional strengthening should be considered, e.g. by assigning a vice-president with responsibility
for better regulation, implementation and enforcement. Explicitly highlighting implementation and
enforcement as the responsibility of a vice-president would raise the political focus on this agenda and
make it a central element in every new policy initiative.
Challenge
Diverse application of the EU-law increases administrative burdens and reduces legal certainty for
usi esses detri e tal to ross order trade a d i est e t se urity. Opti izi g Europea usi esses’
framework conditions, including legal certainty necessitates coherent and effective application of the rules
governing the Single Market. A more transparent and uniform application of the Single Market acquis will
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benefit especially SMEs that are disproportionally affected by diverse application of EU-rules due to their
scarce resources and limited capacity to keep track of a complex and quickly changing legal environment.
Background
The enforcement and implementation agenda i a prominent priority in the current Commission. The launch
of the compliance package, including e.g. the regulation on a Single Digital Gateway and an action plan for
SOLVIT are important initiatives which aim at simplifying the life of businesses in practice. However, more
can be done by building on existing mechanisms and applying these more systematically and with more
transparency. Making the very basis of the Single Market function better is a precondition for developing
the Single Market further.
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Data and Ethics - The New European Competitive Advantage
Proposal
Data Ethics as Corporate Social Responsibility
The Commission should consider a revision of the directive as regards
disclosure of non-financial
and diversity information by certain large undertakings and groups.
The revision should include
provisions for certain large undertakings - to prepare a non-financial statement containing in-
formation relating to their data ethics policies as part of their annual management reports.
European Data Ethics Seal
The Commission should encourage the development of a European Data Ethics Seal by the rele-
vant industry and standardization bodies. The seal should be awarded to companies, products
and services that meet a pre-defined list of data ethical requirements e.g. companies or products
that meet high standards for data security, companies or products that do not collect unneces-
sary data on the user, or companies or products that have been tested for bias etc. The European
Data Ethi s Seal ould e a ay to operatio alize the Co
issio ’s idea of ethi s y desig a d
make it visible for consumers which companies, products and services to trust - and thus creating
a market incentive for producers to become more data ethical.
Standards on AI Trustworthiness
The Commission should investigate the possibilities for promoting the use of technical standards
on AI Trustworthiness in the European legislation. ISO/IEC and CEN/CENELEC as well as the IEEE
are currently working on different aspects of standardization of AI and ethics/trust. The inherent
agility of technical standards could create the necessary balance between long-term durability
and short-term efficiency.
Challenge
Trust is the most important component in ensuring wide uptake of digital technology and solu-
tions. It is thus of the utmost importance that the European Union succeeds in creating a legal
a d ethi al fra e ork that a e sure itize s’ trust i the e te h ologies. Moreo er,
the
responsible use of data has the potential to become a competitive advantage for European busi-
nesses in the competition with American and Chinese companies. In order to give EU businesses
a first mover advantage, the EU should take concrete steps to strengthen data and AI ethics
through transparency, and thus empowering consumers and businesses to choose products and
solutions that are based on a responsible use of AI and data.
Background
Our ambition as a European community should be to break down national silos to ensure that
the leading digital companies of the future will be European. EU has a very important global role
in terms of promoting the responsible and ethical approach to data use. We are convinced that
Europe not only could, but should lead the way for responsible use of data - and thereby poten-
tially gain an invaluable competitive advantage on the global marketplace.
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Digital-by-default and future-proof regulation
Proposal
To ensure that EU regulation is digital-by-default and future-proof, the Commission should introduce a set
of principles on digital-by-default and future-proof regulation and initiate targeted measures at all stages of
the legislative cycle to enforce these principles. These measures should have a two-fold purpose:
1. Enable digital administration to promote more user-friendly and efficient public services to
businesses and citizens as well as to improve enforcement and prevent errors and fraud.
2. Provide a future-oriented regulatory framework to accommodate and enable businesses to
innovate and apply new technologies and business models.
The set of principles could be the following six: 1) Simple and clear rules, 2) Accommodate new business
models and technology-neutrality, 3) Digital communication, 4) Automated digital case processing, 5)
Coherence and consistency across regulation and authorities - uniform concepts and reuse of data, 6)
Improving enforcement and preventing errors and fraud. Needless to say, safe and secure data handling is
a fundamental precondition that should accompany these efforts. See annex 1 for a description of the
principles.
It is vital to ensure that the principles on digital-by-default and future-proof regulation are considered by
the relevant Directorate-General in the early drafting stages of a proposal and in relation to the impact
assessments. The implementation of the following procedures will ensure proper enforcement of the
principles. An early screening could determine whether the principles are relevant and, if that is the case,
whether they have been followed. The existing better regulation structure within the Secretariat-General
could carry out the screening drawing on the expertise from relevant units in DG CONNECT and DG DIGIT.
Measures later in the legislative process can also be considered - such as ex-ante digital-by-default and
future-proof checks by the Regulatory Scrutiny Board. Finally, ex-ante and ex-post evaluations such as user
journeys, user-friendliness tests and REFIT-activities can evaluate whether regulation has been
meaningfully translated into user-friendly digital solutions and identify ways of making regulation more
future-oriented and fit for the digital age.
Challenge
The accelerating digital transformation of businesses and society poses both new opportunities and
challenges for EU regulation. EU regulation needs to be fit for the digital reality of businesses and citizens,
enable user-friendly digital solutions and promote innovation, including new technologies and business
models. Digital-by-default and future-proof regulation is a precondition for a well-functioning Digital Single
Market, which is both genuinely
digital
by promoting innovation, new technologies and business models
and
single
by enabling more seamless, efficient and user-friendly national and European digital public
services that reduce burdens for businesses and citizens operating across the EU. This is an opportunity to
improve public services and provide European businesses with the competitive edge which is crucial for
succeeding in the fast-moving global digital economy.
Background
Existing and new regulation is often not designed to accommodate the way in which new technologies and
business models can create new value for businesses and society. We still see proposals that are not suited
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to the current digital reality of businesses or are difficult to digitalise and automatise by public authorities.
The Commission has already included
a Research a d Innovation
Tool
a d a Digital Check i its Better
Regulation Toolbox. These are steps in the right direction, but there is a need to step up these efforts by
placing principles on digital-by-default and future-proof regulation at the heart of the
Co
issio ’s
better
regulation machinery. This will ensure that EU regulation is suited to the digital reality, reduces
unnecessary burdens and enhances well-functioning national and European digital public services for the
benefit of businesses, citizens and the authorities themselves. We stand ready to engage in dialogue with
the Commission to develop such measures as we have introduced similar measures at national level.
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Annex 1: Principles for digital-by-default and future-proof regulation
To ensure that EU regulation is digital-by-default and future-proof, the Commission should introduce a set
of principles on digital-by-default and future-proof regulation and initiate targeted measures at all stages of
the legislative cycle to enforce these principles. These measures should have a two-fold purpose:
I.
Enable digital administration to promote more user-friendly and efficient public services to
businesses and citizens as well as to improve enforcement and prevent errors and fraud.
II.
Provide a future-oriented regulatory framework to accommodate and enable businesses to
innovate and apply new technologies and business models.
Needless to say, safe and secure data handling is a fundamental precondition that should accompany these
efforts.
Principles
The following principles should be promoted at EU-level:
1. Simple and clear rules
Simple and clear rules are easy to administer and contribute to more uniform administration and digital
support. If the legislation is unclear or complex with many exceptions, requirements, schemes or discretion it
can be difficult to administer - also digitally. Legislation should focus on the main objectives while detailed
specifications should be handled in delegated or implementing acts which will enable easier and continuous
updating of the legislation.
2. Accommodate new business models and technology-neutrality
The legislation should foster innovation by accommodating emerging and new business models and
promoting the use of experiments and sandboxing. It must also be technology-neutral to ensure that it does
not regulate the use of technology which will subsequently become obsolete
3. Digital communication
The legislation must support user-friendly digital communication between citizens and businesses and the
public sector. For citizens who cannot use digital solutions, other solutions must still be offered.
4. Automated digital case processing
The legislation should underpin fully or partly automated digital case processing. As a general rule, the
legislation should apply objective criteria, clear and unambiguous definitions and common concepts rather
than special concepts. The goal is to enable automation by using objective criteria when it makes sense and to
ensure that it is still possible to exercise discretion in cases where it is professionally relevant.
5. Coherence and consistency across regulation and authorities - uniform concepts and reuse of
data
Legislation should be coherent across policy silos in order to prevent fragmentation and regulatory
uncertainty. Concepts and data must be reused across regulation and authorities to promote efficiency and
coherence to thereby reduce burdens for both authorities, citizens and businesses. If data already exists that
supports the concepts of the legislation, the legislation should reuse these or consider whether other similar
concepts may be used for data that is already available.
6. Improving enforcement and preventing errors and fraud
The legislation must be worded to permit effective IT application and data-driven solutions and tools to ensure
better compliance and enforcement through risk-based control. Such solutions can improve the combatting of
fraud or reduce errors considerably.
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A Competitive, Sustainable and Fair Single Market
The Single Market is a unique asset in the European cooperation connecting 500 million
consumers with 26 million businesses. Over the last 25 years, timely and ambitious steps have
resulted in the Single Market becoming a vital source of economic growth in all EU Member
States providing for more than 56 million jobs across the EU. However, in an ever-changing
environment where well-known challenges of climate change, unfair market practices, and
digital transformation are imminent, and where new cross border challenges keep arising, new
and targeted measures are needed to bolster and future-proof
EU’s global competitiveness.
To
this end, the EU should agree on a holistic EU Sustainable Growth Agenda where efforts
towards a climate-neutral economy goes hand in hand with measures promoting a competitive,
integrated and fair Single Market effectively combating fraud and circumvention of the
common rules in support of growth, employment and consumer interests.
In line with the European Council conclusions of March 2019 and the Council Conclusions on
the Single Market, Denmark outlines the following vision for a competitive, sustainable, and
fair Single Market:
Becoming a competitive climate-neutral economy.
The transition to a climate neutral
economy will broaden the realm of growth policies by giving rise to new business models
based on climate neutral, circular, and digital solutions. Such innovation and job
opportunities should be exploited to the fullest to increase European competitiveness while
bringing environmental benefits to EU citizens. To this end, a clear political direction
should be formulated with an emphasis on cost-effective and market-based measures that
encourage businesses to invest in renewable energy sources, new infrastructures, and in
research and development, allowing for the technological breakthroughs needed for
European businesses to become climate neutral while remaining competitive on a global
scale. Such investments should be sustainable and responsible, taking into account ethical,
social, and management issues, including amongst other things human rights and labor
rights.
Preserving EU leadership in clean tech solutions.
Tomorrow’s industry will depend
even more on a better use of new digital technologies allowing for more efficient
manufacturing and new smarter products intended to strengthen consumer convenience and
safety. To this end, businesses should have access to a non-fragmented, futureproof and
innovative Digital Single Market underpinned by a safe, secure and responsible European
platform and data economy. The further development of the European data economy
should focus on making the responsible and ethical use of data a competitive edge for
European businesses by amongst other placing the issue center stage in the Commission’s
work on artificial intelligence. Furthermore, it is important to promote the availability and
use of data in the EU, which is central to the development of innovative solutions
supporting the green transitioning such as data within the area of utilitiesy, mobility,
environment and the food sector, taking into account security and the General Data
Protection Regulation.
A strengthened focus on resource efficiency and circular economy.
The EU needs to
exploit the business opportunities resulting from the transition to a more sustainable,
resource efficient and climate neutral economy. Policies need to provide the necessary
coherence, consistency and certainty, creating incentives for a company’s transition to a
circular economy. To this end, a strategy for circular economy should be developed with a
particular focus on how digitalization and artificial intelligence can support circular
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solutions and business models. Such strategy should be underpinned by a comprehensive
action plan for a transition to a circular and climate neutral European industry.
An action plan for a sustainable and competitive European retail sector.
The further
development of the European retail sector
should be linked to the EU’s new sustainable
growth agenda and the path towards a climate-neutral economy. To this end, the
Commission should develop an action plan for a more sustainable retail sector including
through circular economy and reductions of greenhouse gas emissions from European
retailers and their supply chains. Such a plan should aim to further incentivize the sector’s
focus on sustainability and commitment to manage environmental impacts. The plan could
include initiatives to reduce the sector’s use resources in general, for example the use of
plastics while promoting the use of recyclable packaging as well as to reduce the use
throughout the whole value chain through actions in the retail sector. Such efforts should be
conducted in accordance with existing initiatives at EU level, in particular the work of the
Circular Plastic Alliance. Furthermore, the plan should address the need for electrification
in order to integrate more renewable energy, improving the energy efficiency and recycling
in the sector’s production mode and supply chain.
Ensuring a fair and well-functioning Single Market through uniform implementation
and effective enforcement.
An effective implementation and enforcement of Single
Market legislation is a key component towards making the Single Market fairer and more
beneficial for law-abiding businesses, consumers and workers. By streamlining
enforcement efforts and effectively combating deliberate attempts to circumvent and abuse
Single Market legislation, the incentive to abide by the Single Market rulebook will rise,
leading to greater trust and legal certainty essential for upholding consumer protection and
workers’ rights and
safety in the Single Market. To this end, the EU needs a firm and
ambitious long-term action plan for better implementation and enforcement of Single
Market rules, containing concrete initiatives on how to improve the uniform
implementation, application and enforcement of our common rules governing the Single
Market. For instance can the new European Labour Authority ELA play a key role in the
enforcement of relevant Union law. A stronger focus on effective enforcement will allow
businesses to rely on the same compliance set-up based on the same sets of rules when
expanding their businesses across the EU thus reducing businesses’ compliance costs
leading to greater competition through a greater variety of quality goods and services to
lower prices. The Single Market should be continuously adjusted to support the transition
to a climate neutral economy in the EU by 2050 at the latest.
Effective and sustainable capital markets.
Developing open, transparent and globally
competitive European capital markets is
key for European businesses’ possibility to invest
in and finance e.g. the transition to climate neutral productions and value chains. The
European capital markets should continue to develop towards securing a leading position
for the EU in promoting sustainable and responsible investments, enabling the financial
sector to support sustainable growth. At the same time, the effectiveness of the European
capital markets could be increased by facilitating access to cross-border investments,
thereby creating real value and tangible improvements for investors and businesses.
Strengthening efforts against fraud and financial crime.
It is paramount to create a
level playing field in the Single Market where both law-abiding businesses and frauds have
confidence in the rules being upheld and crimes being punished. Crimes or deliberate
circumvention of EU law undermines the trust and confidence in the Single Market
detrimental to both growth and welfare. The EU should therefore continue its fight against
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cross border incidents of money laundering and tax fraud. Amongst other initiatives, the
next steps could be to investigate the possibility to allocate special competences to an EU-
body to fight money laundering and create a Single Rule Book throughout the EU by
transforming parts of the anti-money laundering directive to a regulation. The EU should
also assist/support the financial sector in building a common infrastructure that can
strengthen customer due diligence processes with respect to legal certainty for individual
customers.
Providing tools for overcoming increasing complexity and legal fragmentation.
The
level of complexity and legal fragmentation in the rules governing the Single Market is on
the rise. When EU-legislation fails to create common ground across Member States and
break down barriers and new national, technical regulations are being adopted, businesses’
burden of compliance increases. To overcome the increasing complexity and legal
fragmentation especially in the digital economy, more focus should be devoted to ensuring
clear, simple and coherent rules providing for legal certainty. Businesses should have easy
access to tailor-made information regarding the rules they have to comply with when
scaling across borders within the Single Market. A better national dissemination of rights
and obligations for businesses could furthermore have a positive impact on businesses’
compliance with EU-law.
Regulation that is digital-by-default and future-proof.
A continued strong better
regulation agenda is essential to simplify legislation and reduce unnecessary burdens for
businesses. European regulation needs to become more innovation-friendly and forward-
looking to allow businesses to test, develop, and apply new business models. For Member
States to support businesses’ transformation and greater use of digital solutions, it is
important that EU-legislation enable digital administration relying on state-of-the-art
technology, reuse of relevant data and standards. To this end, the EU should ensure that
digitization, interoperability and automatization are comprehensively considered in every
step of the adoption of EU-legislation where relevant. Amongst other a set of principles on
digital-by-default and future-proof regulation could be introduced and enforced at all stages
of the legislative cycle.
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-- AKT 5748215 -- BILAG 3 -- [ Reynders ] --
Didier Reynders
Commissioner for Justice
European Commission
MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY,
BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL
AFFAIRS
Dear Commissioner Didier Reynders,
MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY, BUSI-
NESS AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS
Please accept my warmest congratulations on your appointment as Com-
missioner for Justice.
A timely response to the challenges and seizing the opportunities posed by
climate change and rapid digitalization is of critical importance to ensure
a more sustainable and prosperous EU. Consumer demands play an im-
portant role in creating competitive, innovative and sustainable markets. I
would like to present you with the overall Danish agenda in your area of
responsibility, which I hope will be of interest to you.
Consumer policy applicable to the digital future
With reference to your statements in the parliamentary hearing, we share
your opinion that consumers should be empowered, properly informed and
encouraged to make sustainable choices. Over the past few years, Euro-
pean consumers’ consumption patterns and opportunities have been
changing. Globalization and digitalization have led consumers to act in
completely new ways, and consumers have been given a much wider
choice, which can be challenging to navigate on bigger and more complex
markets.
With the rapid digital development and the emergence of new business
models, it is important to ensure that consumer protection rules are fit for
the digital age. Although a political agreement on the omnibus directive
from New Deal for Consumers has recently been reached and progress
made on the proposal on collective redress, more needs to be done. When
developing new consumer policy, it is of high importance to continue the
inclusion of behavioural analysis and methods in order to secure that the
proposed regulation will have the intentional effect on the market and is fit
for purpose.
Strengthened enforcement with third countries
I have positively noticed that you have been tasked with ensuring con-
sumer protection within cross-border trade with third countries. This is
highly relevant as challenges in relation to consumer protection go beyond
the frontiers of the Union. In order to strengthen the cross border consumer
enforcement, international agreements with third countries should be ne-
gotiated. This has been made possible through the revised CPC regulation.
Slotsholmsgade 10-12
DK-1216 Copenhagen K
Tlf.
Fax
+45 33 92 33 50
+45 33 12 37 78
CVR-nr. 10 09 24 85
EAN nr. 5798000026001
[email protected]
www.em.dk
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Moreover, I encourage you to look more online platforms and websites
from third countries as they do not always comply with EU marketing
rules. This implies that European companies are not competing on a level
playing field with companies from third countries. Despite the fact that EU
rules are applicable to third country business’ marketing, it is often diffi-
cult for the consumer protection authorities to pursue cases against com-
panies established in third countries, as there is no legally binding bilateral
cooperation agreements between EU and third countries.
Company law and the SME Strategy
Providing the right regulatory framework for businesses is not just im-
portant within the digital sphere, but also for company law in general. We
are facing a number of challenges posed by climate change and rapid dig-
italisation. I fully support your mission to ensure that company law con-
tributes to the upcoming SME strategy so that SMEs can prosper through
creating solutions to the current challenges. Businesses have a significant
responsibility as well as opportunity to deliver the changes necessary to
tackle the issues facing us today. We need to have the right framework in
place to ensure that our companies are able to harness the opportunities as
well as held accountable for their sustainable promises.
In general, I find it important to strike a balance between providing busi-
nesses a number of rights and ensuring that they comply with the corre-
sponding obligations.
Transparency around our companies’ conduct is key
not only to see whether they are delivering on their promises, but also to
make sure that we have efficient systems in place to address questionable
practices. That is why I find the proposal on public country-by-country
reporting an important step towards a fairer and more effective tax system
in the EU. We will seek to revitalise the negotiations in Council, and work
towards a more ambitious proposal containing global disaggregation, re-
quiring multinational companies to report country by country for all coun-
tries.
I also see increased transparency concerning companies’ social responsi-
bility as a way of ensuring that businesses are not just talking the talk but
also walking the walk towards improved practices. I look forward to work-
ing with you on updating the framework for responsible business conduct
and thereby contribute to a more sustainable future.
Digital trust as an enabler of Artificial Intelligence
I have positively noticed the aim of the new Commission to deliver a Eu-
ropean approach to artificial intelligence within your first 100 days in of-
fice. In this regard, the aim should be to make data ethics a competitive
advantage for European businesses going hand-in-hand with innovation.
A European approach could make us a frontrunner in the responsible use
2
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of artificial intelligence and data. By introducing a European Data Ethics
Seal we would enable consumers to easily identify companies who take
data ethics seriously. Together with a requirement for the largest European
companies to publish their data ethics policies, the digital economy would
become more transparent for consumers. Attached you will find a non-
paper explaining our suggestions to this agenda.
Ensuring consumer enforcement in the platform economy
It is time to modernize the regulatory framework of the platform economy
in order to ensure digital responsibility, better cross-border consumer en-
forcement and to address emerging issues that are not dealt with under the
current rules. We also need to address the increasing regulatory fragmen-
tation at European and member-state level regarding the liability-regime
for third party content. This has led to legal uncertainty for both businesses
and consumers.
A modernized framework for the European platform economy should
maintain the essence of the e-Commerce Directive, namely the country of
origin principle, which the European platform economy has benefitted im-
mensely from. At the same time, we face an important and necessary dis-
cussion regarding liability regimes and the responsibilities of especially
large and influential companies in handling data versus the possibilities for
smaller companies to develop new business models and scale up across the
Single Market.
We should modernize the regulatory framework to find horizontal solu-
tions that addresses the emerging issues in the platform economy, eradi-
cates regulatory fragmentation through uniform application and enforce-
ment of the notice and take down of illegal content such as misleading
marketing and dangerous products across the EU while strengthening the
competitiveness of the European platform economy.
Yours sincerely,
Simon Kollerup
3
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Data and Ethics - The New European Competitive Advantage
Proposal
Data Ethics as Corporate Social Responsibility
The Commission should consider a revision of the directive as regards
disclosure of non-financial
and diversity information by certain large undertakings and groups.
The revision should include
provisions for certain large undertakings - to prepare a non-financial statement containing in-
formation relating to their data ethics policies as part of their annual management reports.
European Data Ethics Seal
The Commission should encourage the development of a European Data Ethics Seal by the rele-
vant industry and standardization bodies. The seal should be awarded to companies, products
and services that meet a pre-defined list of data ethical requirements e.g. companies or products
that meet high standards for data security, companies or products that do not collect unneces-
sary data on the user, or companies or products that have been tested for bias etc. The European
Data Ethi s Seal ould e a ay to operatio alize the Co
issio ’s idea of ethi s y desig a d
make it visible for consumers which companies, products and services to trust - and thus creating
a market incentive for producers to become more data ethical.
Standards on AI Trustworthiness
The Commission should investigate the possibilities for promoting the use of technical standards
on AI Trustworthiness in the European legislation. ISO/IEC and CEN/CENELEC as well as the IEEE
are currently working on different aspects of standardization of AI and ethics/trust. The inherent
agility of technical standards could create the necessary balance between long-term durability
and short-term efficiency.
Challenge
Trust is the most important component in ensuring wide uptake of digital technology and solu-
tions. It is thus of the utmost importance that the European Union succeeds in creating a legal
a d ethi al fra e ork that a e sure itize s’ trust i the e te h ologies. Moreo er,
the
responsible use of data has the potential to become a competitive advantage for European busi-
nesses in the competition with American and Chinese companies. In order to give EU businesses
a first mover advantage, the EU should take concrete steps to strengthen data and AI ethics
through transparency, and thus empowering consumers and businesses to choose products and
solutions that are based on a responsible use of AI and data.
Background
Our ambition as a European community should be to break down national silos to ensure that
the leading digital companies of the future will be European. EU has a very important global role
in terms of promoting the responsible and ethical approach to data use. We are convinced that
Europe not only could, but should lead the way for responsible use of data - and thereby poten-
tially gain an invaluable competitive advantage on the global marketplace.
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-- AKT 5748215 -- BILAG 4 -- [ Sefcovic ] --
Maroš Šefčovič,
Vice-President for Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight
European Commission
MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY,
BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL
AFFAIRS
Dear Commissioner
Maroš Šefčovič,
Please accept my warmest congratulations on your appointment as Vice-
President for Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight.
Clear, simple and efficient regulation of a high quality is a precondition for
delivering solutions to the major challenges facing our society. It is the
foundation for a fair, green and competitive EU ensuring a high level of
protection of consumers, climate and employees, while promoting eco-
nomic growth, innovation and jobs.
I have some reflections on the future agenda on better regulation that I hope
you will read with interest.
European legislation fit for the digital age
With reference to your statements in the parliamentary hearing, I fully
share your opinion that all European legislation should be fit for the digital
age. Unfortunately, we see an increasing complexity and fragmentation of
the regulatory environment - both at national and EU level. Existing and
new EU regulation does not always accommodate the way in which new
technologies and business models create value for businesses, citizens and
society. This creates regulatory uncertainty slowing down innovation and
negative impact on our competitiveness.
Therefore, I welcome your ambitions to promote legislation that is digital-
by-default and future-proof and I look forward to your work on foresight
that I believe can contribute to regulation that is suited to the technologies
of tomorrow. In Denmark, we have introduced a set of principles on digi-
tal-by-default and future-proof regulation. I would be happy to share our
experience on the use of these principles in lawmaking and further discuss
how such principles could be implemented at the European level. Attached
you will find a non-paper explaining the Danish principles and priorities
on this agenda.
An intelligent model for implementing
“One-in,
One out”
The
Commission’s instrument to deliver on the “One in, One out”-princi-
ple at European level will be crucial and we stand ready to contribute to
the development of this instrument. It will be important to ensure an intel-
ligent model, which delivers more simple, effective and future-proof regu-
lation while contributing to the green transition and better protection of
MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY, BUSI-
NESS AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS
Slotsholmsgade 10-12
DK-1216 Copenhagen K
Tlf.
Fax
+45 33 92 33 50
+45 33 12 37 78
CVR-nr. 10 09 24 85
EAN nr. 5798000026001
[email protected]
www.em.dk
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consumers, health, environment and
workers’ rights.
The right implemen-
tation model of the principle has the potential to lift the better regulation
agenda - ranging from impacts assessments and regulatory scrutiny to im-
plementation and evaluation.
As you have rightly indicated, simplification and removal of unnecessary
burdens will require regulation that is fit for digital solutions and technol-
ogies. We need to get rid of outdated regulation, paper forms and introduce
user-friendly digital solutions that adapt to the feedback from users.
Strengthening the efforts on implementation and enforcement
Better regulation also serves as an essential element for improving the im-
plementation and enforcement of our common rules governing the Single
Market. Reaping such benefits require that implementation and enforce-
ment are taken due into account in every step of the legislative cycle based
on a positive and continuous dialogue between Member States and the
Commission from the preparation of impact assessments to the final entry
into force. A consecutive and coordinated focus on the implementation and
enforcement of specific legislation has the potential to deliver better and
uniform results for consumers, workers, businesses and citizens in the EU.
We have several proposals, highlighted in the attached non-paper regard-
ing better implementation and enforcement.
Better regulation as a driver for green sustainable growth
An efficient regulatory policy is key for the transition to a carbon-neutral
economy. An enabling regulatory framework that promotes innovation,
competitiveness and employment is the precondition for sustainable
growth. Sustainability must be mainstreamed across the better regulation
tools and improved assessments of climate impacts for all relevant new
proposals are needed.
I hope these ideas inspire you as you develop your priorities as Vice-Pres-
ident for Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight. I wish you every suc-
cess in your new role and look forward to our future cooperation.
Yours sincerely,
Simon Kollerup
2
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Strengthening the Single Market through better implementation and enforcement
Proposal
New transposition and application tools are needed to ensure that current rules are transparent and
uniformly implemented and complied with across Member States. Among these are:
Templates and analyses to ensure transparent implementation: Drawing on the experiences in financial
services, the use of implementation templates should be made obligatory on a trial basis to ensure that
businesses have access to an overview of the specific areas where national rules differ from the
adopted EU legislation. This should be supported by ongoing analyses on the differences in
implementation across Member States which should be initiated by the Commission in order to
increase knowhow and transparent implementation.
A strengthened Single Market Scoreboard: The Single Market Scoreboard should be developed to
promote enforcement and strengthen compliance in practice. The Commission is for example
encouraged to broaden its scope to cover the qualitative implementation of legislation. Furthermore,
the Single Market Scoreboard should reflect the developments in terms of national rules on goods and
services by linking the Scoreboard with the number of notifications in the TRIS and IMI databases.
Criteria for infringement procedures: Building on the principles set out in the Communication EU law:
Better results through etter appli atio ,
the Commission should develop and apply a set of criteria as
a basis for launching infringement procedures. These criteria should be used to ensure consistency in
the detailed process of assessment and selection. The criteria should also indicate overall political and
strategic priority areas of the Commission, including prioritisation of violations entailing distortion of
competition.
Single Market implementation reviews: With inspiration from the Environmental Implementation
Review (EIR), the Commission should conduct implementation reviews on a regular basis of each
Me er State’s i ple e tatio of sele ted
pieces of horisontal Single Market legislation. The aim
should be in constructive dialogue with Member States to set out proposals on how to improve the
implementation to strengthen the basic principles governing the Single Market. Inspiration may also be
found in the better regulation method related to neighbour
he ks .
Strengthening enforcement: Efficient and systematic efforts to enforce regulation are indispensable to
the optimization of the entire policy process. It must be clear what determines policy outcomes
the
rules or their a tual appli atio . I order to stre gthe the Co
issio ’s ork i this area an
institutional strengthening should be considered, e.g. by assigning a vice-president with responsibility
for better regulation, implementation and enforcement. Explicitly highlighting implementation and
enforcement as the responsibility of a vice-president would raise the political focus on this agenda and
make it a central element in every new policy initiative.
Challenge
Diverse application of the EU-law increases administrative burdens and reduces legal certainty for
usi esses detri e tal to ross order trade a d i est e t se urity. Opti izi g Europea usi esses’
framework conditions, including legal certainty necessitates coherent and effective application of the rules
governing the Single Market. A more transparent and uniform application of the Single Market acquis will
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benefit especially SMEs that are disproportionally affected by diverse application of EU-rules due to their
scarce resources and limited capacity to keep track of a complex and quickly changing legal environment.
Background
The enforcement and implementation agenda i a prominent priority in the current Commission. The launch
of the compliance package, including e.g. the regulation on a Single Digital Gateway and an action plan for
SOLVIT are important initiatives which aim at simplifying the life of businesses in practice. However, more
can be done by building on existing mechanisms and applying these more systematically and with more
transparency. Making the very basis of the Single Market function better is a precondition for developing
the Single Market further.
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Digital-by-default and future-proof regulation
Proposal
To ensure that EU regulation is digital-by-default and future-proof, the Commission should introduce a set
of principles on digital-by-default and future-proof regulation and initiate targeted measures at all stages of
the legislative cycle to enforce these principles. These measures should have a two-fold purpose:
1. Enable digital administration to promote more user-friendly and efficient public services to
businesses and citizens as well as to improve enforcement and prevent errors and fraud.
2. Provide a future-oriented regulatory framework to accommodate and enable businesses to
innovate and apply new technologies and business models.
The set of principles could be the following six: 1) Simple and clear rules, 2) Accommodate new business
models and technology-neutrality, 3) Digital communication, 4) Automated digital case processing, 5)
Coherence and consistency across regulation and authorities - uniform concepts and reuse of data, 6)
Improving enforcement and preventing errors and fraud. Needless to say, safe and secure data handling is
a fundamental precondition that should accompany these efforts. See annex 1 for a description of the
principles.
It is vital to ensure that the principles on digital-by-default and future-proof regulation are considered by
the relevant Directorate-General in the early drafting stages of a proposal and in relation to the impact
assessments. The implementation of the following procedures will ensure proper enforcement of the
principles. An early screening could determine whether the principles are relevant and, if that is the case,
whether they have been followed. The existing better regulation structure within the Secretariat-General
could carry out the screening drawing on the expertise from relevant units in DG CONNECT and DG DIGIT.
Measures later in the legislative process can also be considered - such as ex-ante digital-by-default and
future-proof checks by the Regulatory Scrutiny Board. Finally, ex-ante and ex-post evaluations such as user
journeys, user-friendliness tests and REFIT-activities can evaluate whether regulation has been
meaningfully translated into user-friendly digital solutions and identify ways of making regulation more
future-oriented and fit for the digital age.
Challenge
The accelerating digital transformation of businesses and society poses both new opportunities and
challenges for EU regulation. EU regulation needs to be fit for the digital reality of businesses and citizens,
enable user-friendly digital solutions and promote innovation, including new technologies and business
models. Digital-by-default and future-proof regulation is a precondition for a well-functioning Digital Single
Market, which is both genuinely
digital
by promoting innovation, new technologies and business models
and
single
by enabling more seamless, efficient and user-friendly national and European digital public
services that reduce burdens for businesses and citizens operating across the EU. This is an opportunity to
improve public services and provide European businesses with the competitive edge which is crucial for
succeeding in the fast-moving global digital economy.
Background
Existing and new regulation is often not designed to accommodate the way in which new technologies and
business models can create new value for businesses and society. We still see proposals that are not suited
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to the current digital reality of businesses or are difficult to digitalise and automatise by public authorities.
The Commission has already included
a Research a d Innovation
Tool
a d a Digital Check i its Better
Regulation Toolbox. These are steps in the right direction, but there is a need to step up these efforts by
placing principles on digital-by-default and future-proof regulation at the heart of the
Co
issio ’s
better
regulation machinery. This will ensure that EU regulation is suited to the digital reality, reduces
unnecessary burdens and enhances well-functioning national and European digital public services for the
benefit of businesses, citizens and the authorities themselves. We stand ready to engage in dialogue with
the Commission to develop such measures as we have introduced similar measures at national level.
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Annex 1: Principles for digital-by-default and future-proof regulation
To ensure that EU regulation is digital-by-default and future-proof, the Commission should introduce a set
of principles on digital-by-default and future-proof regulation and initiate targeted measures at all stages of
the legislative cycle to enforce these principles. These measures should have a two-fold purpose:
I.
Enable digital administration to promote more user-friendly and efficient public services to
businesses and citizens as well as to improve enforcement and prevent errors and fraud.
II.
Provide a future-oriented regulatory framework to accommodate and enable businesses to
innovate and apply new technologies and business models.
Needless to say, safe and secure data handling is a fundamental precondition that should accompany these
efforts.
Principles
The following principles should be promoted at EU-level:
1. Simple and clear rules
Simple and clear rules are easy to administer and contribute to more uniform administration and digital
support. If the legislation is unclear or complex with many exceptions, requirements, schemes or discretion it
can be difficult to administer - also digitally. Legislation should focus on the main objectives while detailed
specifications should be handled in delegated or implementing acts which will enable easier and continuous
updating of the legislation.
2. Accommodate new business models and technology-neutrality
The legislation should foster innovation by accommodating emerging and new business models and
promoting the use of experiments and sandboxing. It must also be technology-neutral to ensure that it does
not regulate the use of technology which will subsequently become obsolete
3. Digital communication
The legislation must support user-friendly digital communication between citizens and businesses and the
public sector. For citizens who cannot use digital solutions, other solutions must still be offered.
4. Automated digital case processing
The legislation should underpin fully or partly automated digital case processing. As a general rule, the
legislation should apply objective criteria, clear and unambiguous definitions and common concepts rather
than special concepts. The goal is to enable automation by using objective criteria when it makes sense and to
ensure that it is still possible to exercise discretion in cases where it is professionally relevant.
5. Coherence and consistency across regulation and authorities - uniform concepts and reuse of
data
Legislation should be coherent across policy silos in order to prevent fragmentation and regulatory
uncertainty. Concepts and data must be reused across regulation and authorities to promote efficiency and
coherence to thereby reduce burdens for both authorities, citizens and businesses. If data already exists that
supports the concepts of the legislation, the legislation should reuse these or consider whether other similar
concepts may be used for data that is already available.
6. Improving enforcement and preventing errors and fraud
The legislation must be worded to permit effective IT application and data-driven solutions and tools to ensure
better compliance and enforcement through risk-based control. Such solutions can improve the combatting of
fraud or reduce errors considerably.
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
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-- AKT 5748215 -- BILAG 5 -- [ Vestager ] --
Margrethe Vestager
Executive Vice-President for a Europe fit for the Digital Age
European Commission
MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY,
BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL
AFFAIRS
Dear Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager,
Please accept my warmest congratulations on your appointment as Exec-
utive Vice-President for a Europe fit for the Digital Age and Commis-
sioner for Competition.
A timely response to the challenges and seizing the opportunities posed
by climate change and rapid digitalization is of critical importance to
ensure a more sustainable and prosperous EU. I would like to present you
with the Danish agenda in your area of responsibility, which I hope you
will read with interest.
Maintain the core principles of competition
I have positively noticed that you have been tasked with the continued
strengthening of competition enforcement. Effective enforcement should
be a priority in all sectors and especially in the digital economy, where
technological developments challenge our market structures.
A fair and effective competition policy is a cornerstone of the Single
Market and a prerequisite to bolster EU’s global competitiveness in the
future. Thus, it is important to maintain and
not
relax the existing compe-
tition framework and the EU Merger Regulation.
However, I recognize the tendency towards increased unfair competition
and the need to react and safeguard European interests. The best way to
preserve fair global competition and a level playing field is through
common rules applicable to all, rooted in the WTO. Thus, it is encourag-
ing that the incoming Commission aims to make reform of the multilat-
eral trading system a top priority. This must include an update of the rules
so they address unfair market-distorting trade practices and reflect to-
day’s digital economy.
Therefore, we can agree that it should be assessed
whether EU’s competition framework is fit for purpose to address anti-
competitive practices. For instance, we do see potential in making it easi-
er for national and European competition authorities to respond more
swiftly to anti-competitive behaviour from platforms. We may also need
instruments to handle distortive behaviour from companies from third
countries operating within the Single Market without relaxing the princi-
ples of independent enforcement, free and fair competition.
Towards a competitive and climate-friendly European industry
European industry is a key player in restoring the
EU’s
global competi-
tiveness as well as fulfilling the Paris Agreement. The upcoming action-
plan for industry should set a clear political direction with an emphasis
MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY, BUSI-
NESS AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS
Slotsholmsgade 10-12
DK-1216 Copenhagen K
Tlf.
Fax
+45 33 92 33 50
+45 33 12 37 78
CVR-nr. 10 09 24 85
EAN nr. 5798000026001
[email protected]
www.em.dk
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on cost-effective and market-based measures that encourage businesses
to make necessary investments needed for the transition to a competitive,
circular and climate-neutral European industry.
Furthermore, I would encourage you to make sure that the work on Im-
portant Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs) related to strate-
gic value chains contribute to achieve our climate and environmental
objectives. Moreover, we should improve the transparency of IPCEIs by
introducing ex-ante consultation. This will allow all Member States to
easily participate and contribute.
There is also a need to re-think the future set-up for identifying strategic
value chains. To this end, we need a new procedure for identifying,
amending or phasing out strategic value chains. The procedure should
maintain the original bottom-up approach characterizing the current Stra-
tegic Forum while ensuring political legitimacy and governance and di-
recting initiatives towards major challenges such as climate change.
Moreover, I encourage you to lay down the pillars for a robust frame-
work for secure, interoperable and trustworthy data sharing that can sus-
tain public trust in data usage and contribute to the green transition of
industry. We should openly discuss how best to encourage and ensure
more data sharing through an ethical and coherent European framework
as the use of data is vital for European businesses if they are to be global
frontrunners of the data economy.
The external dimension of EU’s
industrial competitiveness should be
pursued through a free, fair and sustainable trade policy based on updated
multilateral rules. To this end, we fully support the need to secure a level
playing field at global level and fight
protectionist and unilateral
measures. However, the Danish Government is
still not convinced that
the current proposal for an International Procurement Instrument (IPI) is
the right way forward. When resuming discussions on the IPI, we would
like to see further clarification and revision in order to avoid negative
effects.
Finally, a strong European industrial sector depends critically on a com-
petitive and innovative Single Market. Effective implementation and en-
forcement are key components towards making the Single Market both
fairer and smoother for law-abiding businesses, consumers and workers.
We need a firm and ambitious long-term action plan containing concrete
initiatives on how to improve the uniform implementation, application
and enforcement of our common rules.
2
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Digital trust as an enabler of Artificial Intelligence
I have positively noticed the aim of the new Commission to deliver a
European approach to artificial intelligence within your first 100 days in
office. In this regard, the aim should be to make data ethics a competitive
advantage for European businesses going hand-in-hand with innovation.
A European approach could make us a frontrunner in the responsible use
of artificial intelligence and data. By introducing a European Data Ethics
Seal we would enable consumers to easily identify companies who take
data ethics seriously. Together with a requirement for the largest Europe-
an companies to publish their data ethics policies, the digital economy
would become more transparent for consumers. Attached you will find a
non-paper explaining our suggestions to this agenda.
European legislation fit for the digital age
I encourage you to ensure that European legislation is digital-by-default
and future-proof as this it is a precondition for a well-functioning Digital
Single Market. In Denmark, we have introduced a set of principles on
digital-by-default and future-proof regulation. I would be happy to share
our experience on the use of these principles in lawmaking and further
discuss how such principles could be implemented at the European level.
Attached you will find a non-paper explaining the Danish principles and
priorities on this agenda.
Cross-border digital services is a vital tool to make life easier for citizens
and businesses within the Single Market. In this context, I would urge
you to take into account the special situation of the public sector as a
guarantor of maintaining public confidence in digital infrastructure sys-
tems and public digital procedures for instance regarding data trans-
parency and interoperability, and trustworthy electronic identification.
A modern and responsible framework for the platform economy
It is time to modernize the regulatory framework of the platform econo-
my in order to ensure digital responsibility, better cross-border enforce-
ment and to address emerging issues that are not dealt with under the
current rules. In doing so, we should also tackle the increasing fragmen-
tation of the regulatory framework for digital services that constitute bar-
riers to scaling up within the Digital Single Market. A modernized
framework for the European platform economy should maintain the es-
sence of the e-Commerce Directive, namely the country of origin princi-
ple, which the European platform economy has benefitted immensely
from. At the same time, we face an important and necessary discussion
with regards to liability regimes and the responsibilities of especially
large and influential companies in handling data versus the possibilities
for smaller companies to develop new business models and scale up
across the Single Market. We should modernize the regulatory frame-
work to find horizontal solutions that address the emerging issues in the
platform economy, eradicates regulatory fragmentation through uniform
3
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application and enforcement of the notice and take down of illegal con-
tent across the EU while strengthening the competitiveness of the Euro-
pean platform economy.
I hope these ideas will be useful for you in laying out the agenda for your
important portfolio for the coming years and I look forward to work to-
gether with you to strengthen European competitiveness to the benefit of
all Europeans.
Finally, I look forward to continuing the fruitful cooperation with DG
Competition on enforcing the competition rules and ensuring well-
functioning markets in the EU.
Yours sincerely,
Simon Kollerup
4
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Data and Ethics - The New European Competitive Advantage
Proposal
Data Ethics as Corporate Social Responsibility
The Commission should consider a revision of the directive as regards
disclosure of non-financial
and diversity information by certain large undertakings and groups.
The revision should include
provisions for certain large undertakings - to prepare a non-financial statement containing in-
formation relating to their data ethics policies as part of their annual management reports.
European Data Ethics Seal
The Commission should encourage the development of a European Data Ethics Seal by the rele-
vant industry and standardization bodies. The seal should be awarded to companies, products
and services that meet a pre-defined list of data ethical requirements e.g. companies or products
that meet high standards for data security, companies or products that do not collect unneces-
sary data on the user, or companies or products that have been tested for bias etc. The European
Data Ethi s Seal ould e a ay to operatio alize the Co
issio ’s idea of ethi s y desig a d
make it visible for consumers which companies, products and services to trust - and thus creating
a market incentive for producers to become more data ethical.
Standards on AI Trustworthiness
The Commission should investigate the possibilities for promoting the use of technical standards
on AI Trustworthiness in the European legislation. ISO/IEC and CEN/CENELEC as well as the IEEE
are currently working on different aspects of standardization of AI and ethics/trust. The inherent
agility of technical standards could create the necessary balance between long-term durability
and short-term efficiency.
Challenge
Trust is the most important component in ensuring wide uptake of digital technology and solu-
tions. It is thus of the utmost importance that the European Union succeeds in creating a legal
a d ethi al fra e ork that a e sure itize s’ trust i the e te h ologies. Moreo er,
the
responsible use of data has the potential to become a competitive advantage for European busi-
nesses in the competition with American and Chinese companies. In order to give EU businesses
a first mover advantage, the EU should take concrete steps to strengthen data and AI ethics
through transparency, and thus empowering consumers and businesses to choose products and
solutions that are based on a responsible use of AI and data.
Background
Our ambition as a European community should be to break down national silos to ensure that
the leading digital companies of the future will be European. EU has a very important global role
in terms of promoting the responsible and ethical approach to data use. We are convinced that
Europe not only could, but should lead the way for responsible use of data - and thereby poten-
tially gain an invaluable competitive advantage on the global marketplace.
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Digital-by-default and future-proof regulation
Proposal
To ensure that EU regulation is digital-by-default and future-proof, the Commission should introduce a set
of principles on digital-by-default and future-proof regulation and initiate targeted measures at all stages of
the legislative cycle to enforce these principles. These measures should have a two-fold purpose:
1. Enable digital administration to promote more user-friendly and efficient public services to
businesses and citizens as well as to improve enforcement and prevent errors and fraud.
2. Provide a future-oriented regulatory framework to accommodate and enable businesses to
innovate and apply new technologies and business models.
The set of principles could be the following six: 1) Simple and clear rules, 2) Accommodate new business
models and technology-neutrality, 3) Digital communication, 4) Automated digital case processing, 5)
Coherence and consistency across regulation and authorities - uniform concepts and reuse of data, 6)
Improving enforcement and preventing errors and fraud. Needless to say, safe and secure data handling is
a fundamental precondition that should accompany these efforts. See annex 1 for a description of the
principles.
It is vital to ensure that the principles on digital-by-default and future-proof regulation are considered by
the relevant Directorate-General in the early drafting stages of a proposal and in relation to the impact
assessments. The implementation of the following procedures will ensure proper enforcement of the
principles. An early screening could determine whether the principles are relevant and, if that is the case,
whether they have been followed. The existing better regulation structure within the Secretariat-General
could carry out the screening drawing on the expertise from relevant units in DG CONNECT and DG DIGIT.
Measures later in the legislative process can also be considered - such as ex-ante digital-by-default and
future-proof checks by the Regulatory Scrutiny Board. Finally, ex-ante and ex-post evaluations such as user
journeys, user-friendliness tests and REFIT-activities can evaluate whether regulation has been
meaningfully translated into user-friendly digital solutions and identify ways of making regulation more
future-oriented and fit for the digital age.
Challenge
The accelerating digital transformation of businesses and society poses both new opportunities and
challenges for EU regulation. EU regulation needs to be fit for the digital reality of businesses and citizens,
enable user-friendly digital solutions and promote innovation, including new technologies and business
models. Digital-by-default and future-proof regulation is a precondition for a well-functioning Digital Single
Market, which is both genuinely
digital
by promoting innovation, new technologies and business models
and
single
by enabling more seamless, efficient and user-friendly national and European digital public
services that reduce burdens for businesses and citizens operating across the EU. This is an opportunity to
improve public services and provide European businesses with the competitive edge which is crucial for
succeeding in the fast-moving global digital economy.
Background
Existing and new regulation is often not designed to accommodate the way in which new technologies and
business models can create new value for businesses and society. We still see proposals that are not suited
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to the current digital reality of businesses or are difficult to digitalise and automatise by public authorities.
The Commission has already included
a Research a d Innovation
Tool
a d a Digital Check i its Better
Regulation Toolbox. These are steps in the right direction, but there is a need to step up these efforts by
placing principles on digital-by-default and future-proof regulation at the heart of the
Co
issio ’s
better
regulation machinery. This will ensure that EU regulation is suited to the digital reality, reduces
unnecessary burdens and enhances well-functioning national and European digital public services for the
benefit of businesses, citizens and the authorities themselves. We stand ready to engage in dialogue with
the Commission to develop such measures as we have introduced similar measures at national level.
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Annex 1: Principles for digital-by-default and future-proof regulation
To ensure that EU regulation is digital-by-default and future-proof, the Commission should introduce a set
of principles on digital-by-default and future-proof regulation and initiate targeted measures at all stages of
the legislative cycle to enforce these principles. These measures should have a two-fold purpose:
I.
Enable digital administration to promote more user-friendly and efficient public services to
businesses and citizens as well as to improve enforcement and prevent errors and fraud.
II.
Provide a future-oriented regulatory framework to accommodate and enable businesses to
innovate and apply new technologies and business models.
Needless to say, safe and secure data handling is a fundamental precondition that should accompany these
efforts.
Principles
The following principles should be promoted at EU-level:
1. Simple and clear rules
Simple and clear rules are easy to administer and contribute to more uniform administration and digital
support. If the legislation is unclear or complex with many exceptions, requirements, schemes or discretion it
can be difficult to administer - also digitally. Legislation should focus on the main objectives while detailed
specifications should be handled in delegated or implementing acts which will enable easier and continuous
updating of the legislation.
2. Accommodate new business models and technology-neutrality
The legislation should foster innovation by accommodating emerging and new business models and
promoting the use of experiments and sandboxing. It must also be technology-neutral to ensure that it does
not regulate the use of technology which will subsequently become obsolete
3. Digital communication
The legislation must support user-friendly digital communication between citizens and businesses and the
public sector. For citizens who cannot use digital solutions, other solutions must still be offered.
4. Automated digital case processing
The legislation should underpin fully or partly automated digital case processing. As a general rule, the
legislation should apply objective criteria, clear and unambiguous definitions and common concepts rather
than special concepts. The goal is to enable automation by using objective criteria when it makes sense and to
ensure that it is still possible to exercise discretion in cases where it is professionally relevant.
5. Coherence and consistency across regulation and authorities - uniform concepts and reuse of
data
Legislation should be coherent across policy silos in order to prevent fragmentation and regulatory
uncertainty. Concepts and data must be reused across regulation and authorities to promote efficiency and
coherence to thereby reduce burdens for both authorities, citizens and businesses. If data already exists that
supports the concepts of the legislation, the legislation should reuse these or consider whether other similar
concepts may be used for data that is already available.
6. Improving enforcement and preventing errors and fraud
The legislation must be worded to permit effective IT application and data-driven solutions and tools to ensure
better compliance and enforcement through risk-based control. Such solutions can improve the combatting of
fraud or reduce errors considerably.
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
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-- AKT 5748215 -- BILAG 6 -- [ Adina Valean ] --
Adina-Ioana
Vălean
Commissioner for Transport
European Commission
MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY,
BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL
AFFAIRS
Dear Commissioner Adina-Ioana
Vălean,
Please accept my warmest congratulations on your appointment as
Commissioner for Transport.
As a nation with strong maritime interests, the Danish Government is
deeply committed to ensuring the quality and competitiveness of the Eu-
ropean maritime transport sector, which is of vital importance to the Eu-
ropean economy and labour market. However, climate change and global
competition challenge the prosperity of the maritime transport sector in
Europe.
To face these challenges, I consider it the joint task of the new Commis-
sion and the Member States to ensure a viable European maritime
transport sector. A sector that is a global maritime power hub for quality
shipping and can place key strategic priorities onto the global agenda.
This includes transforming the EU into a key driver for decarbonisation
and green growth, whilst also providing attractive framework conditions
for the shipping industry to increase the attractiveness of EU Member
State ship registries.
To make sure shipping can reach zero emissions, research and develop-
ment of new technologies and fuels is needed. This is crucial if the mari-
time sector is to decarbonise fully, and the EU can play a major role in
this regard. In addition, it is paramount that a global ambitious goal-based
regulation is adopted as soon as possible within the IMO to make sure the
sector starts decarbonisation. In anticipation of such results, we also need
to make sure that any EU measures with regard to greenhouse gas emis-
sions from shipping are flag neutral, avoid carbon leakage and do not
hinder the development of global rules within the IMO. That way, emis-
sions can be brought down effectively and fair competition on the world
market for the European maritime sector is ensured.
Speaking more generally, in a global perspective, the key role of the EU
is to support the enforcement and harmonisation of the global regulatory
framework developed in organisations such as the International Maritime
Organization and the International Labour Organization.
MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY, BUSI-
NESS AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS
Slotsholmsgade 10-12
DK-1216 Copenhagen K
Tlf.
Fax
+45 33 92 33 50
+45 33 12 37 78
CVR-nr. 10 09 24 85
EAN nr. 5798000026001
[email protected]
www.em.dk
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Finally, I believe it is only by setting ambitious goals for the maritime
sector that the EU can pave the way for a high level of competence being
available in the future.
The Danish government and I look forward to working actively with you
and the new Commission with the aim of creating a prosperous and com-
petitive European maritime transport sector.
Yours sincerely,
Simon Kollerup
2
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-- AKT 5748215 -- BILAG 7 -- [ Dombrovskis ] --
Valdis Dombrovskis
Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for the People
European Commission
Dear Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis,
Please accept our warmest congratulations on your appointment as
Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for the People.
We would like to present you with some ideas and priorities, which we
hope you will read with interest.
A sustainable, fair and stable Single Market for financial services
Developing an open, transparent and globally competitive European
financial sector is key for European businesses’ possibility to finance e.g.
the transition to climate neutral productions and value chains.
We fully support your focus on further developing the EU-framework for
sustainable investments. The European financial sector should continue to
develop towards securing a leading position for the EU in promoting
sustainable and responsible investments, enabling the financial sector to
support sustainable growth and mobilizing the private investments
necessary to decarbonize our economies. In this regard, we look forward
to an ambitious green financing strategy. We also look forward to the
Sustainable Europe Investment Plan and to discuss different options for
strengthening the EIB's efforts on climate.
In addition, we believe that rebooting the Capital Markets Union can
contribute to unlocking sustainable investments across borders. More
integrated European capital markets could make it easier for European
firms to obtain funding and thereby promote sustainable growth. The
Capital Markets Union can also create better saving opportunities for
households and generally promote private risk sharing, thereby making the
economic and monetary union more stable.
A main priority for Denmark is to continue our fight against money
laundering. It will take a sustained and determined effort both at national
level and at EU-level. We therefore look forward to discussing how we
can strengthen and intensify the cross-border cooperation and
coordination. From our perspective, many initiatives are worth
considering. The next steps could be to investigate the possibility to
allocate special competences to an EU-body to fight money laundering and
further harmonize the Single Rule Book throughout the EU by
transforming parts of the anti-money laundering directive to a regulation.
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We encourage the Commission to look into the potential of technology in
assisting financial institutions in their fight against dirty money. We
believe the development of technology can considerably help financial
institutions in detecting dirty money, e.g. on KYC-procedures.
The implementation of the final Basel III standards in EU will mark an
important step in our efforts to secure a robust and well-functioning
financial system. However, the so-called output floor risks leading to a
general reduction in risk sensitivity of capital requirements. Reduced risk
sensitivity implies that institutions have incentives for increased risk
taking, as the institutions can take on more risky exposures without
corresponding increases in the capital requirements. We encourage an
implementation of the Basel III standards that preserves the risk sensitivity
of banking regulation and takes into account the special characteristics of
well-functioning European credit institutions, as we have done in the past.
We have confidence that you will work towards finding appropriate
solutions in the upcoming proposal.
Towards a competitive and climate-friendly European industry
European industry is a key player in restoring the EU’s global
competitiveness as well as fulfilling the Paris Agreement. The upcoming
action-plan for industry should set a clear political direction with an
emphasis on cost-effective and market-based measures that encourage
businesses to make necessary investments needed for the transition to a
competitive, circular and climate-neutral European industry.
Furthermore, we would encourage you to make sure that the work on
Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs) related to
strategic value chains contribute to achieve our climate and environmental
objectives. Moreover, we should improve the transparency of IPCEIs by
introducing ex-ante consultation. This will allow all Member States to
easily participate and contribute.
There is also a need to re-think the future set-up for identifying strategic
value chains. To this end, we need a new procedure for identifying,
amending or phasing out strategic value chains. The procedure should
maintain the original bottom-up approach characterizing the current
Strategic Forum while ensuring political legitimacy and governance and
directing initiatives towards major challenges such as climate change.
We also encourage you to lay down the pillars for a robust framework for
secure, interoperable and trustworthy data sharing that can contribute to
the green transition of industry. We should openly discuss how best to
encourage and ensure more data sharing through a coherent European
framework as the use of data is vital for European businesses if they are to
be global frontrunners of the data economy.
2
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Moreover, the European industrial sector is closely linked to and depends
on a competitive and innovative Single Market. An effective
implementation and enforcement are a key component towards making the
Single Market both fairer and smoother for law-abiding businesses,
consumers and workers. We need a firm and ambitious long-term action
plan for better implementation and enforcement, containing concrete
initiatives on how to improve the uniform implementation, application and
enforcement of our common rules.
Regarding the new SME Strategy, we hope focus would be on the
possibilities for SMEs, solutions to the challenges posed by climate change
and rapid digitalization and ways to make it easier to scale-up and
participate in European and global value-chains.
Sound public finances and consistent implementation of fiscal rules
It is crucial that Europe avoids a new debt crisis. We have seen how
quickly weak public finances can create or aggravate a crisis, undermining
welfare and increasing unemployment, spreading rapidly across Europe.
Those who have the least lose the most in an economic crisis.
Public finances are in many countries worse prepared for a new crisis
today, with much higher debt level than before the crisis a decade ago. All
Member States should respect our common fiscal rules and make sure that
their own house and public finances are in order. The Commission and the
Council should ensure consistent and transparent enforcement of the
common rules. This is key for credibility and stable, low interest rates,
which are preconditions for avoiding a new crisis and creating jobs and
growth.
Not many years ago we finalised several significant and time-consuming
reforms of our fiscal framework in view of the lessons learned during the
crisis. We should now focus on implementing the agreed rules, rather than
embarking on yet another reform.
If
a reform is initiated the overall
objective should be to maintain the same average level of ambition we
have now, and not permit higher deficits in general. Within the rules on
deficits and debt, expenditure priorities is a national responsibility and not
a matter for the common rules. The rules should not differentiate between
more and less productive expenditure, as all expenditure is equally relevant
for debt dynamics and market reactions.
Europe does not need weaker, but stronger, public finances in order to
realise our political priorities and tackle the challenges of today and the
future.
3
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Social dialogue at European level and minimum wage
We are very happy to note your continued strong dedication to the
important issue of social dialogue at European level.
Including the views of the social partners is key for designing labour
market policies and initiatives that reflect the diversity of the European
labour markets. The experience and knowledge of the social partners can
also contribute to ensuring European labour market regulation that works
in practice and increase the public support for these initiatives.
Denmark supports a social and fair Europe including the aim to ensure that
every worker in the EU has an adequate living income when working full-
time. It is essential that all Member States have labour market models
which ensure a decent living.
In order to exploit the full potential and legitimacy of a forthcoming
proposal on minimum wage, the right balance between a need for common
guidelines, national competences and enforcement must be struck.
Therefore, we very much welcome the assurances given by the
Commission of respect for systems based on collective bargaining, i.e. that
any future initiative on minimum wage will not interfere with labour
market models where wages are regulated by collective agreements.
Yours sincerely,
Simon Kollerup,
Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs
Nicolai Wammen,
Minister for Finance
Peter Hummelgaard Thomsen
Minister for Employment
4
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-- AKT 5748215 -- BILAG 9 -- [ Didier Reynders ] --
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-- AKT 5748215 -- BILAG 10 -- [ Letter to Timmermans ] --
The Minister
Date
30 November 2019
Dear Mr. Timmermans,
Congratulations on your new position as Executive Vice-President for the Green
Deal in the European Commission. We wish the best for a successful mandate.
Ambitious action is urgently needed to curb climate change and stop the global
environmental degradation. The EU can and must play a leading role in global
climate action. The EU can support the green transition of Member States through
cost effective policies. EU policies are key to greening the European continent.
And only through effective and coordinated EU action can we spur the global ac-
tion that is required.
The Danish Government therefore strongly supports
the Commission’s endeav-
our to make Europe a front-runner in the global green transition and warmly wel-
comes the proposal for a
European Green Deal
by the new Commission.
Of immediate urgency, the European Council in December should agree on the
objective of
climate neutrality in the EU by 2050
at the latest to be included in
an ambitious binding EU Climate Law. Furthermore, the EU should commit itself
to setting targets and implementing policies and measures to limit the global av-
erage temperature increase to 1.5 C in line with the Paris Agreement.
In order to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement, the
EU’s
2030 target
must
be increased to at least 55 percent. Member States should agree upon this in the
first half of 2020 and submit it to the UNFCCC as the EU’s updated
Nationally
Determined Contribution as early as possible in 2020
in order to leverage
higher global ambition in the run-up to COP26 in Glasgow.
An increased 2030 target should be implemented in the most
cost effective way.
The ETS is the most cost effective market based instrument driving the green
transition in the covered sectors. The ETS should be further strengthened, as
there is scope for making it even more effective.
Our
long-term ambition
to be
climate neutral by 2050
at the latest must be the
guiding principle in revising existing regulation towards 2030 as well as for intro-
ducing new additional measures.
To make climate neutrality a reality, we need to speed up the pace of our transition
efforts. This requires that we
accelerate the deployment of renewable energy
Danish Ministry of Climate,
Energy and Utilities
Holmens Kanal 20
1060 Copenhagen K
P: +45 3392 2808
E: [email protected]
www.kefm.dk
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in the EU. In recent years, we have seen a rapid development in both wind power
and solar panels, as the costs have reduced significantly. Yet, going forward we
need to ensure an effective price on carbon emissions to spur investments in
renewable energy and a
phase-out of fossil fuels.
In particular,
offshore wind
is showing a great potential, but in order to utilise this
fully, we will need to make sure that there is an enabling EU-framework in place
and to significantly strengthen regional cooperation in the North Sea, the Baltic
Sea and other coastal regions.
Transport is the only major sector in the EU where greenhouse gas emissions are
still increasing. It is important that CO
2
-emissions are limited across the European
economy and that the
transition towards zero-emission mobility
is acceler-
ated. The uptake of zero-emission passenger cars needs to accelerate dramati-
cally in the EU over the coming years and decades. Denmark urges the Commis-
sion to present a plan with proposals for policy initiatives and incentives for the
transition to a fleet of zero-emission passenger cars.
The
Common Agricultural Policy
should to a greater extent support European
agriculture to produce
in accordance with EU’s objective on water environment,
biodiversity and climate. Denmark wants an even
greener Common Agricultural
Policy.
Climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest should also be the guiding principle
for the
8
th
Environmental Action Programme.
The EU should continue to
lead the way internationally
when it comes to climate
action. As a prerequisite to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, we must en-
gage other global partners to increase ambition and ensure delivery of SDG7 on
access to sustainable energy. Climate and environmental priorities should also to
a greater extent be integrated into EU trade policy, through the strengthening of
chapters on trade and sustainable development
in new trade agreements,
lib-
eralisation of tariffs
and reduction of non-tariff barriers on
green products and
services.
Denmark looks forward to the Commission analysis on the possibilities
to introduce a
Carbon Border Tax
with due respect to WTO rules.
Attached you will find a paper with more detailed proposals for how we can pursue
climate and environment objectives in the EU across a broad spectrum of policy
areas. The Danish government very much looks forward to cooperating with you
and the rest of the new Commission in making the European Green Deal a reality.
Yours sincerely,
Dan Jørgensen
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-- AKT 5748215 -- BILAG 11 -- [ Bilag til Timmermans ] --
Input from the Danish Government for Targets and Policies
for an Ambitious
European Green Deal
Ambitious Climate Targets and Action
The 2030 target must be increased from the current 40 percent to at least 55 percent.
Member States should agree upon this in the first half of 2020 and submit it to the
UNFCCC as the EU’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution in order to push for
higher global ambition in the run-up to COP26 in Glasgow. An increased 2030 target
should be implemented in the most cost effective way.
It is of immediate urgency that the European Council agrees on reaching climate
neutrality in the EU by 2050 at the latest. The EU should set targets and implement
policies and measures to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5 C in line
with the Paris Agreement.
The revision of the Energy Taxation Directive should support the green transition.
Among other things, it is a priority that the tax exemption for aviation fuel is abolished
and that energy products are taxed depending on their climate impact.
The ETS should be further strengthened for the covered sectors, as it is the most cost
effective market based instrument driving the green transition and there is further
scope for making it even more effective, e.g. through a further reduction of free
allowances, an adjustment of the uptake in the Market Stability Reserve, or through a
combination of reduced free allowances and uptake in the Market Stability Reserve, as
well as an expansion of the ETS to cover the removal of CO
2
.
Increased 2030 target
Target on climate
neutrality by 2050
Energy Taxation
Directive
A strengthened EU
ETS
Green Finance for the Green Transition
25 percent climate
mainstreaming in the
MFF
EIB as Europe’s
Climate Bank
More green
investments
It should be ensured that at least 25 percent of the Multiannual Financial Framework
is targeted for climate mainstreaming.
The European Investment Bank should be Europe’s Climate Bank and promote more
green investments.
The Commission strategy on sustainable finance should include an EU green bond
standard and an ECO-label for financial products in order to avoid green washing and
expand the market for green and sustainable financial investments, as well as it
should include climate risks in risk management and credit ratings.
Green Mobility to Move Transport to Lower Emissions
Aviation
The Commission should present common European measures to regulate the
emissions from aviation, amongst others through a strengthening of the EU ETS
.
The Commission should present a concrete plan with proposals for policy initiatives
and incentives for the transition to a fleet of zero-emission passenger cars to support
the EU in reaching climate neutrality by 2050. Specifically, CO
2
standards for light and
heavy-duty vehicles should be strengthened.
Denmark supports measures that strengthen regulation to reduce NOx emissions in
the EU. The current EU regulation on transport intended to reduce NOx emissions is
not sufficiently effective.
Road transport
NOx pollution from
passenger cars, vans
and heavy duty vehicle
1
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Shipping
The EU should continue to work for an ambitious global solution with regard to the
climate within the IMO. It needs to be ensured that any EU measures with regard to
greenhouse gas emissions from shipping are flag neutral, avoid carbon leakage and
do not hinder the development of global rules within the IMO.
A Greener Agricultural Sector
The Common Agricultural Policy should to a larger extent live up to and produce in
line with the European ambitions and targets on water environment, biodiversity and
climate, through a green ring fencing across the pillars, a green definition of eligible
hectare and compensation to farmers for mandatory ambitious national or EU
requirements contributing to climate and environment objectives.
The Farm to Fork strategy should include a focus on animal welfare and should be
ambitious in regards to goals on antimicrobial resistance.
Farm to Fork strategy
and the Common
Agricultural Policy
2022-2027
A Climate Neutral Energy System
A green, flexible and
integrated energy
system
EU’s state aid rules for
energy
The Commission is encouraged to present strategies on sector integration across
energy systems, such as electricity, gas and heating, as well as electrification and
energy storage.
State aid rules should be set up to support a green energy transition in the EU and
take account of the development of new green technological solutions, such as CO
2
-
storage and wind islands in the North Sea.
A new European framework for gas should include a roadmap for phasing out natural
gas of the European energy systems. In addition to a strategy for sector integration,
this should also address how to develop a well-functioning European market for green
gasses.
The EU’s general level of ambition with
regard to renewable energy should be
enhanced, e.g. through regional cooperation, such as for instance the North Seas
Energy Cooperation focusing on the expansion of offshore wind energy.
New European
framework for gas
Expansion of
renewable energy in
the EU, including in the
North Seas Energy
Cooperation
Focused efforts on
energy efficiency
improvements
Reliable and regularly
updated green data and
assumptions
Energy efficiency should focus on reducing the consumption of fossil energy use. The
Commission should present an action plan with proposals for eco-design and energy
labelling that seeks to strengthen existing requirements. New products for example in
relation to data centres should be able to deliver flexibility to the energy system
The Commission’s modelling framework is the backbone for assessing consequences
of new policy and for making optimal energy policy choices. Denmark encourages the
Commission to continue the open and transparent approach on improving the
modelling framework.
Industrial and Business Policy Supporting the Green Economy
A green industrial
policy strategy
Improved reporting on
corporate social
responsibility (CSR)
Green research and
innovation
The
upcoming industrial policy strategy should strengthen European industries’
competitiveness and contribute in the furthest possible extent to the transition to a
climate-neutral EU by 2050, including through a focus on circular economy and a
more green use of state aid to IPCEIs.
The framework for responsible business conduct should be updated, focusing on
creating incentives for businesses to contribute to the green transition through
transparency and accountability measures.
Ambitious investments in green research and innovation are crucial for reaching EU's
climate target. A number of programmes funded under the forthcoming EU budget
(2021-2027) focus on R&D in climate, energy and the environment. A central
programme is the forthcoming framework programme for research and innovation,
2
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Horizon Europe. Denmark will work to ensure that the implementation of the relevant
programmes focus on green research and innovation throughout the value chain,
including development of the technology needed for the green transition.
More Environment and Nature and a Healthier Everyday Life
The Commission should propose a coherent political and legal framework for a
sustainable product policy, incorporating waste, product and chemical regulation, and
for the full implementation of the EU's plastic strategy focusing on, among other
things, to create a well-functioning European market for recyclable plastics.
As part of the Green New Deal, a new EU biodiversity strategy should include effective
measures to stop the decline of biological diversity and restore nature. New global
nature targets and a strategic plan for the Biodiversity Convention in China in 2020
must be adopted. Efforts should be made in the EU to stop biodiversity decline and
restore nature and to stop deforestation globally.
A new 8th Environmental Action Programme should amongst others prioritise the
transition to a climate-neutral society by 2050, the transition to a circular economy
and substantially less pollution of air, soil and water, phasing out the most
problematic chemicals, and protecting and restoring nature and biodiversity.
Chemical legislation should be further strengthened, better and uniform regulation of
endocrine disruptors and, in the longer term, to sharpen EU limit values for harmful
substances in the air.
Circular economy
Nature and biodiversity
8
th
Environmental
Action Programme
Less pollution
better
health
Global Climate Action and Sustainability
EU leadership in
climate negotiations
The EU should take a leadership role in the COP-negotiations and work for an
ambitious implementation of the Paris Agreement through robust and transparent
rules that foster greater global ambitions. The EU should lead by example with
ambitious reduction targets in line with the Paris Agreement.
The EU should promote greater ambitions at a global scale by including climate
ambitions and SDG7 in all relevant international fora, including 1) the Green Growth
Group, 2) in meetings with other regional groups and 3) through our common climate
diplomacy. It should be a concerted effort in all lines of action.
Climate and environmental concerns should to a larger extent be integrated in the
EU’s trade policy, i.e. chapters on trade and sustainable development in trade
agreements should be strengthened and tariffs and other barriers should be removed
from green products and services. Furthermore, the EU should analyse the
possibilities to introduce a carbon border tax with due respect for WTO regulations.
The new broad Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation
Instrument (NDICI) should integrate climate concerns in all relevant projects and at
least 25 percent of its portfolio should be climate relevant.
Green diplomacy
Green trade policy
Green EU development
policy
3
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-- AKT 5748215 -- BILAG 12 -- [ Letter to Kadri Simson-2 ] --
The Minister
Date
30 November 2019
Dear Commissioner Kadri Simson,
Please accept my sincerest congratulations upon your appointment as Euro-
pean Commissioner for Energy. As I am sure you are aware, this is a very im-
portant portfolio. Transition of the energy systems will be decisive in order to de-
liver on our climate ambitions and on the European Green Deal.
I would like to express the strongest
support for the European Green Deal,
and to the Commission’s intention to make Europe a front-runner
in the green
transition. The Danish government believes that combating climate change
should be a top priority for the Commission in the next 5 years.
To make that happen, we need to speed up the pace of our transition efforts.
First and foremost, this requires that we
accelerate the deployment of renew-
able energy
in the EU. In recent years we have seen a rapid development in
both wind power and solar panels, as the costs have reduced significantly. But
going forward, we need to ensure an effective price on carbon emissions to spur
investments in renewable energy and a phase-out of fossil fuels.
In particular, offshore wind is showing a great potential, but in order to utilize this
fully, we will need to make sure that there is a facilitative EU-framework in place,
and to significantly strengthen regional cooperation in the North Sea, the Baltic
Sea and other coastal regions.
The
North Seas Energy Cooperation
is a great example of how European
countries can accelerate the expansion of offshore wind, when we work to-
gether. With the support of the Commission, the North Sea has the potential to
be a provider of energy for all of Europe and provide consumers with sustaina-
ble, secure, and affordable energy. To do this, more work is needed to increase
the focus on maritime spatial planning, coordination of infrastructure projects,
and developing standards for safety, design etc.
Danish Ministry of Climate,
Energy and Utilities
Holmens Kanal 20
1060 Copenhagen K
P: +45 3392 2803
E: [email protected]
www.kefm.dk
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In order to incorporate even larger amounts of renewable energy into our energy
systems, we will need
EU-strategies for the development of our energy sys-
tems.
Such strategies should address electrification, new flexibility and storage
solutions, and integration between different sectors. These are necessary next
steps if we are to develop European energy systems fully based on renewable
energy and deliver on climate neutrality.
The Commission’s modelling framework is
the backbone for assessing conse-
quences of new policy and for making optimal energy policy choices. Therefore,
reliable and regularly updated data and assumptions
are vital. I would en-
courage the Commission to continue the open and transparent approach and
look forward to further cooperation between the Commission services and the
Danish Energy Agency on improving the modelling framework.
There is no doubt that
energy efficiency will also continue to play a role,
but
we have to focus our efforts on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Going for-
ward we therefore need to focus on reducing the consumption of fossil energy
use. Furthermore, we need to further develop the product regulation. I hope you
will put forward a new action plan for eco-design and energy labelling to
strengthen existing requirements, add new products including for example in re-
lation to data centres, and also address the possibilities for adding requirements
for the ability of the products to deliver flexibility to the energy system.
In order to reach climate neutrality by 2050 the use of
fossil energy has to be
phased out.
This needs to be reflected in a
new European framework for gas
by including a roadmap for phasing out natural gas of the European energy sys-
tems. The framework should also include a strategy for sector integration and
address the challenges of how to develop a well-functioning European market
for green gasses.
When it comes to definitions of gasses we need to keep it simple. The revised
renewable energy directive already defines renewable gasses, so all we need is
a definition of what can be labelled as “decarbonised” gasses,
which ensure that
these gasses contribute to substantial, documented CO2 reductions. We also
need uniform requirements for the quality of gas that embrace the varying green
gas qualities.
I very much look forward to cooperate with you and the rest of the new Commis-
sion in making the European Green Deal a reality. If we manage to succeed, the
EU will lead by example in global climate action.
Sincerely yours,
Dan Jørgensen
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-- AKT 5748215 -- BILAG 13 -- [ 201910-joint-letter-governments-to-Timmermans-and-EC-on-climate-action ] --
CALL FOR ENHANCED CLIMATE AMBITION
Joint letter to Mr. Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President-designate for the
European Green Deal
CC: Ms. Kadri Simson
Dear Mr. Timmermans,
The 25
th
session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC in December is a crucial
occasion for all actors, public and private, to demonstrate their determination to rapidly
increase their efforts to tackle climate change. In order to be able to show leadership in this
regard, respond to scientific evidence and to fulfil the legitimate demands of its citizens, the
European Union needs to commit, before the end of the year, to substantially enhanced
climate ambition. Both the longer-term strategic outlook, indispensable to guide our joint
efforts over the coming decades, and short-term action are equally important.
We very much welcome that 24 Member States expressed a clear position at the European
Council meeting in June with regard to
achieving climate neutrality (net zero GHG emissions)
by 2050 at the latest
and we very much encourage, in line with the European Council
Conclusions of June, consensus to be reached as soon as possible and before the end of this
year. It is indeed absolutely vital that the EU commits to adopt a
long-term strategy as soon
as possible in 2019,
to be submitted to the UNFCCC in early 2020. The strategy should be fully
in line with the objective to keep global temperature increase below 1.5°C.
Further to the importance of setting ambitious, collective long-term strategies, it is needless
to recall that all Parties to the UNFCCC, including the EU, as committed to in Paris, will have
to rapidly and substantially
raise the level of ambition of their NDC,
to ensure that the
temperature goals of the Paris Agreement will stay within reach.
The EU should, therefore, commit to
increase the EU GHG reduction target for 2030 to -55%
from 1990 levels and reach climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest, in line with the 1,5°C. A
strong commitment by the European Commission on climate paves the way to underpin the
European Green Deal to drive the in-depth transformation and bold measures needed across
all sectors of the economy.
It is both a challenge and a major opportunity to set the EU on a course towards an ambitious,
cost-effective and socially fair transition to a climate neutral economy that can bring benefits
for economic growth, employment, quality of life, public health, biodiversity, etc.
In order to reap these benefits, a just transition for all and support for citizens, businesses
and regions is needed. To achieve this goal, funding will be necessary to support the necessary
investments, e.g. in infrastructure, agriculture and forestry, zero emission vehicles, buildings
refurbishment, job training and the creation of new jobs, and to support innovation.
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These objectives are within reach if a set of ambitious policies are implemented at the EU
level. This requires appropriate measures that can drive the necessary change needed across
all sectors of the economy, i.e. elements such as a strengthened ETS, increasing the European
I vest e t Ba k’s EIB li ate a itio s as a top priority to pro ote additio al i vest e ts
in the energy and climate transition, a significantly more ambitious share of the new
Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for climate action in comparison to the current
period, supplemented with improved tracking of these expenditures and an effective
monitoring of effects and the achievement of the Climate Target set in the next MFF. These
initiatives, among others, will be an opportunity to modernise our economy and to create
growth and employment. To avoid these efforts being undermined, the EU must decide, as a
general principle, that the EU budget should not finance any policy that is not consistent with
the goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest. We need to further analyse
measures to avoid carbon leakage, such as a carbon border adjustment mechanism, and how
they can be made compatible with WTO rules.
We, therefore, invite the Commission to identify areas where further legislative proposals,
both strengthening existing instruments and covering possible gaps, could help Member
States substantially lower their emissions beyond the baseline of -45% that we have already
decided upon and to align all EU policies to the long-term objective of climate neutrality by
2050 at the latest, while ensuring a just transition for workers, communities and regions.
We count on the Commission to consider the above elements in the preparations of the
important upcoming meetings and look forward to cooperating with the Commission, other
institutions and all Member States to deliver together on the climate agenda Europe and the
world need.
Yours sincerely,
Dan Jørgensen
Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities of Denmark
Élisabeth Borne
Minister for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition of France
Juris Pū e
Minister of environmental protection and regional development of Latvia
Carole Dieschbourg
Minister for the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development of Luxembourg
Eric Wiebes
Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy of the Netherlands
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João Pedro Matos Fernandes
Minister of Environment and Energy Transition of Portugal
Teresa Ribera
Minister for the Ecological Transition of Spain
Isabella Lövin
Minister for Environment and Climate, and Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden
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-- AKT 5748215 -- BILAG 14 -- [ Joint letter - Call for a transition to a fleet of zero-emission passenger cars ] --
Call for a transition to a fleet of zero-emission passenger cars
Joint letter to Mr. Frans Timmermans
Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal
CC: Ms.
Adina Vălean
Commissioner for Transport
Dear Mr. Timmermans,
Congratulations on your new position as Executive Vice-President for the European Commission.
We wish the best for a successful mandate.
One very important project for the new Commission is to lay the foundation for the transition to a
climate neutral EU by 2050 at the latest. In this regard, we need a clear direction towards climate
neutrality for all sectors of the economy. The transport sector plays a crucial role in this respect.
Passenger cars
account for around 12 percent of EU’s total CO
2
-emissions, and transport is the only
major sector in the EU where greenhouse gas emissions are still increasing. It is important that CO
2
-
emissions are limited across the European economy and that the transition towards zero-emission
transport is accelerated. The uptake of zero-emission passenger cars needs to accelerate dramati-
cally in the EU over the coming years and decades.
The Commission’s analysis accompanying ‘A
Clean Planet for All’
demonstrates
that no new diesel
and petrol cars should be sold after 2040 in the EU in order to reach climate neutrality in 2050. To
support the transition to climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest, we need targeted EU measures to
support an accelerated and balanced shift from petrol and diesel cars to a fleet of zero-emission
passenger cars creating predictability for the automotive industry.
Our long-term ambition to be climate neutral by 2050 at the latest must be the guiding principle in
revising existing regulation towards 2030 as well as for introducing new additional measures. The
transition requires EU measures as the most effective way to drive a technology shift to zero-emis-
sion mobility and cut emissions without distorting competition.
Furthermore, we should ensure that EU legislation allows Member States to take further action na-
tionally. Many Member States have enacted policies, fiscal and otherwise, that provide incentives
for the uptake of zero-emission passenger cars. In addition, several Member States have already
announced plans for the phasing out of new petrol and diesel cars. However, important legislation,
currently deployed and significant in meeting other Union objectives, might currently limit the ability
of Member States to speed up the phase-out of petrol and diesel cars.
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We welcome that, during your hearing in the European Parliament on 8 October, you emphasised
the need to take further action with regard to the decarbonisation of the transport sector. We wel-
come the incoming Commission’s European Green Deal and we look forward to concrete measures
for the transport sector, such as the coming strategy for sustainable and smart mobility.
Towards this purpose, we
the undersigning Member States
call on the Commission to present a
concrete plan with proposals for policy initiatives and incentives for the transition to a fleet of zero-
emission passenger cars to support the EU in reaching climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest, in the
context of a wider strategy for sustainable and smart mobility.
Advancing the work on developing a suitable EU framework for the transition to zero emission pas-
senger cars should identify and address potential barriers and examine possible measures to im-
prove the conditions for a cost-effective phase-out of new petrol and diesel passenger cars, support-
ing the transition to climate neutrality in road transport in the EU, including:
Alignment of Single Market rules, i.e. EU policies and regulations must facilitate and not
impede the phasing out of inter alia new petrol and diesel cars
Strengthened CO
2
-standards
Deployment of supporting infrastructure such as charging infrastructure
Supporting battery and fuel cell technology
Development of sustainable renewable fuels
Low-emission zones
Setting a clear and unambiguous objective for a phase-out provides predictability for the automotive
sector to initiate the transition towards fully zero emission mobility as early as possible. The EU must
stay competitive and be able to cater for the mobility needs of people and goods. Dialogue with the
industry is crucial to encourage manufacturers to offer zero-emission passenger cars for mass con-
sumption at affordable prices for users. Notwithstanding the opportunities that a transition to zero-
emission mobility presents, a plan should consider the impact on the industry and take full advantage
of the potential to become world leading in the production of zero-emission passenger cars, strength-
ening EU industries competitiveness globally. The development of technology for zero-emission pas-
senger cars could also support decarbonisation of the entire transport sector.
A plan should also consider measures taking account of regions that could be negatively affected by
the increase in the supply of used vehicles previously registered in another EU Member State. This
calls for discussions and solutions that will facilitate the transition to zero-emission mobility through-
out the European Union, rather than their migration from one EU country to another.
We count on the Commission to consider the above elements in the preparations of the new work
programme and the European Green Deal and look forward to cooperating with the Commission,
other institutions and all Member States to deliver together on the climate agenda in Europe.
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Yours sincerely,
Dan Jørgensen
Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities of Denmark
Benny Engelbrecht
Minister for Transport of Denmark
Shane Ross
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport of Ireland
Richard Bruton
Minister of Communications, Climate Action & Environment of Ireland
Carole Dieschbourg
Luxembourg Minister for the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development
Stientje van Veldhoven-van der Meer
Minister for the Environment and Housing of the Netherlands
Juris Pūce
Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development of Latvia
João Pedro Matos Fernandes
Minister of Environment and Climate Action of Portugal
Simon Zajc
Minister for the Environment and Spatial Planning of Slovenia
Isabella Lövin
Minister for Environment and Climate, and Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden
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-- AKT 5748215 -- BILAG 15 -- [ Welcome letter to Kyriakides ] --
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-- AKT 5748215 -- BILAG 16 -- [ Welcome letter to Dalli ] --
Commissioner for Equality
Ms. Helena Dalli
3
rd
of December 2019
Dear Helena Dalli,
I would like to congratulate you on receiving your official appointment as Commis-
sioner for Equality. I look forward to our future cooperation in this important area.
Gender equality is one of the common and fundamental principles of the European
Union and ensuring the protection of, and respect for the full enjoyment of all hu-
man rights continues to be of utmost importance.
The year 2020 marks an important moment
for gender equality and women’s
rights, with the international celebration of the 25
th
anniversary of the Beijing Dec-
laration and Platform for Action. Much has been achieved, but we still need to pro-
mote gender equality at national and at EU level.
A priority for the coming years would be to ensure an ambitious European Gender
Strategy to address areas where women still face barriers. The strategy could target
important areas like the fight against violence against women, including the ratifi-
cation of the Istanbul convention.
In addition, I find it important to develop initiatives to include and activate youth
in the gender equality arena. Focus should be to listen and facilitate a platform for
their voices on main concerns and obstacles, including digital harassment and the
lack of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
Regrettably, I see that the gender equality agenda in some countries is experienc-
ing a backlash. Therefore, it is important that we defend and strengthen the funda-
mental values of the European Union. The worst
example is women’s sexual and
reproductive health and rights, which are under pressure. Denmark will continue
to stand firm to uphold these rights. Denmark will also continue to support the ad-
vancement of the human rights of LGBTI people in the European Union.
Denmark supports the implementation of LGBTI as an independent policy area
mirroring the status of gender equality in the European Union. Realizing the diffi-
cult task in negotiating a standalone strategy on LGBTI in the years to come, Den-
mark could support the Commission's efforts to advance human rights through an
ambitious strategic list of actions.
Ministry of the Environment and Food
Slotsholmsgade 12
1216 Copenhagen K Denmark
Phone 38 14 21 42
Fax 33 14 50 42
• CVR
12854358
• EAN
5798000862005
[email protected]
www.mfvm.dk
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I would also like to praise the survey conducted by the EU Fundamental Rights
Agency on LGBTI people's experience with discrimination and violence and en-
courage the Commission to ensure that the survey will be repeated in the future.
I hope to meet you in Brussels soon for a first exchange of views. In the meantime,
I wish you very good luck with your new job.
Yours sincerely,
Mogens Jensen
2
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-- AKT 5748215 -- BILAG 17 -- [ Welcome letter to Sinkevicius ] --
Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries
Mr. Virginijus Sinkevičius
3
rd
of December 2019
Dear
Virginijus Sinkevičius,
First of all, I would like to congratulate you on receiving your official appointment
as Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries. I am sure that your new
post will be both challenging and fulfilling, and I very much look forward to our
future cooperation.
With respect to fisheries, we have many challenges in the coming years.
It is very important to ensure a sustainable fishery within the framework of the
Common Fisheries Policy. We need to cooperate closely within the EU, but also
with our neighboring countries in that respect. Therefore, it will be of utmost im-
portance to maintain a close cooperation on fisheries with the United Kingdom
after Brexit. For Denmark, Brexit could have significant consequences with respect
to fisheries. I am grateful for the good and close cooperation between our officials,
and I hope that we can continue the dialogue as well.
If we are to ensure a sustainable fishery, good and reliable data for the scientific
advice is essential. Electronic monitoring would be a cost-efficient tool in that re-
spect. Furthermore, it could improve monitoring and control of the landing obliga-
tion. Therefore, we would welcome a long term plan from the Commission on how
to ensure a broad European implementation of electronic monitoring thus creating
a level playing field.
We managed to reach an agreement on fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea for
2020 in October 2019. 2020 will be challenging for many fishermen in the Baltic
Sea in the coming years. More stocks are in a delicate situation and need protec-
tion. In that respect, there is also a need in the future to take into account other
factors having an impact on the stock situation such as seals and pollution.
With respect to the yearly negotiations on fishing opportunities for 2020 in the
North Sea and with Norway, it is fundamental that the EU-Norway negotiations
are concluded before the end of the year. We hope that we reach a sustainable and
balanced agreement at the Council (Agriculture and Fisheries) in December this
year.
Ministry of the Environment and Food
Slotsholmsgade 12
1216 Copenhagen K Denmark
Phone 38 14 21 42
Fax 33 14 50 42
• CVR
12854358
• EAN
5798000862005
[email protected]
www.mfvm.dk
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I look forward to meeting you as soon as possible for a first exchange of views on
these topics. In the meantime, I wish you very good luck with your new job and
with all the work ahead of you.
Yours sincerely,
Mogens Jensen
2
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-- AKT 5748215 -- BILAG 18 -- [ Welcome letter to Wojciechowski ] --
Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development
Mr. Janusz Wojciechowski
3
rd
of December 2019
Dear Janusz Wojciechowski,
First of all I would like to congratulate you on your appointment as Commissioner
for Agriculture and Rural Development. I look very much forward to our future
cooperation.
My government has set an ambitious target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by
70 percent in 2030 compared to 1990 levels. The incoming Commission has also
proposed increased ambitions for the EU, and I am sure that we agree that agricul-
ture has a key role to play in the green transition which is not only about climate
change, but also about improved water quality and biodiversity.
I hope that you will be open to consider new ideas on how the Common Agricul-
tural Policy can contribute to the green transition in order to move on from busi-
ness as usual. I believe that all farmers
big and small
should contribute and
therefore the Common Agricultural Policy should incentivize all farmers to partici-
pate in the green transition. To begin with the fundamentals, we need to ensure
that our criteria for granting direct income support do not incentivize farmers to
remove green biotopes. Instead, we should allow farmers to leave parts of their
fields untouched to the benefit of biodiversity and accept that farmers can rewet
their fields as part of climate action without losing income support. To ensure a
greener Common Agricultural Policy we must also allow for compensation through
eco-schemes (direct payments) when requirements affect farmers differently in
relation to the climate change or environment, e.g. the Water Framework Di-
rective, the Natura 2000 Directives and the NEC directive and the pesticides regu-
lation. Today it is only possible to use rural development support in relation to the
Water Framework Directive, the Natura 2000 Directives.
Furthermore, I hope that you will continue to build on the market- and export-
orientation
of the Common Agricultural Policy which has contributed to the EU’s
global success in relation to agri-food exports. All farmers big and small should be
treated equally taking into account the very different farm structures in the Mem-
ber States. To continue the market-orientation, it is important that market-
distorting coupled support is limited as much as possible in the next reform.
Denmark strongly supports the results-oriented approach of the coming Common
Agricultural Policy, and we look forward to the implementation phase. Transpar-
ency in the implementation process of the Member States is important. I expect
Ministry of the Environment and Food
Slotsholmsgade 12
1216 Copenhagen K Denmark
Phone 38 14 21 42
Fax 33 14 50 42
• CVR
12854358
• EAN
5798000862005
[email protected]
www.mfvm.dk
EUU, Alm.del - 2019-20 - Endeligt svar på spørgsmål 131: Spm. om oversendelse af liste over forslag og indspil, som regeringen har sendt til Kommissionens arbejdsprogram, til udenrigsministeren
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the Commission
as the approver of the strategic plans
to provide for a level
playing field that ensures the communality of the Common Agricultural Policy.
Finally, I hope that you will also be an important voice for animal welfare in the
future. I believe that animal welfare should be an integral part of the Farm-to-Fork
strategy, and I hope that you will actively support new animal welfare legislation,
for example to set a limit for the transportation of animals at 8 hours. Along the
same line, I hope that you will also work for ambitious common ceilings for antibi-
otic use for all Member States, in order to fight the growing challenge of antimi-
crobial resistance.
I look forward to meet you for a first exchange of views on some of the abovemen-
tioned topics. In the meantime, I wish you very good luck with your new job and
with all the work ahead of you.
Yours sincerely,
Mogens Jensen
2
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-- AKT 5748215 -- BILAG 19 -- [ Welcome letter to Timmermanns ] --
Executive Vice-President of the European Commission
Mr. Frans Timmermans
3
rd
of December 2019
Dear Frans Timmermans,
We would like to congratulate you on receiving your formal appointment as Execu-
tive Vice-President of the European Commission. We are sure that your new post
will be both challenging and rewarding and we look forward to cooperating with
you in the years to come.
First of all, we have high expectations to the European Green Deal and hope that it
will set a strong green agenda for the next five years. Especially when it comes to
biodiversity, we need to act.
Therefore, we also welcome that the European Green Deal to include a new Biodi-
versity Strategy setting ambitious political objectives that will enable the European
Union to take global leadership up to and during COP15 of the UN Convention on
Biodiversity in China in October 2020. The strategy should provide a cornerstone
in the development of EU policies on biodiversity post 2020 of which implementa-
tion of the Nature Directives will be an essential element. In this context, it is very
important that the European Union delivers on the challenges in relation to defor-
estation and ensure sustainable supply chains for food and feed.
We hope that you will be open to consider new ideas on how the Common Agricul-
tural Policy can contribute to the green transition in order to move on from busi-
ness as usual. We believe that all farmers
big and small
should contribute and
therefore the Common Agricultural Policy should incentivize all farmers to partici-
pate in the green transition. To begin with the fundamentals, we need to ensure
that our criteria for granting direct income support do not incentivize farmers to
remove green biotopes. Instead, we should allow farmers to leave parts of their
fields untouched to the benefit of biodiversity and accept that farmers can rewet
their fields as part of climate action without losing income support. To ensure a
greener Common Agricultural Policy we must also allow for compensation through
eco-schemes (direct payments) when requirements affect farmers differently in
relation to the climate change or environment, e.g. the Water Framework Di-
rective, the Natura 2000 Directives and the NEC directive and the pesticides regu-
lation. Today it is only possible to use rural development support in relation to the
Water Framework Directive, the Natura 2000 Directives.
Furthermore, we look forward to the
Commission’s
Farm to Fork Strategy as part
of the European Green Deal. The necessity of a sustainable food system is evident.
Ministry of Environment and Food
Slotsholmsgade 12
1216 Copenhagen K Denmark
Phone +45 38 14 21 42
Fax +45 33 14 50 42
• CVR
12854358
• EAN
5798000862005
[email protected]
www.mfvm.dk
EUU, Alm.del - 2019-20 - Endeligt svar på spørgsmål 131: Spm. om oversendelse af liste over forslag og indspil, som regeringen har sendt til Kommissionens arbejdsprogram, til udenrigsministeren
2221981_0070.png
The Danish Government is committed to deliver on the green transition, and we
urge you to take a holistic approach addressing the necessary changes. A bold sug-
gestion would be to use this occasion to take action against antimicrobial re-
sistance by setting clear and ambitious ceilings for all Member States. The strategy
must also take into account the issue of animal welfare. We hope that it will lead to
a new European animal welfare law to ensure better welfare for animals and a level
playing field for farmers in all Member States.
A New Circular Economy Action Plan should also be high on the agenda as part of
the European Green Deal. We expect that it will follow up on the ambitious line
already put forward to minimise the environmental impacts of plastic and plastic
products by addressing other materials with a large environmental footprint as
textiles and buildings. There is also a clear need to deal with the issue of plastic
waste being exported to developing countries. The Circular Economy Action Plan
should also deliver on the commitment to develop a more coherent and legal
framework for sustainable production and consumption as already agreed in the
7
th
Environment Action Programme.
The zero-pollution strategy as part of the European Green Deal should focus on
air, water and problematic chemicals. We would encourage you to develop a new
Sustainable Chemicals Policy that should not only ensure coherence among the
various pieces of chemicals legislation but also support the new Circular Economy
Action Plan and ultimately deliver
into the new Commission’s zero-pollution
ambi-
tion.
We wish you good luck with your new job and the important tasks ahead of you.
Yours sincerely,
Lea Wermelin
Mogens Jensen
Minister for Environment
Minister for Food, Fisheries and Equal
Opportunities
2
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-- AKT 5748215 -- BILAG 20 -- [ Welcome letter to Sinkevicius ] --
Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries
Mr. Virginijus
Sinkevičius
4 December 2019
Dear Virginijus
Sinkevičius,
I would like to congratulate you on receiving your formal appointment as Commis-
sioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries. I am sure that your new post will be
both challenging and rewarding and I look forward to cooperating with you in the
years to come.
Allow me to highlight a few issues that I would encourage you to give a prominent
place on your agenda.
A New Circular Economy Action Plan should be high on your agenda. We expect
that it will follow up on the ambitious line already put forward to minimise the
environmental impacts of plastic and plastic products by addressing other materi-
als with a large environmental footprint as textiles and buildings. There is also a
clear need to deal with the issue of plastic waste being exported to developing
countries. The Circular Economy Action Plan should also deliver on the commit-
ment to develop a more coherent and legal framework for sustainable production
and consumption as already agreed in the 7
th
Environment Action Programme. We
also see room for strengthening the circular economy through a revision of the
batteries directive and the waste shipment regulation.
The zero-pollution strategy should focus on air, water and problematic chemicals.
Following up on the Council Conclusions of June 2019 on chemicals, I would have
expected the Commission to deliver a non-toxic environment strategy as requested
in the 7
th
Environment Action Programme. In any case, I would encourage you to
develop a new Sustainable Chemicals Policy that should not only ensure coherence
among the various pieces of chemicals legislation but also support the new Circu-
lar Economy Action Plan and ultimately deliver into the new
Commission’s
zero-
pollution ambition.
I would also welcome a new Biodiversity Strategy setting ambitious political objec-
tives that will enable the European Union to take global leadership up to and dur-
ing COP15 of the UN Convention on Biodiversity in China in October 2020. The
strategy should provide a cornerstone in the development of EU policies on biodi-
versity post 2020 of which implementation of the Nature Directives will be an
essential element. In this context, it is very important that the European Union
delivers on the challenges in relation to deforestation and ensure sustainable sup-
ply chains for food and feed.
Ministry of Environment and Food
Slotsholmsgade 12
1216 Copenhagen K Denmark
Phone +45 38 14 21 42
Fax +45 33 14 50 42
CVR 12854358
• EAN
5798000862005
[email protected]
www.mfvm.dk
EUU, Alm.del - 2019-20 - Endeligt svar på spørgsmål 131: Spm. om oversendelse af liste over forslag og indspil, som regeringen har sendt til Kommissionens arbejdsprogram, til udenrigsministeren
2221981_0072.png
I hope that you will be open to consider new ideas on how the Common Agricul-
tural Policy can contribute to the green transition in order to move on from busi-
ness as usual. I believe that all farmers
big and small
should contribute and
therefore the Common Agricultural Policy should incentivize all farmers to partici-
pate in the green transition. To begin with the fundamentals, we need to ensure
that our criteria for granting direct income support do not incentivize farmers to
remove green biotopes. Instead, we should allow farmers to leave parts of their
fields untouched to the benefit of biodiversity and accept that farmers can rewet
their fields as part of climate action without losing income support. To ensure a
greener Common Agricultural Policy we must also allow for compensation through
eco-schemes (direct payments) when requirements affect farmers differently in
relation to the climate change or environment, e.g. the Water Framework Di-
rective, the Natura 2000 Directives and the NEC directive and the pesticides regu-
lation. Today it is only possible to use rural development support in relation to the
Water Framework Directive, the Natura 2000 Directives.
Since the current 7
th
Environment Action Programme ends by the end of 2020, I
would urge you to present, as soon as possible, a proposal for an ambitious 8
th
Environment Action Programme for 2021-2030. This was also called upon by the
Council in its conclusions from October 2019. The new programme should keep
the 2050 vision from the current programme and should be the environmental
pillar for implementation of the Agenda 2030 in the EU. I believe that the 8
th
Envi-
ronment Action Programme together with the Commission's European Green Deal
will ensure ambitious, green and efficient environmental policies for the next dec-
ade.
I look forward to meeting you as soon as possible for a first exchange of views on
these topics. In the meantime, I wish you good luck with your new job and the
important tasks ahead of you.
Yours sincerely,
Lea Wermelin
2
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-- AKT 5748215 -- BILAG 21 -- [ Lykønskningsbrev til den nye EU-kommissær for sundhed og fødevaresikkerhed St… --
Holbergsgade 6
DK-1057 Copenhagen K
P +45 7226 9000
F +45 7226 9001
M [email protected]
W sum.dk
Minister for Health and Senior Citizens
Date: 05-12-2019
Section: MEDINT
Case Officer: DEPANKH
Case: 1910357
Doc.: 1041988
Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides
Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
European Commission
1049 Bruxelles
Belgium
Dear Commissioner Kyriakides,
Please accept my warmest congratulations on your appointment as European
Commissioner for Health and Food Safety. I wish you every success in your new
position and I look forward to our collaboration.
Protecting and promoting public health is an important and sometimes challenging
task. In general, health systems in Europe are well functioning and we should be
proud of what we have achieved so far. However, we still face critical challenges that
we must address at European level.
We are looking into a future where antimicrobial resistance can have a major
negative impact on public health. The need to ensure a stable supply of affordable
medicines in Europe as well as the digital aspects of healthcare are also matters that
call for our immediate attention and action.
Therefore, I am pleased that these and other key issues, such as cancer prevention,
are among the priorities of the new European Commission.
I hope that we will get the opportunity to meet in connection to the EPSCO Council
meeting next week and to discuss future EU health policy priorities.
Yours sincerely,
Magnus Heunicke
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-- AKT 5748215 -- BILAG 22 -- [ Ministerens brev til Kyriakides - opfølgning på rådsmøde og bilateralt møde den 9. d… --
Holbergsgade 6
DK-1057 Copenhagen K
P +45 7226 9000
F +45 7226 9001
M [email protected]
W sum.dk
Minister for Health and Senior Citizens
Commissioner for Health and Food Safety
Stella Kyriakides
Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
European Commission
1049 Bruxelles
Belgium
Date: 06-01-2020
Section: MEDINT
Case Officer: DEPANKH
Case: 1911037
Doc.: 1065754
Dear Stella,
Thank you for a productive EPSCO Council meeting and a good bilateral discussion on
9 December.
It was a pleasure to meet you and I look forward to a good and constructive
collaboration. During our meeting, I promised to get back to you on some of the
issued that we discussed.
Medicines policy in the EU and supply of medicines
I found it very positive that you, both during the Council meeting and in our bilateral
meeting, emphasized the need to address challenges regarding access and supply of
medicines.
During the Council meeting, several Member States, including Denmark, expressed
support for the proposal from the Netherlands to develop an EU working agenda on
pharmaceutical policy addressing key priorities and concerns.
For Denmark, it is essential to have solid knowledge about both benefits and risks of
potential actions before we implement them. I would therefore like to repeat my call
for the Commission to carry out an in-depth analysis of the consequences of potential
actions to be taken as part of the proposed working agenda.
I look forward to seeing the Commission's proposal at the end of 2020 on how the EU
can contribute to ensuring better security of supply, better access and affordable
prices of medicines.
Antimicrobial resistance and ICARS
We also discussed AMR, a common priority for the Commission and Denmark. In this
regard, I appreciated our talk about the International Centre for Antimicrobial
Resistance Solutions (ICARS). It was very valuable to hear your thoughts on the
initiative. I fully agree with your point that international initiatives on AMR should not
overlap. I would therefore like to elaborate a bit on the potential role of ICARS in the
global effort against AMR.
ICARS has been established with the purpose of creating a research partnership that
can develop context-specific and cost-effective solutions needed to transform
national AMR policies into action in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
A lot has been done at international level to address the global threat of AMR, but we
still face a crucial gap between policy and action, especially in LMICs. ICARS will turn
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solution development upside down by putting LMICs in the driving seat when it
comes to identifying evidence-based solutions to AMR. Instead of conducting
programme driven and fundamental research, ICARS will conduct country-driven
implementation and intervention research defined by national political priorities. In
addition, ICARS will collaborate with local research communities within the individual
country to build capacity and ensure sustainability.
The solutions that ICARS will co-create with individual LMICs will be made available to
the global community and can feed into global political decision making, where
appropriate. ICARS will take a holistic One Health and interdisciplinary approach that
involves human, animal, environmental and social sciences as well as economics.
Altogether, this approach is currently taken by no other international organization
working to mitigate AMR.
I have attached some additional information in the form of a leaflet and a concept
note describing the idea, vision and mission of ICARS. I hope that we can continue our
discussions on AMR and ICARS and that the Commission will support us in the further
development of the initiative.
E-cigarettes and tobacco use
During our meeting, we discussed the challenge of e-cigarettes and you asked for
data showing the possible relation between the use of e-cigarettes and tobacco use
at a later point in life. A recent publication from the Danish Health Authority
highlights the question of e-cigarettes as a gateway to tobacco use with references to
different reports and studies. I have attached a list of references, which I hope you
will find useful.
I look forward to seeing you again and to continuing our constructive discussions on
these and other key health policy issues.
Yours sincerely,
Magnus Heunicke
Side 2
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-- AKT 5748215 -- BILAG 23 -- [ Fælles UM og EM brev til Hogan ] --
File no.
Department
2019-19685
Trade Policy
6 December 2019
Dear Commissioner Phil Hogan,
Please accept our congratulations on your appointment as Commissioner
for Trade. We are looking forward to cooperating closely with you on
priorities for a modern EU trade policy.
As global trade tensions are on the rise, defending rules-based
international trade and open markets is more important than ever. The
EU should use its leverage as a major trading block to counter the trend
of growing protectionism in both its bilateral and multilateral trade
negotiations while promoting an ambitious and fair trade policy with high
sustainability standards including on labour, climate, environment, and
ensuring the external competitiveness of the EU.
It is encouraging that the top priority of the incoming Commission is to
lead the reform of the multilateral trading system. The WTO is our best
defense against unilateralism and protectionism, our best guarantor of
stability in trade relations and our most efficient framework to help less
developed countries integrating into the world economy. The first priority
must be to solve the crisis in the Appellate Body and ensure an effective,
two-tier dispute resolution mechanism. The negotiating function of the
WTO also needs attention - with the goal being modern, effective and
enforceable rules capable of dealing with current challenges - including
unfair trade practices and climate change. We render you our full support
in the endeavors for a comprehensive reform agreement in WTO by 2022.
Our bilateral trade and investment agreements also remain crucial in
shaping globalization. The Commission has negotiated an impressive
number of modern and ambitious agreements in recent years. The latest
Eurobarometer survey showed an increasing and significant support for
these efforts, but also concerns for globalization, environment and health
standards. We must take these concerns seriously and ensure that
international trade and investment benefits all. A strong focus must
remain on delivering jobs, prosperity and opportunities for European
citizens, companies and consumers, while addressing issues that matter for
people such as sustainability, fairness and decent work.
The Commission and Denmark share a common agenda, when it comes
to climate action and environmental challenges. The Danish Government
has set an ambitious goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by
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2
2030, and we support the Commission in its efforts to transform Europe
into
the world’s first climate-neutral
continent by 2050. In order to meet
these goals, we believe that the EU’s trade policy must contribute to a
green and sustainable transition. We strongly support that all EU trade
agreements must contain a strong and dedicated chapter on sustainable
development, including strong provisions on the Paris Agreement,
deforestation and biodiversity. In parallel, we should strengthen efforts to
reduce or remove trade barriers on green products, technologies and
services in order to promote green solutions. We also look forward to
discussing in more detail the options for a Carbon Border Tax, fully
compliant with WTO rules.
Compliance and enforcement of trade agreements are important elements,
and we welcome
the Commission’s
decision to appoint a Chief
Enforcement Officer in DG Trade, who will closely monitor the
implementation of commitments on labour rights, climate and
environmental protection. We also agree that the EU’s
trade toolbox
should be utilized in order to enhance our ability to better respond to
unfair trade practices. However, measures must be facts-based. Our joint
ambition to achieve a level playing field must not result in protectionism
and hidden barriers for trade. In this regard, we need to ensure that the
negotiations on an International Procurement Instrument stay focused on
its original aim of opening up public procurement markets in third
countries. It should be a priority for the Commission to ensure that the
instrument works in practice, minimizing potential harmful effects of
limiting the European market hampering both competition and
innovation in the EU. Curbing unfair financing practices of third countries
is also required. We welcome
the Commission’s efforts to
engage main
players in order to preserve multilateralism in the field of official trade
finance.
Digitization is an increasingly important competitive parameter in
international trade. It can help increase participation of SMEs in global
value chains, including in developing countries, and ensure exchange of
industrial data across borders. The EU must take a leading role in the
plurilateral negotiations in the WTO to establish global rules for e-
commerce. Furthermore, our bilateral trade agreements with third
countries must contain ambitious provisions regarding cross-border data
flows, in order to address digital protectionism and to increase trust among
customers and businesses.
We wish you every success in your new role and stand ready to cooperate
closely with you to achieve our common objectives.
Yours sincerely,
Jeppe Kofod
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Simon Kollerup
Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs
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-- AKT 5748215 -- BILAG 28 -- [ Vera Jourova 061219 ] --
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-- AKT 5748215 -- BILAG 29 -- [ Underskrevet lykønskningsbrev Jutta Urpilainen-1 ] --
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-- AKT 5748215 -- BILAG 30 -- [ Bilag til besvarelse af EUU spm 131 - Lykønskningsbrev til den nye trans... ] --
THE MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT
Commissioner for Transport
Mrs Adina-Ioana Vălean
European Commission
Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 200
B – 1049 Brussels
Date
Our ref.
9. december 2019
2019-90
Ministry of Transport and Housing
Frederiksholms Kanal 27 F
DK-1220 Copenhagen K
Phone
+45 41 71 27 00
Dear Commissioner Vălean,
Please accept my warmest congratulations on your recent appointment as
Commissioner for Transport.
The European transport sector is of vital importance to the Danish government
and I hope that we, together with the other European member states and the
European Parliament, are able to set ambitious goals that will ensure a better,
greener and cleaner transport sector for the European citizens.
I look forward to working together with you and your staff in reaching these
goals and that we together can improve and develop the transportation sector
within the European Union.
I would like to wish you the best of luck in your new position as Commissioner
of Transport and I look forward to meeting you in the nearest future, where we
will have the opportunity to discuss these goals and other important policy
matters on the European transport agenda.
Yours sincerely,
Benny Engelbrecht
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-- AKT 5748215 -- BILAG 31 -- [ M-brev til Kommissær Breton ] --
Minister for Higher Education and Science
Thierry Breton
Commissioner for Internal Market
European Commission
Dear Commissioner Thierry Breton
Please accept my warmest congratulations on your appointment as Commissioner
for Internal Market and Services and in that capacity responsible for Space.
Denmark strongly supports the European cooperation on space matters based
primarily on Copernicus and Galileo/EGNOS. The new integrated EU Space
Programme will provide an excellent outset for further work in this area.
The EU should continue to reap the benefits from our large investments in
Copernicus, Galileo and EGNOS, by reaching out to the user communities and
industrial capacities. Space plays a key role in a number of important policy areas,
in particular environmental and climate action.
We are approaching a full operational era of European space infrastructure. Now,
the challenge is to fully capitalise from our activities in space while also preparing
for the next generation of European Space infrastructure. We need to explore user
needs and to keep developing relevant services. In different areas of society, there
is great potential in integrating space based solutions, thereby disrupting
traditional business models.
A way to leap forward is to support the evolution of ecosystems and create
platforms for multi-stakeholder collaboration. This goes for the use of all services
based on space components
navigation, observation and communication.
In the proposal for the new EU Space Programme, we have agreed on an
objective to implement measures for mitigating space debris within EU space
activities. With this commitment, the EU demonstrates ambition and leadership. I
strongly support that EU takes action and raise our strategic ambitions, in order for
sustainability to become a natural part of the European space policy
In the end, the consequence of not taking action on issues such as space debris
mitigation might be the inability to use important orbits in space. This will have a
deep negative impact for all of us. In this respect, the EU has a unique chance to
show the worldwide space community how to act in a sustainable and responsible
way in space.
Ministry of Higher Education and
Science Denmark
Børsgade 4
P.O. Box 2135
1260 Copenhagen K
Denmark
Phone +45 3392 9700
[email protected]
www.ufm.dk/en
CVR no. 1680 5408
Ref. no.
$dossier_documentnumber$
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2016 saw the introduction of Denmark’s first ever Space Law (the Outer Space
Act) which was followed up by an Executive Order on the requirements in
connection with approval of activities in outer space. Denmark is fully prepared
and ready for further actions in this area.
I look forward to working actively with you and the new Commission with the aim
of creating a prosperous and competitive European space sector that contributes
to green transition and sustainability.
Yours sincerely
Ministry of Higher Education
and Science Denmark
Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen
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-- AKT 5748215 -- BILAG 32 -- [ M-brev til Kommissær Gabriel ] --
Minister for Higher Education and Science
Mariya Gabriel
Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth
European Commission
Dear Commissioner Mariya Gabriel
Please accept my warmest congratulations on your appointment as Commissioner
for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth.
The main challenge that our societies face in the coming years is addressing
climate change. Our education, research and innovation systems are of critical
importance in order to address the challenges, and create a more sustainable and
prosperous EU.
The EU has a global position in the area of green and sustainable solutions that
can strengthen our competitiveness, and at the same time contribute to fulfilling
the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals.
A green Horizon Europe
Ambitious investments in green research and innovation are crucial for reaching
the EU's climate target, and both the current and the next EU-framework
programme for research and innovation, Horizon Europe are central to this.
Horizon Europe rightly reflects the urgency of solving the grave climate related
challenge. The Danish Government has high expectations to the European Green
Deal and hope that it will set a strong green agenda for the next five years.
Nationally, we have committed ourselves to a target of reducing greenhouse gas
emissions with 70 percent by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels).
We meet our 3 percent objective in terms of research and innovation investments,
including 1 percent from the public sector. Within this budget, the Government will
invest additional 1 billion Danish kroner - around 134 million euros
next year on
green research and innovation compared to what we invest today.
Arctic research and innovation
In order to address climate change, we must pay particular attention to research
and innovation
related to the Arctic. This is an overarching European interest and
a crucial focus area, not only to counter local climate developments, but because
the Arctic region is an indicator of global climate change. Horizon Europe should
have a strong focus on Arctic research and innovation
both in relation to
Ministry of Higher Education and
Science Denmark
Børsgade 4
P.O. Box 2135
1260 Copenhagen K
Denmark
Phone +45 3392 9700
[email protected]
www.ufm.dk/en
CVR no. 1680 5408
Ref. no.
87030
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mitigating climate changes, exploitation of natural resources in a sustainable way,
and connectivity, monitoring and infrastructure.
Stronger links between higher education, research and innovation
It was with great pleasure that I learned about your portfolio covering both
education, research and innovation. This gives you a unique opportunity to create
stronger links and synergies between these closely related policy areas. Creating
closer ties between Horizon Europe and the next Erasmus+ programme is
instrumental in this regard.
The new European Universities initiative brings a burning platform to both
reinvigorate European cooperation in Higher Education as well as truly bring
elements from both Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe together in one initiative. The
European Universities can hopefully lead to increased quality, excellence and
international competitiveness for European higher education and research
institutions, and I look forward to collaborating with you to bring these ambitions
into reality.
High quality education with Erasmus+
The Erasmus+ programme has never been more important than now, and there
are high expectations for what the programme should accomplish. The next
programme should build on past successes, but be more accessible and simple
with reduced bureaucratic procedures.
Erasmus+ should increase the quality and international outlook of European
Education systems by fostering mobility and cooperation not just within Europe but
also beyond.
Within Erasmus+, we should focus on initiatives that bring EU added value, and
contribute to high quality education. This is not the case for DiscoverEU which is
an idea that should be abandoned.
I look very much forward to working actively with you and the new Commission
with the aim of creating a prosperous and integrated European Research Area
and European Education Area that will help preparing Europe for the next decade.
Yours sincerely
Ministry of Higher Education
and Science Denmark
Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen
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