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C 491/2

EN

Official Journal of the European Union
23.12.2022

We welcome the results of the Conference on the Future of Europe 1, which was an inspiring and successful experiment in deliberative democracy. To respond to citizens expectations, the institutions will continue to ensure swift and effective follow-up to the recommendations made by the Conference, each within their own sphere of competence. Many Conference proposals have been reflected in the Commission work programme for 2023 and we jointly commit to giving them close attention.

With this Joint Declaration, we highlight the key legislative proposals 2 to which our three institutions will commit their best efforts. Delivery on these priorities will be all the more important in view of the 2024 European elections, when citizens will assess how the EU has responded to its current challenges. This concerns both the legislative proposals already with the co-legislators, and those that the European Commission will have put forward by the end of 2023. The three institutions agree to give the utmost priority in 2023 and until the end of the parliamentary term in 2024 to the following policy objectives:

1. To deliver the European Green Deal with its goal of climate neutrality by 2050 despite adverse geopolitical circumstances, we will work to accelerate the green and just transition as a key part of the solution to energy security and the high energy prices, as well as to food security concerns. We will act to swiftly conclude work on the Fit for 55
package to achieve our 2030 reduction targets, coupled with an enhanced ambition to achieve the REPowerEU
objectives of phasing out dependence on Russian fossil fuels and boosting renewable energy in Europe. We will prioritise the overhaul of the EU electricity market, the kick-start of the EU hydrogen market and a faster roll-out of renewables. We will give attention to restoring and protecting biodiversity; soil health; curbing water, air and microplastics pollution, and tackling environmental crime. Aiming to build a circular economy, we will strive to deliver on the right to repair, sustainable product design, tackling packaging waste, and making sure consumers have the right information about green claims. We will act on further climate measures, notably on transport emissions and pollution, greening freight transport as well as on carbon removal certification. We will give priority to reducing waste and its environmental impact.

2. To achieve the digital transition and enhance the EUs resilience, we will focus on reducing the resource use and the environmental and climate impact, enhancing Europes lead in pioneering technologies, our security of supply, competitiveness and resilience, supporting the relevant digital skills, and pursuing a human-centric approach. We will focus our attention on pending proposals on artificial intelligence, data access and use, cyber resilience and cybersecurity, and the reinforcement of our defence industry. To ensure an adequate and diversified supply for the twin transition, we will prioritise measures on critical raw materials and rare earths, as well as semiconductors. To encourage innovative technologies, we will act on the regulatory framework for hyperloop, the new radio spectrum policy programme and secure space-based communication. We will act on the common European mobility data space. We will strengthen the single market, one of our major assets, including by working on the Single Market Emergency Instrument and on improving conditions in platform work. We will also work towards new efficient patent rules and support SMEs in difficult times, including through revised rules on late payments.

3. On the economy that works for people, we will increase efforts to boost competitiveness, secure growth and create employment opportunities for European citizens. We will focus in particular on young people and the development of relevant skills. We will remove the obstacles and burdens holding back our small companies. We will act to put forward an SME Relief package and to support and relieve businesses, including through easier access to capital and data, fast and innovative payment solutions, and streamlined rules on insolvency. We will continue prioritising the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the Porto Summit declaration, and take further measures to ensure that the social dimension is taken into consideration in all our actions, including the right to disconnect and the elimination of the gender pay gap. We will work towards a swift agreement on the coordination of social security systems to support labour mobility, as well as on deposit insurance, sustainable corporate governance, anti-money laundering, and on a ban on products made with forced labour. We will give due attention to the review of the EUs economic governance to ensure it functions to support the EU and Member State economies and work to strengthen the capital markets and the role of the euro, including the digital euro, and complete the banking union. We will endeavour to achieve progress on the global tax reform. To support sustainable development globally, we will work towards swift agreement on the generalised scheme of tariff preferences, and a reformed customs code.
1 Conference on the Future of Europe Report on the final outcome, available at https futureu.europa.eu/en/pages/reporting 2 Under the Ordinary Legislative Procedure.