Examination of Witness (Questions 34-39)
Commissioner Wallström
2 JULY 2008
Q34 Chairman: May I begin by thanking
you for giving us this opportunity to talk to you directly. We
are extremely grateful not only for the detail in which you answered
our written questions, but also how quickly you got them to us.[4]
I really wish our Government would be able to return answers to
our questions with such speed. Thank you very much and many congratulations.
As you know, we have read what you had to say. We would like this
to be a free-flowing discussion as far as possible, so that we
can get a broad view of what you feel about the Annual Policy
Strategy, particularly in the light of what happened with the
Irish referendum, but also go into one or two of the issues—not
all of them, but the major issues—in a little more detail.
I would like to know whether there is anything you would like
to say to us to start with before we put a few questions to you.
Commissioner Wallström: Thank you very
much, My Lord Chairman and honourable Members of the House of
Lords. I appreciate it if we can set the standards when it comes
to responding quickly for the UK Government, and I am glad that
you appreciated the written replies we gave. This has now almost
become a tradition for us, because it is the third time that we
meet for evidence—although this time in a virtual way. I
of course prefer the other way—to meet in person—but
I am glad that we have the opportunity. I also know that you have
met twice with my head of Cabinet, Christian Leffler. If you will
let me, I will just say a few words of introduction. I think the
questions and replies provide good background for our discussion
today. The objective of the whole Annual Policy Strategy is of
course to spark a dialogue with the other institutions, with the
Member States, and with the national parliaments on where the
priorities should lie next year. This dialogue is also essential
to ensure proper preparation of the Commission Work Programme
for 2009. We are all aware that next year will be a special year,
a transition year of great importance, marked by the end of the
mandate of the Barroso Commission. The European elections in June
will lead to a new European Parliament and we will also have a
chance to celebrate 20 years of the march of freedom since the
fall of the Berlin Wall. For next year the Commission will stick
to its ambition of delivering a Europe of results and bringing
concrete benefits to citizens. Let me remind you of the five pillars
that make up the structure of the Annual Policy Strategy. The
first priority is to promote sustainable growth and jobs; the
second is to promote a low emissions and a resource-efficient
economy; with the Common Immigration Policy being the third. The
fourth pillar is to focus on delivering policies of direct interest
for citizens; for example, the revised social agenda. We discussed
that and decided on that in the Commission meeting today—a
whole package, a list of 15 different proposals, including one
of patient mobility and, also, antidiscrimination legislation.
Fifth, and finally, we will also pursue our objective of consolidating
the role of Europe as a global partner. The international role
we play will continue to be a very important one. In 2009 we will
also be preparing the ground for the future financing of the Union's
policies. The results of the consultation now underway on the
budget review will help us to prepare the next multi-annual Financial
Framework. That will be proposed by the next Commission, but I
think this is important for you as well. Finally, the APS suggests
a number of communication priorities for the year to come. This
is hopefully the beginning of the programme, leading to the adoption
of our Work Programme in October, so I think that this evidence
session comes at a good moment. I really hope that I can answer
any questions you might have. I can assure you that I will pass
on your questions and concerns and comments to my colleagues in
the Commission. Thank you for being there. I enjoy meeting you,
even though it is the virtual way.
Q35 Chairman: Thank you very much
indeed. The first question I want to put to you is in a sense
a rather generic one. We are still wrestling a little bit with
the ultimate objective of the APS. We had a discussion about this
a year ago, but there is one thing on which we would like some
clarification. Is this a political clarion call on the priorities
of Europe in the coming year which is directed to the citizens
of Europe, or is it more of an internal working "to do"
list? The reason I ask this is because, obviously, with the result
of the Irish referendum, the need to be able to explain the European
Union to European citizens is extremely important. Are you appealing
with the APS over the heads of the institutions to the European
citizens, saying, "This is what needs to be done and it is
up to the Member States and the institutions to make sure that
it is done?" You have the right of initiative in the Commission
and you are saying, "This is what needs to be done".
If it is not done, then at least you can say, "Well, we proposed
it, but it was not carried through, so don't blame us." To
what extent are you appealing over the heads of the Member States
to the citizens of Europe? To what extent are you in fact setting
a work programme which will be spelled out in the annual Legislative
and Work Programme for the institutions themselves?
Commissioner Wallström: That is, My Lord
Chairman, as usual, a very clever question and at the same time
a very political one. What we do with the APS is, of course, to
flag up our intentions and, also, to start a dialogue with the
other institutions, but I do not think you can ever disconnect
it from what we want to signal to the citizens. It always has
to be integrated into our Work Programme. In a way, it is both:
it is to say that these are the political priorities of the Commission
and this is how we want to engage also with institutions to carry
out a programme which will be in the end good for our citizens.
I think the best end result is the one that can integrate the
two aspects. But it is really to start the co-operation with the
other institutions because we need them to be able to do something
or to deliver results with the citizens.
Q36 Chairman: We are in day two of
the French Presidency. There is an ambitious programme there,
set by President Sarkozy and his Government. Not everything will
be completed in six months, though obviously the big issues which
he is tackling, like immigration, climate change, security, et
cetera, will spill over into 2009. To what extent can the Commission,
in setting its Annual Policy Strategy, take into account the priorities
of a particular presidency? How much communication is there? Because
obviously what they are going to propose and what they would like
to get done will spill over into the 2009 programme.
Commissioner Wallström: Of course, we are
here to ensure there is a continuity. The different Presidencies
have a trialogue, they have a way to co-operate so that they can
also ensure the long-term planning, so that things are not interrupted
every six months but instead follow an agenda that stretches over
three presidencies. The same thing has been done now. We work
very closely with these trialogues, or this triangular planning
of the Work Programme, to try to ensure there is no interruption.
Of course every presidency tries to bring their profile or their
weight to some particular issues, but we cannot have that kind
of interruption or total change of direction every six months.
For example, the whole climate change and energy package with
the French will continue and, hopefully, bring that to a successful
decision and action from the Member States' side and from the
Council's side. I can report from yesterday—because every
time the whole Commission travels to the Presidency, and we went
to Paris yesterday and we met with the whole French Government.
It was a very ceremonial and solemn day, I would say, under a
sunny sky in Paris. They made the most out of it, I must say,
but it was clear that there is a list of very difficult issues.
My experience is that we are never able to plan for the unexpected
and there is always something unexpected that comes up during
every presidency. That is what I can say about the plan.
Chairman: Thank you.
Q37 Lord Powell of Bayswater: Commissioner,
I would like to follow up of your last answer. Clearly quite a
few of the French Presidency's priorities are closely aligned
with the Commission's document. On the other hand, as you say,
there are always surprises. One of the surprises was the rather
incendiary, provocative remarks of the President of France on
the Doha Round. Do you see this as liable to throw out one of
the commission's main priorities, which is to bring a successful
conclusion to the Doha Development Round?
Commissioner Wallström: No. Of course we
are discussing this, and I am sure that this was also one of the
subjects for the discussions between our President and the French
President last night at the dinner. But of course we do not accept
that things are thrown out suddenly. These are very often processes
that have been going on for several years, where we invest a lot
and where other Member States also have a say. I think our role
is very often to try to provide a good direction, to try to help,
to mediate sometimes between Member States and sometimes, also,
to calm things down—maybe to put some oil on ... What do
you say ...?
Q38 Lord Powell of Bayswater: Oil
on troubled waters.
Commissioner Wallström: Yes, exactly.
Q39 Chairman: Perhaps we should not
mention oil here!
Commissioner Wallström: No, with the price
of oil we cannot use that at the moment. We have a clear mandate.
In many of these international negotiations we have a mandate
which has been formulated and accepted by the Council as well.
It is not something you can suddenly abandon and go for something
else. This is what we have, to steer the way we act in the Commission
as well.
Chairman: Thank you very much indeed.
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