P8_TA(2017)0066

Mercury ***I

European Parliament legislative resolution of 14 March 2017 on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on mercury, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1102/2008 (COM(2016)0039 — C8-0021/2016 — 2016/0023(COD))

(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)

(2018/C 263/26)

The European Parliament,

—	having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2016)0039),

—	having regard to Article 294(2) and Articles 192(1) and 207 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C8-0021/2016),

—	having regard to the opinion of the Committee on Legal Affairs on the proposed legal basis,

—	having regard to Article 294(3) and Article 192(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

—	having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee of 25 May 2016 (1),

—	after consulting the Committee of the Regions,

—	having regard to the provisional agreement approved by the responsible committee and the undertaking given by the Council representative by letter of 16 December 2016 to approve Parliament’s position, in accordance with Article 294(4) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

—	having regard to Rules 59 and 39 of its Rules of Procedure,

—	having regard to the report of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (A8-0313/2016),

Adopts its position at first reading hereinafter set out;

Approves the statement by Parliament annexed to this resolution;

Takes note of the statement by the Commission annexed to this resolution;

Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it replaces, substantially amends or intends to substantially amend its proposal;

Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

(1) OJ C 303, 19.8.2016, p. 122.

ANNEX TO THE LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

STATEMENT BY THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ON THE DRAFT REGULATION ON MERCURY AND REPEALING REGULATION (EC) No 1102/2008 (2016/0023(COD))

The European Parliament’s acceptance of implementing acts for authorisations of new products or processes in the context of the interinstitutional negotiations on the proposal for a regulation on mercury (2016/0023(COD)) may not be taken as a precedent for similar files and does not prejudge the upcoming inter-institutional negotiations on delineation criteria for the use of delegated and implementing acts.

STATEMENT BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ON MERCURY

The Minamata convention and the new Mercury Regulation are major contributions to protecting citizens from mercury pollution globally and in the EU.

International cooperation should be sustained to ensure successful implementation of the Convention by all Parties and further strengthen its provisions.

The European Commission is therefore committed to supporting continued cooperation, in accordance with the Convention and subject to applicable EU policies, rules and procedures, inter alia undertaking work in the following areas:

—	Narrowing the gap between EU law and the provisions of the Convention through the review clause of the list of prohibited mercury-added products;

—

In the context of the provisions of the Convention on financing, capacity building and technology transfer, activities such as improving traceability of mercury trade and use, promoting certification of mercury-free artisanal and small-scale gold mining and mercury-free labels for gold, and increasing the capacity of developing countries including in the area of mercury waste management.