7 Commission's Annual Policy Strategy
for 2007
| (27371)
7571/06
COM(06) 122
| Commission Communication: Annual Policy Strategy for 2007: Boosting Trust through Action
|
| Legal base | — |
| Document originated | 14 March 2006
|
| Deposited in Parliament | 22 March 2006
|
| Department | Foreign and Commonwealth Office
|
| Basis of consideration | EM of 5 April 2006
|
| Previous Committee Report | None
|
| To be discussed in Council | Not known
|
| Committee's assessment | Politically important
|
| Committee's decision | Cleared
|
Background
7.1 The Annual Policy Strategy is the first part of the Commission's
annual planning process; it is followed in due course by the Work
Programme and, eventually, by a retrospective statement of policy
achievements. We reported on the 2006 strategy in June 2005.[5]
The Annual Policy Strategy for 2007
7.2 This year's document, subtitled Boosting Trust through
Action, begins by setting the scene by pointing out the need
for the EU to act in such a way as to engender EU citizens' trust
in it, partly by attempting more effective communication on European
affairs and a "genuine dialogue". It also mentions the
possible accession of Romania and Bulgaria in 2007 and the continuing
debate on the future of Europe and the draft Constitutional Treaty.
7.3 The Commission then lists specific proposals,
under the usual four heads of prosperity, solidarity, security
and external affairs. We have listed these in an Annex, divided
up by the UK Government Department we expect to take charge of
them. The proposals are conveniently summarised by the Foreign
and Commonwealth Office in their Explanatory Memorandum as follows:
"Prosperity:
The document outlines the Commission's continuing support for
national action and willingness to act at Community level in 2007,
in order to help the Lisbon Strategy start to show tangible results.
The report highlights four priority areas: knowledge and targets
to improve Europe's education, research and innovation as growth
drivers; enterprise and access to finance for SMEs; jobs and ageing,
to use Europeans' skills to best effect; and to promote a common
approach on energy security, provision and use.
"Solidarity: The
document states that economic growth must be accompanied by economic
and social cohesion, environmental and human rights protection,
and respect for common values. The report notes that special attention
will be paid to sustainable management and protection of natural
resources, proposals for an EU maritime policy, energy policy,
the EU's climate change commitments and equal opportunities.
"Security: The document
recognises that security and justice and risk management require
an EU dimension. It notes that in 2007 the main target will be
migration and border control, lifting of border controls, efforts
against crime and preventive measures to ensure the safety of
citizens from disease, terrorist attack and disaster.
"External projection:
The report envisages that 2007 will see results of the Doha WTO
round through the opening of new markets for EU goods and services.
2007 will see the EU accession of Bulgaria and Romania and progress
in the stabilisation of the Western Balkans. Links with partner
countries in the European neighbourhood will be enhanced through
the implementation of action plans and co-operation with energy
as a core theme. The EU will continue to build capacity in response
to conflict prevention, crisis management and peace building."
7.4 The Commission goes on to describe its initiatives
for better governance and regulation: the improvement of impact
assessments, simplification of regulation, and a "modern,
efficient and accountable" administration to deliver its
policies. In this connection the Commission "will pursue
efforts to obtain an unqualified positive opinion by the European
Court of Auditors on the financial management of the EU budget"
and to increase transparency on how money is spent and decisions
taken.
7.5 The Commission also asks for more staff: 640
for a general increase in work and 250 consequent on the expected
accession of Romania and Bulgaria. The Commission explains that,
unusually, the Annual Policy Strategy does not provide details
of the financial resources to be used, because these are dependent
on the financial perspectives, which are still being negotiated.
The Government's view
7.6 In his Explanatory Memorandum of 5 April, the
Minister for Europe (Mr Douglas Alexander) summarises the document
and states that detailed responses to policy initiatives will
be given when legislation is proposed.
Conclusions
7.7 In last year's Report, we expressed our disappointment
that the Government's Explanatory Memorandum did not express a
view on each key initiative, as had happened with the 2005 Annual
Policy Strategy and we said that "we will expect a fuller
EM on next year's Strategy". Unfortunately, this has not
been forthcoming, but we will expect something more detailed when
the Commission issues its Work Programme for 2007 later this year.
7.8 We draw the attention of departmental select
committees to the Strategy and to the list of proposed measures
in our Annex, as these may be useful in planning their future
programmes.
7.9 We look forward to more detailed proposals
in the Work Programme, and in the mean time clear the document.
Annex: "Key Actions" contained in the
Annual Policy Strategy
These "key actions" are listed mainly as
described by the Commission, and the reference numbers show the
order in which they were mentioned in the four sections: prosperity
(P), solidarity (So), security (Se) and external projection (E).
We have grouped them by our estimate of the UK Department likely
to take the lead on them: but this may of course change.
| Ref |
Action |
| Constitutional Affairs
|
| So6 |
Follow up of Green Papers on succession and wills, matrimonial property regimes and the attachment of bank accounts
|
| So8 |
Green Paper on effective enforcement of judicial decisions
|
| So9 |
Minimum standards for gathering and handling evidence with a view to mutual admissibility
|
| So11 |
More harmonized interpretation of key provisions of Data Protection Directive
|
| Defence
|
| P23 |
New rules for defence procurement and simplified procedures for transfer of defence-related products
|
| Education and Skills
|
| P7 | Lifelong learning
|
| P10 |
Launch of the European Space Programme
|
| Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
|
| So12 |
Revision of EU Emission Trading Scheme and proposal on carbon capture and geological storage
|
| So13 |
Green Public Procurement as part of Action Plan on sustainable production and consumption
|
| So15 |
New EU Chemicals Agency and implementing REACH
|
| So16 |
Review of Habitats and Birds Directives
|
| Se10 |
New animal health strategy |
| E14 |
Assess EU progress on sustainable development
|
| E17 |
Community Food Safety training, open to participants from developing countries, enhancing trade in safe food
|
| Foreign and Commonwealth Office
|
| E1 | Monitoring of FYROM's compliance with Copenhagen criteria
|
| E2 | Revision of contractual relations with Serbia and Montenegro and clarification of status of Kosovo
|
| E3 | Review financial support and trade with Turkish Cypriot community
|
| E4 | Negotiations with Ukraine on successor to current Partnership and Co-operation Agreement
|
| E5 | Start negotiations with Russia on successor to current Partnership and Co-operation Agreement
|
| E6 | Continued contribution to Middle East Peace Process as well as to other "frozen" conflicts
|
| E13 |
New EU-China Framework Agreement
|
| Health
|
| Se8 |
Community framework for safe, high quality and efficient health services
|
| Se9 |
European structures to respond to health threats, particularly influenza
|
| Home Office
|
| So7 |
Plan for establishment of second phase of Common European Asylum System
|
| So10 |
Communication on drugs policy including detection and monitoring
|
| Se1 |
Schengen Information System (SIS II) and Visa Information System
|
| Se2 |
Protection of witnesses etc. in relation to international organised crime
|
| Se3 |
Export/import licensing system for firearms
|
| Se4 |
Transparency of legal entities to reduce infiltration by organised crime
|
| Se5 |
Preventing cross-border trafficking in restricted or prohibited goods
|
| Se6 |
Promotion of intelligence-led enforcement activities across the Union
|
| E16 |
Improved co-operation with third countries on migration management, return and readmission
|
| International Development
|
| E7 | Conclude Economic Partnership Agreements with the 6 ACP regions to allow implementation from 1 Jan 2008
|
| E8 | Increase support towards ACP countries affected by sugar reform
|
| E9 | Finalise Doha negotiations and start implementing agreements
|
| E10 |
Improve EC capacity to respond to international crises, natural or man-made
|
| E11 |
Improve EU aid effectiveness through joint programming with Member States
|
| E12 |
Improve implementation at EU level of Millennium Development Goals agenda on policy coherence for development
|
| E15 |
Implement International Fund for Renewables and consolidate progress in tackling climate change
|
| Revenue and Customs
|
| P8 | Customs and Fiscalis
|
| Trade and Industry
|
| P2 | Seventh Research Framework Programme
|
| P3 | Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme
|
| P5 | Trans European Networks
|
| P9 | Boosting investment in research and innovation by Member States and the private sector
|
| P14 |
Preparing for setting up a European Observatory of energy markets
|
| P15 |
Support completion of internal market for electricity and gas
|
| P19 |
Payment services industry: Single European Payment Area by 2010
|
| P21 |
Proportionality of capital and shareholders' control rights in listed companies
|
| P22 |
Common EU approach to radio spectrum allocation
|
| P24 |
Proposals on labour migration, in particular of highly-skilled workers
|
| So1 |
Revised directive on transfer of undertakings
|
| So2 |
Social partners' consultation on cross-border collective bargaining
|
| So3 |
Simplify legislation on information and consultation of workers
|
| So4 |
Follow up of Green Paper on evolution of labour law
|
| So14 |
Development and demonstration of clean coal technologies
|
| Se7 |
Global Monitoring for Environment and Security services on monitoring of land use, crisis management and ocean monitoring
|
| Transport
|
| P4 | Galileo [Global satellite navigation system]
|
| P6 | Marco Polo [Environmental performance of freight transport system]
|
| P16 |
Action plan on intermodal transport logistics
|
| P17 |
Inland Waterways Transport (Naiades Action Plan)
|
| So17 |
Action plan on future maritime policy
|
| Treasury
|
| P1 | Lisbon Strategy: Annual assessment of progress and identification of areas for further action
|
| P12 |
Enhanced monitoring of stability and convergence programmes and increased dialogue with the Member States likely to qualify for participation in the euro area
|
| P13 |
Development of the functioning of the euro area under the reformed Stability and Growth Pact and enhanced policy co-ordination
|
| P18 |
Concessions (follow-up to Green Paper on Public-Private Partnerships and EC public procurement and concessions)
|
| P20 |
Internal market for financial services
|
| Work and Pensions
|
| P11 |
"Flexicurity": aiming at a balance between flexibility and employment security
|
| So5 |
European Strategy on ICT to promote social inclusion and independent living in an aging society
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5 (26428) 7243/05: see HC 34-iii (2005-06), (13 July
2005). Back
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