Brussels, 25/11/2002 (Agence Europe) - The possible conclusion of a policy agreement on competition policy reform will be likely to be the only Competitiveness Council point still pending on Tuesday 26 November (see EUROPE p 10). On the other points, Ministers will exchange views and proceed to the adoption of conclusions on a series of "industry" and "research" points. In the follow-up to the Council of 14 November, they are also expected to attempt to define the guidelines on the best way of going forward with the Community patent next year.
Competitiveness. Based on the Commission's "Better environment for enterprises" communication (EUROPE 16 November p 14), the Council is expected to adopt conclusions listing the efforts that have been made for making the EU the most productive knowledge-based economy in the world by 2010
State Aid. Ministers will have an exchange of views on the Commission's activity report on reducing and reorienting State Aid, which was adopted on 16 October. They are expected to adopt conclusions stressing the importance of sticking to the trend for reducing State Aid, as well as the need to re-orientate this aid to horizontal objectives of common interest, including economic and social cohesion.
Sustainable development. The commission will inform the Council about the planned strategy on the follow-up to the Johannesburg Summit on sustainable development, as well as the work that it has recently begun in putting into place a sustainable chemical policy before the end of 2004.
Biotechnology. The Council will have an exchange of views on the basis of the Commission's "Life sciences and biotechnology - a strategy for Europe". It will be adopting conclusions aimed at establishing an "operational roadmap" for the strategy.
Research. On the basis of the Commission's communication, Ministers will also be adopting conclusions on "The European Research Area: Providing new momentum - Strengthening, reorienting, opening up new perspectives". They will also be expected to resolve certain difficulties involved in the "open method of co-ordination". Some delegations fear that such a method will become too laborious and bureaucratic. The Commission will also be presenting the Council will its communication, "More research for Europe: Towards 3% of GDP", which will launch the debate on the means to reach the Barcelona Summit objective where Heads of State and Government set the investment in technological research and development at 3% of GDP by 2010.
Community patent. Following the failure of discussions on the patent during the Council of 14 November (see EUROPE 15 November p 6 and 16 November p 9), Ministers will have an exchange of views, particularly on the issue of the jurisdictional arrangements for dealing with future litigation and the Community patent. The Danish Presidency hopes that the Council will be able to develop guidelines for the work during the Greek and Italian Presidencies but remains rather pessimistic with regard to adoption of formal conclusions on the work method over the next few months.
Measuring instruments. The Presidency will inform the Council of the progress so far accomplished on the draft directive on measuring instruments. It will also indicate that there is currently a broad consensus on the objectives and the concept proposed by the Commission and that a certain number of significant modifications have been made to the original text (notably in the taking into account of the amendments voted for by Parliament) and that the number of issues that remain pending has been reduced over recent months.
Research to combat aids malaria and tuberculosis. Ministers will have an exchange of views on the Commission's proposal for EU participation (EUR 200 million from the Sixth Framework Programme) in the R&D programme to develop new clinical interventions to combat these serious diseases through a long-term partnership with developing countries.
Shipbuilding. The Commission will present the Council with its most recent report on the situation in the world's shipyards (see EUROPE 14 November p 9).