MEPs gave a mixed reception on Tuesday 18 October in Strasbourg to the European Commission’s 2023 work programme, which identifies six major ambitions, including the European Green Deal, digital Europe and an economy that works for people.
The Commission’s work programme contains 43 new policy initiatives stemming from President Ursula von der Leyen’s policy guidelines announced in her 2022 State of the Union address (see EUROPE 13043/23).
Speaking to MEPs, European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič listed some of the major initiatives in the 2023 work programme.
European Green Deal. Firstly, the Commission remains focused on the implementation of the European Green Deal. “We propose creating a hydrogen bank to invest €3 billion in launching a hydrogen market in the EU”, Mr Šefčovič said.
He confirmed that the Commission will reform the European electricity market “to decouple the effects of gas prices on electricity prices to ease the pressure on households and businesses”. Proposals on this issue are expected in the first quarter of 2023, and no longer in the third.
The Commission will also propose legislation to contribute to a more resilient and sustainable food system.
To reassure NGOs, he said the Commission would propose a “targeted review” of the legislation on the registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals legislation (REACH) to “promote sustainable chemicals”. Freight transport will be made more environmentally friendly.
Without critical raw materials, there is simply no green and digital transformation, the Vice President added. The Commission will thus submit measures to strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy in critical raw materials, “giving priority to re-use and recycling”.
In the area of the single market, Mr Šefčovič spoke of “a patent licensing package” and a revision of the Late Payments Directive (see EUROPE 13044/7).
“To strengthen our security in an increasingly multipolar world, we will adopt a space strategy for security and defence and update the EU’s maritime security strategy”, he said.
In addition, a new agenda for Latin America and the Caribbean will be presented.
In addition, the Commission intends to present a proposal on establishing a sanctions regime framework targeting corruption in the second quarter of 2023. Such a framework has long been called for by MEPs.
Other initiatives to come in 2023 include a global approach to mental health, a prevention package with initiatives on smoke-free environments and vaccine-preventable cancers, a new Cybersecurity Skills Academy, a proposal on the digitalisation of travel documents, a ‘defence of democracy’ package and a proposal for a European disability card.
Review of the MFF. Jan Olbrycht (EPP, Polish) spoke of the importance of the EU’s capacity to react to unforeseen events (various crises) and listed the major projects (employment, agriculture, energy markets, external threats, social market economy, etc.). The Commission is expected to carry out a mid-term review of the EU’s multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2021-2027, he highlighted.
“An analysis and revision of the MFF will be presented in the second quarter of 2023”, the Commission Vice-President promised in response to several MEPs who made this request.
Not good enough. “I am afraid that what is proposed by the Commission does not live up to the expectations of European citizens, especially as regards the social and economic response to the crisis”, said Pedro Marques (S&D, Portuguese). There is nothing on the social dimension, in his view. He also called for a comprehensive reform of the EU’s economic governance, including budgetary aspects. Electricity market reforms are needed now, added Mr Marques.
This programme “lacks ambition and vision”, according to Dimitrios Papadimoulis (The Left, Greek). The energy crisis is not addressed in this document, he regretted. He called for a proper review of the MFF.
Philippe Lamberts (Greens/EFA) regretted the nine-month delay in certain reforms, including the REACH regulation, and criticised the EPP’s manoeuvring that had caused this delay.
Malik Azmani (Renew Europe, Dutch) called for a “more sovereign” EU in the area of food security and energy, among others. He spoke of the revision of the MFF and an ‘asylum and immigration package’ that has been put together and adopted.
Hermann Tertsch (ECR, Spanish) regretted the “overdose of ideology” at European level and protested in particular against the closure of certain fishing areas.
Link to the work programme and annexes: https://aeur.eu/f/3ny (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)