PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

Europaudvalget 2003-04
EUU Alm.del Bilag 218
Offentligt

PDF udgave (136 KB)

Medlemmerne af Folketingets Europaudvalg

og deres stedfortrædere

Bilag

Journalnummer

400.C.2-0

Kontor

EUK

20. november 2003

Til underretning for Folketingets Europaudvalg vedlægges Finansministeriets

redegørelse for rådsmøde (økonomi- og finansministre) den 4. november 2003.

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

18. novemb

2003

12 NHB

Referat af rådsmødet (ECOFIN) den 4. november 2003

Dagsordenspunkt:

Proceduren for uforholdsmæssigt store underskud

vedr. Frankrig

Der var en drøftelse af proceduren for uforholdsmæssigt store underskud vedr.

Frankrig på baggrund af Kommissionens henstillinger med henblik på dels en

rådsbeslutning om, at Frankrig ikke har iværksat virkningsfulde foranstaltninger som

reaktion på Rådets henstilling af 3. juni 2003, dels en rådsbeslutning om at rette pålæg

til Frankrig om at træffe foranstaltninger for at bringe situationen med et

uforholdsmæssigt stort budgetunderskud til ophør.

Sagen blev udskudt til fornyet behandling på rådsmødet (ECOFIN) den 25. november

2003.

Dagsordenspunkt:

EPC’s rapport vedr. indvirkningen på offentlige

finanser af befolkningens aldring

Rådet endosserede Den Økonomisk-Politiske Komité (EPC)’s rapport vedr.

indvirkningen på offentlige finanser af befolkningens aldring, idet Rådet samtidig

bekræftede mandatet til EPC vedr. næste runde af fremskrivninger i 2005 over

befolkningens størrelse og alderssammensætning og afledte konsekvenser heraf for de

offentlige finanser. Endvidere bad Rådet EPC om at gennemføre en supplerende

analyse af de økonomiske incitamenter til tilbagetrækning eller forbliven på

arbejdsmarkedet.

Dagsordenspunkt:

Finansielle tjenesteydelser:

oplysningsforpligtelser

Direktiv

Der var en drøftelse af forslaget til direktiv om oplysningsforpligtelser, herunder

spørgsmålet om obligatorisk offentliggørelse af kvartalsmeddelelser for aktieudstedere.

Sagen blev henvist til videre drøftelser i Coreper. Direktivet ventes vedtaget i første

halvdel af 2004.

Dagsordenspunkt:

Toldens rolle i en integreret forvaltning af de ydre grænser

Rådet vedtog konklusioner (vedlagt), hvori Kommissionens meddelelse om

toldvæsenets rolle i den integrerede forvaltning af EU’s ydre grænser hilses velkommen,

og Kommissionen opfordres til at fremsætte konkrete forslag til udmøntning af idéerne

i meddelelsen.

Dagsordenspunkt:

Strukturelle indikatorer

Formandskabet tilføjede på mødet et nyt dagsordenspunkt vedr. strukturelle

indikatorer. Punktet blev ikke drøftet. Formandskabet konkluderede efterfølgende, at

ECOFIN-ministrene finder, at Kommissionens forslag til den korte liste over

strukturelle indikatorer bør forbedres med indikatorer, der måler fremskridt med

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

økonomiske reformer.

Sagen ventes på dagsordenen for rådsmødet (ECOFIN) den 25. november 2003.

Makroøkonomisk dialog med kandidatlandene

Der blev i forbindelse med rådsmødet afholdt dialog med tiltrædelses- og

kandidatlandene som led i forberedelsen af landene på den kommende deltagelse i

koordinationen af det økonomisk-politiske samarbejde i EU.

Rådet og ministrene fra tiltrædelses- og kandidatlandene vedtog fælles udtalelser om

hvert af de tiltrædende landes økonomiske før-tiltrædelsesprogrammer samt fælles

konklusioner (vedlagt) vedr. de økonomisk-politiske udfordringer for tiltrædelses- og

kandidatlandene.

BILAG

Rådskonklusioner vedr. Toldens rolle i en integreret forvaltning af de ydre

grænser

“THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

1. RECALLING

· the Laeken European Council Conclusions of 14 and 15 December 2001

inviting the Council and the Commission "to work out arrangements for

cooperation between services responsible for external border control and to

examine the conditions in which a mechanism to control external borders

could be created";

the strategic goal set by the Lisbon European Council on 23 and 24 March

2000 for the Union "to become the most competitive and dynamic

knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic

growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion";

2. WELCOMES the Commission Communication on the role of customs in the

integrated management of external borders which complements the earlier

communication of May 2002 on the control of persons at external borders;

3. RECOGNISES the central role of customs and the importance of customs

cooperation in the control of all kinds of goods crossing EU borders;

4. STRESSES the need to fully integrate safety and security aspects in the daily

work of customs and RECOGNISES that this represents a new challenge which

requires important adaptations to both the organisational and the legislative

framework governing the tasks of customs. Meeting this challenge represents, at the

same time, a valuable contribution to the worldwide efforts to secure the supply

chain;

5. EMPHASISES the importance, with regard to the management of the external

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

borders and considering the forthcoming enlargement of the European Union, trade

ensuring optimal, facilitated conditions for a rapid flow of international of

without prejudice to the need for society and the economy to be effectively

protected against unfair or illegal operations. Such a balance can only be achieved

through well-organised control mechanisms that are based on the concepts of risk

analysis and risk selection, on security criteria, and on simplification of customs

procedures;

6. RECALLS that the strategic goal set by the Lisbon European Council can only be

achieved through a well-functioning internal market. An enhanced legal framework

and effective external border controls of movements of goods are therefore essential

to protect Community interests and to counter the risk of distortion of competition,

in particular resulting from the introduction of harmful or counterfeit goods or other

practices incompatible with international trade rules;

7. RECOGNISES the importance of measures to combat fraud against the financial

interests of the European Union and the Member States in the context of achieving

the objective of ensuring equal conditions of competition in the internal market;

8. EXPRESSES its support for

· strengthening the cooperation and the information exchange between all

administrations or agencies and operators involved in international trade

whilst simplifying procedures, inter alia by implementing a single window,

and promoting the electronic transmission of data related to the movement of

goods;

increasing cooperation with third countries, in particular those in

neighbouring areas;

maximising the effectiveness of the external border controls of goods by

concentrating them on consignments that pose a risk to safety and security.

Other controls that do not put into question the admissibility of goods into

the EU or other Community or national interests should be carried out by the

customs office where customs clearance can best be effected;

ensuring an equivalent level of protection at all entry and exit points of the

European Union through the development of common risk criteria for the

selection of controls. Such an approach should, however, leave room for the

application of appropriate national or regional criteria and, for its effective

application, be supported by the full range of facilities available to a modern

customs administration;

further developing and adapting the necessary legal and regulatory

framework governing customs control;

9. INVITES the Commission urgently to present all necessary proposals to

implement the approach outlined above paying special attention to strengthening the

information exchange between all administrations or agencies and operators

involved in international trade;

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

10. INVITES the Commission and the Member States, within their respective

spheres of competence, to

· work towards an integrated management of external borders, ensuring close

cooperation between the services responsible for the control of persons and

those responsible for the control of goods at the external border in order to

fulfil the request from the Laeken European Council;

assess what control tools are considered to be appropriate for the efficient

management of external borders and to explore ways in which they could be

financed, including aspects of possible burden sharing;

take the necessary complementary legal, regulatory and operational

measures to accomplish the aforementioned objectives in order to ensure a

better management of EU external borders.”

Fælles konklusioner vedr. de økonomisk-politiske udfordringer for tiltrædelses-

og kandidatlandene

“Joint conclusions of the Ministerial dialogue between the Economic and Finance

Ministers of the EU and the acceding and candidate countries on 4 November 2003

On 4 November 2003, the Economic and Finance Ministers of the EU and of the

acceding and candidate countries, along with representatives of the Commission and

the ECB, met for their fifth economic policy dialogue.

For the ten acceding countries

Ministers endorsed the Joint Opinions on the 2003 Pre-accession Economic

Programmes of the ten acceding countries. On the whole, the programmes

describe an ambitious but credible medium-term macro-economic and fiscal

framework conducive to strong and sustainable economic growth.

Although the growth of GDP in 2002 in most acceding countries was higher than in

the EU, continued sustainable high growth performance will remain necessary for

the process of further catching up in income levels. In this respect, Ministers

emphasised the continued importance of sound and credible public finances, also to

further enhance their long-term sustainability of public finances in the light of the

ageing populations and further structural reforms in the acceding countries. This

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

would and sustainable growth, in the context of the Lisbon strategy.stability and

strong allow a strengthening of the foundation for macro-economic Ministers also

welcomed the progress that most acceding countries have continued to make in the

area of disinflation, thus entrenching macro-economic stability and providing an

environment for sustained economic growth. To anchor inflation expectations

inflation should be kept at low levels. In particular, some acceding countries are still

facing the challenges stemming from the ongoing processes of price deregulation

and increases in regulated prices. Ministers noted that in some acceding countries

current account deficits remain high and might pose a challenge for the medium

term. In several countries the relatively high unemployment rate indicate a need for

urgent further structural adjustment.

Ministers took note of the plans stated by the authorities of acceding

countries in their Preaccession Economic Programmes regarding the future

monetary integration process and pointed out that such plans would be

assessed on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with the Treaty

provisions and the approach agreed in Athens in April 2003.

Ministers also underlined that acceding countries have now entered a

decisive phase of their final preparations regarding the transposition and

implementation of the

acquis.

In accordance with the conclusions of the

European Council in Copenhagen and in Thessaloniki, they repeated the

great importance attached to the monitoring process and to respect for the

commitments made by acceding countries, including the deadlines fixed in

the negotiations. They underlined their hope that the Commission’s

Comprehensive Monitoring Reports will serve as a catalyst for incoming

countries to solve all outstanding issues regarding the proper implementation

of EU legislation by the date of accession, in particular in the economic and

financial field, and that no safeguard clauses will prove necessary.

In particular, Ministers noted the importance of complying with the acquis in

the area of capital movements. In a number of acceding countries some

residual restrictions on cross-border operations still remain to be lifted in the

period before 1 May 2004. Compliance with the acquis concerns not only

the abolition of exchange controls per se, but also of restrictions on the

underlying operations. Any remaining restrictions must be covered by the

exceptions provided for by the Treaty or be justified by overriding

requirements of the general interest.

Ministers reiterated their commitment to include Collective Action Clauses

in all their international sovereign bond issues and stated that they would

expect new Member States to follow up on this commitment.

Ministers noted that further progress has been made regarding the

implementation of the Action Plan on Economic, Monetary and Financial

Statistics for the acceding countries, which helped to identify six priority

areas where countries have to concentrate their efforts in the run-up to

accession. However, several countries should urgently complete their efforts

if the agreed goals are to be met by 1 May 2004. Substantial efforts are

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

required in the areas of government debt and deficit (all countriesnational

improve compliance with ESA 95 accounting rules), annual should

accounts (notably by Poland, Cyprus and Malta), the Harmonised Index of

Consumer Prices (notably by Slovakia), balance of payments and

international investment position (notably by Hungary, Cyprus, Estonia,

Poland, Slovenia and Malta), and external trade statistics (notably by

Cyprus). It is also very important that all acceding countries devote

sufficient resources to the compilation of all other statistics needed for the

Convergence Reports. The acceding countries are invited to urgently step up

their efforts in these respects, and the EFC is invited to continue to monitor

closely progress made.

For the three candidate countries

Ministers welcomed the 2003 Pre-accession Economic Programmes of the three

candidate countries. The programmes describe a medium-term macro-economic and

fiscal framework with strong economic growth.

Ministers endorsed the following conclusions as regards the assessment of these

programmes:

Bulgaria

The macro-economic performance in 2002, with high growth, low inflation

and a low government deficit was welcomed. The public finance scenario of

the PEP reflects the government’s awareness of the importance of a prudent

fiscal policy in a currency board environment.

It was noted that a currency board regime poses particular challenges to the

external viability of the Bulgarian economy. It was welcomed that, although

total foreign debt and foreign borrowing remain high, they are projected to

fall further, and that the share of public foreign debt is declining.

The programme also suitably stresses the importance of continuing structural

reforms to reinforce the conditions allowing high and sustained economic

growth and sound public finance.

Considerable progress has recently been made in this respect, such as the

completion of the privatisation and restructuring of the banking sector.

However, delays occurred in areas with important fiscal implications, such

as privatisation and healthcare reform.

As regards labour markets, the programme relies mainly on active labour

market policies. It puts limited emphasis on measures aiming to increase the

flexibility of labour markets, which could be one of the main tools for

further reducing unemployment and enhancing necessary structural change

in the economy.

Romania

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

The macro-economic performance in 2002 with high growth, falling

inflation, a decrease in the current account deficit and a moderate

government deficit was welcomed. The PEP in general restates the

macro-economic projections and policy targets of the 2002 programme.

However, reflecting ongoing trends, GDP growth for this year is projected to

be slightly lower (4,8%) than previously envisaged and less balanced. In

contrast to the 2002 PEP, the negative contribution of net exports to growth

will imply a widening of the current account deficit. Moreover, the

authorities now target a larger government deficit in 2004 so as to allow for

a temporary increase in expenditures while preserving the goal of reducing

the tax burden.

The macro-economic framework is, also in the light of the progress achieved

so far, broadly in line with recent economic trends in the country and

abroad. However, it should pay more attention to the extent and causes of

the ongoing deterioration in the external accounts. Additionally, a larger

fiscal deficit might also cause further widening in the external accounts.

The recent successful disinflation has been welcomed, although the level of

inflation is still too high. The authorities’ fiscal policy has been supportive

in bringing down inflation, but may be less so as of next year when the

government deficit is targeted to increase. Furthermore, the recent

considerable wage increases might also pose some risk for bringing inflation

down further. A further clarification of the current and future framework of

monetary and exchange rate policy would be appreciated, especially since

the authorities envisage a change of monetary policy towards inflation

targeting from 2005 onwards, with an envisaged transition towards a free

floating regime for the currency from 2005/2006.

The PEP is yet to illustrate the full picture of the state of enterprise reforms.

It would have benefited from more complete information and an attempt to

quantify the impact of planned reforms on issues such as the quasi-fiscal

deficit and the volume of arrears. This still needs to be developed. The PEP

properly identifies the accumulation of arrears as an important budgetary

risk factor, but this is not analysed for its macro-economic impact.

Turkey

The improvement of this year’s programme was welcomed as it incorporates

many of the suggestions made in the assessment of the 2002 PEP. It

demonstrates the Turkish administration’s improving technical and

analytical capacities in preparing such a programme. Also the major

achievements with reducing inflation and macro-economic volatility have

allowed the government to better provide for a more credible medium-term

scenario and planning framework.

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

The macro-economic performance in 2002 with high growth, falling

inflation and a moderate government deficit was welcomed. The

macro-economic scenario is, in contrast to last year’s PEP, more realistic

and broadly consistent with current and likely future trends, assuming a

more moderate growth contribution from private and public consumption.

The programme correctly stresses as key priorities: to ensure a sustainable

growth environment, to reduce inflation and to bring down the government

deficit and debt ratios to sustainable levels. Full compliance with the

IMF-programme is essential for maintaining the confidence of markets,

further lowering interest rate levels and ensuring the sustainability of the

recovery.

A strict fiscal approach is key to achieving these ends. The PEP offers a

good overview of the Turkish authorities’ intentions to rebalance public

finances and to achieve fiscal sustainability in the medium term. However, a

more detailed presentation of expenditure and revenue categories in line

with ESA 95 accounting standards would have been helpful.

Structural reforms are centred on strengthening market forces, completing

the reform of the financial sector and modernising public finances and public

administration. Further progress is also needed in the area of privatisation of

enterprises and, in the light of persisting high unemployment levels, reform

of the labour market.

Ministers invited the Economic Policy Committee to look into the structural policies

in Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey and to present a report on this in due course in

2004, also with a view to discussing that report at next year’s Joint Ministerial

Meeting.”

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files