WRITTEN QUESTION E-1471/00 by Alejandro Agag Longo (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Major Economic Policy Guidelines.
Date: 2000-05-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU employment policy, EU policy, economic policy

20.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 53 E/149

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-1465/00 and P-1558/00
given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(8 June 2000)

The Commission shares the concern of the Honourable Member over the international trade in dog and
cat fur, particularly concerning the possible implications for animal welfare.

The Commission has adopted a comprehensive set of legislation that covers a wide range of issues relating
to animal welfare. Nothing in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules prevents the Community from
taking measures which are considered essential for animal welfare, i.e. adopting high standards, within its
borders. However, it is the Commission(cid:146)s view that the Community cannot unilaterally impose its welfare-
based production standards on third countries. WTO rules do not permit the Community to prohibit
products on the sole ground that they have been produced according to different welfare rules.

The adoption of international welfare-based standards in the framework of multilateral agreements may
help in solving potential conflicts with trading partners. The Commission sought to ensure that the issue
of animal welfare was raised in the WTO Millennium Round. However, at Seattle, the Commission had
essentially no support for its animal welfare objectives. The Commission(cid:146)s efforts to promote them in the
WTO context will continue.

(2001/C 53 E/191)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1471/00

by Alejandro Agag Longo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 May 2000)

Subject: Major Economic Policy Guidelines

It seems obvious that both the Major Economic Policy Guidelines and the General Guidelines on
Employment provide the basis for the coordination of economic policies at Community level. Does the
Commision not consider that the different publication dates of the two documents make it difficult to
devise a comprehensive strategy such as that proposed by the Commission in its recommendation on the
Major Economic Policy Guidelines?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(27 June 2000)

The European Council has reiterated over recent years (cid:129) in Vienna, Helsinki and Lisbon (cid:129) the need for
ensuring better synergy and full exploitation of co-ordination of economic and employment policies in the
Community. The broad economic policy guidelines (BEPGs) and the employment guidelines (cid:129) the
Luxembourg Process (cid:129) are the fundamental tools (cid:129) based on the EC Treaty (cid:129) for policy co-ordination.

With its recommendation for the 2000 BEPGs, the Commission has set out a comprehensive economic
policy strategy to enhance the capacity of the Community economy to generate durably high, non-
inflationary growth and to meet the main economic challenges confronting the Community, in particular
to restore full employment. For the strategy to work it is essential that its elements are coherent and
mutually reinforcing.

The Commission considers that ensuring coherence and synergies by providing guidance on the full range
of economic policies is the key role of the BEPGs which are at the centre of the policy co-ordination
process and which have acquired increased significance in view of
the Lisbon European Council
conclusions. The employment guidelines are turning into a powerful pillar to sustain the overall economic
policy strategy as defined in the BEPGs. The distinct role of the employment guidelines is to deal in greater
detail with their subject matter, while maintaining consistency with the BEPGs.

C 53 E/150

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.2.2001

The Commission sees no obstacle in the current timetable for each process to ensure the objectives of
efficiency, consistency and synergy. Better synergy between processes does not necessarily imply that they
should mirror each other in time but calls for a close and effective dialogue and mutual contributions from
the very early stages of preparation. The current set-up allows the Commission, the Council, the European
Council, the Parliament and others concerned to contribute to the strategy (cid:129) on the overall macroeco-
nomic and structural aspects in spring, with a closer look at employment and labour market policies in
autumn. Furthermore, the lead of the BEPGs in setting the overall frame allows policies for employment to
be better prepared and articulated.

(2001/C 53 E/192)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1472/00

by Alejandro Agag Longo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 May 2000)

Subject: Electronic commerce

In its recommendation on the Major Economic Policy Guidelines the Commission refers on several
occasions to the productivity and economic growth potential latent in electronic commerce. Indeed, the
Commission explicitly urges the Member States to take steps to enable such potential to be fully harnessed.

Could the Commission be more specific and explain what general guidelines the Member States(cid:146)
governments should, in its opinion, be following in this area?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(30 June 2000)

Electronic commerce is expected to have far-reaching effects on the organisation and competitiveness of
enterprises, as well as providing great benefits to consumers. By electronic commerce, companies can
modernise their business processes, obtain cost savings, and provide better services to customer. The
diffusion of electronic commerce is the condition for making traditional industries more competitive and
allowing new business activities and enterprises to emerge. The experience from the United States
demonstrates that electronic commerce has made important contributions to economic growth and the
creation of new jobs.

The Commission therefore encourages European enterprises to exploit the potential of electronic com-
merce and recommends Member States to put in place effective measures, in order to favour the diffusion
of electronic commerce.

The Commission is establishing a legislative framework to encourage electronic commerce and to remove
possible barriers. This includes a number of legislative actions regarding privacy, security, copyright, and
telecom regulations. A framework Directive (1) has recently been adopted, establishing the principle that
single market Community rules apply to electronic commerce services. The Directive covers the right of
establishment, on-line contracts, liability for illegal transmission, as well as protection of the consumer.

The e-Europe initiative, launched by the Commission in December 1999, aims at accelerating the uptake
internet access,
of digital technologies across Europe, and addresses several areas,
research, risk capital and applications of public interest. The Lisbon European Council called for the
Council and the Parliament to adopt all pending legislation on electronic commerce by the end of 2000.
Member States should accelerate their implementation into national law, which should be finalised by
2001.

including education,

In its communication (cid:145)Challenges for enterprise policy in the knowledge-driven economy(cid:146) (2), the Com-
mission sets out its approach to fostering entrepreneurship and encouraging companies, in particular small
and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to take up electronic commerce. In line with this initiative, the
to measure, by appropriate indicators, the
Commission has also launched a benchmarking exercise,