COMMISSION 2022 WORK PROGRAMME
On 19 October, the European Commission published its 2022 Work Programme, setting out a list of legislative and non-legislative actions planned for the next year. Titled Making Europe Stronger Together, the work programme consists of six priorities, including the ‘European Green Deal’, ‘A Europe Fit for the Digital Age’ and ‘An Economy that Works for People’.
Following the Fit for 55 Package presented in July 2021, the Commission intends to propose another series of climate measures in accordance with the European Green Deal and the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy: a proposal for a legislative framework for the harmonised measurement of transport and logistics emissions and the revision of CO2 emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles are scheduled for adoption by the Commission in Q4 2022. The Fit for 55 initiatives are listed as ‘priority pending proposals’, meaning that the Commission calls on the Council and the European Parliament to swiftly reach agreements on these files, in order to meet the EU’s objective of 55% emission reductions by 2030.
In the area of rail transport, REFIT initiatives include the revision of the Directive on the certification of train drivers operating locomotives and trains on the railway system in the Community will be addressed, whilst priority pending proposals will be addressed in the aviation sector, including, inter alia, the proposal for a Regulation on the implementation of the Single European Sky II+, and the revision of the EU Slots Regulation.
In the area of digitalisation, priority pending proposals include the revision of the NIS Directive (NIS2), the Artificial Intelligence Act, the Data Governance Act, the Digital Markets Act, as well as the establishment of a framework for a European Digital Identity.
In the area of customs and indirect taxation, the Commission will prioritise the revision of the Union Customs Code (UCC), which will be based on the currently ongoing interim evaluation of its legislative and IT frameworks. Additionally, the revision of the VAT Directive and the Council Regulation on VAT administrative cooperation will aim to modernise the current VAT rules, taking into account the opportunities offered by digital technologies. Under the priority pending proposals, the Commission will also focus on the proposals for EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and EU Single Window Environment for Customs.