8 Tourism
| (27382)
7669/06
COM(06) 134
| Commission Communication: A renewed EU tourism policy: towards a stronger partnership for European Partnership
|
| Legal base | — |
| Document originated | 17 March 2006
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| Deposited in Parliament | 24 March 2006
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| Department | Culture, Media and Sport
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| Basis of consideration | EM of 6 April 2006
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| Previous Committee Report | None
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| To be discussed in Council | May 2006
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Cleared
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Background
8.1 Article 2 of the Treaty establishing the European Community
(the EC Treaty) provides that the Community's task includes the
promotion of sustainable economic development. Article 3(1)(u)
of the Treaty lists "measures in the sphere of … tourism"
as among the Community's activities for the purposes of Article
2. Although the EC Treaty does not provide a specific legal base
for a Community policy on tourism, it does provide legal bases
for a large number of other policies which have an important link
to tourism, such as policies for the environment, trade, transport,
employment, regional development and training. The Commission
has, therefore, encouraged the exchange of good practice on the
development of tourism and made proposals on sustainable tourism
in the interests not only of the industry itself but also of the
natural and cultural heritage.[17]
The Commission's Communication
8.2 The Commission notes the importance of tourism for the European
economy and for the achievement of the Lisbon Strategy for Growth
and Jobs. The Communication says that, together with the other
industries to which it is linked (such as transport, construction,
insurance and so on), tourism accounts for about 11% of EU GDP
and 12% of employment within the Community.
8.3 The Commission also notes the challenges faced
by European tourism. These include the need to adjust to changes
in demand caused by the forecast increase in tourism by people
aged over 65; growing competition from destinations outside Europe,
such as China and South America; and the need to deal with the
actual and potential damage to the environment from tourism.
8.4 The Commission considers that these challenges
require:
"a cohesive policy response at EU level
… The main aim of this policy will be to improve the competitiveness
of the European tourism industry and create more and better jobs
through sustainable growth of tourism in Europe and globally.
"In implementing this policy, the Commission
will develop a close partnership with Member States' authorities
and the stakeholders in the tourism industry."[18]
8.5 The policy will focus on:
- better regulation (as
part of the Commission's overall policy to improve European regulation);
- better policy coordination
(for example, the proposals which might affect tourism will be
identified in the Commission's annual work programmes so as to
make sure that their impact on the industry is taken into account
from an early stage);
- better use of EU programmes of financial support,
such as the Structural and Cohesion Funds, the proposed Lifelong
Learning Programme, the new European Agricultural Fund for Rural
Development and the proposed Competitiveness and Innovation Programme;
- promoting sustainable tourism;
- identifying and promoting the exchange of
good practice; and
- improving Community statistics about tourism.
8.6 Finally, the Commission emphasises that achieving
sustainable growth and employment in tourism requires partnerships
between the Community's institutions, national, regional and local
governments, professional bodies, representatives of employers
and employees and NGOs. The success of the new policy will depend
on the how actively all the stakeholders respond to it.
The Government's view
8.7 The Minister for Creative Industries and Tourism
at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (James Purnell)
tells us that the Commission's policy on tourism is in line with
the UK's priorities. It does not call for new legislation. The
Government will consult the devolved administrations about the
proposals.
Conclusion
8.8 We draw this Communication to the attention
of the House because of the importance of tourism to the economy,
employment and the environment. There are no questions we need
put to the Minister about the document and we are content to clear
it from scrutiny.
17 See, for example, (25095) 15289/03, Basic orientations
for the sustainability of European tourism: HC 34-i (2005-06),
para 10 (4 July 2005). Back
18
Commission Communication, page 4. Back
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