H. whereasitsRulesofProcedureprovideforittoreviewrespectfortheprinciplesofsubsidiarityand
proportionality,
1. Recallsthattheprincipleofsubsidiarityaimstoensurethatdecisionsaretakenascloselyaspossible
totheUnion’scitizens;
2. IsconvincedthattheprincipleentailsaformofscrutinyastowhetherthereachofCommunity
actionintothedomainoftheMemberStatesisjustified;
3. RecallsthattheprincipleofsubsidiarityshouldalsoservetoencourageUnioninterventioninsectors
whichdonotfallwithinitsexclusivecompetenceif,andtotheextentthat,theobjectivesoftheplannedactioncannotbeadequatelyachievedbytheMemberStatesandcanthereforebebetterachievedatCom-munitylevel;
4. Stressesthatex-anteandex-postexaminationofthismultifacetedprincipleisofutmostimportance
withinthecontextoftheUniondynamics;
5. WelcomestheworkoftheConventiononsubsidiarityandproportionality;
6. SupportstheearlywarningsysteminvolvingnationalparliamentsproposedinthedraftConstitution
andbelievesthat,whereappropriate,thesystemshouldbeextendedtootherlegislativeparliamentsandassemblieswithintheMemberStates;
7. Urges the Member States accordingly to adopt procedures that allow national parliaments, and,
whereappropriate,otherlegislativeparliamentsandassemblieswithinMemberStatestobeinvolvedin
thelegislativeprocedure;
8. Regretsthatthe2002reportfocusedsolelyonthemainpolicyobjectivesfor2002;9. EmphasisesthattherelevanceoftheCommission’schoicesisalsotobeexaminedinthelightof
otherpoliticalactionsrelevanttotheapplicationoftheprinciplesofsubsidiarityandproportionality,andthattheyshouldbeaddressedinfuturereports;
10. Recognisesthatotheraspectsoflawmakingexploredinthereport(suchaslegaldrafting,simplifi-
cationorcodification)arealsoimportantandinteresting,butasksagainthattheCommissionfocusmorecloselyontheraisond’êtreofthereport,inordertoproduceaclear,relevantandmeaningfulreviewofhowandwithwhatmeasureofsuccesstheprinciplesofsubsidiarityandproportionalityhavebeenappliedbytheCommunity;
11. Considersthatthereport’snewfocusshouldthereforeresultintheCommissionconcentratingon
thetrulyEuropeanissuesassignedtoitbytheTreatiesandrefrainingfrominterveninginfieldswhichareclearlybetterdealtwithbylevelsofgovernmentclosertocitizens,whileindicatingwhichfieldsitcon-
sidersmoreappropriatefortheadoptionoflawsatnationallevel;
12. InstructsitsPresidenttoforwardthisresolutiontotheCouncilandtheCommission.
P5_TA(2004)0114
SpringSummit:follow-uptoLisbon
EuropeanParliamentresolutiononthepreparationofthespringsummit2004
TheEuropeanParliament ,
/dash havingregardtotheconclusionsoftheLisbonEuropeanCouncilof23/24March2000,
/dash havingregardtotheconclusionsoftheNiceEuropeanCouncilof7,8and9December2000,C98E/156 EN23.4.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday26February2004
/dash havingregardtotheCommissioncommunicationonthesocialpolicyagenda(COM(2000)379),
/dash havingregardtoRule37(2)ofitsRulesofProcedure,
A. whereastheLisbonEuropeanCouncilagreedonthestrategicgoalofmakingtheEUthemostcom-
petitiveanddynamicknowledge-basedeconomyintheworldwithequalgoalsofsustainablegrowth,fullemployment,reducedpovertyandgreatersocialcohesion,
B. whereastheglobaldownwardeconomictrends,theEU’sdemographicchallengeandthecoexistence
intheEUofhighunemploymentandlabourshortagesrequireevenstrongereffortstoimplementtheLisbonaimofmoreandbetterjobs,
C. whereasthegoalsoftheLisbonEuropeanCouncilwillbemissedifthecurrenttrendsdonotimprove
toalargeextent,
Economicandmonetaryaspects
1. EmphasisesthattheLisbonandGöteborgstrategyisEurope’sbestcomprehensivemeanstoaddress
itseconomic,demographic,employmentandenvironmentalchallengesinordertobecomethemostcom-petitiveanddynamicknowledge-basedeconomyintheworld,capableofsustainableeconomicgrowthwithmoreandbetterjobsandgreatersocialcohesion;
2. Pointstotheneedformassiveinvestmentinrenewableenergies,energysavingandenergy-efficiency
measures,which willpayoffinthemid-termbyreducing Europe’senergybill,increasing securityofsupplyand,notleast,producinga‘doubledividend’ofjobcreationandabetterenvironmentwithaparticularviewtocombatingclimatechange;
3. Calls,inthecontextoftheimminentenlargementoftheEUandtheurgentneedforeconomic
recoveryinEurope,for:
/dash soundandeffectivecoordinationofMemberStates’macroeconomicpolicieswithinthebroadecon-
omicpolicyguidelines(BEPGs)inordertoimplementtheLisbonandGöteborgagendaandachieveitsstrategicgoals;
/dash coherenceandconsistencybetween,aswellasfullandspeedyimplementationof,thevariousecon-
omictoolsoftheEU’sLisbonstrategy,suchasthe2003-2005BEPGs,the2003-2005Europeanemployment guidelines, the European Growth Initiative and the Sixth framework programme onresearch,withintheframeworkoftheStabilityandGrowthPact;
/dash the acceleration of all necessary reforms to create a regulatory climate conducive to investment,
researchanddevelopment,entrepreneurshipandjobcreation;
4. UrgesMemberStatestoincludeintheirfiscalpoliciesanoverallstrategybasedonincreasedinvest-
mentsinhumanresources,innovation,researchanddevelopment,withaspecialfocusoneducation,skills,lifelonglearning,renewableenergyandenvironmentallyfriendlytechnology;highlightsthatthisstrategy
shouldbeundertakeninacontextofsustainablepublicfinance;welcomestheEuropeanGrowthInitiative
asacatalysttospeeduptheimplementationoftheLisbonstrategy,andasalong-awaitedsignalaimedatboostingconfidence,andmoreoverrecallstheessentialroleofprivateinvestmenttoincreaseproductivity,growthandemployment;
5. IsconvincedthatanintelligentreformoftheStabilityandGrowthPactisneededtoringEurope’s
economymoreswiftlybackintobalance;23.4.2004EN C98E/157 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday26February2004
6. UnderlinestheneedforconcretemeasurestoimplementtheLisbonStrategyandthus:
/dash recallstheroleofcoordinationandproposesanincreasedmonitoringrolefortheCommission;
/dash considersitappropriatethattheEcoFinCouncilshouldincludenotonlyEUFinanceMinisters,but
alsoMinistersresponsibleformacroeconomicissueswherethesetwofunctionsarenotheldbythe
samegovernmentmember;
/dash encourages intensified cooperation and information exchange at the level ofthe specific national
ministriesandagentsinvolvedintheimplementationoftheLisbonstrategy;
7. Expressesitsconcernabouttheseriousdemocraticdeficitfoundinthecurrentproceduresinplace
foreconomicandsocialpolicycoordination,andasaremedytothis,invitesallnationalparliamentsactivelytosupporttheLisbonstrategy;
Industrialaspects
8. Considersthat the European Council must put a twin emphasis onemployment and on global
competitiveness,stressingthatcompetitivenessisnotonlyamatterofcost-cuttingbycompaniesbutalsoofensuringthatEuropeanindustriesoperateinframeworkconditions,includingbettercompanylawandcorporategovernance,thatfavourenterpriseandadaptability;
9. CallsonMemberStates(1%)andtheprivatesector(2%)toincreasetheirinvestmentforthefuture
soastoraiseR&Dspendingto3%ofGNPby2010;callsonMemberStatestosubmitcrediblenationalimplementationplans,togetherwithinitialresultsbymid-2004;
10. CallsontheCommissiontovigorouslypursue infringement proceedings againstthoseMember
States which fail to implement EC legislation on time, including the new regulatory framework forelectronic communications in all Member States; considers stepped-up implementation necessary fortranspositionofthee-Europeactionplan,notleastinordertomakebroadbandnetworksavailableatcompetitiveprices;
11. Approvesanapproachorientedtofundamentalresearch;approves,consequently,theestablishment
ofaEuropeanResearchCouncilanditsadequatefinancing;supportstheinclusionofquestionsofedu-cation,trainingandqualificationsinindustrialpolicy;
12. CallsonMemberStates,whentheyintroducenecessaryreformsinthelegal,financialandtaxation
framework,todosoinwayswhichwillenableSMEstocontributetowardstheachievementoftheLisbonobjectivesandtotakestockofthefirstthreeyearsofapplicationoftheCharterforSmallEnterprises;moregenerallydemandsthatthecommitmentsmadebyMemberStatesintheEuropeanCharterforSmallEnterprisesbemetwithoutdelay;approvesthecreationofaEuropeanInnovationAreabymeansof,interalia,regionalSMEnetworks;considersitvitaltofacilitateaccesstoriskcapitalforSMEs;wouldliketoseetheestablishmentoffavourabletaxarrangementsforthetransferofownershipofSMEs;
13. Supports a consolidated European approach, based on improving competitiveness, towards
high-techsectorssuchascivilaeronautics,defenceandspace(e.g.Galileo),nanotechnology,mobilecom-munications,renewableenergysources,cleancoalandhealth;asregardsindustrialsectorsfacingdecline,suggeststhattheCommissionshouldestablishcriteriaforidentifyingsectorswhereactionwillbeneededbyfirmstodiscovernewmarketopportunities,tomanagechangeandtoimprovetheircompetitiveness,withtheconstructiveinvolvementofemployees;C98E/158 EN23.4.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday26February2004
14. WelcomesthedeploymentoftheStructuralFundstoassistwithinfrastructureinvestments,R&D
andinnovation;assignsmajorimportancefortheoperationoftheinternalmarketinenergytothecom-pletionoftrans-Europeanenergynetworks;considersthatthedevelopmentofcombinedheatandpowersystemswillassistwithopeninguptheenergymarkettocompetitionandtransposingthecommitmentsassumedinKyoto;
15. CallsforacceleratedtranspositionoftheEuropeanbiotechnologystrategy;regretsthedelayedtrans-
positionofDirective98/44/EC(
1)onthelegalprotectionofbiotechnologicalinventionsbyMemberStates;
callsontheCounciltoresolveoutstandingquestionsrelatingtotheregulationontheCommunityPatentwithoutdelay;
Employmentaspects
16. ReaffirmstherelevanceoftheLisbonstrategy;seesthereforetheneedtospeeduptheimplemen-
tationoftheLisbonagendaforclosercoordinationofEUandMemberStates’economic,employment,socialandstructuralpoliciesandstressesthenecessityofstructuralreformswithaclearroadmapandstrictdeadlines;
17. RequeststhattheLisbonpolicymixbereinforcedthroughconcretemeasurestoboostgrowthand
jobcreation;welcomestheenhancedsynchronisationofthecoordinationprocessesbutisconcernedthat
theemploymentandsocialinclusionelementsdonotplayaprominentrole;
18. WelcomesthesimplificationoftheEmploymentGuidelines;stronglyagreesontheneedtoraise
participationandintegrationinthelabourmarket,inparticularofolderworkers,vulnerablegroupsandwomenthroughactiveageingmeasuresandbetterwork-lifebalance;callsontheCommissiontomonitorcloselytheimplementationofthetwoEUdirectivestocombatdiscriminationindailylifeandintheworkplacebasedonsex,racialorethnicorigin,religionorbelief,disability,ageorsexualorientation;
19. Pointsoutthatreformshavetoresultinbetterjobs,inordertocreateaknowledge-basedeconomy,
andmustbeachievedinclosecooperationwiththesocialpartners,withoutreducingtheindividualandcollectiverightsofemployees;reformsmustalsoensureabetterbalancebetweenflexibilityandsecurity,forexamplebyabettermatchingoflaboursupplyanddemandandbymakingworkpay;emphasisestheneedformorepublicandprivateinvestmentinhumancapital,suchashighereducation,skillsandvoca-tionaltraining;expectsthepoliticalconsensusontheeconomicandsocialneedforlife-longlearningtobeturnedintopracticalmeasures;
20. WelcomesthereportbytheEmploymentTaskForceofNovember2003,includingitscountry-
specific approach with recommendationsfor all 25 countries, and underlines its key requirements to
boostproductivityandemploymentinEurope;alsowelcomestheapproachintherecentCommission
Communicationonimmigration,integrationandemployment(COM(2003)336),whichlinkstheLisbonstrategy,thedemographicdeficitandtheneedforbettermanagedimmigrationpolicies;
21. RegretsthelackofcommitmentandpoliticalwillbyMemberStatesandurgestheCommissionand
theMemberStatestoimplementtheSocialPolicyAgendainfull,usingalltheavailableinstrumentsandrespectingthepartiesresponsibleandthetimeframesenvisaged;reiteratesitscallsforspecificnationaltargetstoimplementandmonitorMemberStates’performancesintransposingtheEuropeanstrategy;insistsoninvolvingparliamentswithinMemberStates,thesocialpartnersandallrelevantactors;
(1) OJL213,30.7.1998,p.13.23.4.2004EN C98E/159 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday26February2004
22. ConsidersthatsocialdialoguemustbefosteredandstrengthenedasakeyfactorinmeetingtheEU’s
socialandlabourmarketchallengesandasakeypartofdevelopingamoreproactivemacroeconomicdialoguewithmutually-supportiveeconomic,socialandemploymentpolicies;
23. WelcomestheCommission’sintentiontofocusontheimplementationofthesocialacquis;callson
theCommissiontostrengthenemploymentandsocialpoliciesandtoolsafterEUenlargement,includingthemonitoringoftheimplementationofboththeacquisandtheopencoordinationmethodsforemploy-ment,socialinclusionandsocialprotection,aswellasthedevelopmentofsocialdialogue;callsontheCommissionandtheCounciltostrengthenenforcementandpracticalimplementationoftheEUhealth
andsafetyacquis;
24. Agreesontheneedtoremovethelegalandadministrativeobstaclestomobility,butstressesagain
theneedfortheCommissiontoconsultthesocialpartners,includinginthenewMemberStates,tolaydownEuropeanminimumstandardsonlabourlawandsocialsecurityfor‘permanently’mobileworkers,inordertoavoidunfaircompetitionbasedonwagesandconditions;
Environmentalaspects
25. Opposesthereductioninthenumberofindicatorsbycomparisonwiththelistadoptedforthe
purposesofthe2003SpringEuropeanCouncilandwhicharedrasticallyreducedintheCommission’sCommunicationonStructuralIndicators(COM(2003)585)toreviewprogressandimplementationoftheLisbonandGöteborgstrategies,andurgestheCounciltotakeintoaccountbiodiversityindicatorsinordertobeabletoassesstheattainmentofEUcommitmentsmadeinDecisionNo1600/2002/EC(
1)laying
downtheSixthEnvironmentalActionProgramme(6EAP)tohaltbiodiversitylossbytheyear2010in
theEU,andinthePlanofImplementationadoptedattheWorldSummitonSustainableDevelopmentby
2015globally;isconcerned,moreover,thattheplantoestablishtheindicatorsforaperiodofthreeyearsdoesnotguaranteesufficientflexibilitytotakeintoaccountnewfacts,policyrevisions(e.g.SustainableDevelopmentStrategyin2004)orthetimethatnewpoliciestakebeforeanimpactcanbeobserved;
26. Furtherconsidersthattheuseofindicatorsshouldbelinked,whereverfeasible,tocleartargetsand
long-term timetablesfor the implementationofpriority objectives, andshouldbe appropriately coor-dinatedwiththe6EAP;
27. Callsforannualindicatorstobeestablishedforallareas ofactivity identified inthe Göteborg
SustainableDevelopmentStrategy,sincethatistheonlywayofmeasuringtheprogressmadetowards
thetargetslaiddowninthatstrategy;
28. CallsontheCommission,pursuanttotheThematicStrategyontheSustainableUseofNatural
Resourceslaiddowninthe6EAP,toidentifyandproposetheactionwhichmustbetakeninordertoensurethatnaturalresourcesareusedinanefficientandsustainablefashion;believesthatinordertocomplywiththeGöteborgconclusionsregardingnaturalresourceuse,itisvitalthatthedecouplingofeconomicgrowthfromincreaseduseofresourcesbepromotedandencouragedtothegreatestpossibleextent,andurgestheCounciltocallontheCommissiontoensurethatallrelevantpiecesoflegislationprovideformaximumefficiencyintheuseofnaturalresources;
29. RecallsDecisionNo1600/2002/EC,inwhichtheCommissioniscalledupontoestablishalistof
subsidieswhichareincompatiblewithsustainabledevelopmentandtoputforward,asamatterofurgency,appropriateproposalsforeliminatingthem;regretsthatdespitetheconclusionsoftheSpringEuropeanCouncilin2003Ecofinhasnotcomeupwithmeasurestoreducethosesubsidiesthathaveconsiderablenegativeeffectsontheenvironment;
(1) OJL242,10.9.2002,p.1.C98E/160 EN23.4.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday26February2004
30. WelcomestheCommission’sinitiativeforanannualEnvironmentPolicyReviewwhichwillalso
contribute tothe preparation ofSpring European Councils,expresses itsconcerns, however, over theproposalon‘anewapproachtoimplementation’,andremindstheCouncilthatcompliancewithCom-munitylegislationandtheappropriatetranspositionthereofinaccordancewiththesubsidiarityprincipleareanessentialpartoftheEU’ssustainabledevelopmentstrategy;
31. CallsontheCommissiontoorganiseastakeholderconferenceontheeffectivenessoftheGöteborg
SustainableDevelopmentStrategy,soastobeabletotakestockoftheexperiencegained,andtoenablethenewCommissiontoadoptanambitiousstrategyforitsmandate;
32. CallsontheEuropeanCounciltoensurethattheEUbudgetisusedtopromotesustainabilityand
thereforetocarryoutSustainabilityImpactAssessmentsonallEUexpenditure,includingtheCommonAgricultural Policy, the Structural Funds, and the research programmes in an open and transparentmanner;
33. StressesthattheEUmustensurethattheMillenniumDevelopmentGoalsandtheJohannesburg
commitmentsaretakenintoaccountinitsownactivities,andfurtherreiteratesitsdemandfortheEuro-peanCounciltoreportbackontheimplementationoftheJohannesburgprocessinthecontextofitsSpringsynthesisreport;
34. SupportstheaimsoftheJohannesburgRenewableEnergyCoalitionforthepromotionofrenewable
energies;callsontheCommissiontoinitiatetheadoptionofacalendarforambitiousrenewableenergytargetswithintheCoalition;
Finalconsiderations
35. Invitesthe2004SpringEuropeanCounciltoengageinarealdialoguewiththeEuropeanParlia-
menttorelaunchtheLisbonstrategyandthereforecallsfortheEuropeanParliament’sroleinpreparingtheannualSpringEuropeanCounciltobedefined;
36. Emphasises the need to involve fully the European Parliament so that the open coordination
methodhasgreaterdemocraticlegitimacyandsothattheLisbonfollow-upisnotpurelyintergovernmen-tal;
*
**
37. InstructsitsPresidenttoforwardthisresolutiontotheCouncil,theCommissionandthegovern-
mentsandparliamentsoftheMemberStates.
P5_TA(2004)0115
FailuretoconsultParliamentinconnectionwiththeTENQuickStartprojects
EuropeanParliamentresolutiononthefailuretoconsultParliamentinconnectionwiththeTEN
QuickStartprojects
TheEuropeanParliament ,
/dash havingregardtoRule42(5)ofitsRulesofProcedure,
1. DisapprovesoftheCouncil’shavingdevelopedaso-calledQuickStartProgrammeontrans-European
transportpriorityprojectswithoutconsultingtheEuropeanParliament;23.4.2004EN C98E/161 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday26February2004