MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
16.2.2005
pursuant to Rules 33 and 103(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Françoise Grossetête
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group
on the Commission’s legislative and work programme for 2005 (COM(2005)15)
B6‑0120/2005
European Parliament resolution on the Commission’s legislative and work programme for 2005 (COM(2005)15)
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its resolution of 16 December 2004 on the Strategic Political Orientations of the Barroso Commission,
– having regard to the Commission's Communication on its legislative and work programme for 2005 (COM (2005) 15) and its presentation to the European Parliament by President José Manuel Barroso on 26 January 2005,
– having regard to Rules 33 and 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the Commission gives utmost priority to the refocusing of the Lisbon Strategy, in order to modernise the European economy through structural reform, and puts strong emphasis on increasing Europe's prosperity, by generating growth and employment through greater competitiveness,
B. whereas the Commission defends the view that enhanced competitiveness, as well as increased investment in knowledge and human capital, are driving forces behind sustainable growth, job creation and prosperity, and thus key preconditions to Europe successfully pursuing ambitious environmental and social goals,
C. considering the central importance attached by the Commission to increasing the security of European citizens, by reinforcing efforts to fight terrorism and organised crime, as well as by emphasising the need for a common approach to asylum and immigration, and an improved management of external borders,
D. whereas the Commission puts strong emphasis on improving the quality of life of Europe's citizens, and, with a view to building a cleaner environment and healthier future for Europe, intends to pursue a coordinated approach to the environmental challenges facing the continent, in order to enhance air quality in our towns in particular, and work to secure global action and delivery on agreed objectives on climate change,
E. whereas the enlarged Union aims to play a stronger leadership role in the world and to assume greater responsibility at a global level by using the EU's power to project stability and advance democracy and human rights, with special focus on the neighbouring countries as well as Africa, whilst encouraging development and extending free trade world-wide,
F. considering the great importance attached to the intensification of bilateral relationships in general and to the development of a genuine and renewed 'Transatlantic Partnership' in particular,
G. whereas it is of paramount importance to make Europe work better and to bring it closer to the citizens, by creating a more open, responsive and democratic Union,
H. considering the commitments included in the Inter-Institutional Agreement on Better Law-Making as well as the provisions in Annex XIV to the EP's Rules of Procedure, which require the Commission to forward its annual legislative and work programme ten working days ahead of its presentation to Parliament's plenary session,
A more competitive and cohesive Europe
Lisbon Strategy
1. Welcomes the central importance attached to the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy as a means of generating competitiveness in the European Union, and supports the measures envisaged, both in these communications and in the Lisbon mid-term review, to try to ensure that the process addresses fewer, more complementary objectives;
2. Supports the Commission's approach of streamlining and refocusing the Lisbon Strategy on the central objective of economic reform, with a more precise timetable for the delivery of its goals over the next five years; invites the Commission, as already requested, to adopt the same timetable for reviewing the EU's Sustainable Development Strategy, adopted at the Göteborg European Council in June 2001, as for the Lisbon Strategy, because it believes environment policy to be an economic opportunity, especially considering its effects on industrial innovation;
3. Stresses the importance of delivery of Lisbon measures by Member States and regions, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, in parallel with action at EU level;
Single Market
4. Reiterates its belief that prominent within the EU's competitiveness agenda should be specific further action to complete the single market, notably in energy, transport, telecommunications, and financial and other services;
5. Stresses that opening up the EU market in services is crucial for enhancing competitiveness, job creation and growth, and looks to the early adoption of the proposed services directive, which would constitute a significant step forward in the implementation of the Lisbon agenda, whilst considering appropriate amendments in specific, sensitive sectors;
6. Expects the Commission to take action in the coming months against Member States which have failed to implement EU legislation designed to liberalise markets, notably in the energy and telecom sectors;
Financial services
7. Considers that, in respect of financial services, the Commission should focus on securing approval for measures already in the pipeline - such as on capital requirements for credit institutions and on reinsurance - and avoid bringing forward new proposals unless they were duly justified and assessed;
8. Urges the Commission to ensure that the Lamfalussy process works effectively at each level; recommends that greater political attention be given to the implementation and application of existing legislation in the financial services field;
Corporate governance and contract law
9. Calls on the Commission to implement all initiatives foreseen in the action plan on modernising company law and enhancing corporate governance, in order to foster the efficiency and competitiveness of business and strengthen both the rights of shareholders and the protection of third parties;
10. Stresses the importance of increasing the degree of consistency in the contract law area; calls on the Commission to continue its efforts for higher coherence between the various contract law instruments, inter alia through the adoption of a Common Frame of Reference, the promotion of the adoption of standard terms and conditions, and reflection on the possibility of a non-sector-specific contract law instrument; asks the Commission fully to associate Parliament in those activities;
Research and development
11. Welcomes the emphasis on the importance of the Seventh Research Framework Programme in contributing to the Lisbon goal of developing a knowledge economy; in this context, urges the Commission to present a proposal providing for concrete support for basic and innovative research - focusing on specific innovations such as hydrogen cells, solar energy and cleaner cars - as well doubling financial support (in terms of the ratio to GDP of the EU-25, compared to that for the EU-15 under the sixth programme);
Competition policy
12. Believes that a strong competition policy and the effective enforcement of the rules thereof are extremely important in improving competitiveness; welcomes the impetus of the Commission in promoting competitive practices in a number of sectors, while initiating a process aimed at increasing private enforcement of EU competition rules, by improving litigation for damages resulting from infringement;
13. Supports the Commission's overall policy aim of ensuring less, better focused state aid, as well as its intention to launch a wider reflection on the future of state-aid policy, but emphasises that there should be no discrimination between Member States in the application of such policy, and that changes due to purely statistical effects should be treated fairly;
Stability and Growth Pact
14. Calls on the Commission to ensure that, in order to guarantee sound finances, the essential structure of the Stability and Growth Pact is safeguarded in any proposed reform, in particular the reference to the existing three per cent deficit and 60 per cent debt ceilings, whilst foreseeing the possibility of some flexibility for countries with low debt ratios in times of severe recession, provided this encourages good behaviour in times of growth and underpins general structural reform;
Cohesion policy
15. Firmly asserts the importance of cohesion policy in its own right, not only as a fundamental principle of the treaties and an element of EU solidarity, but also as a complementary tool for achieving Lisbon objectives; considers, in particular, that investing in the TENs, information society, human resources, technology, innovation and development of SMEs will increase competitiveness, enable job creation, and thus contribute to economic and social cohesion throughout the EU;
16. Welcomes the Commission's intention to present its strategic guidelines for cohesion policy, and calls on it, when doing so, to apply the legal basis providing for the full participation of Parliament in the decision-making process; welcomes, likewise, the presentation by the Commission in good time of the cohesion policy regulations for 2007-13, stressing that the timely launch of the various cohesion programmes is now dependent upon the swift adoption of these regulations within the Council;
Trans-European Networks
17. Supports the Commission in its endeavours to persuade the Member States that - for the completion of the single market, promotion of cohesion and creation of more efficient connections within an enlarged EU - the TEN priority projects should be planned and financed on the basis of support both from the EU budget and, where possible, through public-private partnerships, and that their construction should be carried out as rapidly as possible; believes that full use should be made of European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Structured Finance Facility (SFF), in parallel;
Improving Europe's quality of life
Environment
18. Points out that an effective implementation of both the EU Biodiversity Plan and the strategy on sustainable use of natural resources will require appropriate financial resources, including for the Natura 2000 network;
19. Calls on the Commission to work with Parliament to find a balanced solution to defining a workable framework for the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals ('REACH'), one which would minimise the impact on competitiveness whilst also providing adequate protection of the environment andbe based on a policy of prioritisation, risk assessment, the 'one substance, one registration' principle, as well as on a phasing out of animal testing;
20. Requests the Commission to put forward before July 2005 its framework legislative proposal on waste, which aims at improving coherence in waste management, especially regarding ECJ case law;
Sustainable and innovative energy sources
21. Insists on the need to reduce fossil fuels dependence through a mix of renewable and innovative energy sources, such as hydrogen, a realistic nuclear policy and cuts in consumption;
Agriculture, fisheries, rural development and tourism
22. Welcomes the Commission's commitment to the ongoing reform of the CAP; requests the Commission to ensure that the implementation of CAP reforms in 2005 does not lead to distortions of competition among farmers in the Member States and that any renationalisation of the CAP is firmly avoided;
23. Reiterates its belief that the Commission's Action Plan for Organic Food and Farming - by providing a framework for sustainable farming and a viable alternative to more traditional farming methods - constitutes a decisive element of rural development policy, and should as such be given high priority in the EU's strategic orientations for rural development;
24. Calls on the Commission to take full account of Parliament's position when drafting its legislative proposals to reform the sugar regime so as to maintain sugar production in the EU whilst mitigating the effects of reform on trading partners in the developing world; expects the Commission to inform Parliament immediately and in detail as to how the WTO panel ruling, expected in April, will affect the reform proposals;
25. Regrets, considering the fundamental importance of fisheries for the economies of many regions in Europe, that there is a marked absence of proposals relating to the Common Fisheries Policy in the annual legislative and work programme; notes that a large number of matters - such as the renewal of fisheries agreements, technical measures for the management of Community fishing and the new recovery plans for fishing species at biological risk - are still pending; notes that the social and economic implications of fishing as an industry within the Community economy are completely ignored;
26. Expects the Commission to continue to pursue the process of reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, in a way that ensures a timely, full and successful implementation of such reform;
27. Regards the lack of proposed Commission initiatives in the field of tourism as regrettable; urges the Commission to consider coming forward with additional measures to promote an important job-creating sector;
Demographic trends
28. Welcomes the prospect of a Green Paper on demographic trends in the EU, tobe followed by concrete actions, which should, in a coherent whole, offer concrete guidelines for meeting the manifold challenges linked to an ageing population; looks forward to its suggesting ways of providing the highest possible quality of life for the elderly, whilst at the same time ensuring sustainable pensions and health systems, taking account of the costs of long-term health care; underlines the necessity of giving special attention to research on, and remedies for, age-related health issues (such as neurodegenerative diseases, arthritis and mobility problems);
29. Calls on the Commission to work urgently with Member States to increase the labour-market participation of those over 55 years of age - through positive incentive measures, raising retirement ages and/or reviewing early-retirement arrangements - so as to safeguard the sustainability of pension systems; considers that its is in society's interests to draw upon the experience and contribution of older generations for the overall common good;
30. Believes that, in parallel, stronger emphasis should be placed on creating a 'child-friendly' environment and that the family deserves specific and concrete support, whether by means of tax incentives, better child-care facilities or a more flexible organisation of working time, thus enabling a better combination of professional and family life;
Social policy
31. Reiterates its view that a strong and vibrant social dimension is an important component of a successful and dynamic economy, and that arrangements that strike the right balance between competing needs in the workplace can contribute significantly to economic success;
32. Expects the Commission's new Social Policy Agenda for 2006-10 to concentrate on strengthening the capacity of the EU and Member State governments to carry through existing EU agreed aims, including improving employability and flexibility in working conditions and a better reconciliation of the demands of family and working life;
Education, culture and youth policy
33. Underlines the need for the Union to provide adequate and appropriate EU financial resources for the next generation of education, culture, youth and media programmes, if the ambitious goals they contain are to be attained; regrets, nevertheless, that no further major initiatives are foreseen in the fields of education and culture this year, although the latter fields play an essential role in European integration, as well as in the Lisbon Strategy;
34. Supports the Commission's intention of publishing a communication on youth policy, which should offer a more integrated approach to such policy and eventually lead to the establishment of a 'European Pact' in this field; considers that it should be published at the same time as the Green Paper on demographic trends;
35. Underlines the urgent need to accelerate the mutual recognition of secondary-school qualifications and university degrees, as well as to promote greater mobility of young people, enabling them to gain experience abroad, move more easily from one educational/training area to another, and to switch between different professional careers;
Gender equality
36. Expects the Commission, in the framework of the announced communication on a 'Policy Approach to the fight against discrimination', to set out in detail its intentions for tackling the gender pay-gap in coming years;
A safer Europe for the citizen
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
37. Underlines the need to consolidate the progress made towards creating an Area of Freedom, Security and Justice under the Tampere programme and stresses the importance attached to the development of the Hague programme in this area, seeking in the process to strike an appropriate balance between increased security for citizens and proper protection of their fundamental rights; calls,in order to ensure coherent steps forward in this field of policy, for proper evaluation of measures already adopted;
Terrorism and organised crime
38. Believes that the domestic and international fight against terrorism and organised crime - and the structures which sustain them - is critical to building a safer Europe for our citizens, and that the Commission should continue work as a matter of urgency on clearer common definitions of certain serious crimes with a cross-border dimension (notably terrorism, trafficking in drugs and human beings, money laundering, and cyber crime), combined with agreed minimum sentencing rules where appropriate; in this light, welcomes the Commission's plans to bring forward a new initiative on security research;
Borders, asylum, immigration and visa policy
39. Welcomes the emphasis on creating a common approach to border control, asylum and immigration, and highlights more specifically the continuing need to strengthen security at the EU's external borders, for more coherent and consistent visa rules, and for effective partnerships with third countries to reduce illegal immigration at its source;
40. Urges the Commission to strengthen the common visa policy and increase the security of travel documents, by including biometric data, overseeing the effective implementation of VIS (Visa Information System), following its adoption by the Council, and accelerating the design and development of SIS II (Schengen Information System);
41. Believes that the launch of the new Action Plan on Drugs will provide an improved framework for combating drug addiction and trafficking within the Union, and expects it to focus on best practice and follow evidence-based approaches;
42. Calls on the Commission to propose a proper EU legal base for Europol, which would strengthen its future role and ensure its effectiveness; stresses the need to reinforce confidence in the justice systems of Member States, based on the principle of mutual recognition, minimum standards and safeguards of rights for all involved;
Transport safety
43. Welcomes the Commission's policy objectives in the transport sector, with the strong emphasis on improved safety in maritime, air and road transport in general, and on security in respect of Trans-European Transport Networks in particular;
Health and disaster prevention
44. Recalls that health of EU citizens is a prerequisite to Europe's economic performance and competitiveness and that the Lisbon strategy should contribute to and incorporate health promotion, as well as develop Health Impact Assessments;
45. Urges the Commission to ensure that the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control becomes fully and effectively operational without any further delay, especially given the threat of communicable diseases, the potential of a pending influenza epidemic and the rapid increase in multi-drug resistant diseases, especially AIDS and tuberculosis;
46. Emphasises that the Commission must ensure a proper follow-up to its communication on a European Programme on Nutrition and Health, proposing concrete actions to fight obesity, poor diet, lack of exercise, and misuse of drugs and alcohol, which all lead to diabetes and heart disease problems;
47. Urges the Commission to place a strong emphasis, in the framework of the 7th Research Framework Programme, on intensified research into new/alternative medication to fight HIV/AIDS;
48. Calls on the Commission to put forward, and on the Member States to decide upon, a timetable for the development of a coherent policy on patient mobility, with the aim of developing clear rules on the reimbursement of medical expenses for treatments received in a Member State other than the one in which a patient is insured;
Consumer protection
49. Stresses the importance of clear, simple and safe rules for both consumers and producers within the single market, and accordingly suggests a further simplification of rules for trans-border contracts, in particular; believes, in this context, that consumer protection legislation should as a matter of principle follow the new approach consisting of minimum standards and mutual recognition;
50. Does not consider it appropriate to combine in one strategy both consumer and health policies, when the current consumer policy strategy and public health programme expire (in 2007 and 2008 respectively); firmly believes that, whilst these two policies should follow the same political guidelines, both need their own strategies and budgets;
A stronger Europe in a safer world
Enlargement
51. Requests that the Commission keep Parliament fully informed, in detail, of progress in coming months in the preparation of enlargement negotiations with both Croatia and Turkey;
52. Believes that, while entering the active phase of negotiations with Croatia (on the basis of the mandate soon to be communicated by the Commission), the Stabilisation and Association Process should be pursued and extended as a policy corner-stone for relations with the Western Balkans; believes that the start of negotiations with Croatia should not be made contingent on conditions which it is not within the capacity of its government to fulfil;
Neighbourhood policy
53. Underlines the high priority it attaches to the implementation of a comprehensive neighbourhood policy, aimed at developing a sphere of democracy, stability and prosperity in the countries bordering the Union to its south and east; calls on the Commission to review its concept in close cooperation with Parliament, with a view to allowing for further differentiation between the different geographic regions and countries;
54. Considers it particularly important, in this context, to i) develop a strong new Eastern dimension to neighbourhood policy and continue to send positive signals to Ukraine and other states as they develop stronger, functioning democracies; and ii) to strengthen and deepen the existing Euro-Mediterranean dialogue and associated policies;
55. Calls, in particular, on the Commission to propose, and on the Council to consider, a further upgrading of the EU's relationship with the Ukraine, by providing for other forms of association, which would give a clear European perspective to the country and thus meet the expectations and hopes raised during the peaceful Orange Revolution;
56. Invites the Commission to consider possibilities for the development of a 'Neighbourhood Policy Plus', so that certain countries might enjoy enhanced relations with the EU beyond those currently foreseen by existing policies;
Bilateral relationships
57. Attaches high priority to the further development of the EU's bilateral relationships, on the basis of agreements with third countries as appropriate; notes the importance of ensuring that relationships with Eastern and Mediterranean countries are strengthened accordingly, in particular through an enhanced structured dialogue in the framework of the Euromed Parliamentary Assembly;
58. Reiterates, in particular, its call for a strengthening of the EU-US relations, by updating and replacing the existing New Transatlantic Agenda with a genuine 'Transatlantic Partnership', to be backed by a commitment to removing remaining barriers to trade and investment by 2015; notes the continuing need to conclude the EU-US Transatlantic Aviation Agreement, as an example of developing a genuine external transport policy;
59. Takes note of the Commission's intention to revisit the strategy towards Latin America and to launch a new approach to bilateral relations, and in this context underlines the need to relaunch the concept of a 'Bi-Continental Association' framework for relations between the two continents;
60. Believes that, unless and until there is a significant improvement in the human rights situation in China, it would be wrong for the EU to envisage any lifting of its embargo on arms sales to China, imposed in 1989; requests that the Commission formally oppose such a move when it is discussed in the Council;
Regional issues
61. Urges the Commission and Member States to capitalise on the opportunity for peace in the Middle East provided by the ceasefire declaration at Sharm el Sheikh, and to provide, in the framework of the Quartet, a clear and balanced input into the process of finding a lasting peace between Israel and a viable, democratic Palestinian state - able to live side by side in peace and security in the framework of a comprehensive settlement in the Middle East, as set out in the Roadmap;
62. Welcomes the EU's positive role in the reconstruction of Iraq and in efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring military nuclear capability;
Security structures
63. Urges the Commission to assist the Council and Member States in strengthening the European Security Strategy, and in significantly increasing capabilities in the defence and security fields; believes, in parallel, that common research and development in the security field can improve protection of the EU's external borders and critical infrastructures;
Development policy
64. Expresses grave concern at the fact that, five years after the adoption of the Millennium Development Goals by the United Nation, Sub-Saharan Africa has not met - nor is on track to meet - any one of the eight goals by the target date of 2015; stresses that, unless the international community dramatically increases both the quality and the quantity of its development assistance, the MDGs will be unattainable for a large number of least developed countries, in particular in Sub-Saharan Africa;
65. Supports the special attention given by the Commission to Africa and its intention to develop a 'Strategy for Africa' to reflect the specific needs of the continent, and in particular, those of Sub-Saharan Africa, so as to give that region the means to progress towards the MDGs;
66. Calls on EU institutions to take the lead in swiftly implementing the UN Millennium Project's report, 'Investing in Development: a Practical Plan to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals';
International action on environment and sustainable development
67. Calls on the Commission to take practical steps for the establishment of a 'European diplomacy on environment and sustainable development', and urges the Commission to put forward a specific strategy in this area;
68. Supports the Commission's aim of maintaining a leading role in building up a strong coalition for further post-Kyoto international commitments beyond 2012, not least because addressing climate change also brings opportunities and incentives for innovation in line with goals set by the Lisbon agenda; stresses the need to give economic decision-makers the opportunity to integrate certain reasonable indications on the likely situation after 2012 into their forward economic planning and to encourage the USA to bring forward its own proposals;
Trade policy
69. Considers international trade policy to be a key element in promoting competitiveness and growth both within the Union and in developing countries; underlines the importance of the multilateral approach to trade policy and of a successful conclusion of the Doha Development Agenda in December 2005; considers bilateral trade agreements to be a useful tool for the strengthening of trade relations with specific partners, provided that the latter agreements do not distort the WTO system;
70. Calls on the Commission to clarify the guidelines for the negotiations on agriculture within the WTO, in order to maximise the prospects of reaching an agreement in December 2005; in this context, reiterates the urgent necessity to adapt the geographic labels or guarantees of origin to the needs of both the market and consumer information;
A Europe that works better - closer to the citizen
Better law-making and better regulation
71. Calls for the full implementation during the coming year of the Inter-Institutional Agreement on Better Law-Making; welcomes the commitment in principle by the Commission to the effective application of the impact assessment process foreseen in the IIA for all legislative measures of substance; believes that early agreement on a common methodology for impact assessments between the three institutions would a significant step forward;
72. Supports the drive to ensure prompt and effective transposition, implementation and enforcement of EU directives in national law; invites the Commission to come forward with a more ambitious approach for guaranteeing that Member states comply with and deliver on their obligations within the time-frame foreseen in any given piece of legislation;
73. Believes that simplifying legislation and enhancing its quality of drafting remains of paramount importance; expresses concern at the unambitious list of areas of legislation earmarked for the planned simplification process and, consequently, calls on the Commission to identify and accelerate its programmes for simplifying, recasting and consolidating existing legislation - first foreseen in the 2003 Better Regulation Action Plan - in order to make EU legislation more coherent and to reduce the overall volume of texts in selected policy areas;
Petitions
74. Underlines the importance of the petitions process as a source of information on faulty implementation and/or enforcement of EU law; expresses its strong disappointment at the lack of effective, speedy follow-up by the Commission in dealing with petitions, which clearly highlights organisational problems within the Commission and a lack of coordination with the Member States;
Budgetary accountability and administrative reform
75. Welcomes the Commission's emphasis on value for money and accountability in the communications, as well as the reference to the need for an effective roadmap aimed at securing a positive statement of assurance on the execution of annual budgets;
76. Reiterates its request to the Commission to submit a proposal for a limited revision of the EU's financial regulation and its implementing rules, in order to remove all the obstacles to implementation, which hinder decision-taking and smooth implementation of the budget;
77. Calls for the rapid creation of a secure and comprehensive internal control environment for the EU budget by addressing inter alia the problems of accountability arising from 'shared management' (including the development of the 'single audit model') and by taking a much tougher approach with decentralised paying agencies;
78. Points out that certain pilot projects and preparatory actions are a prerogative of Parliament, and calls on the Commission to fully implement the corresponding decisions of Parliament, as adopted in the 2005 budgetary procedure, and to provide an appropriate follow-up;
79. Urges the Commission, in this context, to use the opportunity of the special annual events budget line to make financial contributions to the EU democracy campaign, the 15th Mediterranean Games, the 25th anniversary of the Solidarity movement and €1.5 million for the 20th World Youth Day 2005; calls on organisers of the last-mentioned to take into account the tsunami disaster in planning its projects and events;
80. Requests the Commission, as already foreseen in 2003, to submit a formal proposal for a legal base for the so-called 'Info-points/Carrefours', as well as for the new generation of conventions between the Commission and Member States and of programmes for grants after 2006;
81. Calls on the Commission to inform Parliament as soon as possible on the status of implementation of its own internal reform process, launched by the previous Commission, as well as on its continuing plans for pursuing and completing such reform;
Fight against fraud
82. Emphasises the importance of including 'fraud-proofing' measures in all relevant legislative texts and, in this light, expects the revision of the OLAF regulation to be completed in a way that enhances its independent status; urges the Commission to adopt a pro-active approach to encouraging whistle-blowers to come forward;
83. Insists that the complete and successful implementation of the new accounting system must remain a priority during the year ahead;
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84. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.