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Europaudvalget 2003-04
EUU Alm.del Bilag 249
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Medlemmerne af Folketingets Europaudvalg

og deres stedfortrædere

Bilag

Journalnummer

400.C.2-0

Kontor

EUK

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.

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COUNCIL OF

THE EUROPEAN UNION

Brussels, 25 November 2003

15286/03

POLGEN 78

NOTE

From :

To :

Subject :

The Presidency

Coreper / Council

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:

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Economicsecurity and justice

Freedom, growth

Enlargement

External relations, CFSP and ESDP

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 EIB, 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

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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 non-financial 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 TENs 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

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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.

FREEDOM, SECURITY AND JUSTICE

[to be drafted in the light of the outcome of the JHA Council on 27/28 November]

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

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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 financial 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

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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 1 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 present 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.

EXTERNAL RELATIONS, CFSP, ESDP

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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

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.

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.

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