Brussels, 28/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - The Competitiveness Council that will be meeting on Monday under the chairmanship of the Greek Development Minister, Apostolos Tsochatzopoulos, is expected to adopt a report for the European Spring council. During the course of the public debate, Ministers will examine a series of documents on the spirit of enterprise and competitiveness and adopt conclusions on this theme. The Presidency hopes then to obtain a common political approach on the Community patent. The council is also expected to look at a series of cases with the European Commission:
Simplification of legislation: Commissioner Bolkestein will be presenting Ministers with his most recent communication on the simplification of Community legislation. The objective is to reduce the volume of legislation by 25M (almost 35,000 pages) by the end of 2005 (see EUROPE 12 February p 8).
Space policy: The Commission will be presenting its Green Paper on European space policy adopted last January (see EUROPE 22 January p 13). This was intended to launch the debate on defining a European strategy on the subject. The Green Paper highlights the growing gap between the EU and USA: the turnover is EUR 5.6 million in the former and EUR 35 billion in the latter. Other joint consultations between the Commission and the European Space Agency on this subject will officially be launched on 6 March and are expected to finish in May.
Nuclear energy: (ITER): the Commission will be reporting back on the ongoing negotiations for building and using an experimental nuclear fusion reactor (ITER) (see EUROPE yesterday p 14). A more complete report is expected for the Council on 12-13 May.
Chemical products: the Commission will look at the preparation of its legislative package on chemical products. This eagerly awaited package is expected to replace several directive: hazardous substances, risk assessment procedures. The issue will also be on the Environment Council agenda on 4 March.
Community patent: the Presidency is "optimistic" about the possibility of obtaining a common policy approach" on Monday on the legal system that will deal with litigation involving the future Community patent. A new compromise proposal is expected to be presented on Friday on the basis of the most recent work carried out by the Permanent Representatives Committee. Negotiations focus on the transition periods that will enable Germany to keep for a certain period its specialised courts role before the change to legal centralisation under the supervisions of the European court of Justice (see EUROPE yesterday p 11).
Take-over bids: the Presidency will present an update of the ongoing work for adopting the new directive on take-overs, centred on the two fundamental Articles defining the rules that enable companies to defend themselves against hostile take-over bids (see EUROPE yesterday p 11). Greece is hoping to et a political agreement before the end of the Presidency and a compromise with the Parliament from the first reading. Informal contacts with Parliamentarians have taken place, confirm one Greek source.
Intellectual property: the Commission will be presenting its most recent proposals on fighting against fraud and counterfeiting: a directive outlining the common standards for penalties for fraud committed in the EU (see EUROPE 31 January p 11) and a regulation simplifying the customs seizure procedures for counterfeits from third countries (see EUROPE 21 January p 11).
Research/Asia: the Portuguese delegation intends presenting its third "Eureka meets Asia" meeting which will be held in Macao in May.
European spring Council: the Council is expected to adopt a report for the European spring Council on enterprise performance in the European Union, covering three Competitiveness Council components: internal market, industry and research. Discussion are based on the European Commission Spring Report (see EUROPE 16 January). Ministers are also expected to call on the Commission to present an action plan for bringing EU research spending to 3% of GDP. The action plan is expected to be presented in the next few week, announced the Commission.
Enterprise and enlargement: Ministers will be looking at the ongoing public debate on a series of documents on the "sprit of enterprise" recently presented by the Commission. the Presence proposed to concentrate the debates around three issues: 1) what should be priority actions at Community level and/or national on the basis of the last Green Paper on the "sprit of enterprise in Europe?" (See EUROPE 24 January p 11); 2) Ministers consider that the implementation of the European Charter for Small Businesses has responded to expectations and other synergies should be developed?) 3) How can the three sustainable development pillars be developed in a balanced way (economy, social, environment) according to the lines proposed in the Communication on industrial policy in an enlarged Europe?