Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - Implementation Report for the Community Lisbon Programme 2008 – 2010
Date: 2008-12-16
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU action, EU programme, action programme, development policy, labour market, project management, small and medium-sized enterprises, sustainable development

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COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 16.12.2008 
COM(2008) 881 final 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL 
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS 

Implementation Report for the Community Lisbon Programme 2008 – 2010 

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1. 

INTRODUCTION 

As  part  of  the  renewed  Lisbon  Strategy  for  Growth  and  Jobs,  the  Commission  adopted  in 
December 2007 a Proposal for a Community Lisbon Programme 2008-2010, setting out ten 
key  objectives  and  corresponding  policy  actions  for  Community-level  actions  for  the  next 
three years. In March 2008, the European Council taking into account the priorities identified 
by the Council invited the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council to 
take forward work on the 10 objectives identified in CLP within their spheres of competence. 
The objectives and priority actions identified in the CLP are based on the four priority areas, 
recently confirmed in the European Economic Recovery Plan that the Commission proposed 
on 26th of November. Thus the CLP continues to provide appropriate policy responses in the 
light of the current financial and economic crisis.  

This  Communication  assesses  the  implementation  of  the  Community  Lisbon  Programme 
2008-2010  in  the  first  year  of  the  new  cycle  and  identifies  the  pending  priority  actions  that 
should now be addressed with highest priority in order to complement the actions identified in 
the ERP and by the Member States in their updated national reform programmes.  

Overall,  substantial  progress  has  been  made  in  the  first  year  of  the  Community  Lisbon 
Programme and a number of key milestones have already been achieved. Amongst the most 
important are:  

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The adoption by the EP and Council of the Goods Package to boost the internal 
market and increase consumer protection.  

The Commission adoption of the Small Business Act that sets the right policy 
priorities for easing life and increasing the dynamism of SMEs  

The  Commission  adoption  of  the  Renewed  Social  Agenda  that  addresses  the 
need to enhance employment opportunities and ensuring solidarity.  

The  Commission  adoption  of  the  Climate  Change  and  Renewable  Energy 
Package  and  the  Sustainable  Consumption,  Production  and  Industry  Action 
Plan.  

The  Memorandum  of  Understanding  on  Co-operation  between  the  Financial 
Supervisory  Authorities,  Central  Banks  and  Finance  Ministries  of  the  EU  on 
Cross-Border Financial Stability that will contribute to unwinding the financial 
crisis.  

The  Commission  has  also  driven  forward  its  better  regulation  agenda  to  cut 
unnecessary costs and remove obstacles to innovation.  

The adoption by the EP and Council of the Modernised Customs Code and the 
e-Customs Decision to create a paperless environment for customs and trade 

Substantially  greater  amounts  of  Community  funding  have  been  made 
available for growth and jobs through Cohesion Policy.  

This has laid the  foundations for  a shift in focus to the implementation  crucial  to achieve a 
substantial  and  positive  Community-wide  impact.  This  document  provides  a  detailed 
assessment of the achievements and priority pending actions under each objective.  

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2. 

PROGRESS ON THE 10 KEY OBJECTIVES OF THE CLP 2008-2010 

2.1. 

Investing in people and modernising labour markets  

Objective  1:  The  Commission  will  propose  a  renewed  Social  Agenda  by  mid-2008, 
particularly  covering  education,  migration,  and  demographic  evolutions,  and  will  help 
to  address  the  skills  gap  by  improving  the  monitoring  and  forecasting  of  future  skills 
requirements.  

The  Commission  adopted  in  July  2008  the  renewed  Social  Agenda.  By  modernising  labour 
markets  and  social  protection  systems,  the  social  agenda  will  help  people  seize  the 
opportunities  created  by  international  competition,  technological  advances  and  changing 
population patterns while protecting the most vulnerable in society. It is a priority now for the 
Council  and  European  Parliament  to  adopt  the  proposals  in  the  Social  Agenda  in  order  to 
enhance employment opportunities, improve access to quality services, and ensure solidarity. 
In particular, with the “New skills for new jobs” initiative, the Community steps up its efforts 
to assess emerging skills needs, to promote dialogue between all actors involved, to improve 
EU-wide  job  search  services  and  to  promote  the  development  of  skills.  Skills  development 
and  life-long  learning  will  be  supported  by  an  "updated  strategic  framework  for  European 
cooperation  in  education  and  training"  and  specific  measures  to  promote  quality  of  and 
mobility in vocational education and training. In 2008 a foresight exercise has been launched 
for 16 sectors including textiles, electronics and financial services and will be extended to the 
area of environmental and energy technologies. Further efforts are needed on a priority basis 
to  address  the  significant  regulatory  barriers  that  exist  to  the  single  labour  market, 
including  the  insufficient  comparability  and  recognition  of  qualifications  and  major 
restrictions on the portability of pensions and social benefits. Removing these obstacles will 
complement  Member  State  efforts  to  facilitate  the  better  use  of  skills  and  eliminate  skill 
mismatches.  

The  Commission  has  proposed  to  simplify  criteria  for  European  Social  Fund  (ESF)  support 
and frontload payments from early 2009, so that Member States have earlier access to up to € 
1.8  bn  in  order  to:  rapidly  reinforce  activation  schemes,  refocus  their  programmes  to 
concentrate  support  on  the  most  vulnerable,  and  improve  the  monitoring  and  matching  of 
skills. The Commission has also proposed to revise the rules of the European Globalisation 
Adjustment  Fund  so  that  it  can  intervene  more  rapidly  in  key  sectors,  either  to  co-finance 
training and job placements for those who are made redundant or to keep in the labour market 
skilled workers who will be needed once the economy starts to recover.  

Objective 2: The Commission will make proposals for a common policy on immigration 
in 2008. 

The  Commission  has  already  made  initial  proposals,  in  particularly  on  highly-qualified 
migrants coming to the EU through the “blue card” scheme. As set out in the Communication 
'A  Common  Immigration  Policy  for  Europe:  Principles,  actions  and  tools1  of  17  June  2008 
(COM/2008/359),  the  Commission  will  make  further  proposals  in  2009,  covering  rules  for 
intra-corporate  transferees,  seasonal  workers  and  remunerated  trainees.  These  are  first  steps 
towards a common policy on immigration that better responds to the needs of the EU labour 
market,  however  there  is  scope  for  substantial  further  progress,  The  Commission  welcomes 
the intention of the Council to adopt by May 2009 the Blue card scheme to attract highly-
skilled workers since it is a priority issue.  

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COM(2008) 359. 

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2.2. 

Unlocking business potential, especially of SMEs 

Objective  3:  The  Community  will  adopt  a  Small  Business  Act  to  unlock  the  growth 
potential of SMEs throughout their life-cycle.  

The Commission proposed a “Small Business Act” in June 2008 making concrete proposals 
for measures at EU and national level to support SME throughout their life-cycle. The Small 
Business Act has received full support by the European Council and European Parliament. In 
particular,  both  the  Commission  and  the  Council  have  acknowledged  the  need  to  advance 
implementation  in  view  of  assisting  SMEs  better  in  coping  with  the  current  financial  and 
economic  crisis  and  put  forward  an  Action  Plan  which  was  endorsed  by  the  Council.  The 
implementation  of  the  Small  Business  Act  should  receive  highest  political  priority  at  all 
levels  in  Member  States  and  at  the  Community-level.  Moreover,  the  timely  adoption  of  the 
legislative proposals on the European private company statute, reduced VAT rates for labour-
intensive  services,  and  the  modification  of  the  late  payments  directive  that  the  Commission 
will present in February 2009 are now crucial. In addition, initiatives for further simplifying 
the  regulatory  environment  and  for  improving  SMEs  access  to  finance  (see  objective  7 
below)  are  urgently  needed.  Therefore,  the  Commission  will  propose  to  remove  the 
requirement on micro-enterprises to prepare annual accounts (the estimated savings for these 
companies  are  €  7bn  per  year)  and  limit  the  ca pital  requirements  of  the  European  private 
company to one euro. It also urges all public authorities to accept e-invoicing as equivalent to 
paper invoicing. Finally on access to finance the European Investment Bank has increased its 
investment  envelope  for  SME  loans  to  €30bn  over  2008-2011  and  will  frontload  the 
implementation  to  ensure  that  new  loans  and  loan  guarantees  for  SMEs  become  available 
throughout the Community. 

Objective 4: The Community will move towards the target to reduce EU administrative 
burdens by 25 % by 2012 and implement an ambitious simplification programme. 

The Commission will make every effort to present the proposals needed to cut red tape and 
reduce administrative burden for business by 25% before the end of its mandate. This work 
complements the efforts of Member States to reduce administrative burdens by 25% by 2012. 
By  the  end  of  November  2008,  20  Member  States  had  set  national  reduction  targets.  The 
Commission has given itself a working agenda which is unprecedented in scope and depth. It 
has  identified  and  measured  the  cost  of  the  information  requirements  deriving  from  42  EU 
legal acts in 13 priority areas resulting in more than 5000 individual obligations at Member 
state  level.  In  2008  the  Commission  proposed  11  new  Fast  Track  Actions  for  reducing 
administrative burdens in 2008 accounting for more than € 1 billion to European businesses. 
In  2009,  the  Commission  will  present  additional  burden  reduction  proposals  based  on  a 
substantial  stakeholder  input.  In  particular,  work  will  also  continue  to  reduce  compliance 
costs resulting from the tax fragmentation of the internal market in particular for SMEs.  

In the Simplification programme to update and simplify existing Community legislation, the 
Commission  has  adopted  119  proposals  since  October  2005.  Of  these,  48  are  still  pending 
before the legislature. The screening of all existing legislation will be finalised by the end of 
the  mandate  of  the  Commission.  Overall,  the  Commission  has  put  forward  about  770  legal 
acts  for  repeal,  modification  or  replacement.  The  swift  adoption  of  the  simplification,  the 
Fast  Track  Action  proposals  and  proposals  to  reduce  administrative  burden  by  the 
European  Parliament  and  the  Council  remains  a  priority  to  ensure  that  European  businesses 
and citizens benefit from a more effective regulatory environment. 

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Objective 5: The Community will strengthen the single market, increase competition in 
services, take further steps to integrate the financial services market, and will strengthen 
existing  supervisory  arrangements  and  enhance  EU  cross-border  financial  crisis 
management.  

Services 

The  Community  needs  to  ensure  that  the  single  market  for  the  services  sector  becomes  a 
reality  to  stimulate  competition  and  increase  efficiency.  The  comprehensive  and  timely 
implementation of the Services directive by Member States by the December 2009 deadline 
is a priority to facilitate the cross-border establishment of service providers. This will improve 
market access for businesses, in particular SMEs and increase the choice for consumers.  

The  Community  should  strengthen  single  market  policy,  consumer  policy  and  the 
enforcement  of  competition  policy  particularly  in  a  number  of  key  network  industries  and 
services 
including  postal  services,  electricity/gas,  rail,  financial  services,  electronic 
communications,  and  the  retail  and  wholesale  industries,  whilst  ensuring  the  provision  of 
services of general interest.  

Goods 

The  Council  has  recently  adopted  the  Goods  Package  which  includes  measures  addressing 
harmonised  product  safety  standards  and  up  to  date  rules  on  market  surveillance  as  well  as 
strengthening CE marking requirements. The implementation of the Goods Package will give 
a new boost to production and trade in goods, making it easier for all companies to sell their 
goods across the EU whilst improving consumer protection. In addition the Commission has 
begun work on the market monitoring of the food supply chain, the retail trade, and electrical 
goods  and  will  extend  the  work  to  other  sectors.  A  first  consumer  scoreboard  has  been 
published  and  regular  consumer  price  monitoring  will  be  initiated  starting  with  food  and 
energy  prices.  The  follow-up  of  these  market  monitoring  and  consumer  monitoring 
actions is a priority. Work will continue to ensure timely standardisation and interoperability 
efforts, especially for ICT goods and services.  

Cross-border financial supervision and crisis management 

Financial stability is of key importance for growth and jobs as shown by the current financial 
crisis. The EU has acted quickly to restore market confidence, strengthen the resilience of the 
financial  sector  and  to  dampen  the  negative  impact  of  the  crisis  on  the  real  economy.  To 
increase  the  resilience  of  the  financial  system,  the  Commission  has  undertaken  a  series  of 
measures:  The  Community-level  committees  for  cross-border  supervision  of  the  financial 
institutions  and  markets  have  been  strengthened  and  the  future  of  EU-wide  supervision  is 
being examined by the de Larosière High-Level Group, including the allocation of tasks and 
responsibilities  between  national  and  EU  levels.  The  Commission  has  recently  adopted  a 
number  of  key  measures  to  strengthen  the  EU  legislative  framework  including 
amendments  to  the  Capital  Requirements  Directives  and  the  Deposit  Guarantee  Schemes 
Directive, changes to the accounting rules (IAS Regulation) and a proposal for a regulation on 
Credit Rating Agencies. These measures should be adopted by the European Institutions on a 
priority basis. Work is also underway to develop new proposals aimed at mitigating risks 
from  derivatives  and  credit  default  swaps.  The  Community  is  actively  taking  part  in  the 
G20  and  other  international  fora  to improve  global  co-operation  on  financial  supervision 
and  crisis  management.  In  the  spring  of  2009,  the  Commission  will  present  a 
comprehensive package of policy measures for a reform of the EU financial sector in the 
wake of the financial crisis. 

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Financial services  

The  Single  Euro  Payments  Area  credit  transfer  scheme  was  launched  in  2008,  with  the 
Commission providing ex-ante clarifications on competition issues in particular for payment 
and  credit  cards  and  direct  debit.  However,  the  single  framework  for  wholesale  and 
investment  markets  still  needs  completion  and  implementation  on  priority  basis.  The 
Commission  will  also  follow  up  the  sector  inquiries  into  retail  banking  and  business 
insurance. 

2.3. 

Investing in knowledge and innovation 

Objective  6:  The  Community  will  make  the  "fifth  freedom",  the  free  movement  of 
knowledge, a reality and create a genuine, European Research Area 

In order to make the "fifth freedom" a reality and create an open and competitive European 
Research  Area  (ERA),  in  May  2008,  the  Council  launched  the  "Ljubljana  Process"2  of 
enhanced governance and agree on a long-term ERA vision. This vision reinforces the aim of 
realising  the  "fifth  freedom"  based  on  which  the  Commission  intends  to  undertake  a 
comprehensive  screening  of  Community  policies  to  remove  barriers  to  its  achievement. 
Realising ERA is integral to making Europe a leading knowledge economy and society and to 
strengthening  the  "knowledge  triangle"  of  research,  innovation  and  education.  It  involves 
high-level  political  discussions  and  steering  of 
the 
implementation of the five ERA partnership initiatives launched by the Commission in 2008.  

the  policy  agenda 

including 

Looking  forward,  the  increased  pooling  of  research  resources  with  and  between  Member 
States  on  a  variable  geometry  basis  will  be  facilitated  by  the  initiative  on  joint  research 
programming and by the adoption by the institutions of a legal framework for the creation and 
operation  of  pan-European  research  infrastructures3.  Knowledge  flows,  research  efficiency 
and  the  attractiveness  of  Europe  as  a  research  location  will  be  enhanced  through  the 
implementation  of 
the  Commission 
the  European  Researchers'  Partnership,  via 
Recommendation on intellectual property management in knowledge transfer activities4, and 
through additional actions which complement Member State efforts to strengthen and reform 
the  higher  education  sector  and  facilitate  networking  and  enhanced  co-operation  between 
universities,  research  organisations  and  business.  Through  implementing  the  Strategic 
European  framework  for  international  science  and  technology  cooperation,  ERA  will 
become more open and increase the international leverage of the EU and Member States with 
key third partner countries and in the global economy  

The setting up of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, formally instituted 
in  April  2008  to  integrate  education,  research  and  innovation,  is  another  key  strategic 
initiative  in  this  respect.  It  will  become  a  model  for  the  promotion  of  open  innovation  and 
knowledge sharing between public research organisations and industry. 

Objective 7: The Community will improve the framework conditions for innovation, in 
particular for venture capital and intellectual property rights.  

The creation of favourable conditions for the financing of innovation remains a key priority to 
facilitate  the  more  widespread  emergence  of  highly  innovative  SMEs,  especially  in  the 

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Council conclusions May 2008 (9076/08). 
Based on the proposal for a Council Regulation COM(2008) 467 "Proposal for a Council Regulation on 
the Community legal framework for a European Research Infrastructure (ERI)". 
Commission  recommendation:  on  the  management  of  intellectual  property  in  knowledge  transfer 
activities and Code of Practice for universities and other public research organisations – C(2008) 1329. 

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current financial crisis. There is evidence that SMEs in particular are suffering from the credit 
crunch. Improving investment readiness and access to finance for SMEs are crucial. The 
Commission’s  Competitiveness  and  Innovation  Framework  Programme  2007-2013  will 
contribute  to  bridging  the  equity  gap  in  early  and  expansion  stage  equity  financing  through 
the  High  Growth  &  Innovative  SME  Facility,  as  well  as  supporting  the  supply  of  loans, 
microcredit and mezzanine finance to SMEs through the SME Guarantee Facility. Similarly, 
the  financial  engineering  and  technical  assistance  instruments  available  under  Cohesion 
Policy  further  facilitate  business  start-ups  and  access  to  finance  for  SME's.  In  addition,  the 
European  Investment  Bank  has  mandated  the  European  Investment  Fund  to  develop  a  new 
mezzanine  instrument.  The  Commission  brought  forward  a  Communication  on  cross-border 
investments by venture capital funds5 and continues to work closely with Member States on a 
priority basis to progress towards a mutual recognition of national frameworks for venture 
capital funds and the removal of the existing regulatory and tax obstacles.  

The patenting system in the EU still suffers from costly and burdensome fragmentation that 
hampers  the  transfer  and  dissemination  of  knowledge  and  innovation  across  the  EU.  The 
inter-institutional  negotiation  on  the  Community  Patent  and  the  patent  litigation  system 
should be finalised on a priority basis in order to reduce patenting costs, provide more legal 
certainty, and make patents more accessible for SMEs. 

2.4. 

Energy and climate change 

Objective 8: The Community will complete the internal market for energy and adopt the 
climate change package in order to put in place the framework to achieve at least a 20% 
reduction  in  greenhouse  gas  emissions  and  reach  a  20%  renewables  energy  share  by 
2020. 

The  adoption  of  the  package  for  the  completion  of  the  internal  energy  market  by  the 
European  Parliament  and  the  Council  (expected  by  mid  2009)  is  a  key  priority.  Key 
supporting  measures  include  the  Commission’s  EU  Energy  Security  and  Solidarity  Action 
Plan setting out five areas where more action is needed to secure sustainable energy supplies 
whilst  supporting  the  2020  climate  change  proposals.  A  new  EU  Energy  Security  and 
Infrastructure  Instrument  will  also  be  brought  forward  by  the  Commission  to  promote 
infrastructure  projects  within  and  outside  the  EU  in  order  to  ensure  the  achievement  of  the 
EU's renewable energy objectives and guarantee EU security of energy supply.  

The  work  towards  an  internal  market  for  energy  is  complemented  by  efforts  to  further 
improve the cost effectiveness of the emissions trading scheme to ensure the achievement of 
the 2020 targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and by a Community framework for 
the cost-effective development of renewable energies to reach a renewables energy share of 
20% by 2020. Following the agreement of the European Council on the Climate change and 
renewable energy package its adoption by the European Parliament and Council is now within 
reach. 

Objective  9:  The  Community  will  promote  an  industrial  policy  geared  towards  more 
sustainable  production  and  consumption,  focusing  on  renewable  energies  and  low-
carbon and resource-efficient products, services and technologies.  

In  July  2008,  the  Commission  presented  an  ambitious  package  of  actions  for  sustainable 
consumption, production and industry (SCP/SIP). It aims at improving the environmental 
performance and in particular the energy efficiency of products and stimulating their market 

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“Removing obstacles to cross-border investments by venture capital funds”, December 2007. 

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uptake  with  voluntary  and  obligatory  actions  to  define  and  improve  the  environmental 
performance of eco-friendly products, better inform consumers, improve public procurement 
and  fiscal  incentives.  It  foresees  an  Environmental  Technology  Verification  Scheme  to 
support eco-innovation through increased confidence in new technologies.  

In 2008, the Commission proposed an Energy Efficiency Package to contribute to meeting 
the  EU  objective  of  20%  energy  savings  by  2020.  It  focused  on  improvements  in  the 
legislation  on  the  energy  performance  of  buildings  and  on  energy  labeling  as  well  as 
intensification  of  the  implementation  of  eco-design  and  cogeneration  Directives  with  a 
substantial  impact  on  Europe's  energy  consumption  and  energy  security.  In  addition  a  new 
Sustainable  Energy  Financing  Initiative  is  being  prepared  jointly  with  European  Investment 
Bank  and  other  financial  organisations  to  mobilise  large-scale  funding  from  capital  markets 
for  investments  in  energy  efficiency  as  well  as  renewable  energies.  Moreover,  the 
Commission proposed an amendment the European Regional Development Fund regulation to 
allow investment in energy efficiency improvement and renewable energies in housing in all 
Member States. 

The Lead market initiative was adopted by the Commission in December 2007 to stimulate 
new  markets  through  the  implementation  of  targeted  strategies  in  areas  such  as  sustainable 
construction,  recycling,  bio-based  products  and  renewable  energy.  The  European  Strategic 
Energy  Technology  Plan  (SET-Plan),  endorsed  by  the  Council  and  European  Parliament  in 
2008, with a view to a Communication on its financing to be adopted in 2009 will accelerate 
the  development  and  market  take-up  of  the  necessary  cutting-edge  low  carbon  energy 
technologies and will boost the competitiveness of the EU energy industry. 

The  review  of  the  energy  taxation  directive  to  be  launched  by  the  Commission  at  the 
beginning  of  2009  aims  at  ensuring  that  energy  taxation  is  a  cost  effective  and  more 
supportive instrument  and will provide  Member States  with  a complementary framework to 
the EU emission trading scheme. The associated proposal for reduced VAT rates for green 
products and services should be adopted on an urgent basis. 

3. 

THE EXTERNAL AGENDA  

Objective 10: Whilst working to conclude the Doha multilateral trade negotiations, the 
Community  will  negotiate  bilaterally  with  key  trading  partners  to  open  up  new 
opportunities  for  international  trade  and  investment,  improve  market  access  focussing 
on  countries  and  sectors  where  significant  barriers  remain,  and  promote  international 
regulatory cooperation. 

Given  current  economic  conditions,  it  is  all  the  more  important  that  trade  policy  works  to 
prevent  protectionist  measures  from  our  partners  that  could  undermine  the  long-term 
competitiveness  of  the  Union.  Despite  continuing  challenges  in  reaching  an  agreement,  a 
successful  completion  of  the  Doha  round  remains  the  best  way  of  securing  a  level  playing 
field and opening up new market opportunities and the Community remains fully committed 
to  this  objective.  Following  the  meeting  of  the  G-20  in  November,  the  Heads  of  State  and 
Government have renewed their commitment to successfully conclude the Doha negotiations. 
Where  significant  market  access  barriers  remain,  the  use  of  Community  trade  barrier 
regulation and/or WTO action is and will be considered as appropriate. 

In parallel, the Community continues bilaterally to engage with key trading partners, and to 
further  promote  regional  economic  integration  with  its  neighbouring  regions,  for  example 
through  the  Union  for  the  Mediterranean  and  the  enlargement  policy.  Comprehensive 
Bilateral trade agreements with key trading partners enable the EU to go beyond WTO 

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commitments  and  include  ambitious  provisions  for  regulatory  and  behind-the-border 
cooperation. Negotiations with South Korea, India and Asean countries are progressing, albeit 
at  different  paces  as  are  negotiations  with  the  Gulf  Co-operation  Council  and  Ukraine.  The 
Partnership  and  Cooperation  Agreement  under  negotiation  with  China  aims  at  improving 
market  access  and  regulatory  cooperation.  Furthermore,  the  on-going  negotiations  for 
association agreements with Mercosur, the Andean Community and Central America include 
important parts on trade and other dimensions.  

As part of the 2008 Lisbon package, the Commission reported to the European Council on the 
first results of its renewed Market Access Strategy. It also identified countries and sectors 
where  significant  regulatory  barriers  remain  and  presented  ways  forward  to  enhance 
international regulatory cooperation. Establishing a stable common regulatory space with 
major trading partners such as through the Transatlantic Economic Council with the US and 
the  High  Level  Trade  Mechanism  with  China  contributes  to  a  process  towards  a 
harmonisation  of  regulations  and  standards.  Continued  action  needs  to  be  taken  to  improve 
the  effectiveness  of  the  IPR  enforcement  system  against  counterfeiting  and  to  extend 
existing  sectoral  agreements.  Further  sectoral  market  opening  remains  crucial  such  as  a 
second  stage  agreement  of  the  EU-US  Air  Transport  Agreement,  reforming  aviation 
arrangements  with  other  key  economic  partners,  (e.g.  Canada,  China  and  India)  and 
completing  the  Common  Aviation  Area  with  the  EU's  neighbours,  such  as  Mediterranean 
countries..  

4. 

CONCLUSION 

The implementation of the CLP is well on track. However, a number of important legislative 
acts are still pending and should be swiftly adopted by the European Institutions as a matter of 
priority.  Moreover,  as  indicated  in  the  recovery  plan  and  in  view  of  the  special  economic 
circumstances  further  actions  will  be  needed  on  Community  level.  The  Commission  will 
report about the implementation of these measures in the 2009 CLP implementation report.  

EN 

9 

   EN 

Key Objectives 

Achievements since renewed CLP  

Measures to be adopted by the European 
Commission 

Measures to be adopted as priority action 
by other institutions (EP, Council) 

Measures to be implemented  

Integrated Guidelines 20 (Matching of Labour ,Market needs), 21 (Flexicurity), 23 (Investment in Human Capital), & 24 (Education and training systems) 

CLP Annex 

The  renewed  Social  Agenda  is  adopted  by  the 
Commission in July 2008.. 

The Commission will propose 
a  renewed  Social  Agenda  by 
particularly 
mid-2008, 
covering 
education, 
migration,  and  demographic 
evolutions, 
to 
and 
address 
the  skills  gap  by 
improving the monitoring and 
forecasting  of  future  skills 
requirements 

help 

Ensure progressive removal by all MS of transitional 
restrictions  on  the  free  movement  of  workers  from 
the new Member States (by 2011 at the latest for EU 
8 and 2014 for EU 2) 

for 
DIRECTIVE  on  minimum 
enhancing  work  mobility  by 
the 
acquisition  and  preservation  of  supplementary 
pension rights (the "Portability Directive"). 

requirements 
improving 

REGULATION  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of 
the  Council 
for 
implementing  Regulation  (EC)  No  883/2004  on  the 
coordination of social security systems 

the  procedure 

laying  down 

Projected adoption (1st semester 2009) 

the 

implementation 
on 

Monitor 
RECOMMENDATION 
Qualifications  Framework  for 
Member  States  are  asked 
qualifications systems to the EQF by 2010 

the 
lifelong 

of 
the 
European 
learning 
relate  national 

to 

Commission 

The 
a 
RECOMMENDATION  on  EU-wide  credit  system 
transfer  and  accumulation  systems  for  vocational 
training is adopted by the Commission 

adopted 

has 

DIRECTIVE- Monitoring the implementation of the 
Professional Qualifications Directive – Deadline for 
implementation by Member States:20 October 2007 

Promote the implementation of the Recommendation 
on key competences for lifelong learning through the 
OMC and report back to EP and Council in 2010 

RECOMMENDATION  on  EU-wide  credit  system 
transfer  and  accumulation  systems  for  vocational 
training 

Projected adoption (2nd quarter 2009) 

EN 

10 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Key Objectives 

Achievements since renewed CLP  

Measures to be adopted by the European 
Commission 

Measures to be adopted as priority action 
by other institutions (EP, Council) 

Measures to be implemented  

Commission 

adopted 
The 
RECOMMENDATION  on  quality  assurance 
in 
vocational  education  and  training  is  adopted  by  the 
Commission 

has 

RECOMMENDATION  on  quality  assurance 
vocational education and training 

in 

Projected  adoption  (2nd  quarter  2009)Projected 
Adoption (May 2009) 

"New  skills  for  new  jobs"  on  assessment  of  future 
skills  requirements  and  steps  to  anticipate  future 
needs 

(December 2008) (cid:206)(cid:206) 

Integrated Guideline 20 (Matching of Labour Market needs) 

Proposal  for  a  DIRECTIVE  setting  conditions  of 
entry of seasonal workers 

(end 2008) (cid:206)(cid:206) 

Proposal  for  a  DIRECTIVE  Entry  of  highly  skilled 
workers;  "Blue  Card"  Projected  adoption  (May 
2009) 

EU-wide  inventory  and  monitoring  system  for  on-
going anticipation of future skills requirements in the 
context  of  "new  skills  for  new  jobs"  initiative  -
Implementation in the course of 2008 and 2009 

Ensure  effective  implementation  of  the  Flexicurity 
common principles including the review "flexicurity: 
3 years after". 

The  Commission  will  make 
proposals 
for  a  common 
policy on immigration in 2008 

Proposal  for  amending  DIRECTIVE  2004/114  on 
the  conditions  of  admission  of 
third-country 
nationals for the purposes of studies, pupil exchange, 
unremunerated training or voluntary service 

Adoption of SBA principle by Council 

(December 2008) 

Integrated Guideline 15 (SMEs) 

The  Community  will  adopt  a 
Small Business Act to unlock 
the growth potential of  SMEs 
throughout their life-cycle  

The  “Small  Business  Act  for  Europe”  was  adopted 
in June 2008 

Amendment to the DIRECTIVE on late payments 

(1st half of 2009) (cid:206)(cid:206) 

Implementation  of  the  SBA,  including  the  ten 
guiding principles 

DIRECTIVE  on  reduced  VAT  rates  is  adopted  by 
the Commission 

DIRECTIVE on reduced VAT rates 

Projected adoption (2nd half 2010.) 

EN 

11 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Key Objectives 

Achievements since renewed CLP  

Measures to be adopted by the European 
Commission 

Measures to be adopted as priority action 
by other institutions (EP, Council) 

Measures to be implemented  

REGULATION on the statute for a European private 
company is adopted by the Commission 

REGULATION on the statute for a European private 
company 

Projected adoption (2nd half 2010.) 

The  Community  will  move 
towards  the  target  to  reduce 
EU administrative burdens by 
25 % by 2012 and implement 
an  ambitious  simplification 
programme  

Rolling  SIMPLIFICATION  PROGRAMME  (2006-
2009)  including  119  actions  out  of  180  are  adopted 
by the Commission 

to  reduce  administrative 
Commission  proposed 
burdens  following  administrative  burden  mapping 
and  measurement  of  EC  legislation  and  related 
transposition  measures  (2007-2008)  in  13  priority 
areas. Proposals in 2008-2010. 

Commission  proposed  for  11  new  fast  track  actions 
for reducing administrative burden 

Integrated Guideline 14 (Better regulation) 

Rolling  SIMPLIFICATION  PROGRAMME  (2006-
2009) remaining 61 actions 

48  Pending  proposals  from  SIMPLIFICATION 
PROGRAMME (2006-2009) 

XXX pending proposals for Fast Track Actions 

XXX  Proposals 
comitology 

for  Fast  Track  Actions 

in 

Integrated Guidelines 9 (Information Society), 12 (Internal Market) &13 (Open Markets) 

The 
will 
Community 
strengthen  the  single  market, 
in 
increase 
services,  and 
further 
steps to integrate the financial 
services market 

competition 
take 

DIRECTIVE  Revision  of  the  regulatory  framework 
for electronic communications and services 

Projected adoption (2009) 

Market monitoring in key markets 

amending  Directive 

DIRECTIVE 
97/67/EC 
concerning  the  full  accomplishment  of  the  internal 
market 
services 
Community 
(Implementation 2011/ 2013) 

postal 

of 

EN 

12 

EN 

DIRECTIVES - Third Package on Rail 

(Implementation by 2009) 

DIRECTIVE  on  services  in  the  internal  market  - 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Key Objectives 

Achievements since renewed CLP  

Measures to be adopted by the European 
Commission 

Measures to be adopted as priority action 
by other institutions (EP, Council) 

Measures to be implemented  

Implementation by the MSs 28 December 2009 

Actions to improve implementation of single market 
following  Communication  on  the  application  of 
Community Law (SMR) 

Follow  up  of  Retail  banking  (including  payment 
cards and payment systems) and Business Insurance 
Sector Inquiries 

Proposals to allow companies to choose an EU-wide 
tax base 

Projected adoption (2009) 

(3rd Q 2008) (cid:206)(cid:206) 

Measures to promote the creation of an EU mortgage 
credit market following a communication 

(White paper 19/12/07) (cid:206)(cid:206) 

Commission  adopted  a  proposal  for  DIRECTIVE 
amending  Directive  85/611  on  EU  harmonised 
investment funds- UCITS 

DIRECTIVE  amending  Directive  85/611  on  EU 
harmonised investment funds- UCITS 

Projected adoption (second quarter 2009). 

DIRECTIVE 
MiFiD- Entered in force 1 November 2007 

-  Monitoring 

Implementation  of 

SEPA  payment  scheme  for  credit  transfers 
launched 

is 

Measures  for  New  Internal  Market  Package  for 
Goods is adopted by the Council 

Measures 
Payments Area following a communication 

to  ensure 

the  realisation  of  Single 

( 2009) (cid:206)(cid:206) 

Commission 
REGULATION on Credit Rating Agencies 

\proposal 

adopted 

a 

for 

a 

Proposal  for  REGULATION  on  Credit  Rating 
Agencies 

EN 

13 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Key Objectives 

Achievements since renewed CLP  

Measures to be adopted by the European 
Commission 

Measures to be adopted as priority action 
by other institutions (EP, Council) 

Measures to be implemented  

Strengthening  EU  arrangements 
stability, through review of cooperation obligations, 

financial 

for 

(End 2008) (cid:206)(cid:206) 

Accounting standards: of IFRS applicable in the EU 
as of 17.10.2008 

The  Amendment 
"Reclassification of Financial Assets 

IAS  39  and 

to 

IFRS  7 

The  Commission  has  adopted 
the  Accounting 
standards:  of  IFRS  applicable  in  the  EU  as  of 
17.10.2008 

The  Commission  has  adopted  the  Amendment  to 
IAS  39  and  IFRS  7  "Reclassification  of  Financial 
Assets 

The  Commission  has  adopted  amendments 
Directive 
(1994/19/EC) 

on  Deposit  Guarantee 

to 
Schemes 

The  Commission  has  adopted  Amendments 
to 
Directive  2006/48/EC  and  2006/49/EC  on  Capital 
Requirements 

Integrated Guideline 7 (R&D) 

The  Community  will  make 
the  "fifth  freedom"  (the  free 
movement  of  knowledge)  a 
reality  and  create  a  genuine 
European Research area. 

The  Commission  has  adopted:  'Better  careers  and 
for 
more  mobility:  a  European  partnership 
researchers' COM 2008 (317) 

The  Commission  has  adopted  the  recommendation 
on  the  management  of  intellectual  property  in 

Amendments  to  Directive  on  Deposit  Guarantee 
Schemes (1994/19/EC) 

DIRECTIVE  Solvency  II  -on  the  taking-up  and 
pursuit of the business of Insurance and Reinsurance 
Projected adoption (End 2008) 

DIRECTIVE 
2006/48/EC 
Requirements Projected adoption (April 2009) 

-  Amendments 
2006/49/EC 
and 

to  Directive 
on  Capital 

Promotion  of  open 
innovation  and  knowledge 
sharing  between  public  research  organisations  and 
industry  by  making 
the  European  Institute  of 
Innovation and Technology fully operational. 

Implementing  the  partnership  between  the  Member 
States and the EC based on "Better Careers and more 
mobility:  a  European  partnership  for  researchers" 
COM 2008 (317) 

Implementing  the  partnership  between  the  Member 
States  and  the  EC  based  on  the  Commission 

EN 

14 

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Key Objectives 

Achievements since renewed CLP  

Measures to be adopted by the European 
Commission 

Measures to be adopted as priority action 
by other institutions (EP, Council) 

Measures to be implemented  

knowledge  transfer  activities  and  the  Code  of 
Practice  for  universities  and  other  public  research 
organisations. C(2008) 1329 

The Commission has adopted: 'A strategic European 
Framework 
and 
Technology Cooperation COM (2008) 588 

International 

Science 

for 

The  Commission  has  adopted  "Towards  Joint 
Programming  in  Research:  working  together  to 
tackle  common  challenges  more  effectively"  COM 
(2008) 468 

The  Commission  has  adopted  a  proposal  for  a 
Regulation on the Community legal framework for a 
European  Research 
(ERI)  COM 
(2008) 467 

Infrastructure 

RECOMMENDATIONS  -  aimed  at  launching  joint 
programming initiatives  

Projected adoption (end 2009 and 2010) 

Framework  REGULATION  –  legal  framework  for 
pan-European research infrastructures 

Projected adoption December 2008 

The Community will improve 
the  framework  conditions  for 
innovation,  in  particular  for 
venture 
and 
intellectual property rights. 

capital 

Integrated Guideline 8 (Innovation) 

Analysis  of  direct  tax  obstacles  for  venture  capital 
investments  and  the  possibility  for  an  EU  private 
placement regime 

(End 2008) (cid:206)(cid:206) 

COUNCIL  REGULATION  on 
the  Community 
Patent and additional measures to set up an EU wide 
jurisdictional system for patent litigation 

Projected adoption (2010) 

Recommendation on the management of Intellectual 
Property Rights in knowledge transfer activities and 
a Code of Practice for Universities and other Public 
Research Organisations C(2008) 1329 

Implementing  the  partnership  between  the  Member 
States  and 
the  EC  for  a  Strategic  European 
Framework for international S&T Cooperation based 
on. COM (2008) 588 

Coordinated  national  action  and  follow-up  at 
Community  level  to  increase  mutual  recognition  of 
national frameworks for venture capital investments. 

JEREMIE: The Joint European Resources for Micro 
to Medium Enterprises initiative 

EIF - The High Growth and Innovative SME Facility 
(GIF): risk capital for innovative SMEs in their early 
stages  (GIF1-€
  255m)  and  in  their  expansion  phase 

EN 

15 

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Key Objectives 

Achievements since renewed CLP  

Measures to be adopted by the European 
Commission 

Measures to be adopted as priority action 
by other institutions (EP, Council) 

Measures to be implemented  

(GIF2-€ 299 m)  

EIF-  The  SME  Guarantee  Facility,  providing  loan 
guarantees  to  encourage  banks  to  make  more  debt 
finance available to SMEs, (€506 m)  

EIF-The  Seed  Capital  Action  and  the  Partnership 
Action: helping to reinforce the capacity of financial 
intermediaries  to  invest  in  and  lend  to  SMEs.  (€69 
m) 

The 
will 
Community 
complete  the  internal  market 
for  energy  and  adopt 
the 
climate  change  package  in 
order  to  put  in  place  the 
framework  to  achieve  at  least 
a 
in 
greenhouse gas emissions and 
reach  a  20%  Renewables 
energy share by 2020. 

reduction 

20% 

Integrated Guidelines 11 (Environment), 12 (Internal Market) 13 (Open Markets) & 16 (Infrastructure) 

The  Commission  adopted  the  Climate  Change  and 
the Renewable Energy Packages. 

REVISION  of  TEN-E  guidelines  and  TEN 
regulation  

(2010) (cid:206)(cid:206)  

The  Commission  has  proposed  a  new  EU  Energy 
Security and Solidarity Action Plan 

REVISION  of  regulation  736/96  on  notifying 
projects to the Community in the petroleum, natural 
gas and electricity sector 

REVISION of security of gas supply directive  

(2009) (cid:206)(cid:206) 

(2010) (cid:206)(cid:206) 

DIRECTIVE 
amending  Directive  2003/54/EC 
concerning  common  rules  for  the  internal  market  in 
electricity 

Projected adoption(Mid 2009) 

DIRECTIVE 
amending  Directive  2003/55/EC 
concerning  common  rules  for  the  internal  market  in 
natural gas 

Projected adoption (Mid 2009) 

REGULATION  establishing  an  Agency  for  the 

EN 

16 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Key Objectives 

Achievements since renewed CLP  

Measures to be adopted by the European 
Commission 

Measures to be adopted as priority action 
by other institutions (EP, Council) 

Measures to be implemented  

Cooperation of Energy Regulators 

Projected adoption (Mid 2009) 

REGULATION  amending  Regulation  (EC)  No 
1228/2003  on  conditions  for  access  to  the  network 
for cross-border exchanges in electricity 

Projected adoption (Mid 2009) 

REGULATION  amending  Regulation  (EC)  No 
1775/2005 on conditions for access to the natural gas 
transmission networks  

Projected adoption (Mid 2009) 

REVISION of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan 

(2010) (cid:206)(cid:206) 

Integrated Guidelines 10 (Industrial Base) & 11 (Environment) 

Follow up measures to the energy sector inquiry 

The Community will promote 
an  industrial  policy  geared 
sustainable 
towards  more 
production  and  consumption, 
focusing 
renewable 
on 
energies  and  low-carbon  and 
resource-efficient 
products, 
services and technologies.  

The  Commission  adopted  SCP/SIP  Action  Plan  in 
July  2008  to  promote  the  establishment  of  an 
internal market for environmental technologies 

The  Commission  adopted  the  Energy  Efficiency 
Package on the energy performance of buildings and 
on  energy  labelling.  of  tyres  and  energy  labelling 
and product information by energy-related products 

The Commission adopted in December 2007 the lead 
markets  initiative  to  promote  the  development  of 
European  lead  markets  for energy/resource  efficient 
technology 

Legislative  proposals  following  the  "Sustainable 
industrial  policy/Sustainable  consumption  policy", 
notably extension of EUP Directive 

Projected adoption (March 2010) 

DIRECTIVE – recasting the directive on the energy 
performance of buildings 

DIRECTIVE  -  on  labelling  of  tyres  with  respect  to 
fuel efficiency and other essential parameters 

DIRECTIVE  -  on  the  indication  by  labelling  and 
standard product information of the consumption of 

energy  and  other  resources  by  energy-related 
products  

EN 

17 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Key Objectives 

Achievements since renewed CLP  

Measures to be adopted by the European 
Commission 

Measures to be adopted as priority action 
by other institutions (EP, Council) 

Measures to be implemented  

The  Commission  adopted  the  European  Strategic 
Energy  Technology  Plan  (SET-Plan),  aimed  at  an 
accelerated  development  and  wide-scale  application 
of 
energy 
technologies 

sustainable 

efficient 

clean, 

and 

The  Commission  has  adopted  a  DIRECTIVE  - 
Amending 
the  Emission  Trading  Directive, 
2003/87/EC 

The  Commission  has  adopted  Legislative  proposal 
on Carbon Capture and Geological Storage (CCS) 

DIRECTIVE  -  Amending  the  Emission  Trading 
Directive, 2003/87/EC 

Projected adoption (May 2009) 

Legislative  proposal  on  Carbon  Capture  and 
Geological Storage (CCS) 

Projected adoption (May 2009) 

Proposal for a DIRECTIVE - Review of the Energy 
Taxation Directive 

(4th Q 2008) (cid:206)(cid:206) 

The  Commission  has  adopted  DIRECTIVE  on  the 
promotion of renewable energy 

DIRECTIVE on the promotion of renewable energy 

(Projected adoption First half of 2009) 

Nine  Commission  Regulations  setting  eco-design 
requirements  (through  Comitology):  simple  set-top 
tertiary  sector 
boxes;  external  power  supplies; 
lighting 
lighting 
equipment;  water  heaters;  washing  machines; 
dishwashers; domestic refrigerators and freezers; and 
televisions 

equipment;  domestic 

sector 

Five  Commission  Directives  (through  Comitology) 
implementing  the  energy  labelling  directive  for 
water  heaters;  washing  machines;  dishwashers, 
refrigerators and freezers; and televisions 

Revision  of  DIRECTIVES  on  Energy  labelling  and 
household appliances 

(2008) (cid:206)(cid:206) 

Measures  to  strengthen  the  Public  Procurement  of 
environmentally-friendly 
high-performance 
services-following 
and 
products, 

technologies 

18 

EN 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Key Objectives 

Achievements since renewed CLP  

Measures to be adopted by the European 
Commission 

Measures to be adopted as priority action 
by other institutions (EP, Council) 

Measures to be implemented  

communication (Green Public Procurement 

(1st Q 2008 ) (cid:206)(cid:206) 

Integrated Guideline 13 (Open Markets) 

International Agreement - Conclusion of the most important bilateral FTAs (ASEAN, India, South Korea) 

International Agreement - New Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with China 

Bilateral Cooperation EU-USA- Transatlantic Economic Council 

Bilateral regulatory cooperation with US, Japan, China and Russia 

EU-US Action Strategy on IPR enforcement 

Multi-party Agreement - Anti Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) 

- 7th Framework Programme (2007-13): €2.3 billion 
for  energy,  €1.8  billion  for  environment  (including 
climate change) 

- Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP) 
(2007-13),  Entrepreneurship 
Innovation 
Programme  (EIP)  €  430  m illion  for  eco-innovation 
€730 
and  Intelligent  Energy  for  Europe  (IEE) 
million 

and 

European  Cohesion  Policy  Funds  (mid-term  review 
2010) 

European  Agricultural  Fund  for  Rural  Development 
(mid-term review 2010) 

Lifelong learning Programme 

European Globalisation Adjustment Fund 

19 

EN 

Whilst  working  to  conclude 
the  Doha  multilateral  trade 
negotiations,  the  Community 
will  negotiate  bilaterally  with 
key  trading  partners  to  open 
for 
up  new  opportunities 
international 
and 
investment,  improve  market 
access  focussing  on  countries 
and  sectors  where  significant 
barriers  remain,  and  create  a 
common  space  of  regulatory 
provisions and standards. 

trade 

Monitoring  and  strengthening 
of  spending  on  Growth  and 
Jobs (earmarking) 

EN