Commission’s Legislative & Work Programme 2005

A Partnership for prosperity, solidarity and security

The work Programme concentrates on the contribution of the Commission as the body responsible for articulating the common European interest and policy direction to the work of the Union. Since the beginning of the European Project, the Commission’s right of initiative has been instrumental in the EU to act in pursuit of common goals.

The work programme lays out how and where the Commission will act in pursuit of strategic priorities over the coming year, in respect of both new and ongoing actions.

 

Features of 2005

The following features of the 2005 political climate are of particular significance

  • Economic growth in Europe is stuck at a little over 2%. This is not enough to tackle unemployment and reflects broader weaknesses in Europe’s ability to be competitive and to promote the key drivers of growth.
  • The ratification of the Constitution will spark intense political debate in Member States across the Union. This debate will clearly be the source of some conflict, but it will also offer an opportunity to enhance public understanding of the Union.
  • The negotiations of the Financial Perspectives give the Union an opportunity to ensure that one of the key tools at its disposal, the EU budget, is directed to maximise the effectiveness of the Union’s output.

 

Policy priorities

Besides this operational priority, the Commission has identified the policy priorities for 2005, in the context of an enlarged Union of 25 Member States, tying in with the objectives set in previous years:

  • The Commission’s central objective will be to provide a new momentum of economic growth, based on enhanced competitiveness and cohesion.
  • The objective of stability and security will be pursued and extended to a grater number of citizens.
  • Strengthened by its new continental legitimacy, the Union will take on a new external responsibility, with emphasis on the neighbourhood dimension.

 

Competitiveness: Key initiatives for 2005

  • Framework programme for competitiveness and innovation: The framework will include elements focussing on improving the business environment and entrepreneurship: Access to investment capital, Information and communication technology mastery and use, innovation including eco-innovation and the sustainable use of resources. It is estimated to be adopted in April 2005.
  • Directive on payment services in the internal market: This legal framework for payments is necessary to overcome the present system mostly fragmented and based on national rules. It will guarantee an adequate level of customer protection and ensure legal certainty for all parties. Adoption is expected for June 2005.
  • Decision on the framework programmes for research funding for the period 2007-2013: These research programmes will be designed and intended to reinforce the momentum towards the realisation of a knowledge-based society. The upcoming proposals, containing the main orientations, will be further detailed in a set of proposals for specific programmes and rules for participation. The overall aim is to maintain and reinforce the creation of an effective knowledge-based economy. The decision is to be adopted in April 2005.
  • Green paper on the integration of financial services and capital markets: 2005-2010: Following the finalisation of the financial Services Action Plan 2000-2005 (FSAP), this green paper will open a wide-ranging public consultation on the future strategy and policy direction in the area of financial services. Adoption is intended for May 2005.
  • Directive on shareholder rights: The directive intends to facilitate efficient shareholder communication and decision making (participation to meetings, exercise of voting rights, cross-border voting). Adoption is expected in November 2005.
  • Communication on defence procurement: Following the green paper on defence procurement (2004), stakeholders were consulted on the need to take a community initiative to improve cross-border competition in certain types of defence procurement. The Commission will publicly announce in October 2005 the results of the consultation as well as concrete actions that it intends to take.
  • Communication on the present state of integration in electricity and natural gas markets: This communication will provide a detailed analysis of the current situation with respect to the functioning of electricity and gas markets, identifying improvements and persisting obstacles, assessing the need for further measures. Adoption is expected for the fourth quarter of 2005.
  • Directive on the management of collecting societies: The proposal will focus on the management of collecting societies in order to set up a level playing field which will enhance the trust into collecting societies from right-holders and commercial users. Adoption is expected for October 2005.

 

Security and sustainable development: Key initiatives for 2005

  • Thematic strategies in the field of environment protection.
  • Strategy on prevention and recycling of waste: The strategy will identify means to further develop waste management policy and will focus on the means to promote more sustainable waste management. It is due to be adopted in June 2005.
    Strategy on soils: The soil strategy will address the issue of how to protect and improve the quality of European soils and how to use them in a sustainable manner. The strategy is to be adopted in November 2005.
  • Strategy on the marine environment: This strategy will be designed to achieve a good biological, chemical and physical status in the marine environment. It will look at a number of policy areas from a marine perspective and is likely to be adopted in July 2005.
  • Strategy on air pollution: This strategy will outline the environmental objectives for air quality and measures to be taken. It will be based on a long-term, strategic and integrated policy advice to protect against significant negative effects of air pollution on human health and the environment. Adoption is estimated for May 2005.
  • Strategy on the urban environment: This strategy seeks to improve the environmental performance of Europe’s towns and cities and to secure a healthy living environment for urban citizens. It will focus on priority areas like environmental management, sustainable urban transport, sustainable construction and urban design. Adoption is expected for December 2005.
  • Strategy on sustainable use of natural resources: The strategy will set out community measures allowing the sustainable use of natural resources without harming the environment. It is due for adoption in June 2005.
  • Directive on animal health in the aquaculture industry. The directive intends to take account of significant changes in the aquaculture industry. Apart from the farming of salmon and oysters other fish species are more widely used in fish farming, which require new farming practices not covered by the present legislation. The directive is likely to be adopted in the second quarter of 2005.
  • Directive on the infringement of intellectual property rights. This directive aims at ensuring that in member states all serious infringements of an intellectual property right, participation in and instigation of such infringements are treated as a criminal offence. The adoption is planned for June 2004.
  • Action plan for the biomass sector. The action plan intends to increase the contribution of the biomass sector to the EU-25 renewable energy objective of 12% by 2010 in the gross domestic energy consumption and future objectives for 2020. The estimated date of adoption is in the fourth quarter of 2005.

 

Neighbourhood & Partnership: Key initiatives for 2005

  • Decision on the revised Accession Partnership for Turkey: This revised accession partnership represents the first pillar of the strategy drawn up by the Commission’s recommendation on Turkey. The EU will continue to monitor the progress of political reforms on the basis of this partnership. The adoption is intended for the second quarter of 2005.
  • European neighbourhood action plans with Egypt, Lebanon, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia: These action plans are the key instruments in the process of bringing neighbouring countries closer to the EU. They define priorities in different policy areas such as trade or justice. Their implementation will be closely monitored. Adoption by the Commission is likely to take place in the third quarter of 2005.
  • 2005 Enlargement package: This package will includes a strategy paper on the progress in the EU enlargement process, comprehensive monitoring reports for Bulgaria and Romania, a report on Croatia’s progress towards accession as well as a regular report on Turkey’s progress towards accession. Adoption is planned for the fourth quarter of 2005.

Shortcuts

Service

Printer friendly Recommend page Download as pdf