Opinion on the Commission proposals for a Regulation on the re-attribution of scientific and technical tasks and improving cooperation among Union agencies in the area of chemicals (2023/0455(COD)), for a Directive on the re-attribution of scientific and technical tasks to the European Chemicals Agency (2023/0454(COD)) and for a Regulation establishing a common data platform on chemicals

5.3.2024

Mr Pascal Canfin

Chair

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

BRUSSELS

Subject: Opinion on the Commission proposals for a Regulation on the re-attribution of scientific and technical tasks and improving cooperation among Union agencies in the area of chemicals (2023/0455(COD)), for a Directive on the re-attribution of scientific and technical tasks to the European Chemicals Agency (2023/0454(COD)) and for a Regulation establishing a common data platform on chemicals2023/0453(COD)

Dear Mr Chair,

Under the procedures referred to above, at its meeting on 04 March 2024 the Committee on Budgets’ adopted an opinion in the form of a letter and mandated me to convey the position set out below.

Background to the proposal

The general objectives of the three legislative proposals which form the so-called ‘one substance, one assessment' package, are to streamline the assessments of chemicals across EU legislation, to strengthen the knowledge base on chemicals and to ensure early detection and action on emerging chemical risks.

Under this package tasks will be reallocated between four EU agencies (ECHA, EEA, EFSA and EMA) and a Common Data Platform on chemicals held by the agencies will be established, ensuring coherent and transparent safety assessments of chemicals used in products such as medical devices, toys, food, pesticides and biocides.

According to the legislative financial statement accompanying the proposals, the package will require an additional budget of roughly EUR 33 million until 2027, 18 additional Temporary Agents and 23 additional contractual agents by 2027 for the four agencies.

Most of the additionnal budget will be offset from the LIFE programme.

Position of the Committee on Budgets

The BUDG committee is of the general opinion that entrusting new tasks to decentralised agencies should be financed from fresh resources and should not lead to reduce programmes even if in the same policy area, in this case environment and health. Redeployments from the LIFE programme should be limited and examined with due care, especially in view of the several reinforcements received in the annual budgetary procedure following a strong push from the Parliament. In this context, it is important to recall that for the partially self-finances agencies, the costs incurred as a result of the provision of a service shall be charged in full to the clients receiving such service.

In the framework of our cooperation agreement, we stay ready to provide the ENVI Committee with technical support throughout the process with a view to assessing the budgetary impact of any decisions of the co-legislators and prevent further carve-outs from the LIFE programme ensuring that the redeployments do not go beyond the absolutely necessary and to also ensure an optimised mix of fees and Union Budget.

Yours sincerely,

Johan Van Overtveldt

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

The rapporteur declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.