[{"bbox": [144, 119, 1086, 295], "category": "List-item", "text": "(5) Going forward, the EU-India Strategic Partnership will need to be aligned with these new developments in the European Union. Policy changes by the Indian government have enabled longer-term thinking in implementation of CSR, creating more opportunities for EU businesses to engage with Indian stakeholders, including the civil society, on key sustainable development imperatives including nature, climate action and equity."}, {"bbox": [144, 304, 1087, 481], "category": "List-item", "text": "(6) Against this background, the EU Delegation to India has worked with the Centre for Responsible Business (CRB) India on a study (2021-22) to assess the contribution of EU businesses in India on CSR and sustainability, with the aim to conceptualise a CSR and sustainability action initiative for India. CRB has also been implementing an EU project on civil society engagement in business for achievement of the SDGs, which ended in September 2023."}, {"bbox": [144, 491, 1087, 812], "category": "List-item", "text": "(7) The justification for a direct award to CRB comes under the scope of Article 195 of the Financial Regulation (2018/1046), i.e. \"for activities with specific characteristics that require a particular type of body on account of its technical competence, its high degree of specialisation or its administrative powers, on condition that the activities concerned do not fall within the scope of a call for proposals\". CRB has been engaged with the development of relevant national policy and regulatory frameworks on sustainable business (e.g. National Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct (NGRBC), issued by the Indian Ministry of Corporate Affairs), while it also possesses expert understanding of sustainability initiatives of EU Member States in India, and expertise in providing advisory services, capacity building, research and technical assistance to the public and private sectors."}, {"bbox": [144, 822, 1087, 969], "category": "List-item", "text": "(8) The direct award to CRB will facilitate further such work and i) establishment a collaborative initiative of EU companies in India, ii) contribute to self-sustaining industry-led initiative on sustainable business in India, and iii) contribute to development policy to put trade and investment at the heart of inclusive growth and development between the EU and India."}, {"bbox": [144, 979, 1086, 1068], "category": "List-item", "text": "(9) Based on the criteria for selection and experience of working with the EU, CRB has been considered as the most appropriate organisation for this assignment. Therefore, Decision C(2021)9971 should be amended accordingly."}, {"bbox": [144, 1078, 1087, 1196], "category": "List-item", "text": "(10) The amendment provided for in this Decision does not fall within the categories of amendments for which the prior opinion of the Committee is required. The Committee established under Article 45 of Regulation (EU) 2021/947 should be informed of this amending decision within one month following its adoption."}, {"bbox": [144, 1207, 480, 1234], "category": "Text", "text": "HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:"}, {"bbox": [554, 1275, 675, 1301], "category": "Section-header", "text": "Sole Article"}, {"bbox": [144, 1315, 933, 1343], "category": "Text", "text": "The Commission Decision C(2021) 9971 of 22.12.2021 is amended as follows:"}, {"bbox": [58, 1637, 126, 1683], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "EN"}, {"bbox": [607, 1659, 624, 1683], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "2"}, {"bbox": [1104, 1637, 1170, 1683], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "EN"}]