Council Resolution of 25 June 1996 on industrial cooperation with other regions and third countries, inter alia in the Mediterranean
Date: 1996-06-25
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU policy, European industrial area, competitiveness, industrial cooperation, industrial policy, third country













EUR-Lex - 31996Y0713(02) - EN






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31996Y0713(02)

Council Resolution of 25 June 1996 on industrial cooperation with other regions and third countries, inter alia in the Mediterranean  


Official Journal C 203 , 13/07/1996 P. 0004 - 0006 





COUNCIL RESOLUTIONof 25  June 1996on industrial cooperation with other regions and third countries, inter alia in the  Mediterranean(96/C  203/02)THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, I With reference to Article 130 of the Treaty establishing the European Community; Having regard to the White Paper on growth, competitiveness and employment; Having regard to the Commission communication of 14 September 1994  (1) entitled 'An industrial  competitiveness policy for the European Union`; Having regard to the Commission communication of 16 March 1995 on the development of industrial  cooperation with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe  (2); Recalling its conclusions of 22 April 1994 on improving the competitiveness of European industry in  which in particular it: - stressed that it is vital for the growth of European industry that it strengthen its presence on  growth markets and that the development of industrial cooperation be able to make a very positive  contribution to that strengthening process, - requested the Commission to draw up communications on industrial cooperation with the third  countries with which the Community has traditionally had closer ties for historical and cultural  reasons; Recalling its resolution of 21 November 1994 on the strengthening of the competitiveness of  Community industry  (3), which lists, among measures to be adopted with particular urgency, the  strengthening of cooperation with the third countries most concerned by: - backing of efforts by partner countries to establish stable, free-enterprise framework  conditions, - examination of the proposals announced by the Commission for industrial cooperation with those  countries and accelerated implementation of appropriate measures; Recalling its conclusions of 7 April 1995 on competitiveness, in which it noted with interest that  the Commission's action on industrial policy covers the following points in particular: - organization of industrial round tables, particularly involving countries with which the  Community traditionally maintains close relations for historical and cultural reasons, - promotion of industrial cooperation by the creation of a database listing opportunities for  cooperation, - support for industrial cooperation projects of Community interest through the implementation and  utilization of existing Community instruments; Recalling its conclusions of 7 April 1995 concerning industrial cooperation with the countries of  Central and Eastern Europe, in which it called, inter alia, on the Commission to continue its work  on industrial cooperation with the other third countries with which the Community traditionally has  close ties and to submit further communications on the subject in the near future; Recalling its conclusions of 6 and 7 November 1995 on industrial cooperation with other regions and  third countries in which, in particular, it: - recognized the role of investment and industrial cooperation in strengthening the European  Union's industrial competitiveness and in promoting the socioeconomic development of certain  regions, such as Central and Eastern Europe in the context of the pre-accession strategy, the  Mediterranean and Latin America, - stressed that the implementation of this strategy will stimulate cooperation between economic  operators and will have a multiplier effect on the development of various forms of cooperation  between undertakings, - considered that this strategy must be based on the principles of partnership, planning and  transparency and that, within this framework, particular attention should be given to industrial  investment projects and to the development of the related infrastructure, - invited the Commission to submit, in 1996, a communication on all aspects of industrial  cooperation with the other regions and third countries with which the Union has historically had  close ties in order to define an industry-oriented action strategy by determining appropriate  lines, criteria and procedures to be followedand in which, in particular, within the framework of  the Euro-Mediterranean Conference in Barcelona on 27 and 28 November 1995, it invited: - the participants in the Conference to look at industrial cooperation as a major instrument for  economic development and job creation in the Mediterranean, giving particular encouragement to  industrial investment projects and related infrastructure projects, - the Commission to submit, in 1996, a communication on all aspects of Euro-Mediterranean  industrial cooperation in order to identify appropriate lines, criteria and procedures to be  followed in order to implement a more industry-oriented action strategy, - the Presidency and the Commission to organize early in 1996 a conference bringing together the  Ministers for Industry of the European Union and our Mediterranean partners in order to open  detailed discussions on the development of industrial cooperation within the framework of  Euro-Mediterranean policy; Having regard to the Final Declaration of the Euro-Mediterranean Conference of Barcelona of 27 and  28 November 1995 and the work programme annexed thereto; Having regard to the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreements concluded with Tunisia, Israel and  Morocco; Having regard to the Final Declaration of the European Union/United States Summit of 3 December  1995; Having regard to the Interregional Framework Agreement between the European Union and Mercosur  signed at the Madrid European Council on 15 and 16 December 1995; Having regard to the Declaration of the President of the Europe-Asia Conference of 2 March 1996, IIWELCOMES the progress made in industrial cooperation with third countries and  other regions as a means of strengthening the industrial competitiveness of the European Union and  the socioeconomic development of those countries. In particular: (1) as regards the countries of Central and Eastern Europenotes with satisfaction the progress  made within the framework of the structured dialogue with countries which have applied for  accession to the Union; invites the Commission to examine further the industrial aspects of the difficulties underlying  these accessions; recognizes the value of the initiatives taken by the Commission in the Forum on the information  society which began on 23 June 1995, and notes that the next meeting will be held on 12 and 13  September 1996 in Prague; (2) as regards the former Yugoslaviawelcomes - in connection with the recommendations made by the  States and international institutions which attended the Donor Conference for the reconstruction of  Bosnia and Herzegovina on 12 and 13 April 1996 in Brussels - the initiative taken by the  Commission, in close collaboration with the European industrial federations and associations, in  organizing on 23 July in Brussels a conference with the European Union's industrial circles aimed  at raising awareness of the cooperation needs and opportunities in that country; (3) as regards Asiaexpresses its satisfaction with the outcome of the first Euro-Asian Summit  (Asem) on 2 March 1996, following which it was decided to examine, in more detail, mutual  cooperation between undertakings through the establishment of the Euro-Asian Business Forum, the  first meeting of which will be held in France in 1996; notes the initiatives planned by the Commission within the framework of the strategy for  cooperation with China and in particular the industrial round table held on 23 May 1996; (4) as regards Latin Americawelcomes the new industrial prospects opened up by the economic  changes in Latin America and the enhanced mutual cooperation possibilities opened up by the  agreements concluded or being negotiated by the European Union with several Latin American States  or groups of States, including Mercosur, Chile and Mexico; (5) as regards the ACP States and southern Africastresses that the signing in Mauritius on 4  November 1995 of the Agreement amending the Fourth ACP-EC Convention of Lomé between the European  Union and the ACP countries and of the eighth Financial Protocol will lead to greater  complementarity between the development strategies defined by the ACP countries and the cooperation  policy objectives and priorities of the European Union; notes with satisfaction the progress made in relations between the European Union and South Africa  which should lead to an economic and commercial cooperation framework agreement and which have led  the European Union to cooperate with South Africa in organizing a meeting in Pretoria from 13 to 15  May 1996, under the auspices of the G7, on the information society and development; (6) as regards the United Stateswelcomes the outcome of the European Union and United States Heads  of Business Conference (Transatlantic Business Dialogue) which was held on 10 and 11 November 1995  and which marked the beginning of a new phase of transatlantic economic and trade dialogue; notes the documents adopted at the last European Union/United States Summit in Madrid on 3 December  1995 at which the foundations for strengthening transatlantic ties, including economic ties, were  laid; (7) as regards Japanrecognizes the importance of consolidating and deepening the industrial policy  dialogue between the European Union and Japan brought about through the Centre for Industrial  Cooperation set up in 1987, which has led, inter alia, to the launching of a series of joint  cooperation programmes. IIIAs regards the Mediterraneanexpresses satisfaction with progress made in Euro-Mediterranean  relations following the Barcelona Conference on 27 and 28 November 1995 and with the various  initiatives planned by the Presidency and the Commission to carry out the work programme agreed on  as a follow-up to the Conference; endorses the Presidency's initiative in convening on 20 and 21 May 1996 in Brussels the inaugural  Conference of Ministers for Industry of the European Union and Mediterranean third countries on  industrial economic partnership, and in this connection: - stresses that the industrial development of the Mediterranean, which should take account of all  the priority factors of the competitiveness policy as a means for creating an area of shared  prosperity, is the basis for the gradual affirmation of an open and competitive economy and one of  the prerequisites for attracting increased investment, - considers that this Ministerial Conference is an opportunity for detailed and frank discussion on  the industrial development of the Mediterranean partner countries and the lines and actions to be  followed in order to translate into action the industrial aspect of the Euro-Mediterranean economic  and financial partnership, - recognizes that the development of Euro-Mediterranean industrial initiatives and actions should  be designed to ensure an integrated and coherent approach and accordingly considers it essential to  define a specific work programme through detailed examination of the most important factors  affecting industrial policy, - expresses the hope, finally, that the outcome of the Conference will make an important  contribution to the future work of the Commission, in particular as regards the communication it  will shortly be submitting on Euro-Mediterranean industrial cooperation. IVCALLS ON THE COMMISSION: - to step up its proceedings with a view to submitting suitable communications and proposals on  industrial cooperation with the third countries with which the Community has traditionally had  closer ties for historical and cultural reasons, - to submit a biennial report to the Council on action taken in the area of Community industrial  cooperation with third countries. VUNDERTAKES: to organize a discussion, on the basis of the Commission's report, for the purpose of evaluating  the contribution made by industrial cooperation to strenghtening the competitiveness of European  industry and to the socioeconomic development of the third countries concerned. (1) COM(94) 319 final.  (2) COM(95) 71 final.  (3) OJ No C 343, 6. 12. 1994, p. 1.