THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 114 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee [OJ C 286, 16.7.2021, p. 170.],

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions [OJ C 286, 16.7.2021, p. 170.],

Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure [Position of the European Parliament of 22 November 2022 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Council decision of 8 December 2022.],

Whereas:

(1) Critical entities, as providers of essential services, play an indispensable role in the maintenance of vital societal functions or economic activities in the internal market in an increasingly interdependent Union economy. It is therefore essential to set out a Union framework with the aim of both enhancing the resilience of critical entities in the internal market by laying down harmonised minimum rules and assisting them by means of coherent and dedicated support and supervision measures.