Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-02-25-Speech-3-024"
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"en.20040225.4.3-024"2
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".
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I have the honour of presenting the annual policy strategy adopted by the Commission this morning. It spells out the political priorities for 2005 and the initiatives necessary for their implementation. It also outlines the budgetary guidelines needed to ensure the priority initiatives are adequately funded.
At international level, the focus in 2005 will largely remain on issues relating to international security and stability, the fight against terrorism and the rebuilding of Iraq.
These are the priorities we propose. Allow me to emphasise once again that they will have to be ratified by the new Commission. The main objective is to see the enlargement process through appropriately, thus ensuring its success. This involves shaping the Europe of the future and moulding what already exists. It also involves ensuring correct operation of the enlarged Europe and full implementation of policies and standards in all Member States, new and old alike.
With this in mind, we have identified three priorities. The first is competitiveness and cohesion. The second is security and European citizenship. The third is external responsibility, association and neighbouring countries.
When considering the first priority, it is necessary to keep the most recent economic results in mind. They cannot be classified as anything but mediocre for the European Union as a whole. The persistent stagnation of our productivity and employment levels should also be taken into account, together with our desire successfully to integrate the new Member States. Reactivating growth should be the main political objective. This should be achieved by working unceasingly to improve the competitiveness of the European model whilst maintaining prosperity and cohesion and without abandoning key elements such as sustainable development.
The second priority is security and European citizenship. It is essential to remember that enlarging Europe both in terms of its territory and of its population will call for additional effort and greater coordination. This will be essential in responding to the challenges involved in dealing with the new common borders, the increased mobility of people within the area and the need to ensure security.
The European Union will have to manage a land border over 6 000 kilometres long and a maritime border totalling over 85 000 kilometres. There are already well over 15 million third-country nationals resident in the European Union and a further 1.5 million or so arrive every year.
Enlargement brings the question of the diversity of cultures and of the peoples of Europe into sharper focus. It presents us with the new challenge of European citizenship as an additional dimension of the Union.
Mr President, the third priority is the role of the European Union in the world, that is, its external responsibilities. Issues of association and neighbouring countries are especially important. The new dimension of the European Union, the new post-enlargement external borders mean there must be a stable and comprehensive political framework encompassing our neighbours to the south and east. The Commission will therefore implement a new Union policy for neighbouring countries, aimed at those that do not wish to join the European Union. In addition, the Commission’s external action will be determined by the following objectives. Firstly, to contribute to the enlargement process presently under way. This entails preparing for the accession of Romania and Bulgaria in 2007. Further to the decisions taken in 2004, the Commission will also pursue the pre-accession strategy with Turkey. It may also be possible to begin active negotiations with Croatia, if suitable progress is made.
As I said at the beginning of my speech, Mrs Schreyer will provide details concerning human and financial resources. I would, however, like to make it clear to you that the situation regarding these two issues is currently both critical and delicate, as she will explain in a few moments’ time.
The Commission’s proposal represents the minimum action necessary to ensure this institution will be able to shoulder its institutional responsibilities taking account of enlargement, and above all, of the new policies envisaged by the Union.
Mrs Schreyer will comment on this last point. I will focus on the first issue I mentioned.
I hope that within the framework of the outstanding interinstitutional cooperation that has characterised the budgetary process, and in the knowledge of the support of this House, it will be possible to respond appropriately to these challenges.
As of two years ago, it has become our custom to engage in a structured dialogue with the European Parliament and the Council on an annual basis. Given the special issues pertaining to 2004, the structured dialogue will take the form of a meeting of the Commission and the Conference of Committee Presidents to be held in April. Subsequently, there will be the opportunity to take stock at a second meeting with the Conference of Presidents in September.
We are aware that this is a transition year and that our institutions are due to pass the baton on to their successors. This is what makes the dialogue so vitally important. We have the crucial job of ensuring continuity of operation for our institutions in the best possible manner.
The process in hand is special as it is directed not only at the budgetary authority but also at the incoming Commission. It is important to guarantee continuity and consistency of the Commission’s policies and the fulfilment of our institutional obligations. This is what we are trying to do.
These, therefore, are our objectives. The first is to guarantee continuity. We need to pass the baton on smoothly to the next Commission. When the latter starts work, it will have to confirm or amend the priorities we are presenting here today. Our second objective is to prepare the ground for the incoming Commission in order to preserve the margin of manoeuvre on political and budgetary issues. Our third is to guarantee consistency with previously established strategic guidelines, especially the financial perspective.
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, 2005 will be the first full year with a Commission of 25 members, a Union of 25 Member States, a new Commission and a new Parliament. It will therefore be the duty of this new Commission to begin to apply a political agenda consistent with its mandate.
Furthermore, 2005 will be a key year as regards concluding the negotiations on the adoption of the package for subsequent financial perspectives. This matter has to be resolved before the end of 2005.
Some very important issues will need to be borne in mind at the many meetings planned. These include the mid-term review of the Lisbon strategy, and reconsideration of the sustainable development strategy. I should point out that the aim is now long-lasting development and this calls for new measures to adjust and improve implementation. Other important issues will include defining the new social agenda, consolidation of the European area of freedom, security and justice
and concluding accession negotiations with Romania and Bulgaria. The report on Turkey will have to be presented before the end of the year. In the light of that report it should be possible to decide on the way forward."@en1
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