Brussels, 12/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - By the end of the current European Commission's mandate, Commission President José Manuel Barroso hopes to carry out action according to the following major themes: - implementation of the programmes arising from the new multiannual financial framework (MFF), banking union, enhancement of economic governance, energy and climate. On 2 October, the Commission will publish a communication on the social dimension of economic and monetary union (EMU).
In a letter to the EP president accompanying his state of the Union address on Wednesday 11 September, Barroso explains that “much of the emphasis next year” will necessarily be on adopting legislative proposals now in co-decision and consolidating work already under way. “We will put the stress on the adoption and implementation of key pending proposals (such as our youth employment initiatives and our proposals to boost lending to SMEs), where member states need to accelerate the implementation, as well as on work to ensure the smooth and timely launch of the new multiannual financial framework (MFF) programmes and of the work of the High Level Expert Group on own resources”, Barroso writes. The setting up of banking union will be given “high priority” and “work will continue on economic governance, access to finance, labour mobility and tackling youth unemployment”. The proposals presented with a view to the establishment of a genuine single market for telecommunications “are also essential for competitiveness and their adoption will be a high priority over the coming months”, Barroso states.
The Commission considers that, for the end of 2013 and for 2014, the main priorities are as follows: - ensuring a smooth start for all MFF programmes for the period 2014-2020; - accelerating the adoption of key proposals, notably on the banking union and financial regulation (such as the proposals on bank resolution and recovery), on the single market (with all Single Market Act II proposals now on the table), the telecoms proposals adopted and the digital agenda, as well as proposals covering areas as varied as the reformed common fisheries policy, the internal market in rail and the creation of the European public prosecutor's office. Barroso underlines the need to proceed “rapidly” to the adoption of the tobacco products directive; - reinforcing economic governance, including the social dimension, and continuing to develop the European Semester process; - the trade agenda, notably through negotiations on a transatlantic trade and investment partnership (TTIP) with the USA and negotiations with other key partners such as Canada and Japan, and preparing the EU position on key international negotiations, such as the next Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) framework and the post-2015 development agenda; - and promoting a business-friendly environment, in particular for SMEs.
New initiatives. New initiatives envisaged include: - the communication on the social dimension of EMU; - review of the financial supervision framework and reform of the structure of EU banks following the Liikanen report; - follow-up on the long-term financing of the European economy; - strengthening Europe's industrial base by reforming the internal market for industrial products and further initiatives to enhance the competitiveness of European industry; - completion of state aid modernisation to strengthen the internal market and promote better public spending; - a comprehensive approach to a European area of skills and qualifications; - follow-up to the VAT strategy to cut business costs on VAT declarations; - revising the social security coordination regulation; - completing the work to link national public employment services to address labour supply imbalances; - a quality framework on restructuring; - a new energy and climate framework for 2030; - results of a review of waste policy; - a communication on future initiatives in the field of justice and home affairs policies; - the visa regime for bona fide travellers; - the enlargement and neighbourhood packages for 2014; - continuing to set the agenda for an ambitious follow-up to the Millennium Development Goals and bringing this together with the sustainable development goals; - and the EU's contribution to global maritime security.
Exploratory work will be undertaken in 2014 in areas including: - freeing up access to markets and mobilising finance; - increasing labour market participation and mobility, including for the regulated professions; - completing the European Research Area; - green technologies including energy storage and energy efficiency; - empowering consumers in the internal energy market; - evaluating EU legislation on health and safety at work; - following up on the Commission's recent defence communication; - and the future of the European Development Fund post-2020.
Enhancing democratic responsibility. Barroso points out: “Our current work should also allow us to look at what is essential for the future of Europe, in particular to develop thinking on deeper integration underpinned by reinforced democratic accountability”. The presentation of longer-term ideas for the future of the European Union will, he said, allow a truly European debate before the elections at the European Parliament.
The Commission will finalise its work programme for 2014 in October. (LC/transl.jl)