Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions Commission Work Programme 2010 Time to act
Date: 2010-03-31
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: European Commission, action programme, citizens' Europe, economic recession, foreign policy, institutional reform, reflation, social economy

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EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Brussels, 31.3.2010 
COM(2010) 135 final 
VOL. I 

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

Commission Work Programme 2010 

Time to act 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 

1. 

2. 

2.1. 

2.2. 

2.3. 

3. 

3.1. 

3.2. 

3.3. 

4. 

4.1. 

4.2. 

4.3. 

5. 

5.1. 

5.2. 

5.3. 

6. 

Introduction: a new era................................................................................................. 3 

Tackling the crisis and sustaining Europe’s social market economy........................... 4 

Exiting from the crisis.................................................................................................. 4 

Advancing the Europe 2020 flagship initiatives .......................................................... 5 

Tackling Europe’s bottlenecks..................................................................................... 6 

A citizens' agenda: putting people at the heart of European action ............................. 7 

Building a citizens' Europe .......................................................................................... 7 

Ensuring an open and secure Europe ........................................................................... 8 

Addressing long-term societal challenges.................................................................... 8 

The external agenda: a coherent and influential European Union ............................... 9 

A strong and coherent external representation – the EU as global player ................... 9 

Deepening Europe’s trade agenda................................................................................ 9 

Delivering EU neighbourhood, enlargement and development policies ..................... 9 

Modernising EU instruments and ways of working................................................... 10 

Smart regulation – ensuring that policies are effective.............................................. 10 

Communicating Europe ............................................................................................. 11 

Adapting the EU financial framework to serve policy priorities ............................... 11 

Conclusion: moving ahead......................................................................................... 12 

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1. 

INTRODUCTION: A NEW ERA 

2010 marks the beginning of a new era for the European Union.  

The crisis hit hard: communities, citizens and businesses across Europe were put under huge 
pressure.  European  solidarity  was  put  to  a  test.  The  European  Union  recognised  its 
interdependence  and  pulled  together  to  face  up  to  the  crisis:  now  it  must  show  the  same 
resolution and unity for the future.  

"Business as usual" is not an option. The challenges facing our Union are greater than before 
the  recession.  Our  room  for  manoeuvre  is  more  limited  and  the  rest  of  the  world  is  not 
standing still. We must draw the lessons and reshape our policies.  

A  clear  lesson  from  the  crisis  is  that  Europe  can  succeed  provided  it  acts  collectively,  as  a 
Union. Europe has no other option but to tackle the immediate challenge of the crisis and to 
face up to long-term challenges such as globalisation, climate action, ageing, so as to make up 
for the recent losses, regain competitiveness and put the EU on an upward path of sustainable 
growth. 

With the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the election of a new European Parliament and 
the appointment of a new College of Commissioners, the EU is equipped with the necessary 
tools.  

It  is  now  a  matter  of  political  will:  the  European  Commission  is  ready  to  take  up  the 
challenge. The political guidelines set out by President Barroso in September 2009 sparked a 
debate about the direction Europe should take and the concrete measures it should promote. 
The  hearings  in  the  European  Parliament  and  the  subsequent  vote  of  consent  were  a  true 
moment of European democracy, highlighting shared values and securing broad ownership of 
future  EU  initiatives.  Close  exchange  with  the  European  Council  and  other  EU  institutions 
has also helped to build a consensus about the way forward.  

The new Commission will take action along four main strands: 

–  Tackling the crisis and sustaining Europe’s social market economy. 

–  Building a citizens’ agenda which puts people at the heart of European action. 

–  Developing an ambitious and coherent external agenda with global outreach. 

–  Modernising EU instruments and ways of working. 

The focus of this first Work Programme is on delivering strategic initiatives in 2010. It also 
highlights  in  a  non-exhaustive  way  initiatives  under  consideration  for  the  coming  years, 
thereby combining predictability for the European Parliament and the Council - as well as for 
stakeholders  -  and  the  necessary  flexibility  to  adapt  to  changing  circumstances.  These 
initiatives are both designed to respond to immediate challenges and yield effects rapidly, and 
to shape Europe's future for the long-term benefit of its citizens. In taking them forward, the 
Commission will set a direction for the EU in the next decade, as highlighted by its Europe 
2020 strategy and the work under way to prepare the future EU budget. 

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2. 

TACKLING THE CRISIS AND SUSTAINING EUROPE’S SOCIAL MARKET ECONOMY 

The first political act of the new Commission was to immediately put forward its centrepiece 
initiative  “Europe  2020  –  a  strategy  for  smart,  sustainable  and  inclusive  growth”1.  The 
proposal  shows  how  the  EU  can  exit  from  the  crisis  and  move  to  a  more  sustainable  and 
dynamic growth path delivering high levels of employment, productivity and social cohesion. 

The  Spring  European  Council  last  week  endorsed  the  main  elements  of  the  Europe  2020 
strategy. It called for strong European leadership and common ownership of the strategy. At 
the core of the approach are clear EU and national targets, a new economic governance and 
the  development  of  flagship  initiatives  to  guide  the  joint  work  of  the  EU  and  the  Member 
States in key areas2.  The  June European Council  is expected  to  confirm  the cornerstones of 
the  strategy  and  the  Commission  will  then  work  with  Member  States  to  deliver  results. 
Concrete steps will be taken in the months and years to come to deliver the new strategy, with 
three main axes for the Commission’s work in 2010. 

2.1. Exiting from the crisis 

In addressing the current economic and financial situation, the Commission has put forward 
strategic responses so as: 

–  To strengthen economic surveillance and coordination and improve governance within the 
euro  area:  In  view  of  the  June  European  Council,  the  Commission  will  present  its 
proposals  for  enhancing  policy  coordination  to  strengthen  our  fiscal  surveillance 
framework  in  the  context  of  the  Stability  and  Growth  Pact,  tackle  macro-economic 
imbalances, 
policy 
recommendations,  and  reducing  financial  vulnerability  within  an  integrated  approach 
(strategic initiative 1). 

competitiveness 

divergences 

including 

stronger 

through 

–  To  help  return  public  finances  to  a  more  sustainable  path:  The  Commission  recently 
presented its assessment of national Stability and Convergence Programmes in the context 
of  the  Stability  and  Growth  Pact,  pointing  at  ways  to  sustain  fiscal  consolidation. 
Monitoring  will  be  pursued  and  better  aligned  with  the  follow-up  of  the  Europe  2020 
strategy this autumn. 

–  To ensure stable, responsible financial markets at the service of the wider economy: The 
Commission  is  working  hard  with  other  EU  institutions  to  ensure  the  new  European 
supervision  architecture  is  in  place  by  early  2011,  so  that  cross-border  financial  markets 
are properly covered  and systemic risks are quickly  identified. Proposals on bank capital 
and  alternative  investment  fund  managers  should  also  be  agreed  by  the  co-legislators 
before the summer. This work needs to be supplemented by new proposals to complete the 
work  in  areas  like  derivatives  markets  (strategic  initiative  2),  short  selling  and  credit 
default  swaps  (strategic  initiative  3),  deposit  guarantee  schemes  (strategic  initiative  4), 
market  abuse  (strategic  initiative  5),  on  effective  crisis  management  tools  (strategic 
initiative  6)  and  further  capital  requirements  (strategic  initiative  7).  Moreover,  the 
Commission  will  propose  orientations  on  the  establishment  of  bank  resolution  funds  as 

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COM(2010) 2020, 3.3.2010. 
Seven flagships were put forward as part of the Europe 2020 strategy: “Innovation Union”, “Youth on 
the  move”,  “A  digital  agenda  for  Europe”,  “Resource  efficient  Europe”,  “An  industrial  policy  for  a 
globalised era”, “An agenda for new skills and new jobs”, “A European platform against poverty”. 

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possible  crisis  management  tools,  which  will  include  options  such  as  a  levy  on  financial 
institutions (strategic initiative 8). In parallel, the Commission will take the necessary steps 
for a gradual phase out of exceptional measures as the recovery consolidates. 

2.2.  Advancing the Europe 2020 flagship initiatives 

Concrete  steps  will  be  taken  in  the  coming  months  to  flesh  out  the  Europe  2020  flagship 
initiatives,  in  close  cooperation  with  relevant  Council  formations  and  stakeholders.  
The Commission will set out its proposals by way of the following communications: 

–  “A digital agenda for Europe” (strategic initiative 9): This initiative will set out priorities to 
speed up the roll-out of high speed internet and tap the potential of digital technologies for 
households and firms. 

–  “An industrial policy for a globalised era” (strategic initiative 10): This initiative will set 
out priorities to improve the business environment, especially for SMEs, and to support the 
development of a strong and sustainable industrial base able to compete globally. 

–  “A European  plan for  research and  innovation” (strategic initiative 11): This "Innovation 
Union"  flagship  will  set  out  priorities  to  improve  framework  conditions  for  Europe's 
research  and  its  capacities  for  creativity  and  innovation,  including  eco-innovation.  This 
will contribute to the planned autumn discussion of the European Council. 

–  “Youth  on  the  move”  (strategic  initiative  12):  This  initiative  will  set  out  priorities  to 
enhance the performance of education systems, to reinforce the attractiveness of Europe's 
higher  education  system  and  to  open  more  mobility  programmes  to  young  people.  The 
younger  generation  has  been  particularly  hit  by  the  crisis.  A  communication  on  “youth 
employment” (strategic initiative 13) will be a policy response to increase job opportunities 
for  young  people,  promote  apprenticeships  and  training,  and  improve  transition  from 
education into work. 

–  “An  agenda  for  new  skills  and  jobs”  (strategic  initiative  14):  This  initiative  will  set  out 
priorities  to  modernise  labour  markets  to  boost  labour  mobility  and  the  development  of 
skills and competences throughout the lifecycle with a view to increase labour participation 
and better match supply and demand. 

–  “A European Platform to combat poverty” (strategic initiative 15): This initiative will set 
out  how  to  ensure  that  the  benefits  of  growth  and  jobs  are  widely  shared  so  that  people 
experiencing  poverty  can  be  enabled  to  take  an  active  part  in  society.  The  initiative  will 
notably  build  on  the  lessons  of  the  2010  European  Year  to  combat  poverty  and  social 
exclusion. 

–  Work will also be taken forward on the “Resource efficient Europe” flagship initiative. The 
aim  is  to  decouple  growth  from  resource  use  which  will  give  Europe  a  competitive 
advantage.  Such  an  approach  will  help  the  EU  to  prosper  in  a  low-carbon,  resource 
constrained world while tackling climate change, environmental degradation, biodiversity 
loss and improving sustainable mobility. The Commission will work on a plan defining the 
key actions necessary to achieve the energy  saving potential of 20%, in the building and 
transport  sectors  and  on  a  strategy  to  ensure  secure,  sustainable  and  competitive  energy 
supplies  for  households  and  firms.    The  Commission  will  also  work  on  a  revision  of  the 

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energy taxation directive in order to tax energy products on their energy content and their 
carbon emission level. During 2010 the Commission will:  

–  develop  its  vision  for  Europe's  transition to  a  low  carbon,  resource  efficient  and 
climate  resilient  economy  by  2050,  in  particular  for  the  decarbonisation  of  the 
energy  and  transport  sectors,  to  provide  a  long-term  framework  for  policy  and 
investment, including an analysis of what practical policies would be required to 
implement a 30% reduction in 2020 and of the necessary scenarios for 2030 . 

–  work  to  ensure  that  a  sustainable,  productive  and  competitive  agriculture  can 
make  an  important  contribution  to  Europe  2020,  considering  the  growth  and 
employment  potential  of  rural  areas  while  ensuring  fair  competition;  it  is  a  key 
component  of  economic,  social  and  territorial  cohesion,  as  well  as  for 
guaranteeing  food  security.  This  work  will  address  issues  such  as  the  food  and 
renewable production base, and the dynamism of rural areas, and will serve as a 
basis  to  explore  avenues  on  the  future  of  the  Common  Agriculture  Policy 
(strategic initiative n° 33) 

–  prepare  future  reform  of  cohesion  policy  in  pursuit  of    economic,  social  and 
territorial cohesion, in harmony  with Europe 2020 to modernise the EU economy 
in  partnership  with  national,  regional  and  local  actors;  in  this  context,  the  Fifth 
Cohesion Report will explore options for the future of cohesion policy post-2013 
(strategic initiative n° 34).  

–  The  Commission  is  also  preparing  the  ground  for  a  fundamental  reform  of  the 
common  fisheries  policy  to  create  the  conditions  for  a  genuinely  viable  and 
sustainable  EU  fishing  industry  and  the  development  of  an  Integrated  Maritime 
Policy.  

2.3. Tackling Europe’s bottlenecks and missing links 

To  support  the  advancement  of  the  Europe  2020  flagship  initiatives,  and  respond  to  the 
invitation of the Spring European Council, the Commission is committed to tackling Europe’s 
missing links and bottlenecks. In 2010, this will notably translate into the following strategic 
initiatives:  

–  A communication on the  relaunch of  the  single  market (strategic  initiative  16): This will 
build  on  the  findings  of  the  report  which  President  Barroso  has  commissioned  from 
Professor Monti and lay the groundwork to develop a major package for tomorrow's single 
market on the twentieth anniversary of the single market in 2012. 

–  A  regulation  on  translation  requirements  for  the  future  EU  patent,  designed  to  solve  the 
critical translation issues necessary to make the EU patent a reality (strategic initiative n° 
17). 

–  A  white  paper  on  transport  (strategic  initiative  18):  This  will  outline  a  strategy  and  an 
action plan for transport policy and transport infrastructures over the next decade. The aim 
is  to  achieve  transport  sustainability,  which  requires  actions  to  remove  bottlenecks  to 
competitiveness,  progress  towards  a  transport  system  less  dependent  on  fossil  fuels  and 
improvements in safety, security and working conditions.  

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–  A package on energy infrastructure (strategic initiative 19): This will set out priorities for 

interconnections and the development of smart grids in the EU. 

At the same time, the Commission will be working to ensure that the tools at its disposal are 
geared  up  to  assist  the  work  of  implementing  the  2020  vision.  At  the  same  time,  proper 
implementation  of  EU  law  is  essential  for  the  realisation  of  EU  policies  and  the  equal 
protection  of  the  rights  of  EU  citizens  and  businesses.  Improved  implementation  and 
enforcement  of  single  market  legislation  is  therefore  a  major  objective,  including  the  full 
implementation of the “services directive”.  

3. 

A CITIZENS' AGENDA: PUTTING PEOPLE AT THE HEART OF EUROPEAN ACTION 

The “raison d’être” of the EU is to improve the well-being of its citizens and to further their 
interests. Citizens’ needs, concerns and questions are diverse and in rapid evolution in today’s 
world.  Several  provisions  of  the  Lisbon  Treaty  will  help  put  the  interests  of  citizens  at  the 
centre of EU’s activities, and make the concept of European citizenship more concrete.  

A  key  element  of  this  policy  agenda  is  the  Stockholm  Programme  for  "an  open  and  secure 
Europe serving and protecting the citizen" adopted by the European Council at its December 
2009  meeting.  The  Commission  will  now  present  (strategic  initiative  20)  a  comprehensive 
Action Plan for its implementation (2010-2014) with a view to ensuring that the benefits of 
the area of freedom, security and justice become more tangible to the citizens. 

3.1. Building a citizens' Europe 

The new Commission has already taken important initiatives under the Treaty of Lisbon: by 
proposing to put in place a “citizens’ initiative” enabling people to call for action by the EU 
institutions  and  by  paving  the  way  for  the  EU  to  join  the  European  Convention  of  Human 
Rights,  thereby  strengthening  the  enforcement  of  fundamental  rights  across  Europe. 
Moreover, a Communication on EU fundamental rights policy will be presented during 2010. 

The  Commission  will  complement  its  recent  proposals  by  new  proposals  to  improve 
procedural rights for citizens.  

In 2010, the Commission will continue to promote existing proposals before the EU legislator 
and complement its citizens’ agenda with the following initiatives: 

–  A proposal on jurisdiction and enforcement of judgements in civil and commercial matters 
(strategic  initiative  21):  This  will  improve  the  recognition  of  judicial  decisions  across 
borders. 

–  A proposal to revise the working time directive (strategic initiative 22): This will draw the 
lessons  from  the  on-going  consultation  of  the  social  partners  to  clarify  and  amend  the 
existing legislation. 

–  The development of a European judicial area, including a reference framework for contract 
law (strategic initiative n° 23), and the analysis of obstacles to free movement of citizens 
(strategic initiative n° 24). 

Proposals will be prepared to clarify the implementation of the posted workers’ directive; and 
to tackle new challenges, such as the protection of personal data (strategic initiative n° 25). At 

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the  same  time,  the  Commission  will,  starting  in  2010,  analyse  in  depth  the  issue  of  policy 
coherence  in  the  field  of  collective  redress  and  carry  out  a  public  consultation  on  the 
common  legal  principles  and  concrete  issues  which  should  guide  any  future  proposals  for 
collective redress in EU legislation. The Commission will also work on proposals to improve 
the protection of victims of crime. 

3.2. Ensuring an open and secure Europe 

The Action Plan implementing the Stockholm Programme will in particular focus on tackling 
cross-border criminality and will consolidate the common immigration and asylum policy. It 
will notably cover areas such as: 

–  The fight against organised crime, terrorism and other threats through improved police and 
judicial  cooperation,  including  an  internal  security  strategy  of  the  EU  (strategic  initiative 
n° 26). 

–  A focus on integrating the immigrant population while addressing illegal immigration and 
improving  the  management  of  immigration  flows,  including  through  an  integrated 
approach to the management of EU borders. 

3.3. Addressing long-term societal challenges 

European society faces a number of long-term trends which will have a direct impact on the 
daily  life  of  citizens:  these  include  the  spread  of  new  technologies,  immigration  and  the 
pressure  of  demographic  ageing,  the  consequences  of  climate  change  and  environmental 
threats. Public policy needs to address these trends, both mitigating their risks and factoring 
their opportunities into future initiatives. These trends require careful analysis and the input of 
a  wide  range  of  stakeholders.  The  Commission  will  open  public  debates  and  work  on  the 
following issues: 

–  The  future  of  pensions  by  presenting  a  green  paper  (strategic  initiative  n°  27):  This  will 
look  at  options  for  ensuring  the  sustainability  and  adequacy  of  pensions  in  the  light  of 
ageing, mobility patterns in Europe and the functioning of financial markets.  

–  The  need  to  further  develop  legal  immigration  policies  to  alleviate  the  pressures  of 
demographic  ageing  and  to  enhance  Europe'scompetitiveness,  combined  with  renewed 
integration policies. 

–  A new EU biodiversity strategy by presenting a communication (strategic initiative n° 28): 
This will set out the concrete actions that the EU should consider to meet its international 
commitments and in the light of the pressures on the ecosystem. 

–  An  EU  rapid  response  capacity  by  presenting  a  Communication  on  the  EU's  disaster 
response capacity (strategic initiative n° 29) to improve the EU’s response to disasters. 

Public debates will also be launched in the light of scientific progress on issues such as animal 
cloning, biotechnology and nanotechnology. 

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4. 

THE EXTERNAL AGENDA: A COHERENT AND INFLUENTIAL EUROPEAN UNION 

As  a  major  political,  economic  and  trading  power,  the  EU  must  play  its  full  role  on  the 
international stage. A high degree of ambition, coordination and discipline is necessary for the 
EU  to  speak  with  one  voice  and  to  be  heard.  The  Lisbon  Treaty  gives  new  tools  to  better 
project European interests worldwide, which the EU must tap to the full. 

4.1. A strong and coherent external representation – the EU as global player 

2010 will see the new external arrangements under the Treaty of Lisbon fully in place. The 
new post of High Representative, the new clarity over the external representation of the EU 
and  the  establishment  of  the  European  External  Action  Service  will  give  the  EU's  external 
policies a new dynamism and focus. As the EU's external representative outside CFSP/ESDP 
and  with  its  responsibility  for  proposing  and  implementing  a  wide  range  of  policies,  the 
Commission has a key role to play in delivering the EU's external policy ambitions.  

One of the key lessons of the global crisis is that the size of the EU and the euro area matter in 
influencing global policy responses. The  Lisbon  Treaty  provides  for  more  coherent external 
representation of the EU to ensure that the international role of the EU matches its economic 
weight.  The  Commission  will  propose  to  consolidate  the  European  representation  in 
international financial institutions. 

4.2. Deepening Europe’s trade agenda 

International  trade  is  one  of  the  motors  of  growth,  employment  and  investment  in  the 
European Union, thus very much in the interest of European citizens. The EU is committed to 
open  societies  and  open  markets,  and  determined  to  defend  European  interests.  It  will 
continue working towards reducing barriers to international flows of trade and investment. 

The Commission will present a communication setting out a trade strategy for Europe 2020 
(strategic  initiative  n°  30).  This  will  focus in  particular  on  concluding  on-going  multilateral 
and bilateral trade negotiations, as well as on better enforcement of existing agreements, and 
on trade opening initiatives for sectors of the future, such as, high-tech products and services, 
environmental  technologies  and  services  and  on  international  standardization.  Priority  will 
also  be  given  to  proposals  for  high-level  strategic  dialogues  to  discuss  issues  ranging  from 
market  access,  regulatory  framework,  global  imbalances,  climate  action  and  energy, 
environment and access to raw materials and international standardisation. The Commission 
will also work to reinforce its bilateral relationships with key trading partners such as the US, 
China, Japan and Russia. 

4.3. Delivering EU neighbourhood, enlargement and development policies 

The  Treaty  gives  the  EU  a  particular  responsibility  to  promote  freedom,  stability  and 
prosperity in its neighbourhood. The Commission is committed to developing the EU's special 
relationship  with  neighbouring  countries  based  on  respect  for  the  values  of  the  Union  and 
aimed  at  fostering  strong  economic  cooperation.  Commission  services  will  be  cooperating 
closely with the EEAS on these issues. 

The  Commission  is  also  committed  to  steering  the  enlargement  process.  Progress  in 
negotiations will be linked to progress made by candidate countries, with a special emphasis 
on the respect of the rule of law. 

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Pursuing the international development agenda will be a key priority for the Commission: it 
will  propose  an  EU  action  plan  in  the  run  up  to  the  2015  Millennium  Development  Goals 
Summit  (strategic  initiative  n°31).  The  Commission  remains  committed  to  the  Monterrey 
goals  on  official  development  assistance  and  the  Paris  Declaration  and  Accra  Agenda  for 
Action  on  aid  effectiveness.  Specific  work  has  been  launched  to  ensure  aid  efficiency, 
accountability  and  consistent  synergies  between  development  policy  and  policies  such  as 
migration,  security,  climate  action  and  energy,  food  security,  access  to  health  care  and 
education. 

5.  MODERNISING EU INSTRUMENTS AND WAYS OF WORKING 

This  Work  Programme  serves  to  highlight  new  initiatives,  but  a  key  focus  of  the 
Commission’s work in 2010 will be about making effective use of existing policy instruments 
and paving the way for their modernisation.  

5.1. Smart regulation – ensuring that policies are effective 

Ensuring  a  high  quality  regulatory  framework  for  citizens  and  businesses  is  a  shared 
responsibility of all EU institutions and the Member States. Initiatives taken at European level 
must demonstrate clear EU value added, and be proportionate in their scope and nature. The 
Commission has put in place a number of smart regulation instruments to ensure that this is 
indeed the case. It is now time for a further step-change in the practical application of these 
instruments by fully connecting and integrating them along the regulatory cycle with a view 
to  delivering  effective  policy  outcomes.  For  the  preparation  of  strategic  initiatives,  internal 
coordination will be supported by inter-departmental working groups, which will follow their 
elaboration  from  the  impact  assessment  to  the  conception  and  finalisation  of  the  initiative 
concerned. 

Impact assessment 

Our impact assessment system compares favourably with international best practice in terms 
of  transparency  and  effectiveness.  Priority  will  now  be  given  to  ensuring  that  this  system 
delivers its full potential, both in terms of scope and content. All Commission initiatives with 
significant  impacts,  including  proposals  of  delegated  and  implementing  acts,  should  be 
supported by an impact assessment. In the current economic situation, employment and social 
impacts  are  particularly  important,  and  the  Commission  will  work  towards  reinforcing  its 
analysis of such impacts. 

To  improve  the  transparency  of  impact  assessment  work,  the  Commission  will  prepare 
roadmaps  for  all  initiatives  likely  to  have  significant  impact.  It  encourages  stakeholders  to 
make use of these roadmaps in preparing their inputs to the policy-making process. 

Ex-post evaluation and regulatory 'fitness checks' 

A systematic ex-post evaluation of existing legislation is essential to ensure that our policies 
form a coherent framework and deliver effectively on their objectives. Over time, a full ex-
post  evaluation  will  become  a  requisite  for  the  revision  of  important  legislative  acts  to  be 
included in future Commission's Work Programmes. 

To  keep  current  regulation  fit  for  purpose,  the  Commission  will  begin  reviewing,  from  this 
year onwards, the entire body of legislation in selected policy fields through "fitness checks". 
The purpose is to identify excessive burdens, overlaps, gaps, inconsistencies and/or obsolete 

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measures which may have appeared over time. Pilot exercises will start in 2010 in four areas: 
environment, transport, employment and social policy, and industrial policy. 

Simplification, administrative burden reduction and withdrawals 

The  simplification  of  legislation  and  the  reduction  of  administrative  burdens  will  remain 
priorities and be fully embedded in the smart regulation process. The Commission has already 
tabled proposals going beyond the 2012 objective of reducing the administrative burden by 25 
percent, and is committed to continuing its efforts in the coming years. A particular focus will 
be  on  following  up  the  work  with  the  European  Parliament,  the  Council  and  the  Member 
States, as businesses will only feel the benefits of these efforts when the legislator has adopted 
the  proposals  and  they  have  been  implemented  the  proposals  at  national  level.  At  the  same 
time, the Commission will put forward 46 simplification proposals in the coming years (see 
annex III). Moreover, the Commission intends to withdraw a number of proposals which are 
listed in annex IV. 

Implementation 

Making EU legislation deliver its full impact throughout the Union is a key responsibility of 
the Commission. Wherever necessary, the Commission will continue to intervene, including 
via legal steps, to ensure the full and correct implementation of existing legislation. Moreover, 
the Commission will strengthen efforts to assist Member States to implement new legislation 
in a timely and correct manner. 

5.2. Communicating Europe 

Communicating Europe in a transparent and accessible manner is a prerequisite for citizens' 
participation in the democratic life of the Union and for Europeans to be fully aware of the 
opportunities provided by EU policies. This is a shared responsibility of all actors at different 
levels,  with  the  Commission  willingly  taking  up  its  part.  In  addition  to  general  information 
and  communication  activities,  the  Commission  will  put  particular  emphasis  on  three  joint 
communication  priorities:  driving  the  economic  recovery  and  mobilising  new  sources  of 
growth; climate action and energy; making the Lisbon Treaty work for citizens. 

5.3. Adapting the EU financial framework to serve policy priorities  

The budget of the EU must serve to address the main challenges facing Europe and provide 
real  value  added  in  promoting  the  Union's  key  policy  objectives.  As  part  of  its  broader 
political  vision,  the  Commission  will  put  forward  a  Budget  Review  this  year  (strategic 
initiative  32)    to  look  at  how  changes  in  the  balance  of  the  budget,  its  priorities  and  its 
procedures can secure the best return for European taxpayers and shape the process leading up 
to the next Multiannual Financial Framework.  

Within the overall context of the preparation for the next multi-annual financial framework, 
the Commission will be holding in depth consultations with stakeholders during 2010 on the 
future  direction  of  key  EU  spending  policies,  such  as  the  common  agricultural  policy, 
cohesion  policy  and  research  policy.  The  aim  will  be  to  assess  achievements  to  date  and 
challenges for the period after 2013, to get stakeholder views on the future direction of policy 
and  to  assess  the  role  of  the  EU  budget  in  delivering  effective  results  in  these  policy  areas 
across the EU. This work will build on the orientations of the Budget Review and will feed 
into  the  preparation  of  the  Commission's  2011 proposals  for  the  next  Multiannual  Financial 
Framework. 

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This should include a reflection on the existing instruments for economic development in the 
run-up to the set of proposals for the next financial framework, as well as exploring new ways 
of leveraging EU private and public investment, for instance through the European Investment 
Bank. 

In  parallel  to  this  strategic  approach,  the  Commission  will  continue  to  improve  sound 
financial  management,  while  simplifying  the  implementation  framework,  putting  strong 
emphasis on performance, added value and value for money achieved through EU spending. 
Attention will continue to be given to improve and implement sound, solid, coherent and cost-
effective  management  and  control  systems  both  within  the  Commission  and  in  the  Member 
States. The Commission will also pursue its reflection on the future of OLAF.  

6. 

CONCLUSION: MOVING AHEAD 

This first Work Programme of the new Commission sets out its ambition and commitments, 
for 2010 and beyond. It tackles issues of immediate concern and sets the policy direction to 
respond to upcoming challenges, laying the ground for further work in the rest of the mandate.  

To  facilitate  dialogue,  provide  predictability  and  ensure  transparency,  the  following  are 
annexed to this Work Programme:  

–  A list of strategic initiatives on which the Commission commits to deliver in 2010 (annex 

I). 

–  Major  proposals  under  consideration  during  2010  and  beyond,  which  are  tentative 

prospects for the rest of the mandate (annex II). 

–  A list of simplification proposals and withdrawals (annexes III and IV). 

The  Commission  will  review  its  Work  Programme  every  year,  setting  new  annual  strategic 
initiatives  and  adapting  the  multi-annual  strand  where  appropriate  in  the  light  of  new 
circumstances, including results from preparatory work and review of implementation. 

The  Commission  will  now  work  closely  with  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council,  as 
well as stakeholders, to ensure a broad ownership on the overall approach and on individual 
initiatives.  This  Commission  would  like  its  Work  Programme  to  act  as  a  central  building 
block  for  the  common  inter-institutional  programming  proposed  under  Article  17(1)  of  the 
Treaty of Lisbon. The Commission will remain in constant dialogue with EU institutions and 
stakeholders to develop and implement its 2010 Work Programme. 

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