56 Amendments of Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ related to 2022/0032(COD)
Amendment 67 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) Therefore, legislative action is needed to address existing and potential structural deficiencies in the semiconductor industry and supply chain. A framework for increasing the Union’s resilience in the field of semiconductor technologies should be established, stimulating investment, strengthening the capabilities of the Union’s semiconductor supply chain, and increasing cooperation among the Member States and, the Commission, like-minded international partners and, where applicable, European regions and local entities.
Amendment 73 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) This framework pursues two objectives. The first objective is to ensure the conditions necessary for the competitiveness and innovation capacity of the Union and to ensure the adjustment of the industry to structural changes due to fast innovation cycles and the need for sustainability. The second objective, separate and complementary to the first one, is to improve the functioning of the internal market by laying down a uniform Union legal framework for increasing the Union’s resilience, innovation capabilities and security of supply in the field of semiconductor technologies.
Amendment 76 #
(4) It is necessary to take measures to build capacity and strengthen the Union’s semiconductor sector in line with Article 173(3) of the Treaty. These measures do not entail the harmonisation of national laws and regulations. In this regard, the Union should reinforce the competitiveness and resilience of the semiconductor technological and industrial base, whilst strengthening the innovation capacity of its semiconductor sector, reducing dependence on a limited number of third country companies and geographies, while deepening coordination and cooperation in key areas among like-minded international partners, and strengthening its capacity to design and produce advanced components. The Chips for Europe Initiative (the ‘Initiative’) should support these aims by bridging the gap between Europe’s advanced research and innovation capabilities and their sustainable industrial exploitation. It should promote capacity building to enable design, production and systems integration in next generation semiconductor technologies, enhance collaboration among key players across the Union, strengthening Europe's semiconductor supply and value chains, serving key industrial sectors and creating new markets.
Amendment 80 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The use of semiconductors is critical for multiple economic sectors and societal functions in the Union and therefore, a resilient and secure supply is essential for the functioning of the internal market. Given the wide circulation of semiconductor products across borders, the resilience and security of supply of semiconductors can be best addressed through Union harmonising legislation based on Article 114 of the Treaty. With a view to enabling coordinated measures for building resilience, harmonised rules for facilitating the implementation of specific projects that contribute to the security of supply of semiconductors in the Union are necessary. The proposed monitoring and crisis response mechanism should be uniform to enable a coordinated approach to crisis preparedness for the cross-border semiconductor value chain.
Amendment 82 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) The achievement of these objectives will be supported by a governance mechanism. At Union level, this Regulation establishes a European Semiconductor Board, composed of representatives of the Member States, regions, observers from the European Parliament, and chaired by the Commission. The European Semiconductor Board will provide advice to and assist the Commission on specific questions, including the consistent application of this Regulation, facilitating cooperation among Member States and, where applicable, regions, and exchanging information on issues relating to this Regulation. The European Semiconductor Board should be included within the administration of the Commission and managed by it, and should hold separate meetings for its tasks under the different chapters of this Regulation. The different meetings may include different compositions of the high-level representatives and the Commission may establish subgroups in order to monitor certain aspects of the semiconductor industry and market, such as computers with high and very high levels of performance (supercomputers).These subgroups should count on specialists of the industry, market and technology linked to the scope of the subgroup.
Amendment 87 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) Given the globalised nature of the semiconductor supply chain, international cooperation with third countries is an important element to achieve a resilience of the Union’s semiconductor ecosystem. The actions taken under this Regulation should also enable the Union to play a stronger role, as a centre of excellence, in a better functioning global, interdependent semiconductors ecosystem. The Commission, assisted by the European Semiconductor Board, should cooperate and build partnerships with third countries with a view to seeking solutions to address, to the extent possible, disruptions of the semiconductor supply chain, especially with like-minded partners with whom the Union has achieved very developed trading relations. Finally, the European Semiconductor Board should monitor the development of a market of recycled semiconductors.
Amendment 94 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The semiconductor sector is characterised by very high development and innovation costs and very high costs for building state of the art testing and experimentation facilities to support the industrial production. This has direct impact on the competitiveness and innovation capacity of the Union industry, as well as on the security and resilience of the supply. In light of the lessons learnt from recent shortages in the Union and worldwide and the rapid evolution of technology challenges and innovation cycles affecting the semiconductor value chain, it is necessary to strengthen the Union’s competitiveness, resilience and innovation capacity by setting up the Initiative. Especially disruptive are the increasing fluctuations in order within supply chains, with several causes such as order synchronisations, shortage gaming, overreactive ordering all over the world, as ways to counter other disruptions caused by health, trading or financial reasons.
Amendment 96 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) In order to equip the Union with the semiconductor technology research and innovation capacities needed to maintain its research and industrial investments at a leading edge, and bridge the current gap between research and development and manufacturing, the Union and its Member States should better coordinate their efforts and co-invest. To achieve this, the Union and Member States, should take into consideration the twin digital and green transition goals, taking also into account those projects that are done both at regional and local levels and to duly disseminate the information on lessons learned and good practices. The Initiative throughout all components and actions, to the extent possible, should mainstream and maximise the benefits of application of semiconductor technologies as powerful enablers for the sustainability transition that can lead to new products and more efficient, effective, clean and durable use of resources, including energy and materials necessary for production and the whole lifecycle use of semiconductors.
Amendment 98 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) (1) In order to achieve its general objective, and address both the supply and demand side challenges of the current semiconductor ecosystem, the Initiative should include five main components. First, to reinforce Europe’s design capacity, the Initiative should support actions to build a virtual platform that is available across the Union. The platform should connect the communities of design houses, SMEs and start-ups, intellectual property and tool suppliers, with research and technology organisations to provide virtual prototype solutions based on co- development of technology. Managed by the Commission, this virtual platform should build both a centralised version and assess whether a decentralised version on blockchain could also be necessary. Second, in order to strengthen the security and resilience of supply and reducing the Union’s dependency on third country production, the Initiative should support development and access to pilot lines. The pilot lines should provide for the industry a facility to test, experiment and validate semiconductor technologies and system design concepts at the higher technology readiness levels beyond level 3 but under level 8 while reducing environmental impacts as much as possible. Union investments along Member States investment and, where applicable, region investment, and with the private sector in pilot lines is necessary to address the existing structural challenge and market failure where such facilities are not available in the Union hindering innovation potential and global competitiveness of the Union. Good practices from existing hub prior to the setting of the new pilot lines should be standardised and disseminated all over the Union. Third, in order to enable investments in alternative technologies, such as quantum technologies, conducive to the development of the semiconductors sector, the Initiative should support actions including on design libraries for quantum chips, pilot lines for building quantum chips and testing and experimentation facilities for quantum components. The Initiative should also support other conducive and complementary technologies to the development of semiconductors, such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, orWeb3.Fourth, in order to promote the use of the semiconductor technologies, to provide access to design and pilot line facilities, and to address skills gaps across the Union, the Initiative should support establishment of the competence centres on semiconductors in each Member State, building from standardised knowledge and expertise from already existing hubs prior to the setting of the Initiative. Access to publicly funded infrastructure, such as pilot and testing facilities, and to the competence network, should be open to a wide range of users and must be granted on a transparent and non-discriminatory basis and on market terms (or cost plus reasonable margin basis) for large undertakings, while SMEs and academic organisations like universities or technical schools can benefit from preferential access, or reduced prices partially or totally. Such access, including for international research and commercial partners, can lead to broader cross- fertilisation and gains in know-how and excellence, while contributing to cost recovery. Fifth, Tthe Commission should set-up a dedicated semiconductor investment facility support (as part of the investment facilitation activities described collectively as the ‘Chips Fund’) proposing both equity and debt solutions, including a blending facility under the InvestEU Fund established by Regulation (EU) 2021/523 of the European Parliament and Council53 , in close cooperation with the European Investment Bank Group and together with other implementing partners such as national promotional banks and institutions. The ‘Chips Fund’ activities should support the development of a dynamic and resilient semiconductor ecosystem by providing opportunities for increased availability of funds to support the growth of start-ups and, SMEs, specialised academic organisations as well as investments across the value chain, including for other companies in the semiconductor value chains. In this context, the European Innovation Council will provide further dedicated support through grants and equity investments to high risk, market creating innovators. _________________ 53 Regulation (EU) 2021/523 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 March 2021 establishing the InvestEU Programme and amending Regulation (EU) 2015/1017 (OJ L 107, 26.3.2021, p. 30)The Chips Fund should also avoid demanding excessive administrative processes to the aforementioned possible applicants. In order to prepare and assist participants in the semiconductor industry and supply chain, the Commission should provide clear guidelines in the form of a specific Chips Fund Work Programme, including guidance on admissibility and eligibility conditions with clear deadlines, and the criteria for financial operational capacity and exclusion, information on mandatory documents, and assessment procedures. The Commission should also provide guidance on registry procedures and submit applications online via a specific and dedicated Chips Fund Portal, including guidance on preparing the applications and information on the structure, budget and political priorities of the Chips Fund. SMEs should have a dedicated space within this Chips Fund Portal.
Amendment 100 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) In order to overcome the limitations of the current fragmented public and private investments efforts, facilitate integration, cross-fertilisation, and return on investment on the ongoing programmes and to pursue a common strategic Union vision on semiconductors as a means to realising the ambition of the Union and of its Member States to ensure a leading role in the digital economy, the Chips for Europe Initiative should facilitate better coordination and closer synergies between the existing funding programmes at Union and national and, where applicable, regional levels, better coordination and collaboration with industry and key private sector stakeholders and additional joint investments with Member States. The implementation set up of the Initiative is built to pool resources from the Union, Member States and third countries associated with the existing Union Programmes, as well as the private sector. The success of the Initiative can therefore only be built on a collective effort by Member States, with the Union, to support both the significant capital costs and the wide availability of virtual design, testing and piloting resources and diffusion of knowledge, skills and competences. Where appropriate, in view of the specificities of the actions concerned, the objectives of the Initiative, specifically the ‘Chips Fund’ activities, should also be supported through a blending facility under the InvestEU Fund. The concepts and goals of this Regulation should be supported with significant new financial provisions for the design, experimentation, and testing of advanced and evolving existing and complementary technologies and products within the Union's semiconductor industry.
Amendment 102 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Support from the Initiative should be used to address market failures or sub- optimal investment situations in a proportionate manner, and actions should not duplicate or crowd out private financing or distort competition in the internal market. Actions should have a clear added value for the Union. These market failures may arise from diverse and complex events across the semiconductor supply chain, as we have seen during the COVID-19 pandemic and the overreliance of the Union on key production steps in this supply chain. Market failures therefore encompass internalities such as asymmetric information among some stakeholders of the supply chain; externalities costs or benefits transmitted between economic agents, without an agreed transaction between them; imperfections of competition, such as deviations or distortions due to market power; or the involvement of public goods from either intra-European public stakeholders or third countries over subsidising their own agents, and such involvement is characterised by non appropriability of adequate revenues and non-excludability in consumption.
Amendment 103 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14 a (new)
Recital 14 a (new)
(14 a) Such market failures and/or sub- optimal investment situations should be accordingly defined by the Commission with the assistance of the European Semiconductor Board.
Amendment 104 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) The Initiative should build upon the strong knowledge base and enhance synergies with actions currently supported by the Union and Member States and regions through programmes and actions in research and innovation in semiconductors and in developments of part of the supply chain, in particular Horizon Europe and the Digital Europe programme established by Regulation (EU) 2021/694 of the European Parliament and of the Council54 with the aim by 2030, to reinforce the Union as global player in semiconductor technology and its applications, with a growing global share in manufacturing. Complementing those activities, the Initiative would closely collaborate with other relevant stakeholders, including with the Industrial Alliance on Processors and Semiconductor Technologies. _________________ 54 Regulation (EU) 2021/694 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2021 establishing the Digital Europe Programme and repealing Decision (EU) 2015/2240. (OJ L 166, 11.5.2021, p. 1).
Amendment 105 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) With a view to accelerating implementation of the actions of the Initiative, it is necessary to provide an option of implementing some of the Initiative actions, in particular on pilot lines, through a new legal instrument, the European Chips Infrastructure Consortium (ECIC). The ECIC should have legal personality. This means that when applying for the actions to be funded by the Initiative, the ECIC itself, and not individual entities forming the ECIC, can be the applicant. The main aim of the ECIC should be to encourage effective and structural collaboration between legal entities, including Research and Technology Organizations. For this reason, the ECIC has to involve the participation of at least three legal entities from three Member States and be operated as a public- private sector consortium for a specific action. The setting up of ECIC should not involve the actual setting up of a new Union body and should not be targeted at one specific action under the Initiative. The ECIC should also be able to assist source semiconductor materials from their original sources as well as from other sources, and to assist in the development of recycled semiconductors. It should address the gap in the Union’s toolbox to combine funding from Member States, the Union budget and private investment for the purposes of implementing actions of the Initiative. In particular, strong synergies can be attained through combined development of the different pilot lines in an ECIC, pooling the Union’s contribution with the collective resources of the Member States and other participants, like regions, local entities, or specialised academic institutions. The budget of the ECIC that would be made available by Member States and private sector participants over its projected period of operation should respect the timeframes of the actions implemented under this Initiative. The Commission should not be directly a party in the Consortium.
Amendment 106 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) Integrated Production Facilities and Open EU Foundries should provide semiconductor manufacturing capabilities that are “first-of-a-kind” in the Union and contribute to the security of supply and to a resilient ecosystem in the internal market. The qualifying factor for the production of a first-of-a-kind facility could be with regard to the technology node, substrate material, such as silicon carbide and gallium nitride, and other product innovation that can offer better performance, process technology or energy and environmental performance. A facility of a comparable capability on an industrial scale should not yet substantively be present or committed to be built within the Union, excluding facilities for research and development or small-scale production sites. First-of-a-kind facilities should be able to source these semiconductor materials from their original sources as well as from other sources, which could be used to develop recycled semiconductors.
Amendment 109 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) Where an Open EU Foundry offers production capacity to undertakings not related to the operator of the facility, the Open EU Foundry should establish, implement and maintain adequate and effective functional separation in order to prevent the exchange of confidential information between internal and external production. This should apply to any information gained in the design and in the front-end or back-end manufacturing processes. and, where relevant, the ability to contribute to global supply.
Amendment 110 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) To allow for a uniform and transparent procedure to attain recognition as an Integrated Production Facility and Open EU Foundry, the recognition decision should be adopted by the Commission following the application by an individual undertaking or a consortium of several undertakings. To account for the importance of a coordinated and cooperated implementation of the planned facility, the Commission should take into account in its assessment the readiness of the Member State or Member States where the applicant intends to establish its facilities to support the set-up. Furthermore, when assessing the viability of the business plan, the Commission could take into account the overall record of the applicant. In light of the privileges attached to recognition as an Integrated Production Facility or Open EU Foundry, the Commission should monitor whether facilities that have been granted this status continue to comply with the criteria set out in this Regulation. To that end, both Integrated Production Facilities and Open EU Foundries should seek and establish joint ventures, both between participants having the same label, and between these two labels.
Amendment 118 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 31
Recital 31
(31) Any relevant findings, including information provided by relevant stakeholders and industry associations, should be provided to the European Semiconductor Board to allow for a regular exchange of information between high- level representatives of Member States and for integration of the information into a monitoring overview of the semiconductor value chains. The European Semiconductor Board should also take into account the objectives of the EU Critical Raw Materials Initiative as part of its supply chain monitoring, which should include impact assessments of any relocation of raw materials and component suppliers operating outside of the Union.
Amendment 121 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 32 a (new)
Recital 32 a (new)
(32 a) Regarding raw materials necessary for the production and fabrication of semiconductors, these range from silicon, germanium and gallium arsenide to silicon carbide. These different semiconductor materials are those whose electrical connectivity falls between that of an insulator and a conductor. They are able to manipulate their behaviour by introducing impurities into their crystal structure, known as doping. Semiconductor devices may be discrete in nature, such as transistors and diodes, or highly interconnected, where a series of electronic circuits are diffused into the surface of a thin slice of semiconductor material, called a wafer, to form an integrated circuit. The chemical purity of the semiconductor material is key to their effective operation.
Amendment 127 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 35
Recital 35
(35) As part of the monitoring, national competent authorities should also do a mapping of undertakings operating in the Union along the semiconductor supply chain established in their national territory linked or not with third countries’ actors, and notify this information to the Commission.
Amendment 133 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 40
Recital 40
(40) As part of the monitoring, Member States could specifically consider the availability and integrity of the services and goods of key markets actors. Such issues cshould be brought to the attention of the European Semiconductor Board by the Member State concerned. The European Semiconductor Board and the Commission should establish mechanisms to provide guidance to industry on monitoring and reporting, in particular to start-ups and SMEs, especially through the Chips Fund Portal.
Amendment 140 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 45
Recital 45
(45) Appropriate, effective and proportionate measures should be identified and implemented when the crisis stage is activated without prejudice to possible continued international engagement with relevant partners with the view to mitigating the evolving crisis situation. Where appropriate, the Commission should request information from undertakings along the semiconductor supply chain. Furthermore, the Commission should be able to, where necessary and proportionate, oblige Integrated Production Facilities and Open EU Foundries to accept and prioritise an order of the production of crisis-relevant products, and to act as a central purchasing body when mandated by Member States, following a delegated act. The Commission could limit the measures to certain critical sectors. In addition, the European Semiconductor Board may advise on the necessity of introducing an export control regime pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/479 of the European Parliament and of the Council60 . The European Semiconductor Board may also assess and advise on further appropriate and effective measures. The use of all these emergency measures should be proportionate and restricted to what is necessary to address the significant disturbances at stake insofar as this is in the best interest of the Union. The Commission should regularly inform the European Parliament and the Council of the measures taken and the underlying reasons. The Commission may, after consulting with the Board, issue further guidance on the implementation and use of the emergency measures. _________________ 60 Regulation (EU) 2015/479 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2015 on common rules for exports (OJ L 83, 27.3.2015, p. 34).
Amendment 149 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 50
Recital 50
(50) Under the exceptional circumstance that an undertaking operating along the semiconductor supply chain in the Union receives a priority rated order request from a third country, it should inform the Commission of this request, so as to inform an assessment of whether, if there is a significant impact on the security of supply to critical sectors, and the other requirements of necessity, proportionality and legality are satisfied in the circumstances of the case, the Commission should likewise enact a priority rated order obligation through a delegated act.
Amendment 150 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 53
Recital 53
(53) When the crisis stage is activated, two or more Member States could mandate the Commission to aggregate demand and act on their behalf for their public procurement in the public interest, in accordance with existing Union rules and procedures, leveraging its purchasing power. Where appropriate, regions, local entities, or coalitions or associations of the former, should be able to demand their respective Member States to mandate it. The mandate could authorise the Commission to enter into agreements concerning the purchase of crisis-relevant products for certain critical sectors. The Commission should assess for each request the utility, necessity and proportionality in consultation with the Board. Where it intends to not follow the request, it should inform the concerned Member States and the Board and give its reasons. Furthermore, the participating Member States should be entitled to appoint representatives to provide guidance and advice during the procurement procedures and in the negotiation of the purchasing agreements. The deployment and use of purchased products should remain within the remit of the participating Member States.
Amendment 152 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 55
Recital 55
(55) In order to facilitate a smooth, effective and harmonised implementation of this Regulation, cooperation and the exchange of information, the European Semiconductor Board should be established within the relevant administrative echelons of the Commission. The European Semiconductor Board should provide advice to and assist the Commission on specific questions. These should include providing advice on the Chips for Europe Initiative to the Public Authorities Board of the Chips Joint Undertaking; exchanging information on the functioning of the Integrated Production Facilities and Open EU Foundries; discussing and preparing the identification of specific sectors and technologies with potential high social impact and respective security significance in need of certification for trusted products and addressing coordinated monitoring and crisis response. Furthermore, the European Semiconductor Board should ensure the consistent application of this Regulation, facilitate cooperation between Member States as well as exchange of information on issues relating to this Regulation. The European Semiconductor Board should support the Commission in international cooperation in line with international obligations, including in information gathering and crisis assessment. In addition, the European Semiconductor Board should coordinate, cooperate and exchange information with other Union crisis response and crisis preparedness structures with a view to ensure a coherent and coordinated Union approach as regards crisis response and crisis preparedness measures for semiconductor crises. Finally, at the invitation of the European Semiconductor Board, like-minded international partners, as well as the World Trade Organisation, should be able to attend meetings and exchange information within the structures of the Board.
Amendment 155 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 56
Recital 56
(56) A representative of the Commission should chair the European Semiconductor Board. Each Member State’s national single point of contact should appoint at least one high-level representative to the European Semiconductor Board, whose Secretariat should be part of the Commission administration. They could also appoint different representatives in relation to different tasks of the European Semiconductor Board, for example, depending on which Chapter of this Regulation is discussed in the meetings of the European Semiconductor Board. The Commission may establish sub-groups and should be entitled to establish working arrangements by inviting experts to take part in the meetings on an ad hoc basis or by inviting organisations representing the interests of the Union semiconductors industry, such as the Industrial Alliance on Processors and Semiconductor Technologies, in its sub-groups as observers.
Amendment 156 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 58
Recital 58
(58) Member States hold a key role in the application and enforcement of this Regulation. In this respect, each Member State should designate one or more national competent authorities for the purpose of effective implementation of this Regulation and ensure that those authorities are adequately empowered and resourced. Member States could designate an existing authority or authorities. In order to increase organisation efficiency in the Member States and to set an official point of contact vis-a-vis the public and other counterparts at Member State and Union levels, including the Commission and the European Semiconductor Board, each Member State should designate, within one of the authorities it designated as competent authority under this Regulation, one national single point of contact responsible for coordinating issues related to this Regulation and cross-border cooperation with competent authorities of other Member States. Any breach of this confidentiality should result in a full investigation by the Commission, and if and where necessary, the Commission should revise the practical arrangements and guidance for the treatment of confidential information.
Amendment 164 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 10
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 10
(10) ‘first-of-a-kind facility’ means an industrial facility capable of semiconductor manufacturing, including front-end or back-end, or both, that is not substantively already present or committed to be built within the Union, for instance with regard to the technology node, substrate material, such as silicon carbide and gallium nitride, and other product innovation that can offer better performance, process innovation or energy and environmental performance. The project shall contribute to a common objective by supporting a strategic value chain and enabling security of supply for the future of the Union's semiconductor industry;
Amendment 172 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 16 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 16 a (new)
(16 a) ‘crisis’ means a serious disruption to the supply of semiconductors due to a marketfailure or a sub-optimal investment situation, leading to a significantshortage of products or services within the supply chain which may result in areal threat to the functioning, health, security and defence of theinfrastructure, economy, institutions, regions, Member States and citizens ofthe Union;
Amendment 184 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point b – point 2 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point b – point 2 a (new)
(2 a) supporting other conducive and complementary technologies to the development of semiconductors, such as quantum technology, the Internet of Things, or Web3;
Amendment 186 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point d – point 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point d – point 2
(2) address the skills shortage, attracting and mobilising new talent and supporting the emergence of a suitably skilled workforce for strengthening the semiconductor sector, including via reskilling and upskilling of workers. through, inter alia, increasing programmes for attracting third-country talent through initiatives such as the 'EU Talent Pool' and the European Skills Agenda, and seek to streamline market tests in the semiconductor ecosystem to better facilitate attracting and developing skills to realise the objectives of this Regulation; with an emphasis on support for academic and reskilling programmes and qualification, up to Master and PhD level in the area of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics);
Amendment 189 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point d – point 2 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point d – point 2 a (new)
(2 a) establish joint educational and reskilling ventures and exchanges with like-minded international partners which have developed expertise and efficiency in semiconductor manufacturing;
Amendment 190 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point e – point 3
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point e – point 3
(3) accelerating and improving accessibility to investment in the field of semiconductor manufacturing technologies and chip design and to leveraging funding from both the public and the private sectors, while increasing the security of supply for the whole semiconductor value chain. The Commission shall facilitate clear guidance and access points, especially to SMEs, start-ups, or scale-ups in accessing public and private funds.
Amendment 193 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) ‘Chips Fund’ activities for access to debt financing and equity to start-ups, scale-ups, SMEs and other companies in the semiconductor value chain throughout the Union.
Amendment 195 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) have one or more statutory seats, which shall be located on the territory of one or more Member States, taking into account the geographical diversity of the Union in order to avoid the centralisation of these seats in a determined geographical area of the Union;
Amendment 196 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
(c a) be able to assist source semiconductor materials from their original sources aswell as from other sources;
Amendment 197 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point c b (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point c b (new)
(c b) assist in the development of recycled semiconductors;
Amendment 198 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 7 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) the draft Statutes of the ECIC that shall include at least the provisions on: the procedure for setting-up, membership, budget, legal seat, applicable law and jurisdiction, ownership of the results, governance, including decision making procedure and specific role and if applicable voting rights of Member States and the Commission, winding-up, reporting and liability. Where applicable, the ECIC shall also take into account the opinion of regions, local entities, or specialised academic institutions.
Amendment 199 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 9
Article 7 – paragraph 9
9. The ECIC shall produce an annual activity report, containing a technical description of its activities and financial statement. The annual activity report shall be transmitted to the Commission and made publicly available. The Commission may provide recommendations regarding the matters covered in the annual activity report, which shall be duly presented to the European Parliament.
Amendment 200 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
1. For the purpose of implementing actions under the Initiative’s component referred to in Article 5, point (d), a European network of competence centres in semiconductors (the ‘network’) mayshall be established.
Amendment 201 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. With respect to the implementation of actions under the Initiative’s component referred to in Article 5, point (d), the network may perform all or some of the following activities to the benefit of the Union industry, in particular SMEs, start- ups, scale-ups, and mid-caps, as well as the public sector:
Amendment 202 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) raising awareness and providing or ensuring access to expertise, knowhow and services, including system design readiness, new and existing pilot lines and supporting actions necessary to build skills and competences capacities supported by this Initiative. The Commission shall provide clear guidelines about the protection of valuable intellectual property, and the prevention of unauthorised access to confidential and sensitive business, financial, economic and security information or trade secrets.;
Amendment 209 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1
1. Integrated Production Facilities are first-of-a-kind semiconductor design and manufacturing facilities, including front- end or back-end, or both, in the Union that contribute to the security of supply for the internal market and, where relevant, the ability to contribute to global supply.
Amendment 211 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
(d a) it is able to source semiconductor materials from their original sources as wellas from other sources;
Amendment 212 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point d b (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point d b (new)
(d b) it develops recycled semiconductors.
Amendment 214 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1
Article 11 – paragraph 1
1. Open EU Foundries are first-of-a- kind semiconductor front-end or back-end, or both, manufacturing facilities in the Union that offer production capacity to unrelated undertakings and thereby contribute to the security of supply for the internal market and, where relevant, the ability to contribute to global supply.
Amendment 217 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
(d a) it is able to source semiconductor materials from their original sources as well as from other sources;
Amendment 218 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – point d b (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – point d b (new)
(d b) it develops recycled semiconductors.
Amendment 220 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point c a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point c a (new)
(c a) willingness to seek and establish joint ventures, both between participants having the same label, and between these two labels;
Amendment 231 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b a (new)
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b a (new)
(b a) take into account the objectives of the EU Critical Raw Materials Initiative as part of its supply chain monitoring, which shall include impact assessments of anyrelocation of raw materials and component suppliers operating outside of theUnion.
Amendment 241 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 5 – point a – introductory part
Article 15 – paragraph 5 – point a – introductory part
(a) convene an urgent and extraordinary meeting of the European Semiconductor Board to coordinate the following actions:
Amendment 260 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 17 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. The European Semiconductor Board and the Commission shall establish mechanisms toprovide guidance to industry on monitoring and reporting, in particular to start-ups and SMEs, especially through the Chips Fund Portal.
Amendment 291 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
Article 23 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
(d a) monitoring the development of a market of recycled semiconductors;
Amendment 300 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 25 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. The Secretariat of the European Semiconductor Board shall be part of the Commission.
Amendment 301 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 4
Article 25 – paragraph 4
4. The Commission may appoint observers to take part in the meetings, as appropriate. The Commission may invite experts with specific expertise, including from relevant stakeholder organisations, with respect to a subject matter on the agenda to take part in the meetings of the European Semiconductor Board on an ad hoc basis. The Commission may facilitate exchanges between the European Semiconductor Board and other Union bodies, offices, agencies and advisory groups. The Commission shall invite a representative from the European Parliament as an observer to the European Semiconductor Board. The Commission shall ensure the participation of relevant other Union institutions and bodies as observers to the European Semiconductor Board with respect to meetings concerning Chapter IV on monitoring and crisis response. Observers and experts shall not have voting rights and shall not participate in the formulation of opinions, recommendations or advice of the European Semiconductor Board and its sub-groups. At the invitation of the European Semiconductor Board, like- minded international partners, as well as the World Trade Organisation, shall attend meetings and exchange information within the structures of the Board, which shall provide them with the necessary confidentiality criteria in order to attend to these meetings.
Amendment 305 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Article 25 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Where appropriate, regions, local entities, or coalitions or associations of the former, shall be able to demand their respective Member States to mandate the Commission to aggregate demand and act on their behalf for their public procurement in the public interest, in accordance with existing Union rules and procedures, leveraging its purchasing power.