Resolution of the Committee of the Regions on the "Work Programme of the European Commission"
Date: 2002-03-13
Institutions: European Committee of the Regions
Subjects: EU programme, European Commission, European Union, cooperation policy, enlargement of the Union, information technology, political programme, sustainable development

C 192/64

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

12.8.2002

an overall assessment of the environmental implications of
aviation noise, and could carry out useful consultative work
for the European Commission and the Committee of the

In this connection,

Regions.
the mutual exchange of
information among experts and the regional application of
examples of best practice could be considered.

Brussels 14 March 2002.

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Albert BORE

Resolution of the Committee of the Regions on the ‘Work Programme of the European
Commission’

(2002/C 192/16)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

having regard to The Communication of the European Commission to the European Parliament, the
Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions — The
Commission’s Work Programme 2002 (COM(2001) 620);

having regard to The resolution of the European Parliament to the Commission’s Work Programme 2002
(B5-0821/2001);

having regard to The 2001 Annual Statement on the Priority of the Committee of the Regions (CdR 45/
2001 fin);

having regard to The Protocol governing arrangements for cooperation between the European
Commission and the Committee of the Regions (DI CdR 81/2001 rev. 2);

whereas Events since 11 September have made us acutely aware of the value of peace, democracy and
human rights, and that they cannot be taken for granted;

whereas European integration has proven to be by far the best way to achieve peace and prosperity; that
the forthcoming enlargement of the EU is a historic peace operation that brings stability, prosperity and
democracy to almost the entire continent;

whereas Grassroots support is not optional, but a pre-condition for successful European integration,
whereas top-down, exclusive decision-making alienates the citizens and puts the European project at risk;

whereas The Committee of the Regions will adopt its Political Priorities for the period 2002-2006 in May,

adopted by a majority the following resolution at its 43rd plenary session of 13 and 14 March 2002
(meeting of 13 March).

12.8.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 192/65

The Committee of the Regions

The future of the European Union and Governance

1.
welcomes the efforts of the Commission in recent years
to reduce the volume of legislative proposals, and encourages
the Commission to be firm against calls for unnecessary EU
legislation from other EU bodies, Member States or third
parties; calls on all EU institutions and the Member States’
governments to show more restraint in calling for EU legis-
lation;

2.
while recognising the right of initiative of the Com-
mission, CoR — as the voice of grassroots Europe — would
like to have the opportunity to contribute to the preparatory
work in areas relevant to local and regional authorities; calls
for the assessment of the territorial impact of EU policies, as a
compulsory element of each policy proposal;

8.
expresses its satisfaction at the decision of the Laeken
Summit to set up a Convention, as a first step towards a
more democratic, transparent and inclusive method of Treaty
revision and is pleased to have the opportunity to contribute;

will actively pursue its priorities: more democratic and
9.
transparent work methods of the EU institutions, institutional
reforms needed to keep an enlarged EU efficient and effective,
delimitation and clarification of competences and EU tasks,
strengthening of the position of CoR, greater recognition of
the role of regions with legislative powers, integration of the
CFR into the Treaties and constitutionalisation of the Treaties;

10.
is looking forward to the Action Plan with proposals
for implementation of the White Paper on Governance, in
particular the proposals concerning closer involvement of
local and regional authorities in EU policy-making;

A common European area of freedom, justice and security

agrees with the Commission that this is a priority theme,
3.
and welcomes the wider perspective that the Commission has
chosen to the issue of security;

Enlargement

4.
recalls that the best safeguard against extremism and
violence is a democratic, open and stable society that respects
fundamental rights; refers in this context to the joint European
values, laid down in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, as
a concrete step to establishing a real rather than a notional
European citizenship;

5.
is therefore of the opinion that — in addition to the
proposed security measures — policies aiming to achieve
economic and social cohesion, the spread of education and
culture, fair trade and sustainable development, contribute
equally to a safe living environment for citizens;

6.
welcomes the progress that has been made recently in
the area of justice and security, but underlines that even more
must be done for effective EU protection of EU citizens, notably
in areas such as international organised crime, trafficking in
human beings, drugs trade and money-laundering.

stresses the essential role of local and regional authorities
7.
in the fight against crime and terrorism and wishes to be
closely involved in any proposals for EU policies;

of the view that enlargement of the EU is a historic
11.
opportunity for peace and prosperity for Europe and its
neighbours reaffirms its commitment to the Copenhagen
criteria, but warns against unnecessary delays, as they might
lead to scepticism both in current and future Member States;

the basic principle underlying the process of European
for and the promotion of cultural

12.
integration is respect
diversity, a source of wealth that needs to be preserved;

warns against

two classes of EU
the creation of
13.
citizens, and calls therefore for full application of the acquis
communautaire wherever possible,
from the moment of
accession;

14.
deplores the lack of progress regarding reform of the
CAP, and urges the Member States to show more courage and
determination on this issue; is of the opinion that reform of
the CAP is necessary regardless of enlargement of the Union,
although enlargement does make reforms more urgent; advo-
cates a CAP that is an integral policy for rural development
that will make agriculture in Europe a competitive, sustainable
and consumer-oriented sector that supports a flourishing and
diverse European countryside;

C 192/66

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

12.8.2002

15.
in addition, the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy
should be prioritised in light of the socio-economic impact of
this sector on certain regions;

dialogue, peace and democratic growth and considers that
regional and local authorities should be more closely involved;

16.
points out that for the post-2006 period structural
policies will have to be reviewed; draws attention to the initial
CoR contributions to the debate, and believes that on the
future of regional policy the overall objective will be that of
strengthening solidarity and territorial cohesion within the
enlarged Union; underlines the important role of the trans-
European networks in the achievement of these objectives;

17.
concerned at the insufficient involvement of local and
regional authorities, and the resulting lack of awareness of
what accession will mean for them; urges the Commission
and the governments of the applicant countries to step up
considerably consultation of, and information to local and
regional authorities during the pre-accession stage;

External dimension

18.
pleased with the renewed focus on the Euro-Mediter-
ranean partnership under the Spanish presidency, notably the
conference foreseen for April, draws attention to the very
positive and important contribution that can be made to the
process by cooperation between local and regional authorities;

19.
stresses the importance of the interregional or regional
cooperation partnerships not only for cooperation but also for

Brussels, 13 March 2002.

Sustainable development

20.
believes that sustainable development should aim at the
goals of full employment, and social and territorial cohesion;
calls therefore for full integration of the principles of sustaina-
ble development into all EU policy areas;

underlines the importance of an integrated approach to
21.
the environment and combating climate change, especially
the Johannesburg summit on sustainable development and
implementation of the Göteborg strategy;

Lisbon strategy

22.
is looking forward to the outcome of the Barcelona
Summit as well as the in-depth revision of the employment
strategy in fall 2002, and once again underlines the key role of
local and regional authorities in achieving the aims of the
it stresses the need to focus in particular
Lisbon strategy;
on the development of
Information and Communication
Technology in education and training systems, upon which
the success of the knowledge society depends;

23.
instructs its President to forward this resolution to the
European Commission, to the European Parliament, to the
Council and to the Belgian, Spanish and Danish Presidencies
of the Union.

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Albert BORE