SECTION 2, SEMICONDUCTOR SUPPLY CRISIS STAGE
Article 18: Activation of the crisis stage
1. A semiconductor crisis shall be considered to occur when there are serious disruptions in the supply of semiconductors leading to significant shortages, which:
(a) entail significant delays or significant negative effects on one or more important economic sectors in the Union, or
(b) prevent the supply, repair and maintenance of essential products used by critical sectors.
2. Where an assessment of the Commission provides concrete, serious, and reliable evidence of a semiconductor crisis, the Commission may activate the crisis stage by means of implementing acts in accordance with Article 33(2). The duration of the activation shall be specified in the implementing act. Where, in view of the scope and gravity of the semiconductor crisis, duly justified imperative grounds of urgency so require, the procedure provided for in Article 33(3) shall apply to implementing acts adopted pursuant to this Article.
3. Before the expiry of the duration for which the crisis stage was activated, the Commission shall, after consulting the European Semiconductor Board, assess whether the activation of the crisis stage should be prolonged. Where the assessment concludes that a prolongation is appropriate, the Commission may prolong the activation by means of implementing acts. The duration of the prolongation shall be specified in the implementing acts adopted in accordance with Article 33(2). The Commission may repeatedly decide to prolong the activation of the cns1s stage where this is appropriate.
4. During the crisis stage, the Commission shall, upon request from a Member State or on its own initiative, convene extraordinary meetings of the European Semiconductor Board as necessary. Member States shall work closely with the Commission and coordinate any national measures taken with regard to the semiconductor supply chain within the European Semiconductor Board.
5. Upon expiry of the duration for which the crisis stage is activated, the measures taken in accordance with Articles 20, 21 and 22 shall cease to apply. The Commission shall review the Union risk assessment pursuant to Article 16(2) no later than six months after the expiry of the duration of the crisis stage.
Note: This is not the final text of the European Chips Act. This is the text of the European Chips Act Proposal of February 2022.