Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament - Stocktaking of the follow-up to the Annual Policy Strategy for 2003
Date: 2002-08-28
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU activity, European security, economic policy, enlargement of the Union, institutional cooperation, public safety

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 28.8.2002
COM(2002) 427 final

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

Stocktaking of the follow-up to the Annual Policy Strategy for 2003

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

Stocktaking of the follow-up to the Annual Policy Strategy for 2003

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.

2.

3.

3.1.

3.2.

3.3.

4.

5.

Introduction: from the Annual Policy Strategy to the work programme for 2003....... 3

Dialogue with the European Parliament and the Council:
stocktaking and prospects ............................................................................................ 4

Main political and resource changes compared with the Annual Policy Strategy
for 2003 ........................................................................................................................ 6

The Enlarged Europe.................................................................................................... 6

Stability and Security ................................................................................................... 9

Sustainable and Inclusive Economy........................................................................... 12

Main changes related to the resource framework given by the
Annual Policy strategy for 2003 ................................................................................ 15

Conclusions................................................................................................................ 16

Technical annex – list of key initiatives and related responsibilities…………………...…….18

2

1. 

INTRODUCTION:  FROM  THE  ANNUAL  POLICY  STRATEGY  TO  THE  WORK
PROGRAMME FOR 2003

The  Commission’s  Strategic  Planning  and  Programming  (SPP)  cycle  was  launched
for  the  first  time  in  2001.  The  added  value  of  this  first  exercise  was  widely
recognised  in  the  Commission,  even  though  some  of  its  components  needed  to  be
further developed and improved.

The SPP cycle is a policy-driven, integrated cycle with 5 components:

(cid:1)  At  the  beginning  of  the  cycle  (in  February),  the  Annual  Policy  Strategy  (APS)
identifies priorities and related initiatives and establishes the global framework for
resources.

(cid:1)  On  the  basis  of  this  framework,  the  Preliminary  Draft  Budget  specifies  the

detailed forecasts for the allocations of resources (in May/June).

(cid:1)  Later  in  the  year  (in  October),  the  Commission’s  Legislative  and  Work

Programme translates the political priorities into a concrete action plan.

(cid:1)  The  Commission’s  services  establish  their  operational  programming  in  their
Annual Management  Plans (in  December),  which  link  the  resources  available  to
the activities and actions foreseen in the policy domain concerned.

(cid:1)  To close the cycle, each Director-General or Head of Service produces a report on
the work carried out (in July of the year after), the use made of resources and the
results achieved by his/her service, accompanied by a declaration in which he/she
assumes responsibility1.

One of the aspects to which the Commission wanted to give a higher profile in the
Annual Policy Strategy process was inter-institutional dialogue.  It  was decided  that
each  year,  after  adopting  the  Annual  Policy  Strategy  for  the  coming  year,  the
Commission should initiate a dialogue with the European Parliament and the Council
on  the  priorities  identified  in  the  Annual  Policy  Strategy.  On  this  basis  it  would
present  a  Stocktaking  document  that  reflected  the  dialogue  with  the  institutions
before adopting its Legislative and Work Programme.

For  this  reason,  the  Commission  and  the  European  Parliament  agreed  on  an
understanding that set up the timeframe and  operational  details  for  a  dialogue  with
the  European  Parliament  on  the  Annual  Policy  Strategy  and  the  Legislative  and
Work  Programme.  A  similar  dialogue  has  subsequently  been  established  with  the
Council.  On  the  basis  of  this  understanding,  the  President  of  the  Commission
presents the Annual Policy Strategy  in  February  to  the Conference  of  Presidents in
the European Parliament, followed by a presentation to the Plenary session in March,
introducing the State of the Union debate. In parallel the President also presents the
Annual Policy Strategy to the General Affairs Council in March.

1 White Paper on Reform, Action 82

3

                                                
takes  place  between 

Between  March  and  June  a  structured  dialogue 
the
Parliamentary Committees and the relevant Commissioners on the political priorities
within their portfolios. During this exercise, the Commission remains in a ‘listening
mode’ – i.e. it expects Parliament to react to its Annual Policy Strategy. In July, the
Commission adopts a Stocktaking document updating the Annual Policy Strategy on
the basis of the results of the inter-institutional dialogue and taking into account any
major  changes  in  the  Annual  Policy  Strategy  priorities  and  resource  framework
adopted in February. Finally, in September the Stocktaking document is sent both to
Parliament and  the  Council and the Vice-President of  the Commission presents  the
Stocktaking document to the Conference of Committee Chairmen.

In  the  Council  the  Annual  Policy  Strategy  priorities  are  discussed  at  both  working
group  level  and  in  COREPER  before  the  General  Affairs  Council  adopts  its
conclusions.

Any changes to the Annual Policy Strategy priorities adopted by the Commission on
the  basis  of  the  inter-institutional  dialogue  will  subsequently  be  reflected  in  the
Commission’s  Legislative  and  Work  Programme,  which  will  be  adopted  and
transmitted to Parliament and the Council every year in October.

The Annual Policy Strategy for 2003 is the first APS to benefit from this structured
inter-institutional  dialogue,  thus  adding  a  new  dimension  to  the  Annual  Policy
Strategy.  The  Commission  welcomes  this  improvement  to  the  discussion  on  the
definition of priorities and key initiatives for 2003 and is committed to continue and
develop this dialogue in the future with the European Parliament and the Council.

This Stocktaking document reports on the results of the structured dialogue with the
European  Parliament  and  the  Council  and  sets  out  possible  changes  to  the  Annual
Policy Strategy for 2003 as a consequence either of the inter-institutional dialogue or
of  other  major  changes  stemming  from  Commission  decisions  adopted  since
February.

2.

DIALOGUE WITH THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL: STOCKTAKING
AND PROSPECTS

After the  presentation  of the  Annual Policy Strategy  priorities to the Parliament  on
27 February the structured dialogue started at the end of March. By the end of June
all  Commissioners  had  met  with  relevant  Parliamentary  Standing  Committees,
presented the key Annual Policy Strategy initiatives within their area of competence
and  heard  the  views  of  the  Committees  on  the  Annual  Policy  Strategy  priorities.
Some 25 meetings took place between Commissioners and Committees in the period
from  March  to  June.  The  meetings  were  seen  as  useful  and  the  Commission  has
welcomed  the  opportunity  to  explain  and,  where  needed,  clarify  its  intentions  for
2003 within particular policy areas.

In  general,  the  Parliamentary  Committees  welcomed  and  supported  the  political
priorities set out in the Annual Policy Strategy  document and few of the structured
dialogue meetings resulted in  specific  proposals  for  additions  or  adjustments  to  the
key initiatives listed within the Annual Policy Strategy proposed for 2003. However,
where  the  Commission  has  agreed  to  a  proposal  for  an  addition  under  the  Annual
Policy  Strategy  key  initiatives,  these  additions  are  reflected  in  the  lists  of  concrete
actions  under  point  3.  Most  discussions  focused  on  the  implementation  of  the

4

Legislative  and  Work  Programme  for  2002,  current  issues  within  a  specific  policy
area  and,  in  many  cases  for  2003,  the  immediate  challenges  posed  by  the
forthcoming enlargement.

In  general  the  dialogue  signalled  the  phasing-in  of  a  new  procedure  although  it  is
recognised  that  it will  take  time  to make effective  use  of  this  new  tool  for  specific
political results. Next year it will be important to ensure that the meetings are held
within the agreed time frame and with greater clarity  for  both sides  with  respect to
the nature and purpose of the Structured Dialogue meetings.

A  parallel  dialogue  with  the  Council  resulted  in  the  General  Affairs  Council
welcoming  the  Annual  Policy  Strategy  priorities  after  detailed  discussions  and
suggestions  by  Member  States  on  different  aspects  of  the  priorities.  The  President
presented the Annual Policy Strategy for 2003 at the General Affairs Council on 11
March 2002. In its conclusions, the Council welcomed his presentation and entrusted
COREPER  with  the  task  of  continuing  the  dialogue  with  the  Commission  in
preparation of a discussion at the General Affairs Council on 13 May 2002.

A  Council  working  group  met  three  times  (on  8,  22  and  29  April)  to  analyse  the
Annual  Policy  Strategy,  seek  clarification  on  a  number  of  points  from  the
Commission  services,  and  COREPER  prepared  draft  conclusions  for  the  General
Affairs Council.

The General Affairs Council discussed the Annual Policy Strategy on 13 May 2002.
Member  States  made  a  number  of  individual  comments  and  suggestions  on  the
priorities and key initiatives proposed for 2003 in the course of the dialogue that took
place between March  and May  2002.  In  its conclusions, the Council  welcomed  the
three  main  priorities  proposed  by  the  Commission  for  2003,  took  note  of  the  key
initiatives  that  the  Commission  proposed  to  undertake  in  furtherance  of  these
priorities  and  invited  the  Commission  to  take  due  account  of  the  remarks  made  by
Member States when preparing the Stocktaking document.

The Council reserved its position on the budgetary consequences of the priorities and
key initiatives, noting that these would have to be studied in the budgetary process.

In  general  the  Council  welcomed  the  opportunity  provided  by  the  Annual  Policy
Strategy  for  dialogue  on  strategic  planning  and  programming,  confirming  the  need
for reinforced programming of EU activities and the timely identification of political
priorities in an enlarged European Union.

Globally the European Parliament and the Council confirmed that efforts  for sound
preparations for a successful enlargement are the main priority for the Institutions in
2003.  However,  doubts  have  been  expressed  about  the  availability  of  sufficient
resources  to  support  these  essential  efforts,  given  the  tight  situation  of  resources
available  in  2003  for  administrative  expenditure  under  heading  5  of  the  financial
perspective. The Commission restates that activities foreseen under the three Annual
Policy  Strategy  priorities  require  the  appropriate  resources,  as  described  in  the
Preliminary Draft Budget (PDB), and that if the Budgetary Authority reduces these,
or  calls  upon  other  financing  measures  without  the  necessary  guarantees  that  these
will be fulfilled, the Commission will be obliged to review its activities in 2003 and
possibly reduce the actions foreseen under these priorities. This would lead to serious
delays in the implementation of enlargement.

5

Finally, while the Commission is open to new ideas on initiatives from the budgetary
authority,  given  financial  and  human  resource  constraints  and  the  provisions  of
Activity-Based  Management  new  actions  will  require  a  review  and  are  likely  to
require  reduction  of  existing  activities.  Changes  compared  with  the  Annual  Policy
Strategy for 2003 and details on the operational translation of the key initiatives and
the  resource  aspects  resulting  from  the  inter-institutional  dialogue  and  the
Commission’s decisions are described below.

3.

MAIN POLITICAL AND RESOURCE CHANGES COMPARED WITH THE ANNUAL POLICY
STRATEGY FOR 2003

The Commission’s fundamental priority remains to make enlargement a success. For
this reason, enlargement, which was already a political priority for the current year,
has  been retained  as the  central priority for 2003.  Two  closely  associated  priorities
have  also  been  chosen:  stability  and  security,  an  expression  of  the  new  continental
responsibilities  of  Europe  after  enlargement  and  a  sustainable  and  inclusive
economy,  as  the  socio-economic  and  environmental  base  on  which  an  enlarged
Europe will be built.

The  recent  flooding  in  Germany,  Austria  and  in  some  candidate  countries  lead  the
Commission  to  propose  establishing  a  solidarity  mechanism  as  well  as  other
complementary  measures  in  order  to  bring  help  quickly  to  the  victims  of  natural
disasters.

The Commission needs to communicate better on these priorities to the citizen. For
this  reason,  it  has  prepared  a  Communication  on  an  Information  Strategy  for  the
European Union, which identifies selected themes within the political priority areas
about which an additional communication effort towards the citizens will be made. In
addition,  it  has  launched  a  separate  and  specific  Communication  strategy  on
enlargement.  These  themes  were  selected  following  discussions  with  Council  and
Parliament.

3.1.

The Enlarged Europe

Both the European Parliament and the Council have expressed their support for the
central  priority  for  2003.  Following  discussions  and  remarks  made  by  the  two
institutions, the Commission has decided to give more prominence to the question of
reinforcing the administrative and legal capacities of the candidate countries, namely
in  the  fields  of  food  safety  and  the  management  of  the  Community  funds,  and  in
addition  to  pay  more  attention  to  nuclear  safety  issues  in  the  candidate  countries.
Special attention will also be paid to communication policy in the future and in the
current Member States, in order to show to the citizens the reasons for enlargement
and the advantages they will derive from it.

Making  a  success  of  enlargement  will  require  unprecedented  efforts.  As  the
executive arm of the Union and as guardian of its Treaties, the Commission will be
in  the  front  line  working  to  pursue  the  policies  of  the  Union  within  an  enlarged
framework. To this end, the Commission, like the other Institutions, has to continue
improving  its  management  and  its  working  methods,  in  particular  by  concentrating
resources more on its essential activities.

6

In its Communication on "Activities and Human Resources of the Commission in the
enlarged European  Union"2, the Commission presented  its evaluation  of  the  impact
of  enlargement  on  its  activities  and  human  resources  for  the  period  2003-2008,
retaining a scenario envisaging that up to 10 applicant countries could accede to the
Union in 2004.

From  day  one  of  accession,  the  Commission  will  have  to  be  in  a  position  to
implement  the  acquis  communautaire  in  the  enlarged  Europe.  In  most  cases,  the
workload resulting from enlargement will increase substantially from day one since
the  Commission  will  have  the  task  of  managing  Community  policies  and
programmes and controlling EU legislation for 25 countries rather than just 15. Only
if the Commission has been given the means to prepare in the course of 2003 can it
be ready for enlargement in 2004.

This is why, in the framework of its Annual Policy  Strategy  decision for 2003,  the
Commission  evaluated  its  priority  human  resource  needs  in  order  to  carry  out  the
preparation  of  enlargement  correctly  in  2003.  This  evaluation  takes  account  of  all
possibilities for redeployment of staff. On this basis, therefore, the Commission has
requested  the  recruitment  of  500  external  staff  to  ensure  that  the  acquis
communautaire  is  implemented  correctly  from  the  first  day  of  accession.  The
recruitment  of  the  500  external  staff  will  be  front-loading  the  additional  human
resources requested in the above-mentioned Communication.

a) Objectives:

In light of discussions with the institutions, and in the framework set by the Annual
Policy Strategy for 2003, the Commission identifies the following key objectives for
2003:

(cid:1)  To  prepare  the  future  Member  States  to  assume  fully  all  the  responsibilities

arising from accession;

(cid:1)  To  guarantee  that  the  Commission  will  fully  meet  its  obligations  from  the  very
first day of accession, from the point of view of applying Community legislation,
policies and programmes and in terms of the measures needed to receive the new
Member States;

(cid:1)  To  conduct  an  in-depth  rethinking  of  Community  policies  that  reflects  the
qualitative  dimension  of  the  most  significant  enlargement  in  the  history  of
European integration.

b) Key Initiatives

To achieve this, several key initiatives were identified in the Annual Policy Strategy
for  2003.  In  the  framework  of  these  key  initiatives  and  following  the  inter-
institutional dialogue, the Commission presents the following highlights:

1.

Monitor the process of signature and ratification of the accession Treaties to enable
the  candidate  countries  with  which  negotiations  have  been  concluded  in  2002  to

2 COM(2002)311 final, of 5 June 2002

7

                                                
actually  achieve  membership  in  2004  and  participate  in  the  European  Parliament
elections as members:

(cid:1)  Delivery of the Commission’s opinion on the applications for accession to the EU;

(cid:1)  Updating Partnerships for Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey;

(cid:1)  Negotiation of all Structural Fund interventions for new Member States to ensure

full use of resources upon accession;

(cid:1)  Support  to  a  reconciliation  between  the  two  Cypriot  communities  following

achievement of a political agreement.

2.

Strengthen the future Member States' administrative and judicial capacities through:

(cid:1)  Reinforcement  of  the  administrative  and  judicial  capacities  of  the  candidate

countries with concrete measures (twinnings, specific projects);

(cid:1)  Measures to ensure the Community standards for food safety;

(cid:1)  Mobilise  the  necessary  investments  in  the  candidate  countries  so  that  they  can
participate fully in the Trans-European networks and assure the strong functioning
of the internal market;

(cid:1)  Measures  to  ensure  the  implementation  of  the  institutional  and  administrative

process for the sound management and efficient use of the structural funds.

3.

Prepare  the  application  of  Community  legislation,  programmes  and  surveillance
procedures  and  the  open  method  of  co-ordination  in  the  new  Member  States,
including by:

(cid:1)  Incorporating  the  review  of  candidate  countries’  economic,  employment  and
environmental  policies  in  the  Spring  synthesis  report  of  2003  and  follow  up
progress;

(cid:1)  Associate  candidate  countries  to  the  Community  research  Programmes  before

2003;

(cid:1)  Participation of Candidate countries in the e- Europe Action Plan.

(cid:1)  Take  measures  to  ensure  common  measures  for  nuclear  safety  within  the

European Union .

Prepare  the  concrete  application  of  the  Common  Agriculture  Policy  to  the  future
Member States, notably through:

(cid:1)  Technical adaptations of farming legislation;

(cid:1)  Preparation of rural development programmes with a view to launching them right

from the start of 2004.

Progressively set in place the structures needed to extend the Community's anti-fraud
arrangements to the candidate countries, namely through:

4.

5.

8

(cid:1)  Ensuring that the candidate countries take the actions necessary to enable them to

manage the customs union;

(cid:1)  Strengthening  appropriate  structures  for  fraud  avoidance  and  control  and
extending interchanges and training on the protection of the financial interests of
the European Union.

6.

Intensify and complete administrative and linguistic preparations for enlargement by:

(cid:1)  Completing the publication of the Treaties;

(cid:1)  Proceeding  with  the  consolidation  of  legislation  and  start  codification  in  the
existing  languages.  Publish  the  acquis  communautaire  in  the  new  official
languages;

(cid:1)  Ensuring the administrative preparations for selection, recruitment and integration

of officials into the Commission from the new Member States.

7.

8.

9.

Continue implementation of the administrative reform of the Commission to ensure
effective modernisation of Commission by 2004.

Continue to review the main Community policies, their procedures and their impact
to provide a basis for preparing in 2004 a Commission Communication on the main
prospects  for  the  development  of  policies  in  the  enlarged  Union  and  the  future
financial framework after 2006.

Contribute to the work of the Convention on the future institutional framework for an
enlarged European Union.

3.2.

Stability and Security

On  this  priority,  welcomed  by  both  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council,  the
inter-institutional  dialogue  was  fruitful.  In  particular,  the  European  Parliament
underlined  the  need  to  ensure  the  right  balance  between  the  measures  designed  to
enhance  security  on  the  one  hand,  and  respect  for  fundamental  rights  on  the  other,
especially  in  relation  to  immigration  policy  and  criminal  law.  Both  the  European
Parliament  and  the  Council  underlined  that  the  need  for  efficient  external  border
regimes to counter illegal immigration into the EU should be balanced by a genuine
Community immigration policy. The European Parliament also stressed the danger of
linking the release of development aid with the willingness of third countries to co-
operate with the Union in this field.

a) Objectives

In  light  of  discussions  with  the  institutions,  and  the  framework  set  by  the  Annual
Policy Strategy for 2003, the Commission identifies the following key objectives for
2003:

(cid:1)  To make substantial progress, as provided for by the European Council in Laeken,
and  further  defined  in  Seville,  towards  the  establishment  of  a  European  area  of
freedom, security and justice, and in particular:

9

– 

– 

– 

To  gradually  develop  an 
integrated  European  system  of  border
management,  to  safeguard  the  enlarged  European  Union’s  external
borders, to reinforce the common visa policy and to improve police and
judicial co-operation to combat crime including terrorism;

to promote the timely adoption by the Council of the legislative measures
proposed  by  the  Commission  for  the  creation  of  an  area  of  freedom,
security and justice, in particular as regards the establishment of common
European  policies  on  immigration  and  asylum  in  accordance  with  the
deadlines set by the Seville European Council;

to  ensure  that  the  necessary  security  measures  are  balanced  by
guaranteeing  respect for fundamental rights and liberties and  promoting
easier access to justice.

(cid:1)  To  improve  transport  safety  and  security  as  well  as  security  of  information  and

communication networks and in civil protection;

(cid:1)  to work for peace  and  stability  at  the  external  borders  of  the  enlarged  European

Union and beyond;

(cid:1)  to respond effectively to crises when peace is challenged;

(cid:1)  to develop mechanisms to increase contact and understanding between the peoples

and cultures of Europe and of other parts of the world.

b) Key Initiatives

To achieve this, several key initiatives were identified in the Annual Policy Strategy
for  2003.  In  the  framework  of  these  key  initiatives  and  following  the  inter-
institutional dialogue, the Commission presents the following highlights:

1.

Legislative  and  non-legislative  measures  to  make  further  progress  towards  an
integrated  European  system  of  border  management  including  measures  to  fight
illegal  immigration,  in  accordance  with  the  programme  agreed  by  the  Seville
European Council:

(cid:1)  Legislative  measures  to  revise  and  consolidate  the  rules  set  out  in  the  Common

Manual on external borders;

(cid:1)  Measures  to  enhance  the  common  visa  policy  and  in  particular  to  establish  a

common visa identification system;

(cid:1)  Examination  of  the  legal,  institutional  and  budgetary  implications  concerning
burden-sharing  for the  management  of  external  borders  and  for  developing  joint
training of border services;

(cid:1)  Establishment  of  a  rapid  alert  system  of  illegal  immigration  and  trafficking  in

human beings.

2.

Propose measures to tackle the financing of terrorism and to fight against corruption,
to  facilitate  effective  implementation  of  criminal  sentences  in  the  Union  and  to

10

contribute  to  combating  and  preventing  crime  and  terrorism,  whilst  ensuring  that
these measures are properly balanced with measures to protect individual rights:

(cid:1)  Framework  Decision  on  the  freezing  and  confiscation  of  funds  from  entities
controlled  by  physical  persons  involved  in  the  funding  of  terrorist  activities  to
ensure that legitimate business activities are not used to finance terrorism;

(cid:1)  Framework  Decision  fixing  common  standards  regarding  procedural  safeguards

for persons accused in criminal proceedings throughout the EU;

Make further proposals for measures to consolidate common European immigration
and asylum policies, including increased funding for the European Refugee Fund and
greater co-operation with third countries in the field of migration:

(cid:1)  Establishment  of  a  Community  Action  Programme  aimed  at  encouraging  the

integration of third country nationals who are legally resident in the Union;

(cid:1)  establishment of an instrument relating to a ‘one-stop shop’ for the processing of

applications for asylum in the Member States.

Reinforce  the  application  of  the  anti-money  laundering  directives,  implement  the
measures  on  payment  systems  announced  in  the  Fraud  Prevention  Action  Plan  and
enhance co-operation between Finance Intelligence Units:

(cid:1)  Evaluation  of  the  existing  Third  Pillar  measures  in  the  fight  against  financial
crime, and examination of the need for an instrument to create an EU-wide system
to combat money laundering involving large-scale cash payments.

Follow  up  of  the  Green  Paper  on  the  protection  of  the  financial  interests  of  the
European Union and the establishment of a European Public Prosecutor.

Ensure effective implementation of the security provisions in the Commission.

Improve  all  aspects  of  transport,  energy,  public  health  and  information  and
communications network security:

(cid:1)  Establishment of common EU standards for the safety of nuclear power plants, as
well  as  enhancing  civil  protection  through  legislative  proposals  and  other
initiatives and ensuring the safe transport, treatment and disposal of nuclear waste;

(cid:1)  Proposal for a Regulation establishing a European Centre for disease control;

(cid:1)  Implementation of a Cyber security task force.

Make a significant contribution towards resolving the conflict in the Middle East and
develop  the  Mediterranean  partnership,  notably  by  taking  forward  the  Barcelona
process,  focusing  on  promoting  reform,  economic  co-operation  and  investments  in
the region and continuing to improve the effectiveness of MEDA.

Develop association and stabilisation process in the Balkans and further co-operation
with Russia and the Newly Independent States:

(cid:1)  Negotiation of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Albania.

11

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

Support  financially  and  politically  the  process  of  reconstruction  led  by  the
representative government in Afghanistan.

Reinforce  the  rapid  reaction  mechanism  and  make  an  active  contribution  to  the
Common  Foreign  Security  Policy  and  to  the  civilian  dimension  of  the  Common
Security and Defence Policy.

Erasmus  World  Programme  to  enhance  quality  in  higher  education  and  to  promote
inter-cultural understanding through co-operation with third countries( 2004-2008).

3.3.

Sustainable and Inclusive Economy

The European Parliament and the Council have expressed a number of views on this
priority. The Commission in particular agrees with  the importance  of the following
points:  the  importance  of  mainstreaming  gender  equality,  which  represents  a
significant aspect of sustainable development; the focus on the environmental, social
and  economic  impact  of  new  legislation  through  the  introduction  of  impact
assessment; an increase in global investments in research in Europe; and the need to
fight  against  poverty 
trade
agreements  and  specific  attention  to  Africa  and  the  least  developed  countries  in
general.

improved  conflict  prevention,  regional 

through 

a) Objectives

In light of discussions with the institutions, and in the framework set by the Annual
Policy Strategy for 2003, the Commission identifies the following key objectives for
2003:

(cid:1)  To accelerate implementation of the Lisbon Strategy including the promotion of a
knowledge-based  society,  the  strengthening  of  the  internal  market  for  services
(financial,  energy,  transport,  telecommunications,  etc.)  the  removal  of  fiscal
distortions and the promotion of active employment policies;

(cid:1)  To maintain stability-oriented macro-economic policies;

(cid:1)  To  promote  sustainable  development  and  strengthen  social  and  economic

cohesion balancing environmental, social and economic concerns;

(cid:1)  To ensure that the positive effects of globalisation are shared evenly between and
within countries; to work for a fairer distribution of resources between the North
and the South respecting their cultural diversity and environmental heritage.

b) Key Initiatives

To achieve this, several key initiatives were identified in the Annual Policy Strategy
for  2003.  In  the  framework  of  these  key  initiatives  and  following  the  inter-
institutional dialogue, the Commission presents the following highlights:

1.

Measures to complete the internal market for services, through measures to eliminate
barriers  to  the  provision  and  take-up  of  services,  from  which  both  business  and
consumers  can  benefit,  in  particular  for  energy,  transport  and  telecommunications,
and reach final agreement on the most important measures of the Financial Services
Action Plan:

12

(cid:1)  Communication  on  the  main  achievements  of  the  internal  market  since  1992
particularly focusing on  the  benefits to  European  citizens on  the occasion  of  the
10th anniversary of the internal market;

(cid:1)  Implementation  of  the  new  Framework  Programme  ‘Intelligent  energy  for

Europe;

(cid:1)  Implementation of the remaining actions in the Financial Services Action Plan;

(cid:1)  Implementation and management of the new Regulatory Framework for electronic

communication Services (including spectrum management);

(cid:1)  Green  paper  launching  a  debate  on  our  role  in  ensuring  the  wide  availability  of

high quality services of general interest for all citizens.

2.

Measures to enhance the competitive conditions in the internal market, in particular
in  the  field  of  State  aid  and  taxation,  to  create  the  necessary  environment  for
consumer  confidence  in  cross-border  transactions  and  to  pursue  the  continuing
expansion of trans-European transport and energy networks:

(cid:1)  Implementation of new measures to ensure effective enforcement of competition
rules  and  those  with  regard  to  state  aid  particularly  regarding  the  postal  and
energy sectors;

(cid:1)  Green  Paper  on  entrepreneurship 

to  stimulate  discussion  of  Europe’s

competitiveness;

(cid:1)  Proposal for a Directive on fair trade;

(cid:1)  Measures to ensure co-ordination of national fiscal systems;

(cid:1)  Legislative  and  non-legislative  measures  that  will  adapt  the  VAT  system  to  the

modern economy, in particular to e-commerce;

(cid:1)  Cost-related  measures  in  support  of  sustainable  development  particularly  in

relation to environment, transport and energy policies.

Initiatives to improve economic policy co-ordination, in particular budgetary policies
so as to ensure the smooth functioning of Economic and Monetary Union:

(cid:1)  Measures  to  improve  policy  co-ordination  between  Member  States  on  the
assessment of public finances, integrated financial system  and structural policies
and monitoring the implementation of common standards on economic policy;

(cid:1)  Implementation of the new streamlined economic policy-co-ordination cycle.

Initiatives  to  promote  the  knowledge-based  society  in  particular  through  the
development and implementation of an integrated strategy for a European knowledge
area

(cid:1)  Implementation of the joint Commission/Council work programme on objectives

for education and training systems in Europe;

3.

4.

13

(cid:1)  Implementation  of  the  Information  society  for  all’  notably  through  e-  Europe

2005;

(cid:1)  Measures to develop good practices in life-long learning and e-learning;

(cid:1)  Measures  to  increase  research  expenditure  to  3%  of  EU  GDP  in  2010,  in
particular by increased private investment and action plan to promote investment
in research;

(cid:1)  Launching  of  the  sixth  framework  programme  for  research  and  technological

development;

(cid:1)  Implementation of an action plan on biotechnology;

(cid:1)  Adoption and implementation of a new action programme on e-learning that will

integrate new technologies in education and training.

5.

Measures to ensure sustainability and coherence in a number of key policies, notably
agriculture (CAP mid-term review), fisheries, transport, energy, cohesion policy and
Structural Funds (third report on cohesion policy), food safety and public finance in
the  context  of  monetary  union  as  well  as  effective  follow-up  to  the  Göteborg
Conclusions; 
environmental
legislation:

implementation  of  Community-wide 

improve 

(cid:1)  Further to the mid-term review of the CAP, other sectors will undergo a review;
this concerns wine, sugar, olive oil, tobacco, cotton and possibly other  products.
The Commission will present a Communication to the other Institutions that later
will be followed by legislative proposals;

(cid:1)  Legislative  proposals  and  measures  to  implement  the  Fisheries  reform  such  as
setting  up  the  first  Regional  Advisory  Councils,  establishment  of  a  Joint
Community  Inspection  Structure  for  Fisheries,  establishment  of  multi-annual
management plans for some major fisheries stocks and proposals for the necessary
implementing measures for the application of the new fleet policy;

(cid:1)  Third  Cohesion  Report  at  the  end  of  2003  including,  as  appropriate  legislative

proposals for the Structural Funds after 2006;

(cid:1)  Implementation of the Regulatory Framework for Food Safety and proposal for a

regulation on nutrition, functional and health claims made on food;

(cid:1)  Preparation  and  implementation  of  the  7  thematic  strategies  within  the  6th

Environmental Action Programme;

(cid:1)  Legislative proposals for a  new  chemicals  strategy  and  finalising  risk  reduction

measures required under existing legislation for dangerous substances.

6.

Implementation  of  the  Cotonou  Agreement  with  a  view  to  effectively  relieving
poverty,  health  and  education  problems 
in  Africa  and  ensuring  effective
implementation of our co-operation and partnership agreements prioritising the fight
against poverty:

14

7.

8.

9.

10.

(cid:1)  Finalisation  of 

the  ACP  partnership  agreements  and 

implementation  of

programmes. Implementation of programme on communicable diseases.

Intensification of the Doha trade round negotiations, with a view to conclusion by the
end  of  2004.  Bilateral  negotiations  continued  in  particular  with  Mercosur,  Africa,
Caribbean  and 
the
Mediterranean  countries.  Establishing  coherence  between  the  European  Union’s
external  relations  and  development  policies  in  a  way  that  ensure  the  right  balance
between our trade interests and the best developmental and environmental results.

the  Gulf  Co-operation  Council  and 

the  Pacific  States 

Implementation of the Social Policy Agenda, combining all Community instruments
(open  method  of  co-ordination,  legislation,  social  dialogue,  and  support  via  the
Structural  Funds)  so  as  to  help  achieve  the  strategic  objectives  set  at  the  Lisbon
European Council:

(cid:1)  Adoption  of  a  Communication  on  the  mid-term  review  of  the  Social  Policy

Agenda;

(cid:1)  Effective implementation of the open method of co-ordination by the adoption of
a revamped employment package, a second joint report on social inclusion and the
launch of this working method in the field of pensions;

(cid:1)  Ensure  appropriate  follow-up  of  ongoing  social  partners’  consultation  according
to  article  138  of  the  Treaty  on  data  protection  of  workers,  social  aspects  of
corporate restructuring and portability of supplementary pensions.

Effective application of the new impact assessment tool to achieve better lawmaking
and progress towards sustainable development.

Prepare  the  establishment  of  a  financial  mechanism  to  help  victims  of  natural
disasters.

(cid:1)  Implementation  modalities  and  the  cost  of  the  initiative  will  be  defined  and
estimated  in  the  course  of  September  2002  and  submitted  to  the  budgetary
authority in the frame of the Work Programme for 2003.

4.

MAIN CHANGES RELATED TO THE RESOURCE FRAMEWORK GIVEN BY THE ANNUAL
POLICY STRATEGY FOR 2003

On  the  resource  side,  the  framework  provided  by  the  Annual  Policy  Strategy  is
detailed  in  the  Preliminary  Draft  Budget  (PDB).  As  far  as  human  resources  are
concerned, no major change has to be pinpointed. Globally, the framework presented
in the Annual Policy Strategy and translated in detail in the PDB with a number of
minor amendments remains unchanged. In terms of the enlargement priority, in April
the  Commission  presented  a  Communication  on  the  impact  of  enlargement  on  the
activities  and  human  resources  of  the  Commission  which  puts  the  estimated  needs
for additional human resources from 2003 to 2008 at 3900 staff. As part of this total,
the  500  external  staff  requested  with  the  Annual  Policy  Strategy  and  the  PDB  for
2003 will cover the first influx of resources needed for preparations the year before
the enlargement.

15

The tight budgetary ceilings in Heading 5 require concentrating the human resources
assigned  to  this  effort  in  2003  on  the  most  essential  activities  and  tasks.  The
Commission therefore foresees allocating the 500 external staff requested for 2003 to
the  three  large  families  of  activities  that  it  considers  essential  for  the  success  of
enlargement:

–  Implementation  of  the  Structural  Funds  and  of  the  CAP:  the  aim  of
implementing the structural programmes and the CAP as early as possible in 2004
the  necessary
implies  programming  and  support  for 
administrative structures (management and control) in the applicant countries.

the  setting  up  of 

–  Full implementation  of the 'acquis communautaire': All the work undertaken
in the pre-accession phase shows a particular challenge: the implementation of the
acquis  communautaire  must  be  controlled  from  the  first  days  following
enlargement  in  the  areas  of  competition,  health  and  consumer’s  protection,
environment, and the fight against fraud.

–  The legal and linguistic framework: The acquis communautaire will have to be
published  in  the  new  languages  of  the  Union  (up  to  10),  the  translation  and
interpretation tasks will increase from 2003 and the services concerned will have
to  prepare  themselves  in  order  to  be  able  to  work  effectively  in  an  enlarged
linguistic framework from day one of accession.

The  effective  availability  of  the  500  external  staff  in  2003,  a  major  part  of  which
should be made up of nationals from the applicant countries, constitutes  a  sine qua
non condition for an effective preparation of enlargement.

The Commission stresses the absolute necessity to ensure the appropriate financing
in  2003  of  the  expenses  for  500  staff  for  preparations  of  enlargement.    Only
sufficient appropriations for the recruitment of staff for enlargement already in 2003
will  enable  theCommission  to  guarantee  adequate  preparation  of  enlargement  and
full application of the ‘acquis communautaire’ as from the first day of accession.

Where financial resources are concerned, two main events need to be  recalled: first
of  all,  instead  of  the  Euro-Mediterranean  bank  provided  for  in  the  Annual  Policy
Strategy,  a  Euro-Med  facility  has,  as  a  first  step,  been  set  up  inside  the  MEDA
programme;  secondly,  on  the  reform  of  the  Common  Fisheries  Policy,  the
Commission  adopted  a  package  of  reform  proposals  on  28  May  whose  main
budgetary  impact  is  to  require  €  272  million  for  fleet  reduction  between  2003  and
2006.  Some  €240  million  will  be  found  under  Heading  2  through  reprogramming
while  the  remainder  (€32  milli on)  will  require  mobilisation  of  the  flexibility
instrument in 2003.

5.

CONCLUSIONS

This  follow-up  to  the  Annual  Policy  Strategy  for  2003  is  the  first  document  of  its
kind,  confirming  that  the  strategic  planning  and  programming  cycle  is  moving
towards  a  greater  degree  of  maturity  both  internally  and  in  relation  with  the  other
institutions.  The structured dialogue  with  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council
are  a  positive  step  forward  towards  the  identification  of  political  priorities  for  the

16

Union as a whole. The following exercises, however, will have to take account of the
lessons learned during this first exercise.

The main result to retain from these discussions is that the three institutions agree on
the political priorities for 2003. However, a significant implication of this document
is  that  the  necessary  resources  will  have  to  be  made  available  for  the  actions
identified under the key priorities. In this regard, the negative reaction of Parliament
and Council in the first reading of the budget to the Commission’s proposal to use,
on an exceptional basis, the flexibility instrument in order to finance these staff needs
during the transitional year of 2003 raises a serious issue which deserves urgent and
special attention.

The Commission stresses that is now essential to ensure the appropriate financing in
2003 of the expenses for 500 staff which are the vital minimum needed in order to
prepare for enlargement. Without this additional staff, the Commission will no longer
be in a position to guarantee adequate preparation of enlargement and full application
of the acquis communautaire as from the first day of accession.

If  the  Union  really  wants  enlargement  as  of  2004,  it  cannot  deprive  the
Commission of the personnel considered necessary to fulfil all its obligations vis-
à-vis the new Member States from day one of the accession.

To this end, the Budgetary Authority should explore together with the Commission
all possibilities to ensure the financing of those posts, including anticipating in 2002
certain  administrative  expenditures  (frontloading),    and  wherever  possible  making
supplementary  appropriations  available  via  transfers  between  institutions.  The
Commission will deploy all the political efforts needed in order to secure the support
of the Council and Parliament, and the candidate countries for this objective.

17

Technical annex – list of key initiatives and related responsibilities

The enlarged Europe

1.

Monitor the process of signature and ratification of the accession Treaties to enable
the  candidate  countries  with  which  negotiations  have  been  concluded  in  2002  to
actually  achieve  membership  in  2004  and  participate  in  the  European  Parliament
elections as members:

(cid:1)  Delivery of the Commission’s opinion on the applications for accession to the EU

(DG ELARG/VERHEUGEN);

(cid:1)  Updating 

Partnerships 
ELARG/VERHEUGEN);

for  Bulgaria,  Romania 

and  Turkey 

(DG

(cid:1)  Negotiation of all Structural Fund interventions for new Member States to ensure
(DG  REGIO/BARNIER;  DG

full  use  of 
EMPL/DIAMANTOPOULOU AND DG AGRI/ FISH/ FISCHLER);

resources  upon  accession 

(cid:1)  Support  to  a  reconciliation  between  the  two  Cypriot  communities  following
achievement  of  a  political  agreement.  (DG  ELARG/VERHEUGEN  and  DG
REGIO/BARNIER)

2.

Strengthen the future Member States' administrative and judicial capacities through:

(cid:1)  Reinforcement  of  the  administrative  and  judicial  capacities  of  the  candidate
(DG

specific  projects) 

countries  with  concrete  measures 
(twinnings, 
ELARG/VERHEUGEN AND DG JAI/VITORINO);

(cid:1)  Measures 

to  ensure 

the  Community  standards 

for 

food  safety 

(DG

SANCO/BYRNE);

(cid:1)  Mobilise  the  necessary  investments  in  the  candidate  countries  so  that  they  can
participate fully in the Trans-European networks and assure the strong functioning
of  the  internal  market  (DG  TREN/DE  PALACIO;  DG  REGIO/  BARNIER;  DG
ELARG/ VERHEUGEN);

(cid:1)  Measures  to  ensure  the  implementation  of  the  institutional  and  administrative
process for the sound management and efficient use  of  the  structural  funds  (DG
REGIO/BARNIER).

3.

Prepare  the  application  of  Community  legislation,  programmes  and  surveillance
procedures  and  the  open  method  of  co-ordination  in  the  new  Member  States,
including by:

(cid:1)  Incorporating  the  review  of  candidate  countries’  economic,  employment  and
environmental  policies  in  the  Spring  synthesis  report  of  2003  and  follow  up
DG
progress 
EMPL/DIAMANTOPOULOU;  DG  ENV/WALLSTROM;  DG  EAC  /REDING;
DG TREN/ DE PALACIO; DG ENTR/LIIKANEN);

(SG/PRESIDENT; 

ECFIN/SOLBES; 

DG 

18

(cid:1)  Associate  candidate  countries  to  the  Community  research  Programmes  before

2003 (DG RTD/BUSQUIN);

(cid:1)  Participation  of  Candidate  countries  in  the  e-  Europe  Action  Plan  (DG

INFSO/LIIKANEN).

(cid:1)  Take  measures  to  ensure  common  measures  for  nuclear  safety  within  the

European Union (DG TREN/DE PALACIO; DG ELARG/ VERHEUGEN)

Prepare  the  concrete  application  of  the  Common  Agriculture  Policy  to  the  future
Member States, notably through:

(cid:1)  Technical adaptations of farming legislation; (DG AGRI/FISCHLER)

(cid:1)  Preparation of rural development programmes with a view to launching them right

from the start of 2004. (DG AGRI/FISCHLER)

Progressively set in place the structures needed to extend the Community's anti-fraud
arrangements to the candidate countries, namely through:

(cid:1)  Ensuring that the candidate countries take the actions necessary to enable them to

manage the customs union (DG TAXUD/BOLKESTEIN);

(cid:1)  Strengthening  appropriate  structures  for  fraud  avoidance  and  control  and
extending interchanges and training on the protection of the financial interests of
the European Union. (OLAF/SCHREYER)

4.

5.

6.

Intensify and complete administrative and linguistic preparations for enlargement by:

(cid:1)  Completing the publication of the Treaties (OPOCE/REDING);

(cid:1)  Proceeding  with  the  consolidation  of  legislation  and  start  codification  in  the
existing  languages.  Publish  the  acquis  communautaire  in  the  new  official
languages (SDT/SCIC/KINNOCK) (OPOCE/REDING; LS/PRESIDENT);

(cid:1)  Ensuring the administrative preparations for selection, recruitment and integration
the  new  Member  States.  (DG

the  Commission  from 

of  officials 
ADMIN/KINNOCK)

into 

7.

8.

9.

Continue implementation of the administrative reform of the Commission to ensure
effective  modernisation  of  Commission  by  2004.  (ALL  COMMISSIONERS/  ALL
DGs)

Continue to review the main Community policies, their procedures and their impact
to provide a basis for preparing in 2004 a Commission Communication on the main
prospects  for  the  development  of  policies  in  the  enlarged  Union  and  the  future
financial framework after 2006. (ALL DGs / All COMMISSIONERS)

Contribute to the work of the Convention on the future institutional framework for an
(SG/PRESIDENT;  BARNIER  and  VITORINO)
enlarged  European  Union. 

19

Stability and security

1.

2.

3.

4.

Legislative  and  non-legislative  measures  to  make  further  progress  towards  an
integrated  European  system  of  border  management  including  measures  to  fight
illegal  immigration,  in  accordance  with  the  programme  agreed  by  the  Seville
European Council:

(cid:1)  Legislative  measures  to  revise  and  consolidate  the  rules  set  out  in  the  Common

Manual on external borders (DG JAI/VITORINO);

(cid:1)  Measures  to  enhance  the  common  visa  policy  and  in  particular  to  establish  a

common visa identification system (DG JAI/ VITORINO);

(cid:1)  Examination  of  the  legal,  institutional  and  budgetary  implications  concerning
burden-sharing  for  the  management  of  external  borders  and  for  developing  joint
training of border services (DG JAI/VITORINO);

(cid:1)  Establishment  of  a  rapid  alert  system  of  illegal  immigration  and  trafficking  in

human beings. (DG JAI/VITORINO)

Propose measures to tackle the financing of terrorism and to fight against corruption,
to  facilitate  effective  implementation  of  criminal  sentences  in  the  Union  and  to
contribute  to  combating  and  preventing  crime  and  terrorism,  whilst  ensuring  that
these measures are properly balanced with measures to protect individual rights:

(cid:1)  Framework  Decision  on  the  freezing  and  confiscation  of  funds  from  entities
controlled  by  physical  persons  involved  in  the  funding  of  terrorist  activities  to
ensure  that  legitimate  business  activities  are  not  used  to  finance  terrorism  (DG
JAI/VITORINO);

(cid:1)  Framework  Decision  fixing  common  standards  regarding  procedural  safeguards
the  EU  (DG
in  criminal  proceedings 

throughout 

for  persons  accused 
JAI/VITORINO);

Make further proposals for measures to consolidate common European immigration
and asylum policies, including increased funding for the European Refugee Fund and
greater co-operation with third countries in the field of migration:

(cid:1)  Establishment  of  a  Community  Action  Programme  aimed  at  encouraging  the
integration of third country nationals who  are legally  resident  in  the  Union  (DG
JAI/VITORINO; DG EMPL/ DIAMANTOPOULOU);

(cid:1)  establishment of an instrument relating to a ‘one-stop shop’ for the processing of

applications for asylum in the Member States. (DG JAI/VITORINO)

Reinforce  the  application  of  the  anti-money  laundering  directives,  implement  the
measures  on  payment  systems  announced  in  the  Fraud  Prevention  Action  Plan  and
enhance co-operation between Finance Intelligence Units:

(cid:1)  Evaluation  of  the  existing  Third  Pillar  measures  in  the  fight  against  financial
crime, and examination of the need for an instrument to create an EU-wide system

20

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

to  combat  money 
JAI/VITORINO)

laundering 

involving 

large-scale  cash  payments.  (DG

Follow  up  of  the  Green  Paper  on  the  protection  of  the  financial  interests  of  the
European  Union  and 
the  establishment  of  a  European  Public  Prosecutor.
(OLAF/SCHREYER)

Ensure effective implementation of the security provisions in the Commission. (DG
ADMIN/KINNOCK)

Improve  all  aspects  of  transport,  energy,  public  health  and  information  and
communications network security:

(cid:1)  Establishment of common EU standards for the safety of nuclear power plants, as
well  as  enhancing  civil  protection  through  legislative  proposals  and  other
initiatives and ensuring the safe transport, treatment and disposal of nuclear waste
(DG TREN/DE PALACIO; DG ENV/WALLSTRÖM);

(cid:1)  Proposal for a Regulation establishing a European Centre for disease control (DG

SANCO/BYRNE);

(cid:1)  Implementation of a Cyber security task force. (DG INFSO/LIIKANEN;DG JAI/

VITORINO)

Make a significant contribution towards resolving the conflict in the Middle East and
develop  the  Mediterranean  partnership,  notably  by  taking  forward  the  Barcelona
process,  focusing  on  promoting  reform,  economic  co-operation  and  investments  in
the  effectiveness  of  MEDA.  (DG
the  region  and  continuing 
RELEX/AIDCO PATTEN)

improve 

to 

Develop association and stabilisation process in the Balkans and further co-operation
with Russia and the Newly Independent States:

(cid:1)  Negotiation  of  a  Stabilisation  and  Association  Agreement  with  Albania.  (DG

RELEX/PATTEN)

Support  financially  and  politically  the  process  of  reconstruction  led  by  the
representative  government 
and
AIDCO/NIELSON)

(DG  RELEX/PATTEN 

in  Afghanistan. 

Reinforce  the  rapid  reaction  mechanism  and  make  an  active  contribution  to  the
Common  Foreign  Security  Policy  and  to  the  civilian  dimension  of  the  Common
Security and Defence Policy. (DG RELEX/PATTEN)

Erasmus  World  Programme  to  enhance  quality  in  higher  education  and  to  promote
inter-cultural  understanding  through  co-operation  with  third  countries(  2004-2008).
(DG EAC/ REDING)

Sustainable and inclusive economy

1.

Measures to complete the internal market for services, through measures to eliminate
barriers  to  the  provision  and  take-up  of  services,  from  which  both  business  and

21

consumers  can  benefit,  in  particular  for  energy,  transport  and  telecommunications,
and reach final agreement on the most important measures of the Financial Services
Action Plan:

(cid:1)  Communication  on  the  main  achievements  of  the  internal  market  since  1992
particularly focusing on  the  benefits to  European  citizens on  the occasion  of  the
10th anniversary of the internal market (DG MARKT/BOLKESTEIN);

(cid:1)  Implementation of the new Framework Programme ‘Intelligent energy for Europe

(DG TREN/DE PALACIO);

(cid:1)  Implementation  of  the  remaining  actions  in  the  Financial  Services  Action  Plan

(DG MARKT/BOLKESTEIN);

(cid:1)  Implementation and management of the new Regulatory Framework for electronic
(DG

spectrum  management) 

(including 

Services 

communication 
INFSO/LIIKANEN);

(cid:1)  Green  paper  launching  a  debate  on  our  role  in  ensuring  the  wide  availability  of

high quality services of general interest for all citizens. (SG/PRESIDENT)

2.

Measures to enhance the competitive conditions in the internal market, in particular
in  the  field  of  State  aid  and  taxation,  to  create  the  necessary  environment  for
consumer  confidence  in  cross-border  transactions  and  to  pursue  the  continuing
expansion of trans-European transport and energy networks:

(cid:1)  Implementation of new measures to ensure effective enforcement of competition
rules  and  those  with  regard  to  state  aid  particularly  regarding  the  postal  and
energy sectors (DG COMP/MONTI);

(cid:1)  Green  Paper  on  entrepreneurship 

to  stimulate  discussion  of  Europe’s

competitiveness (DG ENTR/LIIKANEN);

(cid:1)  Proposal for a Directive on fair trade ( DG SANCO / BYRNE);

(cid:1)  Measures 

to 
TAXUD/BOLKESTEIN);

ensure 

co-ordination  of  national 

fiscal 

systems 

(DG

(cid:1)  Legislative  and  non-legislative  measures  that  will  adapt  the  VAT  system  to  the
modern economy, in particular to e-commerce (DG TAXUD/BOLKESTEIN);

(cid:1)  Cost-related  measures  in  support  of  sustainable  development  particularly  in
relation to environment, transport and energy policies. (DG TREN/DE PALACIO,
DG ENV/WALLSTRÖM, DG TAXUD/BOLKESTEIN)

3.

Initiatives to improve economic policy co-ordination, in particular budgetary policies
so as to ensure the smooth functioning of Economic and Monetary Union:

(cid:1)  Measures  to  improve  policy  co-ordination  between  Member  States  on  the
assessment of public finances, integrated financial system and structural policies
and  monitoring  the  implementation  of  common  standards  on  economic  policy
(DG ECFIN/SOLBES);

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(cid:1)  Implementation of the new streamlined economic policy-co-ordination cycle. (DG

ECFIN/SOLBES; DG EMPL/ DIAMANTOPOULOU)

4.

Initiatives  to  promote  the  knowledge-based  society  in  particular  through  the
development and implementation of an integrated strategy for a European knowledge
area

(cid:1)  Implementation of the joint Commission/Council work programme on objectives

for education and training systems in Europe ( DG EAC/REDING);

(cid:1)  Implementation of the Information society for all’ notably through e- Europe 2005

(DG INFSO/LIIKANEN);

(cid:1)  Measures  to  develop  good  practices  in  life-long  learning  and  e-learning  (DG

EAC/REDING);

(cid:1)  Measures  to  increase  research  expenditure  to  3%  of  EU  GDP  in  2010,  in
particular by increased private investment and action plan to promote investment
in research (DG RTD/BUSQUIN);

(cid:1)  Launching  of  the  sixth  framework  programme  for  research  and  technological

development (DG RTD/BUSQUIN);

(cid:1)  Implementation of an action plan on biotechnology (DG RTD/BUSQUIN);

(cid:1)  Adoption and implementation of a new action programme on e-learning that will

integrate new technologies in education and training. (DG EAC/REDING)

5.

Measures to ensure sustainability and coherence in a number of key policies, notably
agriculture (CAP mid-term review), fisheries, transport, energy, cohesion policy and
Structural Funds (third report on cohesion policy), food safety and public finance in
the  context  of  monetary  union  as  well  as  effective  follow-up  to  the  Göteborg
Conclusions; 
environmental
legislation:

implementation  of  Community-wide 

improve 

(cid:1)  Further to the mid-term review of the CAP, other sectors will undergo a review;
this concerns wine, sugar, olive oil, tobacco, cotton and possibly other  products.
The Commission will present a Communication to the other Institutions that later
will be followed by legislative proposals (DG AGRI/FISCHLER);

(cid:1)  Legislative  proposals  and  measures  to  implement  the  Fisheries  reform  such  as
setting  up  the  first  Regional  Advisory  Councils,  establishment  of  a  Joint
Community  Inspection  Structure  for  Fisheries,  establishment  of  multi-annual
management plans for some major fisheries stocks and proposals for the necessary
implementing  measures  for  the  application  of  the  new  fleet  policy  (DG
FISH/FISCHLER);

(cid:1)  Third  Cohesion  Report  at  the  end  of  2003  including,  as  appropriate  legislative
proposals  for  the  Structural  Funds  after  2006  (DG  REGIO/BARNIER  ;  DG
EMPL/DIAMANTOPOULOU; DG AGRI/FISH/FISCHLER);

23

(cid:1)  Implementation of the Regulatory Framework for Food Safety and proposal for a
regulation  on  nutrition,  functional  and  health  claims  made  on  food  (DG
SANCO/BYRNE);

(cid:1)  Preparation  and  implementation  of  the  7  thematic  strategies  within  the  6th
(DG  ENV/WALLSTRÖM  AND

Programme 

Environmental  Action 
COMMISSIONERS CONCERNED);

6.

7.

8.

(cid:1)  Legislative  proposals  for a new  chemicals  strategy  and  finalising  risk  reduction
measures  required  under  existing  legislation  for  dangerous  substances.  (DG
ENTR/LIIKANEN)

Implementation  of  the  Cotonou  Agreement  with  a  view  to  effectively  relieving
poverty,  health  and  education  problems 
in  Africa  and  ensuring  effective
implementation of our co-operation and partnership agreements prioritising the fight
against poverty:

(cid:1)  Finalisation  of 

the  ACP  partnership  agreements  and 

implementation  of
programmes.  Implementation  of  programme  on  communicable  diseases.  (DG
DEV/NIELSON and AIDCO/PATTEN and DG TRADE/LAMY for the Cotonou
Economic Partnership Agreements)

the  Pacific  States 

Intensification of the Doha trade round negotiations, with a view to conclusion by the
end  of  2004.  Bilateral  negotiations  continued  in  particular  with  Mercosur,  Africa,
Caribbean  and 
the
Mediterranean  countries.  Establishing  coherence  between  the  European  Union’s
external  relations  and  development  policies  in  a  way  that  ensure  the  right  balance
between  our  trade  interests  and  the  best  developmental  and  environmental  results.
(DG  TRADE/LAMY;  DG  RELEX/PATTEN;  DG  DEV/NIELSON;  DG
AGRI/FISCHLER)

the  Gulf  Co-operation  Council  and 

Implementation of the Social Policy Agenda, combining all Community instruments
(open  method  of  co-ordination,  legislation,  social  dialogue,  and  support  via  the
Structural  Funds)  so  as  to  help  achieve  the  strategic  objectives  set  at  the  Lisbon
European Council:

(cid:1)  Adoption  of  a  Communication  on  the  mid-term  review  of  the  Social  Policy

Agenda (DG EMPL/DIAMANTOPOULOU);

(cid:1)  Effective implementation of the open method of co-ordination by the adoption of
a revamped employment package, a second joint report on social inclusion and the
(DG
launch  of 
EMPL/DIAMANTOPOULOU);

this  working  method 

field  of  pensions 

the 

in 

(cid:1)  Ensure  appropriate  follow-up  of  ongoing  social  partners’  consultation  according
to  article  138  of  the  Treaty  on  data  protection  of  workers,  social  aspects  of
corporate  restructuring  and  portability  of  supplementary  pensions.  (DG
EMPL/DIAMANTOPOULOU)

9.

Effective application of the new impact assessment tool to achieve better lawmaking
and progress towards sustainable development. (ALL DGs / COMMISSIONERS)

24

10.

Prepare  the  establishment  of  a  financial  mechanism  to  help  victims  of  natural
disasters:

(cid:1)  Implementation  modalities  and  the  cost  of  the  initiative  will  be  defined  and
estimated  in  the  course  of  September  2002  and  submitted  to  the  budgetary
authority  in  the  frame  of  the  Work  Programme  for  2003.  (ALL  DGs  /
COMMISSIONERS)

25