The Commission's Work Programme (document (a))
3. As in the previous year's Programme, the Commission
divides its proposed measures (this year there are 96 of them,
of which one third are legislative)[4]
into four sections:
- "prosperity",
emphasising implementation of the Lisbon strategy for growth and
jobs;
- "solidarity",
which the Commission defines as "developing a cohesive Union
which recognises common responsibilities and reinforces prosperity".
Demographic shifts and climate change also come under this heading;
- "security",
including health promotion as well as anti-crime and anti-terrorism
measures; and
- "external relations",
where "the Union must continue to promote a strong voice
in the world, with a particular focus on preparing future enlargements,
on its neighbourhood and on Africa" and must "use [its]
weight in the global economy to turn globalisation into an opportunity
for all".
We list the measures in an Annex — divided
up by our expectation of the Government Department likely to take
the lead — and give the Commission's latest forecast of
when it expects to adopt them.
4. Further details of each measure are given in a
series of "road maps",[5]
which seek to provide answers to the following seven questions:
- "What are the main problems
identified? Are they unlikely to be solved satisfactorily by the
sole action of Member States? (principle of subsidiarity —
necessity test)
- What are the main policy objectives?
- What are the policy options? What regulatory
or non-regulatory instruments could be considered?
- What are the impacts likely to result from each
policy option and who is affected? Which impacts are likely to
warrant further analysis?
- What information and data is already available?
What further information needs to be gathered? How will this be
done (e.g. internally or by an external contractor) and by when?
- Which stakeholders & experts will be consulted,
how and at what stage?
- Will an inter-service steering group be set up
for the IA [Impact Assessment]?"
5. The Commission records its regret that "in
the current circumstances, it is unlikely that the Constitution
will be ratified in the foreseeable future", and states that
it will "participate actively" and support national
debates on the future of Europe. The Commission also said that
"every effort should be made" to conclude an agreement
on the Financial Perspectives for 2007-12 by the end of the year.[6]
(In the event, the European Council reached agreement at its December
meeting; this is now being negotiated with the European Parliament.)
6. The Commission also proposes to improve the quality
of its initiatives through "rigorous application of better
regulation disciplines: simplification, modernisation, consultation
and careful evaluation of the impact of policies". It also
hopes to address the "communications gap" by taking
practical steps along the lines to be indicated in the White Paper
on communication.[7]
4 A glance at the Commission's "forward programming"
list, however, reveals that these comprise roughly one fifth of
the Commission's proposed initiatives in 2006. Back
5
See http://europa.eu.int/comm/atwork/programmes/index_en.htm. Back
6
Work Programme, p. 2. We have reported on the financial perspectives
and recommended them for debate: (27269) 5973/06 (27302) 6426/06;
see HC 34-xxii (2005-06), para 2 (8 March 2006). Back
7
Work Programme, p. 3. The White Paper on communication was published
on 1 February 2006: (27265) 5992/06: see HC 34-xxii (2005-06),
para 4 (15 March 2006). Back
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