Brussels, 20/04/2010 (Agence Europe) - On 20 April, José Manuel Barroso presented the Commission's work programme for 2010 to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The programme, which was adopted on 31 March, has four priorities: tackling the crisis and supporting the social market economy, drafting a project for citizens, developing an ambitious, coherent foreign policy, and modernising the EU's instruments and ways of functioning (see EUROPE 10110). Drawing the lessons of the current economic and financial crisis will be one of the Commission's main priorities “because business as usual is not an option”, Barroso told MEPs. In May, the Commission will present a communication on enhanced coordination of economic policies. It will also make proposals with a view to reviewing the Stability and Growth Pact in order to improve economic supervision and extend it beyond simply deficits. Financial regulation will also remain high up the agenda. Barroso is hopeful that “a decisive step will soon be taken on our proposal on alternative investment funds and venture capital” and that the new European architecture for supervising the financial sector will be “fully operational from the start of next year”. In 2010, the Commission will present other proposals in key areas such as derivatives, deposit-guarantee schemes and market abuse. It will work, too, on other matters related to credit default swaps (CDS) and short selling, “and we will shortly propose guidelines on the setting up of bank collapse resolution funds,” Barroso announced. By 2012, the Commission will also present proposals on completing the single market. Energy policy, tackling poverty, education, citizens' security and the future of pensions will also be at the heart of the Commission's agenda for 2010, Barroso said. In all, the Commission has committed itself to bringing forward 34 new legislative initiatives by the end of this year (see the full programme at http: //ec.europa.eu/atwork/programmes/docs/cwp2010_en.pdf).
The reactions of the political groups were somewhat mixed. Several, particularly the Liberals, Greens and the Left, did not attempt to hide their disappointment, believing that the Commission should have been more ambitious. On behalf of the Socialist group (S&D), Austrian MEP and group deputy leader Hannes Swoboda put emphasis on social policy and tackling poverty. Who would pay for these policies when member states came under greater and greater pressure to reduce their public deficits, he wondered, arguing for a gradualist, progressive approach in budgetary consolidation. At the same time, during the review of the stability and growth pact, the Commission's voice in supervising member states' economic and budgetary policies should be strengthened, he said. It was “unacceptable” that some countries were already opposing this, he opined. He welcomed Barroso projects to complete and strengthen the internal market, but called on the Commission to do more for public services “which are part of European identity”. For French Liberal Marielle De Sarnez (ALDE), the Commission programme was “too timid”, particularly given the economic and financial crisis which is currently affecting Europe. The Commission, she said, could have gone further in financial supervision, for example, by proposing a ban, pure and simple, on derivatives. The Commission had to do all in its power to boost the real economy, for example, relaunching “rail Europe” (this is the time to do so with the air sector facing problems at the moment, she said), “but I can't see any tangible projects,” she regretted. She also called for close coordination of economic policies, and would have liked the Commission (not the working group recently set up by the European Council) to be responsible for preparing the next steps. The 2020 strategy was the right approach to improve European competitiveness, “but do not give up on detailed objectives in education and tackling poverty,” she told Barroso. The Greens/EFA Group would also have liked a more ambitious work programme, said German MEP Rebecca Harms. The programme was detailed and the headings attractive, but the contents were not, she regretted. It was back to the drawing board, especially on social justice in a society where the gap between rich and poor continues to increase, Harms said. The Greens were also critical that the Commission had not planned any tangible initiative on taxation of financial transactions. “Do not wait for the member states. Make proposals and argue the case,” she advised Barroso. She, too, regretted that the Commission was not doing enough to support public services. On CO2 emissions, the various Directorates General were working on the basis of “different scenarios and objectives” which no longer took account of the international 2°C target and which would not allow the EU to play the leading role at the next international negotiations in Bonn and Cancún, Harms said.
The leader of the Conservative group, Timothy Kirkhope (ECR), was more positive. He above all welcomed the fact that the Commission focuses on economic recovery, strengthened competitiveness and completion of the internal market. “A competitive economy and dynamic business is the best way to combat poverty”, he said. The British MEP also praised the efforts made by the Barroso Commission in favour of reducing the social burden that weighs upon companies, and for reform of the labour market. Miguel Portas, of the United Left Group (GUE/NGL), severely criticised the Commission's work programme called “Time to Act”. The Portuguese MEP felt it was a bad joke, saying the programme was only a “façade that hides total emptiness”. “It took five days for Europe to organise a video-conference to deal with the problem of the ash cloud that has paralysed air traffic in Europe, and you speak of action?”, he said addressing Barroso. In his responses at the end of the debate, the president of the Commission vigorously defended himself against this “incredible” accusation. Europe is not empowered to regulate European airspace, Barroso explained, saying it had taken none of the decisions, all of which (closure of airspace) had come from national regulators. It is nonetheless incredible and extraordinary to say that those who are opposed to the EU acquiring new competences are today the first to criticise what they call a lack of action in Europe, the Commission president said, calling on the EP to cooperate with the Commission to act against this nationalist rhetoric. (H.B./transl.rt/jl)