Home Josianne CUTAJAR

I endorsed the agreement reached on the Data Act, which will boost innovation by removing barriers obstructing consumers’ and businesses’ access to data, clarifying the rules around data sharing. The framework establishes clear rights and obligations, indicating who, and under which conditions, is entitled to use accessible data collected, obtained or otherwise generated by connected products or related services, empowering the users to participate in the data economy and to harness the value of data they generate.
In this regard, I am supportive of the provision that the European Parliament introduces on data literacy, to promote awareness on the rights and obligations arising from this Act.
Following the same consumer-oriented approach, the new law also establishes that data accessed from a connected product should be provided free of charge to the user, whilst all safeguards imposed by the GDPR are respected.

I voted in favour of the Report on European Environmental Economic accounts in order to allow European statistics to better monitor progress towards a green, competitive and resilient circular economy, which would contribute to the fulfilment of environment, sustainability and climate change duties. By incorporating new modules, Member States will be provided with relevant and granular data about their climate, energy and environment investment gaps, leading to more concise and efficient policymaking.
In line with the Green Deal and the Fit for 55 package, the new elements on the Environmental Dashboard will ensure that the information on climate pathways, biodiversity, pollution, forests and other environmental issues is made available in a clear and transparent manner.

I supported the codification of the Court of Justice of the European Union’s judgment in Case C-181/20 that declared as partially invalid Article 13(1) of Directive 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE Directive) by reason of non-justified retroactive effect, overriding the obligation of the producers of electrical and electronic equipment to bear the costs for the collection, treatment, recovery and environmentally sound disposal of waste from users other than private households resulting from products placed on the market after 13 August 2005. The amendment clarifies the time from when producers of different electrical and electronic equipment have to provide for the financing of the management of the waste that occur from their products, while emphasising the importance of avoiding the transfer of burden and costs unto citizens and consumer.