Nice, 08/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - This Friday, in the early afternoon, Pierre Moscovici, French Minister for European Affairs, announced to the press that the European Council in Nice had already adopted its Conclusions on all of its programme obviously except for institutional reform over which the debates continue into the evening (see previous pages). In fact, the Heads of State and Government had worked faster than foreseen and, as of Thursday evening, they had even covered the themes planned for Friday morning: food safety, maritime safety, general interest services and sport. The Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs Lamberto Dini explained: the French Presidency has been very efficient, each of us were only able to speak for five minutes, and in five minutes we can "say all that there is to say".. Friday morning, during their session dedicated to the adoption of the Conclusions, the Heads of State and Government have only discussed two themes: Defence Europe (see previous pages) and the Mad Cow crisis (see below), all the remainder being settled.
Following this phase of the summit Mr Moscovici concentrated his comments on the following elements:
With regards to the Economic and Social Europe:
Employment. The Heads of State and Government took stock of the results from the Presidency on social issues, including the Social Agenda (the conclusions remind that the implementation of the Agenda will be examined for the first time by the Stockholm Summit next March).
Statute of European company. The European Council "enacted an agreement" on this issue over which a solution has been sought for thirty years, and we must thank Spain, asserted Mr Moscovici over the details for the consultation of workers. The European Council called on the Council to complete before the end of this year the texts enabling for the creation of the statute of European company (see following article).
Galileo project. Over this issue which is taken to heart, in particular, by Germany, Mr Moscovici indicated that the Heads of State and Government had engaged the Transport Council to take the decision to launch the project during its session next 20 December.
Coordination of economic policies. The European Council defined a "restrained list of structural indicators" to present to the Stockholm summit (in March 2001).
Taxation. The Heads of State and Government welcomed the agreement reached over the "fiscal package" notably concerning savings taxation, and have defined paths for the continuation of work on the code of conduct (company taxation) and the Directive on the taxation of capital revenue.
As for the Europe of citizens Mr Moscovici raised:
the BSE crisis. The Council President indicated that the summit had called for a rapid implementation of measures decided by the Agriculture Council, and in particular the suspension of animal meals "for initially six months, but there is no opposition of principal for going further". "It is possible, if not probable, that the ban will be confirm at the right time", added the Council President, when noting that the Agriculture Council had reached, at eight o'clock in the morning, a "rather complex" balance, and that it would be best "to stay there for the moment". We are determined to fight against this scourge "in the long-term", asserted Mr Moscovici. As for the measures aiming to improve the situation of the market for meat, the Minister underlined that the fact that they are enshrined "in the strict respect for the financial forecasts" defined in Berlin in 1999 "does not mean that the cost is null". The summit conclusions indicate that "long-lasting" guarantees will have to be brought to citizens on the safety of beef, notably on request from Chancellor Schröder, who had, during the debate on the Mad Cow crisis, felt that it would be necessary to consider the banning of animal meal beyond the six months foreseen by the agriculture Ministers.
Maritime safety. The Council packaging was confirmed, and the EU also hopes for an agreement with the International Maritime Organisation, which "does not exclude that we take measures for ourselves", asserted Mr Moscovici. Portugal added its candidacy to that of Barcelona, Genoa and Marseilles to host the regulatory Agency that the EU is considering putting in place.
Creation of Food Authority. The European Council invited the Council and the Parliament to accelerated to works in order to become operational from the start of 2002.
Climate change. The European Council hoped for an acceleration in work so as to move forward on the paths which the Summit of The Hague to not reach any conclusion
Services of a general interest. The European Council annexed a declaration on public services and services of a general interest to its conclusions.
Sport. The Heads of Government backed the declaration drawn up earlier in the week by the General Affairs Council, which recognises the distinctive nature of sport. It will be annexed to the Summit's conclusions.
Area of Freedom, Secuirty and Justice. The Heads of Government noted "with interest" the initiative of Italy and Spain (see next article).
All the Summit's conclusions will be published in the special issue that Agence EUROPE will publish on Sunday, together with the state of work on institutional reform.