Revideret kommenteret dagsorden vedr. DER 12-13/12 03 (eng)
Medlemmerne af Folketingets Europaudvalg og deres stedfortrædere
UDENRIGSMINISTERIET
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1 400.C.2-0 I UK 26. november 2003
Til underretning for Folketingets Europaudvalg vedlægges formandskabets reviderede kommenterede dagsordens vedrørende Det Europæiske Råds møde i Bruxelles den 12.-13. december 2003, 15286/03.
COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
Brussels, 25 November 2003
POLGEN 78
NOTE
From : The Presidency
To : Coreper / Council
Subject : European Council (12/13 December 2003) - Annotated draft agenda
In line with the Seville European Council Conclusions and the Council's Rules of Procedure the General Affairs and External Relations Council at its meeting on 17 November, acting on a Presidency proposal, drew up an annotated draft agenda for the meeting of the European Council on 12/13 December 2003.
Progress achieved in work to date has enabled the Presidency to draw up the revised annotated draft agenda reproduced hereafter, which will be fleshed out further in the run-up to the GAERC on 8 December. It should be noted that preparatory work on a number of agenda items will only be finalised at that meeting of the GAERC.
The Presidency recalls, finally, that on the occasion of the European Council, Heads of State or Government will also meet as an InterGovernmental Conference on the new Treaty. Furthermore, an extraordinary Social Summit will hold initial discussions on the follow-up to the report of the European Employment Task Force headed by Mr. Wim Kok.
The Presidency intends to limit the agenda to the following items:
1. Economic growth
2. Freedom, security and justice
3. Enlargement
4. External relations, CFSP and ESDP
1. ECONOMIC GROWTH European Action for Growth
The European Council is expected to endorse the European Action for Growth, as well as the report presented by the ECOFIN Council. The Action covers material as well as immaterial investments in two broad areas: the trans-European network infrastructure (TENs) including transport, telecommunications and energy, and innovation and R&D. it is an important step toward improving competitiveness and the Union's growth potential through higher investment in both physical and human capital, in the context of the Union's Lisbon reform agenda. The European Council is expected to welcome the work carried out by the Commission, the EIB and the relevant formations of the Council on the establishment of a "quick start programme", which is a dynamic and open process, and the identification of a provisional list of projects.
The Action for Growth rests on a close collaboration between the Member States, the Council, the Commission and the EIB. All relevant actors have to play their role in order for the Action to succeed, in particular by taking the necessary steps to ensure implementation of the "quick-start programme", so that the EIB and other relevant actors can provide appropriate financing. The Action for Growth assumes the part financing of projects from national budgets, in particular by optimising the use of existing public resources, and a contribution from the EU. In this regard, the European Council is expected to welcome the political agreement in the Council on the Commission's proposal for a higher rate of Community co-financing for TENs. The mobilisation of private resources to finance qualifying projects is the cornerstone of the Action for Growth.
The European Council is expected to invite:
- the EM, in accordance with the ECOFIN Council report, to implement the financial instruments aiming at leveraging private capital, and to develop Securitisation Trusts, and within the limits of the Bank's Statutes work with the Member States as they seek to mobilise resources by bringing infrastructure assets to markets,
- Member States to act rapidly to eliminate technical, legal and administrative obstacles to the implementation of PPPs, TENs and innovation and R&D projects and improve the nonfinancial framework conditions for these projects,
- the Commission, in line with the ECOFIN Council report, to redirect expenditure where appropriate towards growth-enhancing investment in physical and human capital and knowledge, and, in cooperation with the Member States, to continue to study the possibility of developing a specific Community guarantee instrument for certain post-construction risks in TEN transport projects,
- the relevant accounting bodies to come up with clear and definite financial guidelines within which these projects can be undertaken,
- the Commission and the EIB, to provide a mid-term evaluation of the Action for Growth by the end of 2007, on the basis of the following criteria: (i) effects on growth; (ii) impact on the internal market and cohesion in the enlarged EU; (iii) mobilisation of private sector capital, (iv) acceleration of the implementation of 'l'ENs and innovation and R&D projects; (v) progress in reducing regulatory barriers.
Connecting the Internal Market: TENs
The European Council is expected to welcome the Council political agreement on the new Community guidelines for the development of the Trans-European Transport Network, based on the work made by the Van Miert Group. These will allow all Member States of the enlarged Europe to participate fully in the Internal Market.
[to be completed in the light of the outcome of work in the relevant Councils]
The priority projects identified by the guidelines are crucial to the strengthening of the Internal Market cohesion, especially in view of the next enlargement of the European Union.
More generally, the European Council is expected to note that work on delivering on the Lisbon reform agenda and on the follow up to remits supportive of growth provided by previous European Councils is being carried forward and that it will fall to the European Council to take stock of progress in this regard at its Spring 2004 meeting. It is also expected to note that the Commission has included a first analysis of the issue of de-industrialisation within its Communication on an integrated approach to competitiveness.
2. FREEDOM, SECURITY AND JUSTICE
[to be drafted in the light of the outcome of the JHA Council on 27/28 November] 3. ENLARGEMENT
New Member States
The Union looks forward to welcoming the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia as full members of the Union on 1 May 2004. Integrating these countries into the European family after decades of cruel and artificial division will fulfil the aspirations of European citizens throughout our continent.
The European Council notes with satisfaction the high level of alignment in most areas of the acquis achieved by the new Member States in the run-up to accession and invites them to complete their final preparations for membership. In this context, it endorses the Council conclusions of 17 November 2003 on monitoring their state of preparedness for EU membership.
The European Council also notes with satisfaction the advanced state of the ongoing process of ratification of the Accession Treaty and looks forward to its timely completion.
Bulgaria and Romania
The European Council underscores the continuity and irreversibility of the ongoing enlargement process of which Bulgaria and Romania form an integral part. Over the past year, these countries have significantly brought forward their preparations for membership, which is reflected in the well-advanced state of their accession negotiations.
Welcoming Bulgaria and Romania in January 2007 as members of the Union, if they are ready, is the common objective of the Union of 25. Negotiations will be concluded on the same basis and principles applied to the ten acceding States, including the principle of own merits. Bulgaria and Romania should continue energetically their preparations on the ground so that the accession negotiations can be brought to a successful conclusion in 2004, preferably during the term of office of the current Commission, and a common Accession Treaty can be signed in the course of 2005. The European Council underlines the determination of the Union to facilitate this time line. To this end, it is crucial for both countries to bring their administrative and judicial capacity up to the required level.
Furthermore, the European Council encourages Bulgaria and Romania to continue on the path of economic and structural reform in order to take full advantage of the benefits offered by the accession process. Close monitoring by the Union of the commitments undertaken and of the effective implementation of the acquis will continue to guide Bulgaria and Romania in their membership preparations.
Regarding the common fmancial framework for the conclusion of accession negotiations, the Commission is invited to submit its proposal at the very beginning of 2004 so as to enable the Council to give the necessary guidance for the Commission to present Draft Common Positions on the relevant negotiating chapters in Spring 2004. In this context, the European Council takes note of the Commission's intention to base its proposal on the principles and methodology developed for the negotiations with the ten acceding States. The European Council restates its resolve that discussions or agreement on future policy reforms, or the new financial perspective, will neither impede the pursuit and conclusion of accession negotiations nor be prejudged by the outcome of those negotiations.
Turkey
The European Council welcomes the considerable and determined efforts by the Turkish government to accelerate the pace of reforms, many of which are significant in political and legal terms. The legislative packages so far adopted, the first important steps taken to ensure effective implementation, as well as the progress in addressing many priorities under the Copenhagen political criteria and in the revised Accession Partnership have brought Turkey closer to the Union. Turkey has also made significant progress in meeting the Copenhagen economic criteria. However, further sustained efforts are needed, in particular as regards strengthening the independence and functioning of the judiciary, the overall framework for the exercise of fundamental freedoms (association, expression and religion), the further alignment of civil-military relations with European practice, the situation in the Southeast of the country and cultural rights. A settlement of the Cyprus problem would greatly facilitate Turkey's membership aspirations.
The European Council encourages Turkey to build on the substantial progress achieved so far in its preparations for membership and underlines its commitment to work towards full implementation of the pre-accession strategy with Turkey, including the revised Accession Partnership, in view of the decision to be taken by the European Council in December 2004.
Cyprus
The European Council reiterates its preference for a reunited Cyprus to join the Union on
1 May 2004, in order to allow all Cypriots to enjoy a secure and prosperous future and the benefits of EU accession. It considers that there is a good prospect of reaching a just, viable and functional settlement by I May 2004 in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and calls again on all parties concerned, including Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership, to resume the talks on the basis of the UN Secretary General's proposals. The Union reiterates its willingness to accommodate the terms of a settlement in line with the principles on which the EU is founded.
Croatia
The European Council invites the Commission to preseht its Opinion on Croatia's application for EU membership by March 2004 to enable the Council to examine this opinion in the first half of the year. In this context, the European Council reiterates its determination to support fully and effectively the European perspective of Croatia and urges Croatia to make every effort towards compliance with the Copenhagen accession criteria.
4. EXTERNAL RELATIONS. CFSP, ESDP
- The European Council is expected to - adopt the EU Security Strategy submitted by the SG/HR,
- consider the question of weapons of mass destruction on the basis of the Presidency report on the implementation of the Action Plan in this regard and of the common position and conclusions adopted by the GAERC,
endorse the regular report on progress achieved on developing ESDP,
- endorse the detailed work programme on relations with the Arab world formulated by the SG/HR and the Commission,
- endorse the report on the implementation of the EU Common Strategy on Ukraine and consider extending this Strategy;
- The European Council is furthermore expected to address issues arising out of the latest developments on the international scene.
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In accordance with the provisions on Council reform agreed at Seville, the European Council is expected to adopt the first Multiannual Strategic Programme, covering the period 2004-2006.