Commission Decision

Deċiżjoni tal-Kummissjoni

of 31 May 2007

tal- 31 ta’ Mejju 2007

amending Decision 2004/20/EC in order to transform the "Intelligent Energy Executive Agency" into the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation

li temenda d-Deċiżjoni 2004/20/KE sabiex tittrasforma "L-Aġenzija Eżekuttiva għall-Enerġija Intelliġenti" f’Aġenzija Eżekuttiva għall-Kompetittività u l-Innovazzjoni

(2007/372/EC)

(2007/372/KE)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

IL-KUMMISSJONI TAL-KOMUNITAJIET EWROPEA,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Wara li kkunsidrat it-Trattat li jistabbilixxi l-Komunità Ewropea,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 58/2003 of 19 December 2002 laying down the statute for executive agencies to be entrusted with certain tasks in the management of Community programmes [1],

Wara li kkunsidrat ir-Regolament tal-Kunsill (KE) Nru 58/2003 tad- 19 ta’ Diċembru 2002 li jfassal l-istatut għall-aġenziji eżekuttivi li jridu jiġu fdati b’ċerti kompiti fit-tmexxija tal-programmi tal-Komunità [1],

Whereas:

Billi:

(1) In the framework of the Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs, the Community has taken a number of measures aimed at promoting and developing competitiveness and innovation in order to contribute to growth and to make Europe a more attractive place to invest and work.

(1) Fil-qafas ta’ l-istrateġija ta’ Liżbona għat-tkabbir u l-impjiegi, il-Komunità ħadet numru ta’ miżuri mmirati li jippromwovu u jiżviluppaw il-kompetittività u l-innovazzjoni sabiex jikkontribwixxu għat-tkabbir u biex jagħmlu lill-Ewropa post aktar attraenti għall-investiment u x-xogħol.

(2) Those measures include Decision No 1639/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 2006 establishing a Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (2007 to 2013) [2]. The objectives of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (hereinafter referred to as CIP) are to foster the competitiveness of enterprises, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (hereinafter referred to as SMEs), to promote all forms of innovation, including eco-innovation, to accelerate the development of an information society and to promote energy efficiency and new and renewable energy sources. Those objectives are to be pursued through the implementation of the following specific programmes: the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme, the Information and Communications Technology policy support Programme and the Intelligent Energy — Europe Programme.

(2) Dawk il-miżuri jinkludu Deċiżjoni Nru 1639/2006/KE tal-Parlament Ewropew u tal-Kunsill ta’ l- 24 ta’ Ottubru 2006 li tistabbilixxi Programm Kwadru għall-Kompetittività u l-Innovazzjoni (2007 sa 2013) [2]. L-għanijiet tal-Programm Kwadru għall-Kompetittività u l-Innovazzjoni (minn issa ‘l quddiem imsejjaħ bħala s-"CIP") huma li jrawmu l-kompetittività fl-intrapriżi, b’mod partikolari intrapriżi żgħar u ta’ daqs medju (minn issa ‘l quddiem imsejħa "SMEs"), biex jippromwovu l-forom kollha ta’ innovazzjoni, inkluż eko-innovazzjoni, biex jiġi aċċelerat l-iżvilupp ta’ soċjetà ta’ l-informazzjoni u biex tiġi promossa l-effiċjenza ta’ l-enerġija u sorsi ta’ enerġija ġodda u rinnovabbli. Dawn l-għanijiet għandhom jiġu segwiti permezz ta’ l-implimentazzjoni tal-programmi speċifiċi li ġejjin: il-Programm ta’ Imprenditorjat u Innovazzjoni, il-Programm għall-appoġġ tal-politika tat-Teknoloġija ta’ l-Informazzjoni u l-Informazzjoni u l-Programm Ewropa - Enerġija Intelliġenti

(3) The measures taken in the framework of the Lisbon strategy also include Regulation (EC) No 1692/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 2006 establishing the second Marco Polo programme for the granting of Community financial assistance to improve the environmental performance of the freight transport system (Marco Polo II) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1382/2003 [3]. The objectives of Marco Polo II are to reduce congestion, improve the environmental performance of the transport system and to enhance inter-modal transport, thereby contributing to efficient and sustainable transport systems and to competitiveness and innovation, especially of SMEs, within the Community.

(3) Dawn il-miżuri li ttieħdu fil-qafas ta’ l-istrateġija ta’ Liżbona jinkludu wkoll ir-Regolament (KE) Nru 1692/2006 tal-Parlament Ewropew u tal-Kunsill ta’ l- 24 ta’ Ottubru 2006 li jistabbilixxi t-tieni programm Marco Polo għall-għoti ta’ l-għajnuna finanzjarja tal-Komunità sabiex jittejjeb ir-rendiment ambjentali tas-sistema tat-trasport tal-merkanzija (Marco Polo II) [3] u li jħassar r-Regolament (KE) Nru 1382/2003. L-għanijiet tal-Marco Polo II huma li titnaqqas il-konġestjoni, jittejjeb ir-rendiment ambjentali lis-sistema tat-trasport u biex jittejjeb it-trasport inter-modali, b’hekk jingħata kontribut lis-sistemi ta’ trasport effiċjenti u sostenibbli u lill-kompetittività u l-innovazzjoni, speċjalment l-SMEs, fi ħdan il-Komunità.

(4) The Intelligent Energy Executive Agency (hereinafter referred to as the IEEA) was set up by Commission Decision 2004/20/EC [4], to manage the Community action in the field of energy carried out in the framework of the Intelligent Energy — Europe Programme 2003-2006 (hereinafter referred to as the IEE Programme 2003-2006) adopted by Decision No 1230/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council [5]. Decision 2004/20/EC provides for the IEEA to carry out its functions until 31 December 2008 in order to execute contracts and grants signed under the 2003-2006 IEE programme.

(4) L-Aġenzija Eżekuttiva għall-Enerġija Intelliġenti (minn issa ‘l quddiem imsejħa l-"IEEA") twaqqfet bid-Deċiżjoni tal-Kummissjoni 2004/20/KE [4], biex timmaniġġja l-azzjoni tal-Komunità fil-qasam ta’ l-enerġija mwettqa fil-qafas ta’ Enerġija Intelliġenti – Programm Ewropa 2003-2006 (minn issa ‘l quddiem imsejjaħ bħala "il-Programm IEE 2003-2006") adottat bid-Deċiżjoni Nru 1230/2003 tal-Parlament Ewropew u tal-Kunsill [5]. Id-Deċiżjoni 2004/20/KE tipprovdi għall-IEEA li twettaq il-funzjonijiet tagħha sal- 31 ta’ Diċembru 2008 sabiex tesegwixxi kuntratti u għotjiet iffirmati taħt il-programm IEE 2003-2006.

(5) A cost-benefit analysis carried out by external consultants has shown that continuing to entrust programme implementation tasks related to the new IEE programme 2007-2013 to the existing IEEA would be the most cost-effective option.

(5) Analiżi tal-benefiċċju kumparat ma’ l-ispiża mwettaq mill-konsulenti esterni wriet li jekk ix-xogħol ta’ implimentazzjoni tal-programm relatat mal-programm il-ġdid ta’ l-IEE 2007-2013 jiġi afdat lill-IEEA eżistenti din tkun l-aktar għażla li tipproduċi benefiċċju għall-ispiża.

(6) Cost-benefit analyses also showed that programme implementation tasks related to the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme within the framework of the CIP, as well as Marco Polo II, could be carried out more efficiently by an executive agency, whilst ensuring the overall management by the Commission of these programmes.

(6) L-analiżi tal-benefiċċju kkumparat ma’ l-ispiża wriet ukoll li l-ħidmiet ta’ implimentazzjoni tal-programm relatati mal-Programm ta’ Imprenditorjat u Innovazzjoni fi ħdan il-qafas tas-CIP, kif ukoll Marco Polo II, jistgħu jitwettqu b’mod aktar effiċjenti minn aġenzija eżekuttiva, filwaqt li jiġi żgurat l-immaniġġjar ġenerali mill-Kummissjoni ta’ dawn il-programmi.

(7) Since the IEE Programme for 2007-2013 has been integrated into the CIP, and in order to ensure consistency in the manner in which projects are implemented under the CIP, the IEEA should be entrusted with certain implementation tasks related to the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme, which also forms part of the CIP, in addition to the execution of the IEE Programme for 2007-2013. Moreover, since Marco Polo II shares common objectives with the CIP, and in particular with the IEE programme, namely to improve energy efficiency in transport and reduce its environmental impact, and both programmes could benefit from important synergies, certain implementation tasks related to Marco Polo II should also be delegated to the IEEA.

(7) Minħabba li l-Programm IEE għall-2007-2013 ġie integrat fis-CIP, u sabiex tiġi żgurata l-konsistenza bil-mod li l-proġetti huma implimentati taħt is-CIP, l-IEEA għandha tiġi afdata b’ċertu ħidmiet ta’ implimentazzjoni relatati mal-Programm Imprenditorjat u Innovazzjoni, li wkoll jifforma parti mis-CIP, flimkien ma’ l-eżekuzzjoni tal-Programm IEE għall-2007-2013. Aktar minn hekk, minħabba li Marco Polo II jikkondividi għanijiet komuni mas-CIP, u b’mod partikolari mal-programm IEE, jiġifieri li tittejjeb l-effiċjenza ta’ l-enerġija fit-trasport u jitnaqqas l-impatt ambjentali tiegħu, u ż-żewġ programmi jistgħu jibbenefikaw minn sinerġiji importanti, ċertu ħidmiet ta’ implimentazzjoni relatati mal-Marco Polo II għandhom ukoll jiġu delagti lill-IEEA.

(8) In order to reflect its additional tasks, the IEEA should be transformed into the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation.

(8) Sabiex jiġu riflessi l-ħidmiet addizzjonali, l-IEEA għandha tiġi mibdula f’Aġenzija Eżekuttiva għall-Kompetittività u l-Innovazzjoni.

(9) Decision 2004/20/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(9) Id-Deċiżjoni 2004/20/KE għandha għalhekk tiġi emendata skond dan.

(10) The provisions set out by this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for Executive Agencies,

(10) Id-dispożizzjonijiet stabbiliti f’din id-Deċiżjoni huma konformi ma’ l-opinjoni tal-Kumitat għall-Aġenziji Eskuttivi,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

IDDEĊIEDA KIF ĠEJ:

Article 1

Artikolu 1

Decision 2004/20/EC is amended as follows:

Id-Deċiżjoni 2004/20/KE qed tiġi emendata kif ġej:

1. in Article 1, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following:

(1) Fl-Artikolu 1, il-paragrafu 2 huwa sostitwit b’dan li ġej:

"2. The name of the Agency shall be the "Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation."";

"2. L-isem ta’ l-Aġenzija għandu jkun "L-Aġenzija Eżekuttiva għall-Kompetittività u l-Innovazzjoni" ".

2. Article 3 is replaced by the following:

(2) L-Artikolu 3 jinbidel b’dan li ġej:

"Article 3

"Artikolu 3

Duration

It-Terminu

The Agency shall carry out its tasks from 1 January 2004 until 31 December 2015.";

L-Aġenzija għandha twettaq il-ħidmiet tagħha mill- 1 ta’ Jannar 2004 sal- 31 ta’ Diċembru 2015."

3. Article 4 is replaced by the following:

(3) L-Artikolu 4 jinbidel b’dan li ġej:

"Article 4

"Artikolu 4

Objectives and tasks

Għanijiet u dmirijiet

1. The Agency shall be responsible for carrying out the following implementation tasks for the management of Community actions in the fields of energy, entrepreneurship and innovation, including eco-innovation, and sustainable freight transport, under the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme 2007-2013 established by Decision No 1639/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council [******] (hereinafter referred to as the CIP), and the second Marco Polo Programme 2007-2013 established by Regulation (EC) No 1692/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council []:

1. L-aġenzija għandha tkun responsabbli sabiex twettaq il-ħidmiet li ġejjin ta’ implimentazzjoni għall-immaniġġjar ta’ l-azzjonijiet tal-Komunità fl-oqsma ta’ l-enerġija, imprenditorjat u l-innovazzjoni, inkluż eko-innovazzjoni, u trasport sostenibbli tal-merkanzija, taħt il-Programm Kwadru Kompetittività u Innovazzjoni 2007-2013 stabbilit bid-Deċiżjoni Nru 1639-2006/KE tal-Parlament Ewropew u tal-Kunsill [******] (minn issa ‘l quddiem imsejjaħ bħala "s-CIP"), u t-tieni Programm Marco Polo 2007-2013 stabbilit bir-Regolament (KE) Nru 1692/2006 tal-Parlament Ewropew u tal-Kunsill []:

(a) managing all the phases in the lifetime of specific projects in the context of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme and the Intelligent Energy — Europe Programme established by Decision No 1639/2006/EC and the second Marco Polo Programme, as well as the necessary checks to that end, by adopting the relevant decisions where the Commission has empowered it to do so;

(a) immaniġġjar tal-fażijiet tul il-perjodu tal-proġetti speċifiċi fil-kuntest tal-Programm Imprenditorjat u Innovazzjoni u l-Programm Ewropa – Enerġija intelliġenti stabbiliti bid-Deċiżjoni Nru 1639/2006/KE u t-tieni Programm Marco Polo, kif ukoll l-iċċekkjar neċessarji għal dawn l-għanijiet, billi jiġu adottati d-deċiżjonijiet relevanti fejn il-Kummissjoni għandha s-setgħa li tagħmel dan;

(b) adopting the instruments of budget implementation for revenue and expenditure and carrying out, where the Commission has empowered it to do so, all the operations necessary to manage the implementing measures and, in particular, those linked to the award of contracts and grants under the CIP and the second Marco Polo Programme;

(b) l-adozzjoni ta’ l-istrumenti għall-implimentazzjoni tal-budget għad-dħul u l-ħruġ ta’ finanzi u t-twettiq, meta l-Kummissjoni tkun tatha l-poter li tagħmel dan, ta’ l-operazzjonijiet kollha meħtieġa biex timmaniġġja l-miżuri ta’ implimentazzjoni u, b’mod partikolari, dawk marbuta ma’ l-għoti ta’ kuntratti u għotjiet ta’ flus taħt is-CIP u t-tieni Programm Marco Polo;

(c) gathering, analysing and passing on to the Commission all the information needed to guide and evaluate the implementation of the CIP and the second Marco Polo Programme.

(ċ) ġbir, analizzar u li jiġu mgħoddija lill-Kummissjoni l-informazzjoni kollha meħtieġa sabiex tiggwida u tevalwa l-implimentazzjoni tas-CIP u t-tieni Programm Marco Polo.

2. The Agency shall also manage all the phases in the lifetime of the implementing measures delegated to it in the framework of the following programmes:

2. L-Aġenzija għandha wkoll timmaniġġja l-fażijiet kollha fil-perjodu tal-miżuri ta’ implimentazzjoni delegati lilha fil-qafas tal-programmi li ġejjin:

(a) Intelligent Energy — Europe (2003 to 2006) established by Decision No 1230/2003/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council [];

(a) Europa - Enerġija Intelliġenti (2003-2006) stabbilita bid-Deċiżjoni Nru 1230/2003/KE tal-Parlament Ewropew u tal-Kunsill [];

(b) Marco Polo (2003 to 2006) established by Regulation (EC) No 1382/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council [].

(b) Marco Polo (2003-2006) stabbilita bir-Regolament (KE) Nru 1382/2003 tal-Parlament Ewropew u tal-Kunsill [];

The Commission’s rights and obligations in respect of the implementing measures referred to in point (b) of the first subparagraph are assigned to the Agency.

Id-drittijiet u l-obbligi tal-Kummissjoni fir-rigard tal-miżuri ta’ implimentazzjoni msemmija fil-punt (b) ta’ l-ewwel sottoparagrafu huma assenjati lill-Aġenzija.

3. The Agency may be charged by the Commission, following the opinion of the committee established by Article 24 of Regulation (EC) No 58/2003, to carry out tasks of the same type under the CIP or other Community programmes, within the meaning of Article 2 of that Regulation, in the fields referred to in paragraph 1.

3. L-aġenzija tista’ tiġi inkarigata mill-Kummissjoni, wara opinjoni tal-kumitat stabbilita mill-Artikolu 24 tar-Regolament (KE) Nru 58/2003, sabiex twettaq ħidmiet ta’ l-istess tip taħt is-CIP jew programmi oħra tal-Komunità, fi ħdan it-tifsira ta’ l-Artikolu 2 ta’ dak ir-Regolament, fl-oqsma msemmija fil-paragrafu 1.

4. The Commission Decision delegating authority to the Agency shall set out in detail all the tasks entrusted to it and shall be adapted in the light of any additional tasks which may be entrusted to the Agency. The Commission decision will be transmitted, for information, to the committee established by Article 24 of Regulation (EC) No 58/2003.

4. 3. Id-deċiżjoni tal-Kummissjoni li tiddelega l-awtorità lill-Aġenzija għandha tiddefinixxi fid-dettal ix-xogħlijiet kollha fdati lilha u għandha tkun adattata fid-dawl ta’ kull xogħol addizzjonali li jista’ jkun fdat lill-Aġenzija. Id-deċiżjoni tal-Kummissjoni tkun trasmessa, bħala informazzjoni, lill-kumitat stabbilit mill-Artikolu 24 tar-regolament (KE) Nru 58/2003.

4. Article 6 is replaced by the following:

(4) L-Artikolu 6 jinbidel b’dan li ġej:

"Article 6

"Artikolu 6

Grants

L-għotjiet

The Agency shall receive grants which shall be entered in the general budget of the European Communities from the funds allocated to the CIP and the second Marco Polo Programme and, where appropriate, other Community programmes or actions entrusted to the Agency for implementation pursuant to Article 4(3).";

L-Aġenzija għandha tirċievi għotja ta’ flus li għandha tiddaħħal fil-budget ġenerali tal-Komunitajiet Ewropej mill-fondi allokati għall-programm tal-Komunità Enerġija Intelliġenti – Ewropa u, meta jkun xieraq, minn programmi jew azzjonijiet oħra tal-Komunità li l-implimentazzjoni tagħhom tkun fdata lill-Aġenzija skond l-Artikolu 4(3)."

5. Article 8 is replaced by the following:

(5) L-Artikolu 8 jinbidel b’dan li ġej:

"Article 8

"Artikolu 8

Implementation of the administrative budget

Implimentazzjoni tal-budget amministrattiv

The Agency shall implement its administrative budget in accordance with the provisions of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1653/2004 [].

L-Aġenzija għandha timplimenta l-baġit amministrattiv tagħha skond id-dispożizzjonijiet tar-Regolament tal-Kummissjoni (KE) Nru 1653/2004 [].

Article 2

Artikolu 2

All references to the Intelligent Energy Executive Agency shall be interpreted as references to the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation with effect from the date of adoption of this Decision.

Ir-referenzi kollha għall-Aġenzija Eżekuttiva għall-Enerġija Intelliġenti għandhom jiġu interpretati bħala għall-Aġenzija Eżekuttiva għall-Kompetittività u l-Innovazzjoni b’effett mid-data ta’ l-adozzjoni ta’ din id-Deċiżjoni.

Done at Brussels, 31 May 2007.

Magħmul fi Brussell, 31 ta’ Mejju 2007

For the Commission

Għall-Kummissjoni

Günter Verheugen

Günter Verheugen

Vice-President

Viċi-President

[1] OJ L 11, 16.1.2003, p. 1.

[1] ĠU L 11, 16.1.2003, p. 1.

[2] OJ L 310, 9.11.2006, p. 15.

[2] ĠU L 310, 9.11.2006, p. 15

[3] OJ L 328, 24.11.2006, p. 1.

[3] ĠU L 328, 24.11.2006, p. 1.

[4] OJ L 5, 9.1.2004, p. 85.

[4] ĠU L 5, 9.1.2004, p. 85.

[5] OJ L 176, 15.7.2003, p. 29. Decision as amended by Decision 787/2004/EC (OJ L 138, 30.4.2004, p. 12).

[5] ĠU L 176, 15.7.2003, p. 29. Id-Deċiżjoni modifikata bid-Deċiżjoni Nru 787/2004/KE (ĠU L 138, 30.4.2004, p. 12).

[******] OJ L 310, 9.11.2006, p. 15.

[******] ĠU L 310, 9.11.2006, p. 15.

[] OJ L 328, 24.11.2006, p. 1.

[] ĠU L 328, 24.11.2006, p. 1.

[] OJ L 176, 15.7.2003, p. 29.

[] ĠU L 176, 15.7.2003, p. 29.

[] OJ L 196, 2.8.2003, p. 1."

[] ĠU L 196, 2.8.2003, p. 1."

[] OJ L 297, 22.9.2004, p. 6."

[] ĠU L 297, 22.9.2004, p. 6."

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