2016 ten section Work Programme en

1.The digital agenda and economy and civil society challenges and opportunities

The digital economy has become the preserve of the United States and Asia, and the European Union (EU) is being left behind. However, the EU can still make up ground for a European digital single market is likely to give a new lease of life to the sector: the creation of an EU fully integrated digital single market would bring significant gains over time by generating up to EUR 250 billion in additional growth and providing hundreds of thousands of new jobs.

1. 
   Draft opinions on the legislative and non-legislative measures implementing the DSM strategy. In this respect, the EC 2016 work programmes includes three sets of actions: 1) a Communication on copyright and legislative proposal on portability, followed by legislative proposals on copyright and the review of the satellite and cable directive (REFIT), legislative proposals on digital contract rights, geo-blocking, and VAT for electronic commerce (REFIT), and the review of the Regulation on consumer protection cooperation (REFIT); 2) reviews of the telecoms regulatory framework (REFIT) and the audiovisual and media services Directive (REFIT), and 3) a legislative proposal on the free flow of data.
   

2. 
   Organise a "going local" event on alternative technologies for broadband in rural areas and islands will be organised in Italy to explore options to get near universal superfast broadband coverage across the Union.
   
3. 
   Consider drawing up an own-initiative opinion on 3D printing and organise a public hearing in Brussels to delve into the possibilities this modern technology can offer in terms of economic growth, while analysing, at the same time, its social, environmental and security implications.
   
4. 
   Organise a debate during a TEN Section meeting, with expert stakeholders to explore the real and growing phenomenon of technological unemployment (and underemployment). Digital technologies offer the key to secure a robust industrial base for Europe in the future. They can boost jobs and create jobs. However, it is also argued that this fast trend of digital transformation has potential for dramatic changes of the number and nature of jobs in Europe.
   
5. 
   Implement the Smart Islands and Smart Cities projects. The two projects have been recently adopted by the TEN Section and will be implemented, between July 2015 and June 2016, as a follow up of two own-initiative opinions on Smart Islands and Smart Cities, respectively. In particular, the aim of the projects is to help in putting the opinion's recommendations into practice by carrying out fact finding missions, creating an open dialogue with civil society representatives, and creating a best practice catalogue, which will be disseminated amongst some EU islands and cities to turn their difficulties into opportunities.
   
6. 
   Organise a conference on e-skills and career. The digital sector is the EU sector with the highest number of job vacancies, owing to a lack of digital skills and expertise. The digital single market strategy remains vague about possible solutions to this issue and leaves it up to the Member States to decide. The EESC believes that the EU should promote digital technology in education and professional training sectors, including educational platforms, through targeted funding. Moreover, the digital sector is also characterised by a significant gender imbalance. Given the many unfilled vacancies in the ICT sector, the EU should launch a campaign encouraging more female candidates to actively consider a digital career.
   
7. 
   Launch a study on the ethics of Big Data. Big data is another area in which the EU has the opportunity to assert itself, as the technical standards, which could be used to organise the collection and processing of data, have yet to be devised. However, the promotion of a data-driven economy has to take into account the challenges raised for privacy and personal data protection. The main purpose of the study will be to find out how European civil society should develop, communicate and enforce ethical codes regarding Big Data.
   

2.European Energy Union

2.1Implementation of the European Energy Union and 2030 Energy and Climate Framework

The TEN Section will continue to provide civil society's input via opinions to the forthcoming 2016 legislative output of the European Commission under the EEU and 2030 Energy and Climate frameworks.

1. 
   Finalise work on the ongoing opinions on the electricity market design, including a new deal for energy consumers, SET plan and energy labelling
   
2. 
   Address the initiatives adopted by the Commission within its Winter Package:
   

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  Revision of the regulation on the measures to secure gas supply
  

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  The strategy for heating and cooling
  

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  The strategy for LNG and storage, building in particular on the EESC opinion on energy storage (TEN/567) adopted in 2015
  

• 
  Communication on the nuclear illustrative programme (PINC)
  

3. 
   Produce opinions upon EC referral on further legislative and non-legislative initiatives by the Commission as spelled out in the Commission's Work Programme for 2016, including:
   

• 
  Review of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators
  
• 
  Revised Regulations for the security of electricity supply
  
• 
  Renewable energy package (REFIT)
  

• 
  Energy efficiency package (REFIT)
  

4. 
   Upon the referral from the Commission the TEN Section will also draft an opinion on the review of the Energy Efficiency Directive later in the year.
   

Across all the opinions, the EESC will stress the need to meet energy end users' needs, empower energy consumers to become active market participants, and ensure that citizens and organised civil society have a strong voice with regard to their "energy future".

2.2The European Energy Dialogue (EED)

Energy, as one of the key priorities of the Juncker Commission, the 2016 Dutch and Slovak Presidencies, and the European Parliament's key policy priorities, will remain a key area of activity for the EESC in general and the TEN Section in particular.

1. 
   Promote the creation of a European Energy Community, to ensure that European energy is competitive, safe and sustainable. The establishment of the Energy Union requires reliable, sound and transparent governance together with a European dialogue to convey the concerns of businesses and associations of workers and individuals.
   
2. 
   Combat the high cost of energy and energy insecurity, for both businesses and the general public. The EU must take into consideration all aspects of concern of civil society, notably to protect Europeans from energy poverty, to prevent them being marginalised and to reduce possible negative health and environmental impacts.
   
3. 
   Ensure that businesses and regions are supported during the energy transition; promote an ambitious climate policy, encourage indigenous renewable energy sources and explore innovative models of sustainable development in the areas of energy savings and waste reduction.
   
4. 
   Continue to participate in the various EU forums on energy in order to push more strongly for the inclusion of public engagement on these forums' agenda. This includes the Citizens' Energy Forum in London, the Madrid Forum of Energy Regulators, the European Nuclear Energy Forum (ENEF), Eastern Partnership Platform 3 on Energy Security, and the Energy Community Permanent High Level Group.
   
5. 
   Step up cooperation with the European Parliament concerning the legislative work on the European Energy Union and seek to promote the notion of the EED in the EP.
   
6. 
   Organise a small number of preparatory stakeholder workshops and pilot energy dialogues in which – informed by the forthcoming, EESC-commissioned study "Action Plan for the European Energy Dialogue" – the principles, rules, and actions for a generic framework for a comprehensive European Energy Dialogue are developed, tested, and revised.
   
7. 
   Organise a high level conference in close cooperation with Maroš Šefčovič, Vice President of the EC to launch the European Energy Dialogue to be held under the Slovak Presidency.
   
8. 
   For reasons relating to the EESC's historical involvement in the work of the ENEF (European Nuclear Energy Forum), it has been easier and more practical to test innovative dialogue approaches in this domain. In 2016, there will be a continuation of these efforts. This may include, first, the drawing-up of an opinion on nuclear emergency preparedness. Upon EC referral, the TEN Section will address off-site emergency preparedness and nuclear liability, which are key topics for civil society. Second, the EESC will consider the possibility of preparing an opinion on the Nuclear Illustrative Programme (PINC). Third, it may also include an event that explores and discusses the legacy (in economic, political and civil societal terms) of the Chernobyl catastrophe whose 30^th anniversary will fall into the year 2016.
   
9. 
   Create an energy-specific civil society platform. Such a platform – building an extended bridge into civil society organised around the energy field – would play a crucial role in providing expertise, facilitating energy-related dialogues under the umbrella of the European Energy Dialogue, and acting as a sounding board for civil society reviews of policies and their implementation. While the EESC – via its members – already represents large and important segments of Europe's civil society, its aim is to reach out to the wider civil society and represent its views on EU policies. Reaching out beyond the boundaries of the EESC is also instrumental in mobilising specialist expertise found among many issue-specific civil society organisations. In 2016, the TEN Section aims at exploring the benefits of and setting up an inclusive forum with civil society organisations that work specifically on energy-related issues. Such a forum could get involved in:
   

1. 
   facilitating and raising awareness for the European Energy Dialogue and its dialogue/participation framework beyond Brussels;
   

1. 
   provide an accessible pool of expertise to rapporteurs, a forum to enrich the opinions prepared by EESC members, and a platform to promote the opinion even after its adoption;
   

1. 
   provide an accessible pool of expertise for evaluating the impact assessment and the impact of the Commission's output;
   

1. 
   further increase the legitimacy of the EESC as the voice of organised civil society in Europe.
   

3.Promoting a more effective implementation of the actions pertaining to the EU White Paper on Transport

In 2016 the Commission will focus on supporting the use of non-discriminatory road charging schemes based on the polluter-pays and user-pays principles. Efforts will also be dedicated to the creation of a single European transport area, allowing a more efficient use of the existing road infrastructure and a more flexible use of fleet capacity. The TEN Section will also continue to promote a competitive, efficient and integrated transport system with a specific focus on intermodal transport and how the EU can ensure better interoperability between the different modes. In its response, the TEN Section will continue its support for an integrated and efficient EU transport sector through the following actions:

1. 
   Engage civil society in online and offline dialogues on the Trans-European Transport Network
   

2. 
   Contribute to the ongoing review of the White Paper on Transport
   

3. 
   Promote a coherent framework for civil aviation
   

In addition to drafting an opinion on the Aviation Package expected by the end of the year 2015, the TEN Section will further engage stakeholders through events and meetings in order to gain momentum and galvanise support for an ambitious aviation strategy.

4. 
   Better vehicle testing: emissions and fuel consumption
   

5. 
   Assess new trends in transport
   

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  Big data and transport. The quantity and quality of information is increasing quickly, and the potential society can derive from it is keeping up pace with it. The opportunities for transport are immense, but the EESC has no position on it yet. For example, users are collecting information nowadays through apps via their smart phones. This can help alleviate traffic conditions or make public transport more efficient. Important to mention that the EC is planning a Regulation on access to public and private transport data, so the EESC might adopt a position before its adoption, to be more influential.
  

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  Self-driving and connected cars: revolution in mobility. The automobile and technology sectors are expecting a two-pronged revolution in mobility based on connectivity and automation. The first pillar, often put under the umbrella of "connected cars", refers to the integration of information technology into vehicles. It means, amongst other things, that vehicles could share information with each other and with infrastructures. On the one hand, connectivity could help diminish the number of car accidents, make traffic smoother, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. On the other hand, increased dependency to a network poses systemic security and privacy issues, which need to be thoroughly explored and debated, since mobility concerns the daily lives of millions of Europeans. The second pillar of the coming revolution is expected to be the generalisation of autonomous vehicles. Progressively, automated vehicles could appear on the roads. Such a change would have a very deep and lasting impact. It would entail even smoother and safer roads than connectivity alone, and might also change the way transportation systems currently function. Again, the introduction of autonomous vehicles on European roads would affect Europeans in various and impactful ways. Such drastic changes in mobility beg for extended preparation and thorough examination and are directly linked to the TEN Section's project on "smart cities" and the wider context of the digital agenda.
  

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  Impact of the sharing economy on transport. Yet another significant trend in the economy and in transport in particular is the direct and collective work of ordinary citizens. Given the disputes in court and the impact these activities might have on society, the EESC might decide to adopt a position on how to regulate, without posing a barrier to innovation, companies like Uber. Another issue that needs to be discussed is how can such a sharing economy be supported while safeguarding fairness in competition vis à vis traditional companies.
  

4.Adapting Services of General Interest (SGIs) to the challenges of the European economy and society in transition

During the previous term, the permanent study group on services of general interest has devoted particular attention to SGIs as a tool to counteract the effects of the economic crisis, namely by identifying good practices and innovative governance methods. The time is ripe now to focus on more concrete aspects that could influence the availability or quality of SGIs.

1. 
   Deliver a comprehensive response to the "Almunia package"
   

On 8 September 2015, the European Commission published the Member States' reports on compliance with the rules on State aid for the provision of services of general economic interest ("Almunia package") in 2012-2014. Pursuant to Article 9 of the SGEI Decision, Member States have to submit a report every two years to the European Commission including a detailed description of the application of the Decision. The reports show which sectors have received State support to compensate for the cost of carrying out public services, and the conditions on which it has been received, according to Member States. The TEN Section will assess the possibility of proposing an own-initiative opinion to assess the state-of-play in this area in the light of the recent developments, as well as to form a sound EESC position on the published Roadmap, based also on analysis of the Member States' compliance reports.

2. 
   Analyse the implications of on-going trade negotiations and trade agreements for SGIs
   

By clarifying the implications of on-going trade negotiations and trade agreements on the provision, quality and affordability of SGIs, the goal of a potential exploratory opinion is to promote and safeguard the proper implementation of the Treaty provisions on SGIs in a future agreement. This point related to priorities of the Dutch Presidency "fair and open global trade with concern for people and planet."

3. 
   Monitor the VAT Directive reform
   

A potential exploratory or own-initiative opinion will aim to analyse the influence of the expected VAT reform in 2017 on the provision of SGIs in view of their quality, availability and affordability.