1 Commission Work Programme 2015
| Committee's assessment
| Politically important |
| Committee's decision | Not cleared from scrutiny; recommended for debate on the floor of the House
|
| Document details | Commission Communication: Commission Work Programme 2015 — A New Start
|
| Legal base | —
|
| Department
Document numbers
| Foreign and Commonwealth Office
(36589) 5080/15 + ADDs 1-4, COM(14) 910
|
Summary and Committee's conclusions
1.1 Each year the Commission publishes its Work Programme
(CWP), setting out its priorities for the coming year. This year's
CWP — 'A New Start' — is the first Work Programme
of the new Commission.
1.2 The Commission proposes 23 new initiatives, which
are intended to contribute to the ten priorities set out by President
Juncker in his political guidelines. The Commission also plans
to withdraw or modify 80 existing proposals, and proposes 79 actions
under its Regulatory Fitness and Performance programme (REFIT).
In comparison to the 2014 Work Programme, this CWP contains fewer
new initiatives (29 were proposed in 2014), more proposals for
withdrawal or modification, and more REFIT actions (in 2014, 53
proposals were to be amended or withdrawn, and 14 REFIT actions
were planned). The Government considers that this is a positive
comparison.
1.3 The Minister for Europe tells us that, overall,
the Government welcomes the following aspects of the CWP:
· the priority accorded to jobs, growth
and investment;
· that it reflects a commitment to smart
regulation;
· the focus on energy and climate change
policy and the environmental agenda;
· the commitment to effective cooperation
against illegal immigration, people trafficking and smuggling;
· the Commission's "continued focus
on delivering an ambitious TTIP agreement in 2015 which safeguards
Europe's health, social, environmental and data protection standards";
· the work on transparency; post-2015 sustainable
development goals; and the EU Neighbourhood policy; and
· the commitment to the fight against Ebola.
1.4 Following a letter from our Chair, a number of
Select Committee Chairs wrote to us identifying which aspects
of the Commission's Work Programme they considered to be particularly
important. A wide range of proposals were identified as being
of significant interest.
1.5 The Commission Work Programme provides a comprehensive
look ahead at the Commission's priorities for the next 12 months.
We note the interest of the Devolved Administrations and Local
Government Associations in the programme. We also thank our Select
Committee colleagues for providing their views on what they considered
to be the most important parts of the Work Programme. The letters
we received are set out in full as annexes to this chapter.
1.6 As is our usual practice, we recommend this
document for debate on the floor of the House, given its wide-ranging
nature and the significant degree of interest across the House.
This debate should take place as soon as possible, to allow Members
to have an early say on the Commission's proposals for the rest
of this year.
Full details of the documents:
A Commission Communication: Commission Work Programme 2015:
A New Start: (36589), 5080/15 + ADDs 1-4, COM(14) 910.
Background
1.7 Each year the Commission publishes its Work Programme
(CWP), setting out its priorities for the coming year. This year's
CWP — titled A New Start — consists of five
documents:
· A Communication setting out the principles
of the Work Programme, and the main proposals under each of the
ten priorities of President Juncker's political guidelines;
· Annex I: A list of 23 new initiatives
which the Commission plans to take forward in 2015;
· Annex II: A list of 80 proposals which
the Commission intends to withdraw or modify;
· Annex III: a list of 79 actions to be
taken as part of the Commission's Regulatory Fitness and Performance
programme (REFIT); and
· Annex: IV: A list of legislation that
will come into force in 2015, intended to "better inform
citizens and companies of when EU law comes into force".
1.8 This is the first CWP of the new Commission,
which took office on 1 November 2014. In comparison with previous
CWPs, there is more of a focus on simplification and reduction
of regulatory burden. 23 new iniatives are proposed (compared
to 29 in the 2014 CWP), 80 proposals are presented for withdrawal
or modification (compared to 53 in 2014), and 79 REFIT actions
are planned (compared to 14 in 2014).
1.9 In introducing the CWP, the Commission says that
it was "voted into office with a commitment to make a difference:
to do different things and to do things differently". It
continues:
"Citizens expect the EU to make a difference
on the big economic and social challenges — high unemployment,
slow growth, high levels of public debt, an investment gap and
lack of competitiveness in the global marketplace. And they want
less EU interference on the issues where Member States are better
equipped to give the right response at national and regional level.
They also expect the EU to be more open and accountable about
what it does and how it does it."
1.10 The Commission says that it is determined to
drive this change, and that the focus will be on 'big things',
with proposals intended to contribute to achieving the priorities
set out in President Juncker's Political Guidelines.[1]
1.11 The Commission emphasises the CWP sets out its
commitments for 2015 only; other proposals will follow in future
years to fulfil the priorities in President Juncker's political
guidelines. However preparatory work may start in 2015 for a number
of these.
1.12 The Commission also clearly sets out its commitment
to simplification and reducing the regulatory burden. It considers
that it is necessary "to clear the decks so that time and
energy can be invested in those proposals that will have the biggest
impact on jobs and growth and which will have a good prospect
of being adopted in the near future". It stresses that it
is committed to the objectives of many of the proposals which
it is proposing to withdraw, but suggests withdrawal is appropriate
where there is no realistic prospect of them being taken forward
in negotiations; if they have been "watered down to a point
where they can no longer achieve their initial purpose";
or if they have been "overtaken by events". Some proposals
will be replaced with proposals which are more in line with the
ten priorities, or in some cases, more ambitious. However some
proposals are to be withdrawn as "society has moved on".
Withdrawals will not be taken forward until the Commission has
received the views of the European Parliament and the Council.
1.13 Seventy-nine actions are proposed under the
Commission's REFIT programme. The focus will be on ensuring that
the recent financial services reform, the Common Fisheries Policy
and the new rules for the European Structural and Investment Funds
2014-2020 are implemented effectively.
1.14 As explained above, the new initiatives proposed
by the Commission build on the ten priorities set out by President
Juncker in his political guidelines. These initiatives are outlined
below, and are listed under the priority to which they seek to
contribute.
A NEW BOOST FOR JOBS, GROWTH AND INVESTMENT
1.15 The Commission states that "the new economic
narrative of the Commission is built around three main strands
— boosting investment, pursuing structural reforms and fiscal
responsibility". It has already proposed an Investment Plan[2]
which is intended to achieve the priority of giving a new boost
to jobs, growth and investment in Europe, and explains that it
will propose a number of follow-up legislative actions which include
establishing a European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI),
promoting cooperation with National Promotional Banks and improving
access to Finance for SMEs.
1.16 Two other initiatives are also set out under
this priority heading:
· a package of measures to support people
to enter employment (especially the longer term unemployed and
younger people) and to develop a skilled workforce, which will
include measures to follow up on the implementation of the Youth
Employment Initiative, a proposal for a Council recommendation
on integration of the longer term unemployed, and measures to
promote skills development; and
· a mid-term review of the Europe 2020 strategy.
This non-legislative initiative aims to improve and update this
strategy to ensure it acts as an effective post-crisis strategy
for growth and jobs in Europe.
A CONNECTED DIGITAL SINGLE MARKET
1.17 In relation to this priority, the Commission
proposes a Digital Single Market (DSM) Package, which aims "to
ensure that consumers enjoy cross-border access to digital services;
create a level-playing field for companies and create the conditions
for a vibrant digital economy and society".
A RESILIENT ENERGY UNION WITH A FORWARD-LOOKING CLIMATE
CHANGE POLICY
1.18 Two initiatives are proposed in relation to
this priority. The first, a Strategic Framework for the Energy
Union, has as its focus energy supply security; integration of
national energy markets; reduction in European energy demand;
decarbonising the energy mix; and promoting research and innovation
in the energy field. It will include a revision of the EU Emissions
Trading System as part of the legislative framework post-2020.
The second is a Communication on the Road to Paris — "the
objective is to outline the EU vision and expectations and explain
partner ambition in the context of the 2015 UN Agreement on Climate
Change and set out the EU contribution further to the European
Council conclusions of 24 October 2014". The Commission also
plans to begin tabling legislative proposals to implement the
2030 Climate and Energy Package.
A DEEPER AND FAIRER INTERNAL MARKET WITH A STRENGTHENED
INDUSTRIAL BASE
1.19 The Commission refers to the internal market
as "one of Europe's best assets" and announces five
initiatives to create a deeper and fairer internal market with
a strengthened industrial base, including:
· Internal Market Strategy for goods and
services: the Commission will propose a strategy "for a renewed
and integrated approach for the Single Market in order to deliver
further integration and improve mutual recognition and standardisation
in key industrial and services sectors where the economic potential
is greatest". SMEs will be a particular focus;
· Labour Mobility Package: This package
will be aimed at "supporting labour mobility and tackling
abuse" and will include "better coordination of social
security systems, the targeted review of the Posting of Workers
Directive" and an enhanced European network of Employment
Services;
· Capital Markets Union: The Commission
will bring forward "an action plan for improving the financing
of the economy through more efficient market-based financing instruments
including work towards a framework for high quality securitisation";
· Framework for resolution of financial
institutions other than banks; and
· Aviation package: This would include a
Communication setting out the challenges and measures for improving
the competitiveness of the EU Aviation sector.
A DEEPER AND FAIRER ECONOMIC AND MONETARY UNION
1.20 The Commission announces three initiatives in
this area: a Deepening Economic and Monetary Union package, which
will follow up on the review of the most recent economic governance
measures ('six-pack' and 'two-pack'), incentivise structural reform
and address the external representation of the Economic and Monetary
Union; a proposal for a Directive which would "ensure the
exchange of relevant information between tax authorities of different
Member States on advance interpretations or applications of legal
provisions in cross border situations of individual tax payers";
and an Action Plan on efforts to combat tax evasion and tax fraud,
including a Communication on a renewed approach for corporate
taxation in the Single Market in light of global developments.
Regarding this latter initiative, the Commission says:
"The Action plan will, starting from the
work done on base erosion and profit sharing at OECD and G20 levels,
include measures at EU level in order to move to a system on the
basis of which the country where profits are generated is also
the country of taxation, including in the digital economy. The
Communication will aim at stabilising corporate tax bases in the
EU for a fair taxation environment, including relaunching work
towards a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base."
TRADE: A REASONABLE AND BALANCED FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
WITH THE US
1.21 The Commission gives the following context:
"Trade makes an important contribution to
jobs and growth. In addition to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment
Partnership Agreement (TTIP) with the United States, the Commission
is actively engaged in a number of bilateral negotiations coupled
with a strong multilateral commitment to the WTO."
1.22 A comprehensive review of the EU's trade policy
strategy is announced, which will cover all aspects of trade policy,
including bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral negotiations
as well as autonomous measures, and "will include policy
orientations in all these areas for the next five years".
AN AREA OF JUSTICE AND FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS BASED ON
MUTUAL TRUST
1.23 The Commission will bring forward proposals
to complete EU accession to the ECHR, and will publish a Communication
proposing an Agenda for Security for 2015-2020.
TOWARDS A NEW POLICY ON MIGRATION
1.24 The Commission will bring forward an agenda
on migration, which will be intended to:
"develop a new approach on legal migration
to make the EU an attractive destination for talents and skills,
as well as to improve the management of migration by intensifying
cooperation with third countries, fostering burden sharing and
solidarity and fighting against irregular migration and smuggling.
The agenda includes the review of the Blue Card Directive, the
EU-wide work permit for highly skilled workers."
A STRONGER GLOBAL ACTOR
1.25 In relation to this priority, the Commission
intends to bring forward two Communications, one on European Neighbourhood
Policy, which will be jointly proposed with the High Representative,
and another on the post 2015 Sustainable Development Goals, which
will seek to establish an EU common position on the Global Partnership
to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals.
A UNION OF DEMOCRATIC CHANGE
1.26 Three initiatives are put forward in relation
to this priority:
· A proposal for an inter-institutional
agreement (IIA) on better law making: the Commission plans to
bring forward a proposal for this agreement "to update and
strengthen the common understanding with the European Parliament
and the Council in relation to better regulation";
· A proposal for an IIA on a mandatory Transparency
Register: the Commission says that the proposed agreement will
"enhance openness and accountability by making the transparency
register mandatory for all interest representatives seeking to
influence policy making in any of the three institutions";
and
· A review of the Genetically Modified Organisms
(GMOs) decision-making process.
The Government's view
1.27 In his Explanatory Memorandum of 14 January
2015, the Minister for Europe (Mr David Lidington) sets out the
Government's views on the most significant initiatives in the
CWP. He points out that the Government's views may change when
substantive proposals are put forward and their impacts become
clearer.
1.28 The Government welcomes the focus of this CWP
on strategic priorities set out by the European Council in June
2014, and welcomes a number of particular areas of focus of the
CWP, as described in paragraph 1.3 of this chapter.
1.29 The Government's initial views on the key policy
initiatives in the Work Programme are set out in the following
paragraphs.
A NEW BOOST FOR JOBS, GROWTH AND INVESTMENT
1.30 The Government welcomes the planned legislative
actions for the Investment Plan for Europe, and notes that the
legislative proposal to establish the £21bn EFSI is expected
to be put forward in January. This proposal has now been published,[3]
and we expect to report on it shortly. At the time of producing
the explanatory memorandum, the Minister had already identified
two risks in relation to this proposal: one relating to how the
EU budget will support the EFSI, which may create pressure on
the Multi-annual Financial Framework, and another related to the
assessment and selection criteria for projects to be supported
by the Fund.
1.31 In relation to the initiative to promote integration
and employability in the labour market, which will include measures
to promote skills development, the Government states it is for
individual Member States "to decide on their own policy direction
to meet individual countries' skills needs". The Government
is positive about the Mid-term review of the Europe 2020 strategy
proposed by the Commission, and will "proactively engage"
with the Commission to make sure that the focus of this work continues
to be growth and jobs.
A CONNECTED DIGITAL SINGLE MARKET
1.32 The Government welcomes this initiative and
believes that the Commission should propose a "bold package
of measures which will in turn promote growth and jobs".
It notes that the current Data Protection rules need to be updated,
but argues that the new regime should benefit both businesses
and citizens. He tells us that the Government will "push
hard for proportionate legislation that provides appropriate safeguards
for people's data while at the same time creating the right conditions
for innovation and economic growth".
A RESILIENT ENERGY UNION WITH A FORWARD-LOOKING CLIMATE
CHANGE POLICY
1.33 In commenting on the Commission's commitment
to bringing forward a Strategic Framework for the Energy Union,
the Government states that it is broadly supportive of the Energy
Union concept, and believes that "it presents a number of
opportunities to enhance the EU's energy security and contribute
to the realistisation of our 2030 climate and energy targets".
A DEEPER AND FAIRER INTERNAL MARKET WITH A STRENGTHENED
INDUSTRIAL BASE
1.34 The Government welcomes the Commission's proposal
to bring forward a strategy for goods and services, noting that,
in the last few years, it has been encouraging the Commission
to propose measures to strengthen and deepen the single market,
especially in relation to services. It notes that there is a risk
that the Strategy will not be "sufficiently concrete or ambitious",
and states that it will continue to influence the Commission in
order to ensure that the Strategy "drives real integration".
1.35 The Government notes that the Labour Mobility
Package proposed by the Commission will include proposals for
a revision of the Regulation on the coordination of social security
systems, and looks forward to seeing these. It welcomes the draft
Regulation on EURES, and states that it will be consulting on
the UK's implementation of the Posted Workers Enforcement Directive
in 2015.
1.36 The Government broadly welcomes the Capital
Markets Union initiative and considers that it should support
growth and job creation in the EU. The Minister expands further
and says:
"We broadly agree with the workstreams prioritised
for action in the near term: securitisation markets, SME credit
information, private placement markets, and a review of the Prospectus
Directive to reduce administrative burdens on SMEs. The Government
will continue its efforts to influence this important work as
it develops, to ensure the creation of a well-regulated and integrated
Capital Markets Union comprising all 28 Member States, which maximises
the benefits of capital markets and non-bank financing for the
real economy."
1.37 In relation to the proposed framework for resolution
of financial institutions other than banks, the Government welcomes
"work in this area", but expresses some caution, noting
that as a domestic regime in part is already in operation in the
UK, it does not see that any new regulation coming from this work
should be "overly burdensome".
1.38 The Government also welcomes the proposal for
an aviation package.
A DEEPER AND FAIRER ECONOMIC AND MONETARY UNION
1.39 The Government notes the proposal for a deepening
economic and monetary union package. The Minister says that it
is important that it is recognised that the measures will only
apply to eurozone countries, and continues:
"The Government has been clear that while
a stable euro is in the UK's interest, it will not be part of
closer integration and it will protect the interests of those
outside the single currency, especially in relation to the Single
Market. Our red line remains that we should not be forced to participate
or fund new Eurozone-specific measures."
1.40 The proposal for a Directive with a view to
providing for spontaneous exchange of information in respect of
crossborder rulings is welcomed by the Government. The Minister
explains that, through the Code of Conduct Group, Member States
have already made non-binding commitments to exchange information,
and notes that the Directive is likely to make these commitments
legally binding.
1.41 The Government "fully supports" the
Commission's proposal for an Action Plan on efforts to improve
fairness and tax transparency, and measures to combat tax fraud
and evasion. Although it is not supportive of the proposals on
a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base and a Financial Transaction
Tax, it welcomes work on these proposals for the benefit of those
Member States who wish to proceed.
1.42 The Government welcomes the proposal for a Trade
and Investment Strategy for Jobs and Growth, and plans to influence
it "in order to: address complex issues including investor
protection and policy space for public services; consider the
strategic priority territories and sectors that promote UK trade
and the modernisation of the trade defence mechanism". The
Government also says that it "will work proactively to ensure
that the review does not encroach on Member State competences,
especially in the area of immigration, or compromise the UK's
JHA opt-in".
AN AREA OF JUSTICE AND FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS BASED ON
MUTUAL TRUST
1.43 The Government comments as follows on the Commission's
plan to bring forward proposals to complete EU accession to the
ECHR:
"The Court ruled on 18 December that the
draft accession agreement was incompatible with the EU Treaties.
The Court's Opinion is complex, and it will take time for the
EU institutions and Member States to think through its implications
for this proposal. The Government's view is that accession by
the EU to the ECHR must not transfer any powers to the EU nor
should it impact on the UK's rights or obligations under the ECHR.
Accession in principle aligns with the Government's commitments
on civil liberties, in bringing the actions of the European Union
directly within the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human
Rights."[4]
1.44 In relation to the European Agenda on Security,
the Minister explains:
"The Government would welcome emphasis on
key priorities from the Strategic Guidelines for Justice and Home
Affairs which were agreed at the June 2014 European Council, in
particular tackling human trafficking and modern slavery, preventing
terrorism and addressing radicalisation, and enhanced information
sharing. The Government will resist calls for 'burden sharing'
as a solution to the migratory pressures faced by Member States,
or for the EU Fundamental Rights Agency to have an expanded role."
TOWARDS A NEW POLICY ON MIGRATION
1.45 The Minister sets out the following in relation
to the Commission proposal for a European Agenda on Migration:
"The Government believes that the regulation
of labour migration from outside the EU should be a matter for
Member States to determine on the basis of national assessments
of economic need, and the UK has not opted into the existing Directive.
Similarly, the Government believes individual decisions on granting
asylum or resettling refugees are solely a matter for Member States.
We have broadly welcomed the new agenda on illegal migration although
we have concerns, in particular about proposals regarding enhanced
resettlement of refugees to the EU and 'burden sharing' on asylum
between Member States. The Government believes that the EU must
maintain the previously agreed policy regarding the primary responsibility
of individual Member States, with solidarity being provided by
way of practical cooperation in support of that responsibility.
Compulsory burden sharing or resettlement measures will remain
a Government red line. We will also continue to remind the Commission
of the need for effective EU action to tackle the abuse of free
movement by illegal migrants from outside the EU, for example
through sham marriages."
A STRONGER GLOBAL ACTOR
1.46 The Government welcomes that the Commission
will be publishing Communications on both the European Neighbourhood
Policy and the post 2015 Sustainable Development Goals. It notes
that the latter Communication will cover both financial and non-financial
implementation, and comments that it recognises that "an
offer on means of implementation and financing for development
will be crucial for agreeing a deal on a post-2015 development
framework".
A UNION OF DEMOCRATIC CHANGE
1.47 Under this priority, the Commission proposes
three initiatives: a proposal for an inter-institutional agreement
(IIA) on better law-making; a proposal for an IIA on a mandatory
Transparency Register; and a Review of the GMO decision-making
process. The Government wants the IIA on better law-making to
strengthen the position of the Council, enhance the role of national
parliaments and "support regulatory reform, by strengthening
those provisions from the 2003 Better Law-making IIA which relate
to Impact Assessments (IAs) and regulatory policy-making processes,
and by advancing our EU Better Regulation priorities on issues
such as competitiveness analysis in impact assessments, impartial
IA scrutiny and use of targets".
1.48 The Government is broadly supportive of the
other proposal for an IIA on a mandatory Transparency Register.
In relation to the review of the GMO decision-making process,
the Government "would like to see a science-based, pragmatic
and proportionate regulatory regime that allows safe market access
for safe GM products". It will seek to influence the Commission
"to prevent this proposal potentially running counter to
investment in growth by imposing further barriers to GM development".
PROPOSALS FOR WITHDRAWAL FOR MODIFICATION
1.49 The Government welcomes "the volume and
variety of withdrawals" in the CWP, saying that it represents
a "step-change" in comparison to recent years. The Minister
sets out which of the withdrawals and modifications are particularly
welcome to Government. They include the Regulation for the registration
of carriers of radioactive materials; the Clean Air Package; the
Circular Economy Package and the Pregnant Workers Directive.
PROPOSALS FOR REFIT
1.50 Similarly, the Government welcomes the Commission's
commitment to continue the REFIT programme, having "always
regarded REFIT as an important step towards reducing the burden
of European regulation on business and eliminating barriers to
growth". The Minister however highlights the Government's
belief that "this should be just the beginning of an ambitious
programme to reduce costs and build a more competitive EU".
The Minister notes that 44 evaluations are planned, alongside
11 repeals and nine fitness checks. He says that in relation to
a number of proposals, the Government will be unable to fully
assess the impact of the proposed actions on the UK — including
in relation to a number of transport measures, which the Minister
provides initial observations on.
DEVOLVED ADMINISTRATIONS
1.51 The Government has consulted the Devolved Administrations
and reports that they have "expressed an interest in the
entirety of the CWP". It will "continue to work closely
with the Devolved Administrations to coordinate UK positions on
specific initiatives outlined in the CWP as these are developed".
The Minister goes on to set out in some detail those areas in
which the Devolved Administrations have particular views on.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
1.52 The Government has consulted Local Government
Associations, who have identified which measures are of the greatest
interest to them. These measures are set out in the Minister's
Explanatory Memorandum. The Minister notes that "implementation
of many of the measures outlined would ultimately fall to local
councils, for whom this can sometimes constitute a heavy regulatory,
financial and/or administrate burden at a time of budgetary and
operational constraint, notwithstanding the benefits and opportunities
that might accrue".
The views of other Select Committees
1.53 In our Report, Reforming the European Scrutiny
System in the House of Commons, we argued that Scrutiny of
the CWP in the House should be improved. We recommended that we
should work with other Select Committees to set out, in a single
consolidated document, which of the proposals contained in the
Work Programme merited particular scrutiny. This document would
then form the basis of a debate on the floor of the House.[5]
1.54 We fully appreciate that the production of a
document of this kind will not be possible this year, as the general
election is fast approaching and many Committees had already agreed
their forward programmes prior to the publication of the CWP,
making it unlikely that they would be able to commit to taking
an in depth look at proposals contained in it.
1.55 However we still wished to hear from other Select
Committees which of the proposals they considered to be particularly
significant. Nine Select Committees provided substantive replies.
We would like to thank these Committees for their helpful responses,
which are published in full as annexes to this Report.
1.56 Mr Adrian Bailey, Chair of the Business, Innovation
and Skills Committee, told us that his Committee supported work
on the deeper and fairer internal market, but felt it "should
be strengthened in order to take account of the impact of manufacturing
moving to the East of the EU in search of cheaper labour costs".
His Committee is also supportive of the work on a fairer economic
and monetary union, and says that this work should "address
the unequal impact of the value of the Euro on different countries
and their exports". He also noted his Committee's wish to
see a clear strategy in the CWP on how to address the problems
of high unemployment rates among young people.
1.57 Mr John Whittingdale, Chair of the Culture,
Media and Sport Committee, informed us that his Committee considered
that the proposals in the CWP relating to a Connected Single Digital
Market were "likely to be of vital importance to the UK,
given that they focus on areas such as data protection, telecommunications
regulation, copyright, and audiovisual media services and cyber-security".
He explained that his Committee had produced recent Reports covering
these issues, and added that in these areas, "a delicate
balance between the interests of the industry, consumers and government
have to be maintained".
1.58 Mr Tim Yeo, Chair of the Energy and Climate
Change Committee, provided observations on the initiatives on
a Strategic Framework for the Energy Union and the Communication
on the Road to Paris — multilateral response to climate
change. He noted that the Strategic Framework "should be
a priority for scrutiny by the House", particularly "due
to the focus on energy supply security and integration of national
energy markets, which could have serious implications for the
UK". He hopes that the next Energy and Climate Change Committee
will look at this in detail. He notes that the Framework will
include the revision of the EU Emissions Trading System, as part
of the legislative framework post-2020, and he hopes that his
Committee, or its successor, will be able to assist the House
in scrutinising it. Turning to the Communication, which will set
out the EU vision and expectations in the run-up to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the
Parties (COP) in Paris in 2015, he tells us that his Committee
has scrutinised UK participation in, and the outcomes of, COP
meetings during this Parliament and anticipates that the next
Energy and Climate Change Committee will continue to do so. He
informs us that the Energy and Climate Change Secretary described
COP21 in Paris as "one of the top priorities for the next
Government right from the start through to November-December"
and comments that as such, "the Commission's vision and expectations
on COP21 should be of general interest to the House".
1.59 Joan Walley, Chair of the Environmental Audit
Committee, reported that her Committee was also concerned about
items missing from the CWP. She explained that in her Committee's
recent Reports on Air Quality and the Circular Economy,
the Committee had emphasised the importance of the Commission's
then proposed 'Zero Waste Programme for Europe' (part of the Circular
Economy Agenda) and the 'Clean Air Policy Package'.[6]
She told us that, in December, her Committee had written to President
Juncker to urge him to keep the air quality and circular economy
measures on the agenda for 2015.[7]
She notes that the Commission says that the withdrawn air quality
measure will be "modified as part of the legislative follow-up
to the 2030 Energy & Climate Package", and that
the withdrawn circular economy measure "will be replaced
by a new, more ambitious proposal by end 2015", but cautions
that her Committee and successor Committee would "have to
see details before any assurance could be taken from the reworked
proposals." She also notes that her Committee are likely
to highlight aspects of the CWP in their legacy report (which
will identify environmental and sustainable development agendas
continuing beyond the General Election), including the "Strategy
Framework for the Energy Union" and the "Communication
on the Road to Paris".
1.60 Miss Anne McIntosh, Chair of the Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs Committee, highlighted to us, on behalf
of her Committee, the proposals relating to waste, air quality
and the production of organic food. She considered these to "clearly
be matters of interest for the coming year", adding that
the withdrawal of proposals relating to a circular economy in
advance of a new policy required "close attention".
She noted that this may be a matter for the next Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs Committee to consider.
1.61 Sir Richard Ottaway, Chair of the Foreign Affairs
Committee, identifies three initiatives which his Committee, and
possibly the next Foreign Affairs Committee, will monitor closely.
The first of these is the trade and investment strategy, and particularly
the negotiations on TTIP. The second is the European Agenda on
Migration, where he says that "while there is an understandable
focus on the consequences of migration, both from within the EU
and from outside, it would be a mistake to overlook the causes
of migration and what the EU can achieve through external relations
to help address those causes". The third is the European
Neighbourhood Policy, and he comments:
"The most severe foreign crises during the
course of this Parliament haven taken place on the eastern and
southern fringes of the EU, and the Neighbourhood Policy is the
main instrument by which the Union can work to strengthen prosperity
and stability in these regions and thereby help safeguard its
own security and economic wellbeing."
1.62 Keith Vaz, Chair of the Home Affairs Select
Committee, considers that the proposals for a European Agenda
on Security for the period of 2015-2020 and the European Agenda
on Migration will be of particular interest to the next Home Affairs
Committee. He explains that his Committee has undertaken a considerable
amount of work relevant to these proposals, including recent work
on the situation of migrants in Calais.
1.63 Sir Alan Beith, Chair of the Justice Committee,
notes that while the proposals to complete EU accession to the
ECHR and the European Agenda on Security are likely to be of interest
to other committees, such as the Joint Committee on Human Rights,
the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Home Affairs Committee,
elements may be of concern to the current or future Justice Committee.
1.64 Mrs Louise Ellman, Chair of the Transport Committee,
commented that, while transport has a lower profile than some
other policy areas in the CWP, a significant proposal had been
put forward in the aviation package. She identified that a revision
of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Regulation 216/2008
may mean more regulatory responsibility passing from the Civil
Aviation Authority to EASA, but pointed out that it was not possible
at this early stage to know what any changes would mean in practice.
She explained that her Committee would be looking for reassurance
as to EASA's competence before any such change in responsibilities
were to take place. She also noted that work on climate change
and decarbonisation will have implications for transport. She
went on to identify three items in the REFIT programme that would
be of interest: the proposed fitness check of the directives making
up the Safety Rules and Standards for Passenger Ships; the proposed
simplification of rules on "access to the occupation of road
transport operator and common rules for the access to international
road haulage market", and the evaluation of the environmental
noise directive 2002/49/EC. She also expressed her surprise that
vehicle safety/steps to make roads safer for cyclist and pedestrians
were not mentioned in the CWP, nor the Ports Regulation, which
has also been of significant interest to this Committee.
Previous Committee Reports
None.
1 See A New Start for Europe: my Agenda for jobs,
Growth, Fairness and Democratic Change, jean-Claude Juncker,
15 July 2014 http://ec.europa.eu/priorities/docs/pg_en.pdf. Back
2
(36540) COM(14) 903. Back
3
(36605), 5112/15 + ADD 1. Back
4
The Minister is referring to Opinion 2/13 of the Court of Justice. Back
5
See our Twenty-fourth Report of Session 2013-14, Reforming
the European Scrutiny System in the House of Commons, (20
November 2013), HC 109-I, para 209. Back
6
Environmental Audit Committee, Progress on Carbon Budgets,
Fifth Report of Session 2013-14, HC 60, 11 September 2013; Environmental
Audit Committee, Green finance, Twelfth Report of Session
2013-14, HC 191, 26 February 2014; Environmental Audit Committee,
Energy Subsidies, Ninth Report of Session 2013-14, HC 61,
27 November 2013. Back
7
Letter from the Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee to
President Juncker, 15 December 2014. Back
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