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EU Forecast

EU Forecast. Belgian Presidency, July-December 2010 European Movement Ireland 14 September 2010. Context. In preparing Belgian Presidency: Long experience Trio of countries: Spain, Belgian & Hungary A year of transition (Lisbon Treaty = 2 important institutional innovations)

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EU Forecast

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  1. EU Forecast Belgian Presidency, July-December 2010 European Movement Ireland 14 September 2010

  2. Context In preparing Belgian Presidency: • Long experience • Trio of countries: Spain, Belgian & Hungary • A year of transition (Lisbon Treaty = 2 important institutional innovations) • European Parliament now substantially broadened competences • Presidency to operate carefully, create right conditions, adapt working methods & set right precedents • Difficult economic environment • Belgian “care taker” government

  3. Belgian Presidency Philosophy • “Putting Europe back into action” • Emphasis on legislative work, implies good cooperation between institutions • Loyal representative of the Council • Active preparation & follow-up of Council activities • Watch over coherence of EU policy when different Councils involved • Active support for High Representative, Cathy Ashton • Particular attention to budget review (evaluation & future of common policies with budgetary implications) • Special attention paid to enlargement

  4. Key Presidency themes Belgian Presidency program lists more than 200 items for discussion and decision making. Today, 5 clusters: • Fight against economic and financial crisis • Climate and environment • Justice and home affairs • Reinforcement of the social dimension of the EU • External dimension (EEAS, enlargement, etc.)

  5. 1. Economic andFinancial Crisis

  6. 2. Climate and Environmental Policy Climate Summit in Cancun (29 Nov-10 Dec) • Preparation and coordination of EU position • Forge alliances with most non-European partners Conference on Biological Diversity in Nagoya (6-29 Oct) • International year of Biodiversity Greening of our societies • Link our climate ambitions to areas such as transport, energy, fiscal policies if we want to achieve goal of green economy within EU

  7. 3. Security, Justice and Home Affairs Stockholm Program implementation • Framework for EU police and customs cooperation adopted Dec 2009 • Now execution of ambitious program on basis of Commission’s action plan • BE to take forward common asylum procedure fight against organized crime & illegal immigration

  8. 4. Reinforcement of Social Dimension 2010 is the year of the fight against poverty • Particular attention for social dimension in EU 2020 strategy • Carry out program of renewed Social Agenda (COM 2008) • Carry out further ongoing work on sectors like pensions, public health and equality policy

  9. 5. External Dimension High Representative, Foreign Affairs & Security Policy • EU to remain most important regional organization in the world and one of main actors for peace and security • Appointment of HR = Presides FAC, Speak with one voice, Represent EU abroad • Instrument: European External Action Service International Trade policy • Important area still within responsibility of rotating presidency • Conclusion Doha Round is EU main objective • Focus on bilateral negotiations as agreement in WTO negotiations is not expected in short term • Free trade agreement with South Korea to enter into force on 01 Dec 2010 • FTA negotiations with Singapore started & with Malaysia soon to start

  10. 5. External Dimension EU enlargement • Falls under General Affairs Council, presided over by rotating presidency • BE to pay special attention (Croatia, Iceland, Turkey, Western Balkans) • BE to be “honest broker” • Maintain European perspective for candidate countries • Ultimate goal is EU membership • All conditions to be met • Progress determined by own merits (regatta principle)

  11. Other actions of note Citizens’ Initiative Major Lisbon Treaty innovation = citizens to become more involved in EU matters BE Presidency will continue to work on establishing procedures & conditions for implementation of this initiative. Common Agricultural Policy BE presidency to continue consultation process on future of CAP Commission to communicate on CAP post-2013 by end of year In view of policy debate in the Council, BE presidency started work on reaching Council conclusions Common Fisheries Plan CFP reform is top BE presidency priority BE presidency to organise debate on CFP in Council Meeting (Nov) Committed to make progress on the multi-annual fishing management plans

  12. 1. Economic andFinancial Crisis Van Rompuy Task Force EC President to make report on avoiding future crises: • budget discipline measures • Work off economic imbalances • crisis prevention mechanism • strengthening economic governance VR to present oral progress report, European Council (16 Nov) Commission to present legislative proposals including strengthening SGP, budget coordination & reinforced macro economic surveillance (29 Nov)

  13. 1. Economic andFinancial Crisis Van Rompuy Task Force Agreement or progress on: • European Semester • Adapted Code of Conduct for SCPs • National budgetary frames in conformity with requirements (quality, multi-annual) • Independence national statistic bureau • SGP strengthening /more sanction based regulation • Macro economic surveillance • Strengthening relevant institutions • Permanent crisis mechanism

  14. 1. Economic and Financial crisis Monti Report on relaunch of Single Market Tasked by Commission President to produce a report on EU structural reform. 1. EU to be driving force in far-reaching reform agenda, otherwise: • Irrelevant in the world • Economic & social model in jeopardy • Overtaken by Asia in 2030 • EU declines 2. EU patent • Current patent system very expensive & complex, especially translation requirements • Today costs 10 times more than in US • New proposal building on successful 3-language system in European Patents office • New patent filings in EPO – 8% in 2009, probably worse in 2010

  15. 1. Economic andFinancial Crisis EU 2020 Strategy for jobs and growth Adopted 17 June 2010, implementation begins in BE presidency 3 mutually reinforcing priorities: • smart growth = knowledge based • sustainable growth = resource efficient, greener, competitive • inclusive growth = high employment, social-, territorial cohesion

  16. 1. Economic andFinancial Crisis EU 2020 Strategy for jobs and growth Headline targets = interrelated • employment: 75% population 20-64 • research and innovation: 3% EU GDP for R&D • climate change and energy: “20/20/20” • education : early school leavers < 10% third level > 40% • combating poverty : reduction by 20m National targets (NTs) • tailored to each Member State

  17. 1. Economic andFinancial Crisis Flagship initiatives • “ Innovation Union” (Sept 2010) • “Youth on the move” (Sept 2010) • “Digital agenda for Europe” (May 2010) • “Resource efficient Europe” (early 2011) • “New Industrial policy” (Oct 2010) • “Agenda for new skills and jobs” (Nov 2010) • “European platform against poverty” (Nov 2010)

  18. 1. Economic andFinancial Crisis Instruments • single market • financial levers • external policy tools Relies on two pillars • Thematic: combination of priorities & HT • Country reporting, simultaneously: • National Reform Programs (NRPs) • Stability & Convergence Program (SCPs)

  19. 1. Economic andFinancial Crisis Europe 2020 Integrated Guidelines National & EU policies contributing to strategy Equal basis for National Reform Programs (NRP) European Semester/economic governance • organize work between national & EU level • align Stability & Growth Pact with EU 2020 strategy • effective reporting on direct responsibility of EU countries (NRPs & SCPs)

  20. 1. Economic andFinancial Crisis Time frame for European Semester COM: Annual Growth Survey January Council & EP: Debate and orientation February EC: Spring summit March MS: NRP & SCP April COM: Policy Guidance and recommendation June Transition to European semester NRPs by 12 Nov

  21. Key dates ASEM Summit (3-5 Oct) Conference on Biological Diversity, Nagoya (6-29 Oct) European Council (28-29 Oct) Transatlantic Economic Council (28-29 Oct) Towards a 7th Environmental Action Plan (Nov) EU-US Summit, Lisbon (20 Nov) Union for the Mediterranean, Lisbon (21 Nov) EU-Africa summit, Libya (29-30 Nov) Climate Summit, Cancun (29 Nov-10 Dec) EU-India Summit (10 Dec) European Council (16-17 Dec)

  22. Upcoming Presidencies 2010 July-December Belgium 2011 January-June Hungary 2011 July-December Poland 2013 January-June Ireland

  23. Questions?

  24. www.europeanmovement.ie

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