Brussels, 06/11/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission work programme, adopted on Wednesday 5 November, is extensive: managing the financial crisis, checking the economic slow down, preparing the budget review, all at a time when European elections are to be held and a new College of European Commissioners is to be appointed. The Commission also wants to bring tangible results in areas such as energy, climate change, migration and social policy.
The work programme for José Manuel Barroso's team contains: 1) 12 strategic initiatives (Lisbon strategy after 2010, a package of measures on the financial markets, supervision of the financial markets, the Better Legislation package, the position of the EU at the Copenhagen Climate Conference, the Baltic Sea strategy, the Stockholm programme in the area of freedom, security and justice, enlargement policy, the neighbourhood policy and review of the Community budget); 2) 37 priority initiatives (retail sector, reform of the common fisheries policy, youth mobility, energy efficiency, low-carbon technology, the future for transport, the European Asylum Support Office, the aid package for victims of organised crime and the anti-terrorism package, the Sectoral Social Dialogue, health solidarity, the European cancer platform, the initiative for tackling Alzheimer's disease, tackling AIDS, the effectiveness of development aid, and others); 3) 33 simplification proposals (in agriculture, the environment, accounting and transport); and 4) 20 withdrawals.
“We will seek to consolidate the achievements of the last four years by maintaining the focus on delivering results for European citizens and businesses. The Commission will prioritise its work to lead the response to the financial crisis and tackle the issues of concern to citizens like climate change, migration and development so that Europe can continue to shape the effects of globalisation,” said the Commission president. The priorities are structured around 4 pillars.
On growth and jobs, the Commission will focus on economic reform and specific measures aiming at rebuilding confidence to help Europe deal with the economic and financial crisis. Proposals will be made in the area of financial markets and financial supervision, including a response to the experts group chaired by Jacques de Larosière.
On climate change, getting a successful agreement at the Copenhagen meeting will be a major global challenge. The European Union will only be able to be the driving force if the raft of energy and climate change measures is approved: if agreement is found in December, the emphasis can shift to implementation in 2009.
The Commission will continue to work directly for citizens, for example, specific action to help citizens as consumers, and a major new direction for policies on freedom, security and justice. The fight against terrorism and organised crime will be a particular focus.
Internationally, the Commission will deal with challenges from support for the reconstruction of Georgia to adapting transatlantic relations to the new US administration. Enlargement, the neighbourhood, and world trade will remain key priorities.
A major highlight in 2009 will be the presentation of the Budget Review, an important contribution to the debate on the shape of the future priorities of the Union and their financing. This will be a key part of the legacy of this Commission.
2009 will be the first year that inter-institutional communication priorities will be agreed by the Council of Ministers, the European Parliament and the Commission under the joint declaration on Communicating Europe in Partnership. The Commission has published its work programme on its internet site: http: //ec.europa.eu/atwork/programmes/index_en.htm (L.C./transl.rt)