The Week in Europe 03/11 - 09/11/00

16.11.2000 | Euroskop

Enlargement strategy seeks to accelerate pace of talks

The EU could welcome new Member States from the end of 2002, according to a strategy proposed by the Commission on 8 November, issued with reports on their progress. The enlargement paper aims to step up the momentum of negotiations with the 13 candidate countries, which could end in 2002 for those at the most advanced stage. A 'road map' sets out the priority areas for the detailed, subject-by-subject talks through to June 2002. The Commission recommends that Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Romania and Slovakia (with which talks began this year) should prepare position papers. These should be ready in time for the Commission to assess them and, if possible, propose common negotiation positions early next year. A method is also proposed for dealing with transitional measures. The candidates are generally making encouraging economic progress, according to the regular reviews of each country against the EU criteria for accession. However, more needs to be done to strengthen the institutions needed to implement legislation, partly because of weak administrative capacity. Progress on the political criteria, including judicial reforms and action against corruption, is also uneven. See http://europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/index.htm

[Background text: IP/00/1264]

· An Accession Partnership with Turkey has been proposed, as requested by the European Council. An accompanying report details the priorities for meeting the political, economic and institutional criteria for this closer relationship with the EU.

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'Safer food from farm to fork'

A European Food Agency (EFA) would ensure that safety is the most important ingredient in food, under plans put forward by the Commission on 8 November. It would cover the entire food chain, from farm to fork, as the centrepiece of a proactive policy helping to protect the health of consumers and restore confidence. The draft Regulation sets out principles for EU food law, such as safe and traceable food and feed, and clearly defined responsibilities for all those in the industry. The EFA would have a broad mandate to enable it to take a comprehensive view of the food chain and provide a coherent scientific basis for policy and legislation. Its functions would include scientific and technical advice, analysing data and identifying emerging risks from food. A rapid alert system would warn national authorities of serious risks to health, evaluate these and identify strategies to deal with them. The agency would also provide objective, reliable and accessible information to the public. A management board would oversee the EFA's workings, assisted by an advisory forum and eight scientific panels. The proposal envisages 250 staff within three years, and a budget of 40m euro; it might grow to 330 staff. Commissioner David Byrne said that the plans were designed to overcome past weaknesses and put food safety firmly at the top of the agenda. The sector employs 2.6m people in the EU, annual production exceeding 600bn euro. A food industry that applies the best standards of food safety would continue to grow, be competitive and increase employment, said Commissioner Erkki Liikanen. Consultation on a White Paper in January confirmed wide backing for such an agency. [Background text: IP/00/1270]

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Financial services action plan

A quantum leap is needed to create a single market in financial services by the 2005 deadline set at the Lisbon summit in March, according to a progress report issued on 8 November. In a review of progress with the financial services action plan, the Commission lists the priorities for the next six months. These include action in the EU wholesale market, retail markets, sound prudential rules and wider conditions. It plans to publish shortly plans on combating fraud and counterfeiting cashless payments, financial reporting, the distinction between professional and retail investors, upgrading the investment services Directive, market manipulation, and the cross-border use of collateral. Draft Directives on bank capital and financial conglomerates are due next year. Progress on the European company statute proposal has been poor, with implications for two other company law initiatives. Legal action has begun against France, Italy and Luxembourg, which are late in implementing the settlement finality Directive. The Commission has also highlighted eight areas for use as indicators to monitor market integration. Commissioner Frits Bolkestein said the institutions had to act more quickly if they were serious about helping the European economy to grow faster, perform better and create more jobs. The report is at http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market .[Background text: IP/00/1269]

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ECOFIN Council

The Council on 7 November considered ways of improving access to finance for businesses, on the basis of two Commission papers. Ministers backed proposals for implementing a risk capital action plan by 2003 and for improving the focus of financial instruments used to encourage small and medium-sized enterprises. Both of these initiatives follow up calls from the Lisbon summit in March. The Council also discussed progress reports on the budgetary impact of ageing populations and pensions, and on public finances, growth and employment. Finally, ministers noted proposed structural indicators for assessing progress on employment, innovation, economic reform and social cohesion, and discussed an exchange rate strategy for candidate countries.

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Environment Council

The next round of international climate change talks dominated the Environment Council on 7 November. Ministers finalised EU preparations for the sixth conference of the parties to the UN Convention on Climate Change, which takes place on 13-24 November in The Hague. The Council called for industrialised states to step up cooperation with developing countries, ratification of the Kyoto protocol by 2002 (maintaining its environmental objectives) and agreement on mechanisms to implement it. Commissioner Margot Wallström underlined the importance of all parties to the treaty standing by their commitments. The EU has agreed to cut emissions of greenhouse gases by 8%, in relation to 1990 levels, by 2008-2012. A climate change programme to help achieve this was put out to consultation earlier in the year. Wallström outlined the policy priorities that have emerged, including combined heat and power energy systems and renewables, switching to low-carbon fuels, energy-efficient buildings, transport measures and tackling leaks of fluorinated gases.

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Funding for regional projects

295m euro is available to support projects that promote good practice in regional development, through the EU's Interreg initiative. The Commission published draft guidelines for the third strand of the scheme (Interreg IIIC) on 6 November. Running from 2000 to 2006, it is intended to encourage a more strategic approach to cooperation between regions. Special themes include urban development, innovation and sustainability. Projects can be framework schemes for several smaller projects, individual cooperation projects, or networks to pass on expertise. Interreg IIIC is not limited to predefined regions. See http://www.inforegio.cec.eu.int/interreg3 [Background text: IP/00/1257]

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Cutting cross-border costs

A conference on 9 November is examining how to make cross-border payments cheaper and easier. The Commission, which is hosting the meeting in Brussels, would like ultimately to see no difference in payments made within the single market. A study earlier this year showed that it cost an average of 17 euro to make a cross-border payment of 100 euro. http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market[Background text: IP/00/1258]

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A civil action against two tobacco companies has been filed by the Commission in New York. It alleges Philip Morris and RJ Reynolds were involved in smuggling cigarettes into the EU. [Background text: IP/00/1255]

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180m euro aid for Serbia has been approved for emergency energy, medical and food supplies.[Background text: IP/00/1275]

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Three human rights projects in the Mediterranean area have won 1.5m euro in EU support.[Background text: IP/00/1273]

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EU unemployment fell to 8.3% in September, down from 8.4% in August, Eurostat reports. [Background text: ES 127/2000]

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Diary Dates

Education and Youth Council 9 November Brussels

Development Council 10 November Brussels

European Parliament session 13-16 November Strasbourg

Euro-Mediterranean ministerial meeting 15-16 November Marseilles