EU taxonomy for sustainable activities
Kapittel I. Alminnelige bestemmelser
Artikkel 1. Formål og mål
- 1.
Denne forordning fastsetter regler om vern av fysiske personer i forbindelse med behandling av personopplysninger samt regler om fri utveksling av personopplysninger.
- 2.
Denne forordning sikrer vern av fysiske personers grunnleggende rettigheter og friheter, særlig deres rett til vern av personopplysninger.
- 3.
Fri utveksling av personopplysninger i Unionen skal verken begrenses eller forbys av årsaker knyttet til vern av fysiske personer i forbindelse med behandling av personopplysninger.
Artikkel 2. Saklig virkeområde
- 1.
Denne forordning får anvendelse på helt eller delvis automatisert behandling av personopplysninger og på ikke-automatisert behandling av personopplysninger som inngår i eller skal inngå i et register.
- 2.
Denne forordning får ikke anvendelse på behandling av personopplysninger som utføres
- a)
i forbindelse med utøvelse av en aktivitet som ikke omfattes av unionsretten,
- b)
av medlemsstatene når de utøver aktiviteter som omfattes av avdeling V kapittel 2 i TEU,
- c)
av en fysisk person som ledd i rent personlige eller familiemessige aktiviteter,
- d)
av vedkommende myndigheter med henblikk på å forebygge, etterforske, avsløre eller straffeforfølge straffbare forhold eller iverksette strafferettslige sanksjoner, herunder vern mot og forebygging av trusler mot den offentlige sikkerhet.
- a)
- 3.
Forordning (EF) nr. 45/2001 får anvendelse på behandling av personopplysninger som utføres av Unionens institusjoner, organer, kontorer og byråer. Forordning (EF) nr. 45/2001 og andre av Unionens rettsakter som får anvendelse på slik behandling av personopplysninger, skal tilpasses prinsippene og reglene i denne forordning i samsvar med artikkel 98.
- 4.
Denne forordning berører ikke anvendelsen av direktiv 2000/31/EF, særlig reglene for tjenesteytende mellommenns ansvar i artikkel 12–15 i nevnte direktiv.
CHAPTER II. ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES
Article 3. Criteria for environmentally sustainable economic activities
For the purposes of establishing the degree to which an investment is environmentally sustainable, an economic activity shall qualify as environmentally sustainable where that economic activity:
- (a)
contributes substantially to one or more of the environmental objectives set out in Article 9 in accordance with Articles 10 to 16;
- (b)
does not significantly harm any of the environmental objectives set out in Article 9 in accordance with Article 17;
- (c)
is carried out in compliance with the minimum safeguards laid down in Article 18; and
- (d)
complies with technical screening criteria that have been established by the Commission in accordance with Article 10(3), 11(3), 12(2), 13(2), 14(2) or 15(2).
Article 4. Use of the criteria for environmentally sustainable economic activities in public measures, in standards and in labels
Member States and the Union shall apply the criteria set out in Article 3 to determine whether an economic activity qualifies as environmentally sustainable for the purposes of any measure setting out requirements for financial market participants or issuers in respect of financial products or corporate bonds that are made available as environmentally sustainable.
Artikkel 5. Prinsipper for behandling av personopplysninger
- 1.
Personopplysninger skal
- a)
behandles på en lovlig, rettferdig og åpen måte med hensyn til den registrerte («lovlighet, rettferdighet og åpenhet»),
- b)
samles inn for spesifikke, uttrykkelig angitte og berettigede formål og ikke viderebehandles på en måte som er uforenlig med disse formålene; viderebehandling for arkivformål i allmennhetens interesse, for formål knyttet til vitenskapelig eller historisk forskning eller for statistiske formål skal, i samsvar med artikkel 89 nr. 1, ikke anses som uforenlig med de opprinnelige formålene («formålsbegrensning»),
- c)
være adekvate, relevante og begrenset til det som er nødvendig for formålene de behandles for («dataminimering»),
- d)
være korrekte og om nødvendig oppdaterte; det må treffes ethvert rimelig tiltak for å sikre at personopplysninger som er uriktige med hensyn til formålene de behandles for, uten opphold slettes eller rettes («riktighet»),
- e)
lagres slik at det ikke er mulig å identifisere de registrerte i lengre perioder enn det som er nødvendig for formålene som personopplysningene behandles for; personopplysninger kan lagres i lengre perioder dersom de utelukkende vil bli behandlet for arkivformål i allmennhetens interesse, for formål knyttet til vitenskapelig eller historisk forskning eller for statistiske formål i samsvar med artikkel 89 nr. 1, forutsatt at det gjennomføres egnede tekniske og organisatoriske tiltak som kreves i henhold til denne forordning for å sikre de registrertes rettigheter og friheter («lagringsbegrensning»),
- f)
behandles på en måte som sikrer tilstrekkelig sikkerhet for personopplysningene, herunder vern mot uautorisert eller ulovlig behandling og mot utilsiktet tap, ødeleggelse eller skade, ved bruk av egnede tekniske eller organisatoriske tiltak («integritet og konfidensialitet»).
- a)
- 2.
Den behandlingsansvarlige er ansvarlig for og skal kunne påvise at nr. 1 overholdes («ansvar»).
Artikkel 6. Behandlingens lovlighet
- 1.
Behandlingen er bare lovlig dersom og i den grad minst ett av følgende vilkår er oppfylt:
- a)
den registrerte har samtykket til behandling av sine personopplysninger for ett eller flere spesifikke formål,
- b)
behandlingen er nødvendig for å oppfylle en avtale som den registrerte er part i, eller for å gjennomføre tiltak på den registrertes anmodning før en avtaleinngåelse,
- c)
behandlingen er nødvendig for å oppfylle en rettslig forpliktelse som påhviler den behandlingsansvarlige,
- d)
behandlingen er nødvendig for å verne den registrertes eller en annen fysisk persons vitale interesser,
- e)
behandlingen er nødvendig for å utføre en oppgave i allmennhetens interesse eller utøve offentlig myndighet som den behandlingsansvarlige er pålagt,
- f)
behandlingen er nødvendig for formål knyttet til de berettigede interessene som forfølges av den behandlingsansvarlige eller en tredjepart, med mindre den registrertes interesser eller grunnleggende rettigheter og friheter går foran og krever vern av personopplysninger, særlig dersom den registrerte er et barn.
- a)
- 2.
Medlemsstatene kan opprettholde eller innføre mer spesifikke bestemmelser for å tilpasse anvendelsen av reglene for behandling i denne forordning med henblikk på å sikre samsvar med nr. 1 bokstav c) og e) ved nærmere å fastsette mer spesifikke krav til behandlingen samt andre tiltak som har som mål å sikre en lovlig og rettferdig behandling, herunder i forbindelse med andre særlige behandlingssituasjoner som nevnt i kapittel IX.
- 3.
Grunnlaget for behandlingen nevnt i nr. 1 bokstav c) og e) skal fastsettes i
- a)
unionsretten eller
- b)
medlemsstatens nasjonale rett som den behandlingsansvarlige er underlagt.
Formålet med behandlingen skal være fastsatt i nevnte rettslige grunnlag eller, når det gjelder behandlingen nevnt i nr. 1 bokstav e), være nødvendig for å utføre en oppgave i allmennhetens interesse eller utøve offentlig myndighet som den behandlingsansvarlige er pålagt. Nevnte rettslige grunnlag kan inneholde særlige bestemmelser for å tilpasse anvendelsen av reglene i denne forordning, blant annet de generelle vilkårene som skal gjelde for lovligheten av den behandlingsansvarliges behandling, hvilken type opplysninger som skal behandles, berørte registrerte, enhetene som personopplysningene kan utleveres til, og formålene med dette, formålsbegrensning, lagringsperioder samt behandlingsaktiviteter og framgangsmåter for behandling, herunder tiltak for å sikre lovlig og rettferdig behandling, slik som dem fastsatt med henblikk på andre særlige behandlingssituasjoner som nevnt i kapittel IX. Unionsretten eller medlemsstatenes nasjonale rett skal oppfylle et mål i allmennhetens interesse og stå i et rimelig forhold til det berettigede målet som søkes oppnådd.
- a)
- 4.
Dersom behandlingen for et annet formål enn det som personopplysningene er blitt samlet inn for, ikke bygger på den registrertes samtykke eller på unionsretten eller medlemsstatenes nasjonale rett som utgjør et nødvendig og forholdsmessig tiltak i et demokratisk samfunn for å sikre oppnåelse av målene nevnt i artikkel 23 nr. 1, skal den behandlingsansvarlige for å avgjøre om behandlingen for et annet formål er forenlig med formålet som personopplysningene opprinnelig ble samlet inn for, blant annet ta hensyn til følgende:
- a)
enhver forbindelse mellom formålene som personopplysningene er blitt samlet inn for, og formålene med den tiltenkte viderebehandlingen,
- b)
i hvilken sammenheng personopplysningene er blitt samlet inn, særlig med hensyn til forholdet mellom de registrerte og den behandlingsansvarlige,
- c)
personopplysningenes art, især om særlige kategorier av personopplysninger behandles, i henhold til artikkel 9, eller om personopplysninger om straffedommer og lovovertredelser behandles, i henhold til artikkel 10,
- d)
de mulige konsekvensene av den tiltenkte viderebehandlingen for de registrerte,
- e)
om det foreligger nødvendige garantier, som kan omfatte kryptering eller pseudonymisering.
- a)
Nr. 1 bokstav f) får ikke anvendelse på behandling som utføres av offentlige myndigheter som ledd i utførelsen av deres oppgaver.
Artikkel 7. Vilkår for samtykke
- 1.
Dersom behandlingen bygger på samtykke, skal den behandlingsansvarlige kunne påvise at den registrerte har samtykket til behandling av personopplysninger om vedkommende.
- 2.
Dersom den registrertes samtykke gis i forbindelse med en skriftlig erklæring som også gjelder andre forhold, skal anmodningen om samtykke framlegges på en måte som gjør at den tydelig kan skilles fra nevnte andre forhold, i en forståelig og lett tilgjengelig form og på et klart og enkelt språk. Deler av en slik erklæring som er i strid med denne forordning, skal ikke være bindende.
- 3.
Den registrerte skal ha rett til å trekke tilbake sitt samtykke til enhver tid. Dersom samtykket trekkes tilbake, skal det ikke påvirke lovligheten av behandlingen som bygger på samtykket før det trekkes tilbake. Før det gis samtykke, skal den registrerte opplyses om dette. Det skal være like enkelt å trekke tilbake som å gi samtykke.
- 4.
Ved vurdering av om et samtykke er gitt frivillig skal det tas størst mulig hensyn til blant annet om oppfyllelse av en avtale, herunder om yting av en tjeneste, er gjort betinget av samtykke til behandling av personopplysninger som ikke er nødvendig for å oppfylle nevnte avtale.
Artikkel 8. Vilkår for barns samtykke i forbindelse med informasjonssamfunnstjenester
- 1.
Dersom artikkel 6 nr. 1 bokstav a) får anvendelse i forbindelse med tilbud om informasjonssamfunnstjenester direkte til et barn, er behandling av et barns personopplysninger lovlig dersom barnet er minst 16 år. Dersom barnet er under 16 år, er slik behandling lovlig bare dersom og i den grad samtykke er gitt eller godkjent av den som har foreldreansvar for barnet.
For disse formål kan medlemsstatene ved lov fastsette en lavere aldersgrense, forutsatt at den ikke er lavere enn 13 år.
- 2.
I slike tilfeller skal den behandlingsansvarlige treffe rimelige tiltak for å kontrollere at samtykke er gitt eller godkjent av den som har foreldreansvar for barnet, idet det tas hensyn til tilgjengelig teknologi.
- 3.
Nr. 1 skal ikke påvirke medlemsstatenes alminnelige avtalerett, f.eks. reglene for gyldigheten, utformingen eller virkningen av en avtale som gjelder et barn.
Artikkel 9. Behandling av særlige kategorier av personopplysninger
- 1.
Behandling av personopplysninger om rasemessig eller etnisk opprinnelse, politisk oppfatning, religion, filosofisk overbevisning eller fagforeningsmedlemskap, samt behandling av genetiske opplysninger og biometriske opplysninger med det formål å entydig identifisere en fysisk person, helseopplysninger eller opplysninger om en fysisk persons seksuelle forhold eller seksuelle orientering, er forbudt.
- 2.
Nr. 1 får ikke anvendelse dersom et av følgende vilkår er oppfylt:
- a)
Den registrerte har gitt uttrykkelig samtykke til behandling av slike personopplysninger for ett eller flere spesifikke formål, unntatt dersom det i unionsretten eller medlemsstatenes nasjonale rett er fastsatt at den registrerte ikke kan oppheve forbudet nevnt i nr. 1.
- b)
Behandlingen er nødvendig for at den behandlingsansvarlige eller den registrerte skal kunne oppfylle sine forpliktelser og utøve sine særlige rettigheter på området arbeidsrett, trygderett og sosialrett i den grad dette er tillatt i henhold til unionsretten eller medlemsstatenes nasjonale rett, eller en tariffavtale i henhold til medlemsstatenes nasjonale rett som gir nødvendige garantier for den registrertes grunnleggende rettigheter og interesser.
- c)
Behandlingen er nødvendig for å verne den registrertes eller en annen fysisk persons vitale interesser dersom den registrerte fysisk eller juridisk ikke er i stand til å gi samtykke.
- d)
Behandlingen utføres av en stiftelse, sammenslutning eller et annet ideelt organ hvis mål er av politisk, religiøs eller fagforeningsmessig art, som ledd i organets berettigede aktiviteter og med nødvendige garantier, forutsatt at behandlingen bare gjelder organets medlemmer eller tidligere medlemmer eller personer som på grunn av organets mål har regelmessig kontakt med det, og at personopplysningene ikke utleveres til andre enn nevnte organ uten de registrertes samtykke.
- e)
Behandlingen gjelder personopplysninger som det er åpenbart at den registrerte har offentliggjort.
- f)
Behandlingen er nødvendig for å fastsette, gjøre gjeldende eller forsvare rettskrav eller når domstolene handler innenfor rammen av sin domsmyndighet.
- g)
Behandlingen er nødvendig av hensyn til viktige allmenne interesser, på grunnlag av unionsretten eller medlemsstatenes nasjonale rett som skal stå i et rimelig forhold til det mål som søkes oppnådd, være forenlig med det grunnleggende innholdet i retten til vern av personopplysninger og sikre egnede og særlige tiltak for å verne den registrertes grunnleggende rettigheter og interesser.
- h)
Behandlingen er nødvendig i forbindelse med forebyggende medisin eller arbeidsmedisin for å vurdere en arbeidstakers arbeidskapasitet, i forbindelse med medisinsk diagnostikk, yting av helse- eller sosialtjenester, behandling eller forvaltning av helse- eller sosialtjenester og -systemer på grunnlag av unionsretten eller medlemsstatenes nasjonale rett eller i henhold til en avtale med helsepersonell og med forbehold for vilkårene og garantiene nevnt i nr. 3.
- i)
Behandlingen er nødvendig av allmenne folkehelsehensyn, f.eks. vern mot alvorlige grenseoverskridende helsetrusler eller for å sikre høye kvalitets- og sikkerhetsstandarder for helsetjenester og legemidler eller medisinsk utstyr, på grunnlag av unionsretten eller medlemsstatenes nasjonale rett der det fastsettes egnede og særlige tiltak for å verne den registrertes rettigheter og friheter, særlig taushetsplikt.
- j)
Behandlingen er nødvendig for arkivformål i allmennhetens interesse, for formål knyttet til vitenskapelig eller historisk forskning eller for statistiske formål i samsvar med artikkel 89 nr. 1 på grunnlag av unionsretten eller medlemsstatenes nasjonale rett som skal stå i et rimelig forhold til det mål som søkes oppnådd, være forenlig med det grunnleggende innholdet i retten til vern av personopplysninger og sikre egnede og særlige tiltak for å verne den registrertes grunnleggende rettigheter og interesser.
- a)
- 3.
Personopplysningene nevnt i nr. 1 kan behandles for formålene nevnt i nr. 2 bokstav h) dersom opplysningene behandles av en fagperson som har taushetsplikt i henhold til unionsretten eller medlemsstatenes nasjonale rett eller regler fastsatt av nasjonale vedkommende organer, eller under en slik persons ansvar, eller av en annen person som også har taushetsplikt i henhold til unionsretten eller medlemsstatenes nasjonale rett eller regler fastsatt av nasjonale vedkommende organer.
- 4.
Medlemsstatene kan opprettholde eller innføre ytterligere vilkår, herunder begrensninger, med hensyn til behandling av genetiske opplysninger, biometriske opplysninger eller helseopplysninger.
Artikkel 10. Behandling av personopplysninger om straffedommer og lovovertredelser
Behandling av personopplysninger om straffedommer og lovovertredelser eller tilknyttede sikkerhetstiltak på grunnlag av artikkel 6 nr. 1 skal bare utføres under en offentlig myndighets kontroll eller dersom behandlingen er tillatt i henhold til unionsretten eller medlemsstatenes nasjonale rett som sikrer nødvendige garantier for de registrertes rettigheter og friheter. Alle omfattende registre over straffedommer må bare føres under en offentlig myndighets kontroll.
Artikkel 11. Behandling som ikke krever identifikasjon
- 1.
Dersom formålene med den behandlingsansvarliges behandling av personopplysninger ikke krever eller ikke lenger krever at den behandlingsansvarlige kan identifisere en registrert, skal den behandlingsansvarlige ikke ha plikt til å bevare, innhente eller behandle ytterligere opplysninger for å identifisere den registrerte utelukkende med det formål å oppfylle kravene i denne forordning.
- 2.
Dersom den behandlingsansvarlige i tilfeller nevnt i nr. 1 i denne artikkel kan påvise at vedkommende ikke er i stand til å identifisere den registrerte, skal den behandlingsansvarlige, dersom det er mulig, informere den registrerte om dette. I slike tilfeller får artikkel 15–20 ikke anvendelse, bortsett fra når den registrerte for å utøve sine rettigheter i henhold til nevnte artikler gir ytterligere opplysninger som gjør det mulig å identifisere vedkommende.
Article 12. Substantial contribution to the sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources
1. An economic activity shall qualify as contributing substantially to the sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources where that activity either contributes substantially to achieving the good status of bodies of water, including bodies of surface water and groundwater or to preventing the deterioration of bodies of water that already have good status, or contributes substantially to achieving the good environmental status of marine waters or to preventing the deterioration of marine waters that are already in good environmental status, by:
- (a)
protecting the environment from the adverse effects of urban and industrial waste water discharges, including from contaminants of emerging concern such as pharmaceuticals and microplastics, for example by ensuring the adequate collection, treatment and discharge of urban and industrial waste waters;
- (b)
protecting human health from the adverse impact of any contamination of water intended for human consumption by ensuring that it is free from any micro-organisms, parasites and substances that constitute a potential danger to human health as well as increasing people’s access to clean drinking water;
- (c)
improving water management and efficiency, including by protecting and enhancing the status of aquatic ecosystems, by promoting the sustainable use of water through the long-term protection of available water resources, inter alia, through measures such as water reuse, by ensuring the progressive reduction of pollutant emissions into surface water and groundwater, by contributing to mitigating the effects of floods and droughts, or through any other activity that protects or improves the qualitative and quantitative status of water bodies;
- (d)
ensuring the sustainable use of marine ecosystem services or contributing to the good environmental status of marine waters, including by protecting, preserving or restoring the marine environment and by preventing or reducing inputs in the marine environment; or
- (e)
enabling any of the activities listed in points (a) to (d) of this paragraph in accordance with Article 16.
2. The Commission shall adopt a delegated act in accordance with Article 23 to:
- (a)
supplement paragraph 1 of this Article by establishing technical screening criteria for determining the conditions under which a specific economic activity qualifies as contributing substantially to sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources; and
- (b)
supplement Article 17 by establishing, for each relevant environmental objective, technical screening criteria, for determining whether an economic activity in respect of which technical screening criteria have been established pursuant to point (a) of this paragraph causes significant harm to one or more of those objectives.
3. Prior to adopting the delegated act referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article, the Commission shall consult the Platform referred to in Article 20 regarding the technical screening criteria referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article.
4. The Commission shall establish the technical screening criteria referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article in one delegated act, taking into account the requirements of Article 19.
5. The Commission shall adopt the delegated act referred to in paragraph 2 by 31 December 2021, with a view to ensuring its application from 1 January 2023.
Article 13. Substantial contribution to the transition to a circular economy
1. An economic activity shall qualify as contributing substantially to the transition to a circular economy, including waste prevention, re-use and recycling, where that activity:
- (a)
uses natural resources, including sustainably sourced bio-based and other raw materials, in production more efficiently, including by:
- (i)
reducing the use of primary raw materials or increasing the use of by-products and secondary raw materials; or
- (ii)
resource and energy efficiency measures;
- (i)
- (b)
increases the durability, reparability, upgradability or reusability of products, in particular in designing and manufacturing activities;
- (c)
increases the recyclability of products, including the recyclability of individual materials contained in those products, inter alia, by substitution or reduced use of products and materials that are not recyclable, in particular in designing and manufacturing activities;
- (d)
substantially reduces the content of hazardous substances and substitutes substances of very high concern in materials and products throughout their life cycle, in line with the objectives set out in Union law, including by replacing such substances with safer alternatives and ensuring traceability;
- (e)
prolongs the use of products, including through reuse, design for longevity, repurposing, disassembly, remanufacturing, upgrades and repair, and sharing products;
- (f)
increases the use of secondary raw materials and their quality, including by high-quality recycling of waste;
- (g)
prevents or reduces waste generation, including the generation of waste from the extraction of minerals and waste from the construction and demolition of buildings;
- (h)
increases preparing for the re-use and recycling of waste;
- (i)
increases the development of the waste management infrastructure needed for prevention, for preparing for re-use and for recycling, while ensuring that the recovered materials are recycled as high-quality secondary raw material input in production, thereby avoiding downcycling;
- (j)
minimises the incineration of waste and avoids the disposal of waste, including landfilling, in accordance with the principles of the waste hierarchy;
- (k)
avoids and reduces litter; or
- (l)
enables any of the activities listed in points (a) to (k) of this paragraph in accordance with Article 16.
2. The Commission shall adopt a delegated act in accordance with Article 23 to:
- (a)
supplement paragraph 1 of this Article by establishing technical screening criteria for determining the conditions under which a specific economic activity qualifies as contributing substantially to the transition to a circular economy; and
- (b)
supplement Article 17 by establishing, for each relevant environmental objective, technical screening criteria for determining whether an economic activity in respect of which technical screening criteria have established pursuant to point (a) of this paragraph causes significant harm to one or more of those objectives.
3. Prior to adopting the delegated act referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article, the Commission shall consult the Platform referred to in Article 20 regarding the technical screening criteria referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article.
4. The Commission shall establish the technical screening criteria referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article in one delegated act, taking into account the requirements of Article 19.
5. The Commission shall adopt the delegated act referred to in paragraph 2 by 31 December 2021, with a view to ensuring its application from 1 January 2023.
Article 14. Substantial contribution to pollution prevention and control
1. An economic activity shall qualify as contributing substantially to pollution prevention and control where that activity contributes substantially to environmental protection from pollution by:
- (a)
preventing or, where that is not practicable, reducing pollutant emissions into air, water or land, other than greenhouse gasses;
- (b)
improving levels of air, water or soil quality in the areas in which the economic activity takes place whilst minimising any adverse impact on, human health and the environment or the risk thereof;
- (c)
preventing or minimising any adverse impact on human health and the environment of the production, use or disposal of chemicals;
- (d)
cleaning up litter and other pollution; or
- (e)
enabling any of the activities listed in points (a) to (d) of this paragraph in accordance with Article 16.
2. The Commission shall adopt a delegated act in accordance with Article 23 to:
- (a)
supplement paragraph 1 of this Article by establishing technical screening criteria for determining the conditions under which a specific economic activity qualifies as contributing substantially to pollution prevention and control; and
- (b)
supplement Article 17 by establishing, for each relevant environmental objective, technical screening criteria for determining whether an economic activity in respect of which technical screening criteria have been established pursuant to point (a) of this paragraph causes significant harm to one or more of those objectives.
3. Prior to adopting the delegated act referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article, the Commission shall consult the Platform referred to in Article 20 regarding the technical screening criteria referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article.
4. The Commission shall establish the technical screening criteria referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article in one delegated act, taking into account the requirements of Article 19.
5. The Commission shall adopt the delegated act referred to in paragraph 2 by 31 December 2021, with a view to ensuring its application from 1 January 2023.
Article 15. Substantial contribution to the protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems
1. An economic activity shall qualify as contributing substantially to the protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems where that activity contributes substantially to protecting, conserving or restoring biodiversity or to achieving the good condition of ecosystems, or to protecting ecosystems that are already in good condition, through:
- (a)
nature and biodiversity conservation, including achieving favourable conservation status of natural and semi-natural habitats and species, or preventing their deterioration where they already have favourable conservation status, and protecting and restoring terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems in order to improve their condition and enhance their capacity to provide ecosystem services;
- (b)
sustainable land use and management, including adequate protection of soil biodiversity, land degradation neutrality and the remediation of contaminated sites;
- (c)
sustainable agricultural practices, including those that contribute to enhancing biodiversity or to halting or preventing the degradation of soils and other ecosystems, deforestation and habitat loss;
- (d)
sustainable forest management, including practices and uses of forests and forest land that contribute to enhancing biodiversity or to halting or preventing degradation of ecosystems, deforestation and habitat loss; or
- (e)
enabling any of the activities listed in points (a) to (d) of this paragraph in accordance with Article 16.
2. The Commission shall adopt a delegated act in accordance with Article 23 to:
- (a)
supplement paragraph 1 of this Article by establishing technical screening criteria for determining the conditions under which a specific economic activity qualifies as contributing substantially to the protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems; and
- (b)
supplement Article 17 by establishing, for each relevant environmental objective, technical screening criteria for determining whether an economic activity in respect of which technical screening criteria have been established pursuant to point (a) of this paragraph causes significant harm to one or more of those objectives.
3. Prior to adopting the delegated act referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article, the Commission shall consult the Platform referred to in Article 20 regarding the technical screening criteria referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article.
4. The Commission shall establish the technical screening criteria referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article in one delegated act, taking into account the requirements of Article 19.
5. The Commission shall adopt the delegated act referred to in paragraph 2 by 31 December 2021, with a view to ensuring its application from 1 January 2023.
Article 16. Enabling activities
An economic activity shall qualify as contributing substantially to one or more of the environmental objectives set out in Article 9 by directly enabling other activities to make a substantial contribution to one or more of those objectives, provided that such economic activity:
- (a)
does not lead to a lock-in of assets that undermine long-term environmental goals, considering the economic lifetime of those assets; and
- (b)
has a substantial positive environmental impact, on the basis of life-cycle considerations.
Article 17. Significant harm to environmental objectives
1. For the purposes of point (b) of Article 3, taking into account the life cycle of the products and services provided by an economic activity, including evidence from existing life-cycle assessments, that economic activity shall be considered to significantly harm:
- (a)
climate change mitigation, where that activity leads to significant greenhouse gas emissions;
- (b)
climate change adaptation, where that activity leads to an increased adverse impact of the current climate and the expected future climate, on the activity itself or on people, nature or assets;
- (c)
the sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources, where that activity is detrimental:
- (i)
to the good status or the good ecological potential of bodies of water, including surface water and groundwater; or
- (ii)
to the good environmental status of marine waters;
- (i)
- (d)
the circular economy, including waste prevention and recycling, where:
- (i)
that activity leads to significant inefficiencies in the use of materials or in the direct or indirect use of natural resources such as non-renewable energy sources, raw materials, water and land at one or more stages of the life cycle of products, including in terms of durability, reparability, upgradability, reusability or recyclability of products;
- (ii)
that activity leads to a significant increase in the generation, incineration or disposal of waste, with the exception of the incineration of non-recyclable hazardous waste; or
- (iii)
the long-term disposal of waste may cause significant and long-term harm to the environment;
- (i)
- (e)
pollution prevention and control, where that activity leads to a significant increase in the emissions of pollutants into air, water or land, as compared with the situation before the activity started; or
- (f)
the protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems, where that activity is:
- (i)
significantly detrimental to the good condition and resilience of ecosystems; or
- (ii)
detrimental to the conservation status of habitats and species, including those of Union interest.
- (i)
2. When assessing an economic activity against the criteria set out in paragraph 1, both the environmental impact of the activity itself and the environmental impact of the products and services provided by that activity throughout their life cycle shall be taken into account, in particular by considering the production, use and end of life of those products and services.
Article 18. Minimum safeguards
1. The minimum safeguards referred to in point (c) of Article 3 shall be procedures implemented by an undertaking that is carrying out an economic activity to ensure the alignment with the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, including the principles and rights set out in the eight fundamental conventions identified in the Declaration of the International Labour Organisation on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and the International Bill of Human Rights.
2. When implementing the procedures referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, undertakings shall adhere to the principle of ‘do no significant harm’ referred to in point (17) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2019/2088).
Article 19. Requirements for technical screening criteria
1. The technical screening criteria established pursuant to Articles 10(3), 11(3), 12(2), 13(2), 14(2) and 15(2) shall:
- (a)
identify the most relevant potential contributions to the given environmental objective while respecting the principle of technological neutrality, considering both the short- and long-term impact of a given economic activity;
- (b)
specify the minimum requirements that need to be met to avoid significant harm to any of the relevant environmental objectives, considering both the short- and long-term impact of a given economic activity;
- (c)
be quantitative and contain thresholds to the extent possible, and otherwise be qualitative;
- (d)
where appropriate, build upon Union labelling and certification schemes, Union methodologies for assessing environmental footprint, and Union statistical classification systems, and take into account any relevant existing Union legislation;
- (e)
) where feasible, use sustainability indicators as referred to in Article 4(6) of Regulation (EU) 2019/2088;
- (f)
be based on conclusive scientific evidence and the precautionary principle enshrined in Article 191 TFEU;
- (g)
take into account the life cycle, including evidence from existing life-cycle assessments, by considering both the environmental impact of the economic activity itself and the environmental impact of the products and services provided by that economic activity, in particular by considering the production, use and end of life of those products and services;
- (h)
take into account the nature and the scale of the economic activity, including:
- (i)
whether it is an enabling activity as referred to in Article 16; or
- (ii)
whether it is a transitional activity as referred to in Article 10(2);
- (i)
- (i)
take into account the potential market impact of the transition to a more sustainable economy, including the risk of certain assets becoming stranded as a result of such transition, as well as the risk of creating inconsistent incentives for investing sustainably;
- (j)
cover all relevant economic activities within a specific sector and ensure that those activities are treated equally if they contribute equally towards the environmental objectives set out in Article 9 of this Regulation, to avoid distorting competition in the market; and
- (k)
be easy to use and be set in a manner that facilitates the verification of their compliance.
Where the economic activity belongs to one of the categories referred to in point (h), the technical screening criteria shall clearly indicate that fact.
2. The technical screening criteria referred to in paragraph 1 shall also include criteria for activities related to the clean energy transition consistent with a pathway to limit the temperature increase to 1,5 ℃ above pre-industrial levels, in particular energy efficiency and renewable energy, to the extent that those activities substantially contribute to any of the environmental objectives.
3. The technical screening criteria referred to in paragraph 1 shall ensure that power generation activities that use solid fossil fuels do not qualify as environmentally sustainable economic activities.
4. The technical screening criteria referred to in paragraph 1 shall also include criteria for activities related to the switch to clean or climate-neutral mobility, including through modal shift, efficiency measures and alternative fuels, to the extent that those are substantially contributing to any of the environmental objectives.
5. The Commission shall regularly review the technical screening criteria referred to in paragraph 1 and, where appropriate, amend the delegated acts adopted in accordance with this Regulation in line with scientific and technological developments.
In that context, before amending or replacing a delegated act, the Commission shall assess the implementation of those criteria taking into account the outcome of their application by financial market participants and their impact on capital markets, including on the channelling of investment into environmentally sustainable economic activities.
To ensure that economic activities as referred to in Article 10(2) remain on a credible transition pathway consistent with a climate-neutral economy, the Commission shall review the technical screening criteria for those activities at least every three years and, where appropriate, amend the delegated act referred to in Article 10(3) in line with scientific and technological developments.
Article 20. Platform on Sustainable Finance
1. The Commission shall establish a Platform on Sustainable Finance (the ‘Platform’). It shall be composed in a balanced manner of the following groups:
- (a)
representatives of:
- (i)
the European Environment Agency;
- (ii)
) the ESAs;
- (iii)
the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund; and
- (iv)
the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights;
- (i)
- (b)
experts representing relevant private stakeholders, including financial and non-financial market participants and business sectors, representing relevant industries, and persons with accounting and reporting expertise;
- (c)
experts representing civil society, including persons with expertise in the field of environmental, social, labour and governance issues;
- (d)
experts appointed in a personal capacity, who have proven knowledge and experience in the areas covered by this Regulation;
- (e)
experts representing academia, including universities, research institutes and other scientific organisations, including persons with global expertise.
2. The Platform shall:
- (a)
advise the Commission on the technical screening criteria referred to in Article 19, as well as on the possible need to update those criteria;
- (b)
analyse the impact of the technical screening criteria in terms of potential costs and benefits of their application;
- (c)
assist the Commission in analysing requests from stakeholders to develop or revise technical screening criteria for a given economic activity;
- (d)
advise the Commission, where appropriate, on the possible role of sustainability accounting and reporting standards in supporting the application of the technical screening criteria;
- (e)
monitor and regularly report to the Commission on trends at Union and Member State level regarding capital flows into sustainable investment;
- (f)
advise the Commission on the possible need to develop further measures to improve data availability and quality;
- (g)
advise the Commission on the usability of the technical screening criteria, taking into account the need to avoid undue administrative burdens;
- (h)
advise the Commission on the possible need to amend this Regulation;
- (i)
advise the Commission on the evaluation and development of sustainable finance policies, including with regard to policy coherence issues;
- (j)
advise the Commission on addressing other sustainability objectives, including social objectives;
- (k)
advise the Commission on the application of Article 18 and the possible need to supplement the requirements thereof.
3. The Platform shall take into account the views of a wide range of stakeholders.
4. The Platform shall be chaired by the Commission and constituted in accordance with the horizontal rules on the creation and operation of Commission expert groups. In that context the Commission may invite experts with specific expertise on an ad hoc basis.
5. The Platform shall carry out its tasks in accordance with the principle of transparency. The Commission shall publish the minutes of the meetings of the Platform and other relevant documents on the Commission website.
6. Where financial market participants consider that an economic activity which does not comply with the technical screening criteria established pursuant to this Regulation, or for which such technical screening criteria have not yet been established, should qualify as environmentally sustainable, they may inform the Platform thereof.
Article 21. Competent authorities
1. Member States shall ensure that the competent authorities referred to in Article 14(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 monitor the compliance of financial market participants with the requirements laid down in Articles 5, 6 and 7 of this Regulation. Member States shall ensure that their competent authorities have all the necessary supervisory and investigatory powers for the exercise of their functions under this Regulation.
2. For the purposes of this Regulation, the competent authorities shall cooperate with each other and shall provide each other, without undue delay, with such information as is relevant for the purposes of carrying out their duties under this Regulation.
Article 22. Measures and penalties
Member States shall lay down the rules on measures and penalties applicable to infringements of Articles 5, 6 and 7. The measures and penalties provided for shall be effective, proportionate and dissuasive.
Article 23. Exercise of the delegation
1. The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article.
2. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Articles 8(4), 10(3), 11(3), 12(2), 13(2), 14(2) and 15(2) shall be conferred on the Commission for an indeterminate period from 12 July 2020.
3. The delegations of powers referred to in Articles 8(4), 10(3), 11(3), 12(2), 13(2), 14(2) and 15(2) may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.
4. The Commission shall gather all necessary expertise, prior to the adoption and during the development of delegated acts, including through the consultation of the experts of the Member State Expert Group on Sustainable Finance referred to in Article 24. Before adopting a delegated act, the Commission shall act in accordance with the principles and procedures laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making.
5. As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council.
6. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 8(4), 10(3), 11(3), 12(2), 13(2), 14(2) or 15(2) shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or by the Council within a period of four months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.
Article 24. Member State Expert Group on Sustainable Finance
1. A Member State Expert Group on Sustainable Finance (the ‘Member State Expert Group’) shall advise the Commission on the appropriateness of the technical screening criteria and the approach taken by the Platform regarding the development of those criteria in accordance with Article 19.
2. The Commission shall inform the Member States through meetings of the Member State Expert Group to facilitate an exchange of views between the Member States and the Commission on a timely basis, in particular as regards the main output of the Platform, such as new technical screening criteria or material updates thereof, or draft reports.
CHAPTER III. FINAL PROVISIONS
Article 25. Amendments to Regulation (EU) 2019/2088
Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 is amended as follows:
- (1)
the following Article is inserted:
‘Article 2a
Principle of do no significant harm
- 1.
The European Supervisory Authorities established by Regulations (EU) No 1093/2010, (EU) No 1094/2010 and (EU) No 1095/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council (collectively, the ‘ESAs’) shall, through the Joint Committee, develop draft regulatory technical standards to specify the details of the content and presentation of the information in relation to the principle of ‘do no significant harm’ referred to in point (17) of Article 2 of this Regulation consistent with the content, methodologies, and presentation in respect of the sustainability indicators in relation to the adverse impacts referred to in paragraphs 6 and 7 of Article 4 of this Regulation.
- 2.
The ESAs shall submit the draft regulatory technical standards referred to in paragraph 1 to the Commission by 30 December 2020.
- 3.
Power is delegated to the Commission to supplement this Regulation by adopting the regulatory technical standards referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article in accordance with Articles 10 to 14 of Regulations (EU) No 1093/2010, (EU) No 1094/2010 and (EU) No 1095/2010.’;
- 1.
- (2)
Article 8 is amended as follows:
- (a)
the following paragraph is inserted:
‘2a. Where financial market participants make available a financial product as referred to in Article 6 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council (*1), they shall include in the information to be disclosed pursuant to Article 6(1) and (3) of this Regulation the information required under Article 6 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852.
- (b)
in paragraph 3, the first subparagraph is replaced by the following:
‘3. The ESAs shall, through the Joint Committee, develop draft regulatory technical standards to specify the details of the content and presentation of the information to be disclosed pursuant to paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article.’;
- (c)
the following paragraph is added:
‘4. The ESAs shall, through the Joint Committee, develop draft regulatory technical standards to specify the details of the content and presentation of the information referred to in paragraph 2a of this Article.
When developing the draft regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph, the ESAs shall take into account the various types of financial products, their characteristics and the differences between them, as well as the objective that disclosures are to be accurate, fair, clear, not misleading, simple and concise and, where necessary to achieve that objective, shall develop draft amendments to the regulatory technical standards referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article. The draft regulatory technical standards shall take into account the respective dates of application set out in points (a) and (b) of Article 27(2) of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 in respect of the environmental objectives set out in Article 9 of that Regulation.
The ESAs shall submit the draft regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph to the Commission:
(a) in respect of the environmental objectives referred to in points (a) and (b) of Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, by 1 June 2021; and
(b) in respect of the environmental objectives referred to in points (c) to (f) of Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, by 1 June 2022.
Power is delegated to the Commission to supplement this Regulation by adopting the regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph in accordance with Articles 10 to 14 of Regulations (EU) No 1093/2010, (EU) No 1094/2010 and (EU) No 1095/2010.’;
- (a)
- (3)
Article 9 is amended as follows:
- (a)
the following paragraph is inserted:
‘4a. Financial market participants shall include in the information to be disclosed pursuant to Article 6(1) and (3) of this Regulation the information required under Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852.’;
- (b)
in paragraph 5, the first subparagraph is replaced by the following:
‘5. The ESAs shall, through the Joint Committee, develop draft regulatory technical standards to specify the details of the content and presentation of the information to be disclosed pursuant to paragraphs 1 to 4 of this Article.’;
- (c)
the following paragraph is added:
‘6. The ESAs shall, through the Joint Committee, develop draft regulatory technical standards to specify the details of the content and presentation of the information referred to in paragraph 4a of this Article.
When developing the draft regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph, the ESAs shall take into account the various types of financial products, their objectives as referred to in paragraph 4a of this Article and the differences between them as well as the objective that disclosures are to be accurate, fair, clear, not misleading, simple and concise and, where necessary to achieve that objective, shall develop draft amendments to the regulatory technical standards referred to in paragraph 5 of this Article. The draft regulatory technical standards shall take into account the respective dates of application set out in points (a) and (b) of Article 27(2) of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 in respect of the environmental objectives set out in Article 9 of that Regulation.
The ESAs shall submit the draft regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph to the Commission:
(a) in respect of the environmental objectives referred to in points (a) and (b) of Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, by 1 June 2021; and
(b) in respect of the environmental objectives referred to in points (c) to (f) of Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, by 1 June 2022.
Power is delegated to the Commission to supplement this Regulation by adopting the regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph in accordance with Articles 10 to 14 of Regulations (EU) No 1093/2010, (EU) No 1094/2010 and (EU) No 1095/2010.’;
- (a)
- (4)
Article 11 is amended as follows:
- (a)
in paragraph 1, the following points are added:
‘(c) for a financial product subject to Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, the information required under that Article;
(d) for a financial product subject to Article 6 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, the information required under that Article.’;
- (b)
in paragraph 4, the first subparagraph is replaced by:
‘4. The ESAs shall, through the Joint Committee, develop draft regulatory technical standards to specify the details of the content and presentation of the information referred to in points (a) and (b) of paragraph 1.’;
- (c)
the following paragraph is added:
‘5. The ESAs shall, through the Joint Committee, develop draft regulatory technical standards to specify the details of the content and presentation of the information referred to in points (c) and (d) of paragraph 1.
When developing the draft regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph, the ESAs shall take into account the various types of financial products, their characteristics and objectives and the differences between them and, where necessary, shall develop draft amendments to the regulatory technical standards referred to in paragraph 4 of this Article. The draft regulatory technical standards shall take into account the respective dates of application set out in points (a) and (b) of Article 27(2) of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 in respect of the environmental objectives set out in Article 9 of that Regulation. The ESAs shall update the regulatory technical standards in the light of regulatory and technological developments.
The ESAs shall submit the draft regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph to the Commission:
(a) in respect of the environmental objectives referred to in points (a) and (b) of Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, by 1 June 2021; and
(b) in respect of the environmental objectives referred to in points (c) to (f) of Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, by 1 June 2022.
Power is delegated to the Commission to supplement this Regulation by adopting the regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph in accordance with Articles 10 to 14 of Regulations (EU) No 1093/2010, (EU) No 1094/2010 and (EU) No 1095/2010.’;
- (a)
- (5)
in Article 20, paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:
‘3. By way of derogation from paragraph 2 of this Article:
- (a)
Articles 4(6) and (7), 8(3), 9(5), 10(2), 11(4) and 13(2) shall apply from 29 December 2019;
- (b)
Articles 2a, 8(4), 9(6) and 11(5) shall apply from 12 July 2020;
- (c)
Articles 8(2a) and 9(4a) shall apply:
- (i)
in respect of the environmental objectives referred to in points (a) and (b) of Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, from 1 January 2022; and
- (ii)
in respect of the environmental objectives referred to in points (c) to (f) of Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, from 1 January 2023;
- (i)
- (d)
Article 11(1), (2) and (3) shall apply from 1 January 2022.’.
- (a)
Article 26. Review
1. By 13 July 2022, and subsequently every three years thereafter, the Commission shall publish a report on the application of this Regulation. That report shall evaluate the following:
- (a)
the progress in implementing this Regulation with regard to the development of technical screening criteria for environmentally sustainable economic activities;
- (b)
the possible need to revise and complement the criteria set out in Article 3 for an economic activity to qualify as environmentally sustainable;
- (c)
the use of the definition of environmentally sustainable investment in Union law, and at Member State level, including the provisions required for setting up verification mechanisms of compliance with the criteria set out in this Regulation;
- (d)
the effectiveness of the application of the technical screening criteria established pursuant to this Regulation in channelling private investments into environmentally sustainable economic activities and in particular as regards capital flows, including equity, into private enterprises and other legal entities, both through financial products covered by this Regulation and other financial products;
- (e)
the access by financial market participants covered by this Regulation and by investors to reliable, timely and verifiable information and data regarding private enterprises and other legal entities, including investee companies within and outside the scope of this Regulation and, in both cases, as regards equity and debt capital, taking into account the associated administrative burden, as well as the procedures for the verification of the data that are necessary for the determination of the degree of alignment with the technical screening criteria and to ensure compliance with those procedures;
- (f)
the application of Articles 21 and 22.
2. By 31 December 2021, the Commission shall publish a report describing the provisions that would be required to extend the scope of this Regulation beyond environmentally sustainable economic activities and describing the provisions that would be required to cover:
- (a)
economic activities that do not have a significant impact on environmental sustainability and economic activities that significantly harm environmental sustainability, as well as a review of the appropriateness of specific disclosure requirements related to transitional and enabling activities; and
- (b)
other sustainability objectives, such as social objectives.
3. By 13 July 2022, the Commission shall assess the effectiveness of the advisory procedures for the development of the technical screening criteria established under this Regulation.
Article 27. Entry into force and application
1. This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union .
2. Articles 4, 5, 6 and 7 and Article 8(1), (2) and (3) shall apply:
- (a)
in respect of the environmental objectives referred to in points (a) and (b) of Article 9 from 1 January 2022; and
- (b)
in respect of the environmental objectives referred to in points (c) to (f) of Article 9 from 1 January 2023.
3. Article 4 shall not apply to certificate-based tax incentive schemes that exist prior to the entry into force of this Regulation and that set out requirements for financial products that aim to finance sustainable projects.