PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

Europaudvalget 2005-06
2688 - Økofin Bilag 4
Offentligt

Medlemmerne af Folketingets Europaudvalg

og deres stedfortrædere

Bilag

Journalnummer

400.C.2-0

Kontor

EUK

16. november 2005

Til underretning for Folketingets Europaudvalg vedlægges Finansministeriets

redegørelse for rådsmøde (økonomi- og finansministre) den 8. november

2005.

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

Notat

14. november 2005

Referat fra EU finans- og økonomiministermøde (ECOFIN) den 8.

november 2005

D agsordenspunkt:

EU-budget -- Kommissionens køreplan hen

imod en positiv revisionserklæring (D AS)

Rådet vedtog konklusioner om Kommissionens køreplan for indførelsen af en inte-

greret struktur for intern kontrol med gennemførelsen af EU's budget,

jf. vedlagte

bilag.

Der var tilfredshed med de fremskridt Kommissionen og medlemsstaterne allerede

har gennemført i deres kontrolsystemer, men nogle ministre bemærkede, at der var

brug for på nationalt niveau at tage større ansvar for opgaverne.

D agsordenspunkt:

Bedre regulering -- metode til måling af admi-

nistrative byrder i EU

Kommissionen og formanden for den Økonomisk-Politiske Komité (EPC) rede-

gjorde for det hidtidige arbejde vedrørende måling af administrative byrder, herun-

der resultatet af de gennemførte pilotprojekter.

Rådet vedtog konklusioner, der understreger vigtigheden af bedre regulering i rela-

tion til Lissabon-målsætningerne om at styrke vækst og beskæftigelse i EU, og op-

fordrer Kommissionen til at begynde anvendelsen af en fælles metode til måling af

administrative byrder i EU fra januar 2006,

jf. vedlagte bilag.

Kommissionen fremsatte en erklæring, der understreger, at medlemslandene må

medvirke ved at levere de nødvendige data, og at målemetoden også bør anvendes

på de ændringer, Rådet foretager i retsakterne, efter at de er fremlagt af Kommissi-

onen.

Sagen forventes at blive drøftet igen på ECOFIN i december 2005.

D agsordenspunkt:

EU-statistik -- opfølgning på ECOFIN konklu-

sioner af 7. juni 2005

Der blev opnået politisk enighed om forslag til forordning til ændring af forordning

3605/93 – herunder tre annekser – og vedtaget konklusioner vedrørende kvaliteten

af statistiske data, prioritering af statistiske behov, Udvalget for Penge- Kreditmar-

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

keds- og Betalingsbalancestatistik (CMFB), Eurostats uafhængighed og Statusrap-

port om Informationskravene i ØMU’en,

jf. vedlagte bilag.

Ministrene nåede i den forbindelse også til enighed om et mandat for en ny rådgi-

vende ”høj-niveau” gruppe med henblik på at fremme Eurostats uafhængighed,

integritet og pålidelighed.

D agsordenspunkt:

Stabilitets- og Vækstpagten -- rådsbeslutning

til Ungarn under artikel 104.8

Kommissionen og formanden for den Økonomisk-Finansielle Komité (EFC) rede-

gjorde for den økonomiske situation i Ungarn.

Rådet vedtog på den baggrund en beslutning under artikel 104.8 i proceduren for

uforholdsmæssigt store underskud vedrørende Ungarn. Rådet konstaterede dermed,

at Ungarn ikke har iværksat virkningsfulde foranstaltninger i opfølgning på råds-

henstillingen under artikel 104.7 af 8. marts 2005 om at bringe underskuddet under

3 pct. af BNP i 2008. Rådet traf i januar 2005 en tilsvarende beslutning som op-

følgning på en rådshenstilling fra juli 2004.

Der blev endvidere vedtaget konklusioner, der udtrykker bekymring vedrørende

udviklingen i de offentlige finanser og de makroøkonomiske ubalancer i Ungarn.

D agsordenspunkt:

Fremskridtsrapport vedr. ’’One Stop Shop’’ mv.

Formandskabet præsenterede sin fremskridtsrapport vedrørende en direktivpakke

om forenklinger af momsregler, som Rådet noterede sig.

D agsordenspunkt:

D irektiv om nedsat moms

Rådet drøftede endnu engang en ændring af EU-reglerne om nedsat moms med

udgangspunkt i et kompromis foreslået af formandskabet.

Flere medlemslande gav udtryk for uændrede holdninger, herunder i forhold til de

arbejdskraftintensive ydelser og kravet om ligebehandling.

Sagen forventes drøftet på ny på rådsmødet (ECOFIN) i december 2005. Indtil da

vil der blive arbejdet videre med sagen i De Faste Repræsentanters Komité (CO-

REPER).

D agsordenspunkt:

Finansielle tjenesteydelser -- grænseoverskri-

dende fusioner og virksomhedsopkøb

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

Kommissionen orienterede om det arbejde, som indtil videre er udført med hensyn

til at afdække hindringer for grænseoverskridende fusioner og virksomhedsopkøb i

den finansielle sektor.

Formandskabet drog på den baggrund konklusioner vedrørende det videre arbejde,

jf. vedlagte bilag.

D agsordenspunkt:

Budgetmæssige aspekter af sukkerreformen

Der var i Rådet en drøftelse af de finansielle konsekvenser af reformen af EU’s

fælles organisering af sukkermarkedet.

Formandskabet vil informere formændene for hhv. Rådet for Generelle Anliggen-

der og Eksterne Relationer (GAERC) og Rådet for Landbrug og Fiskeri om de

synspunkter, som landene gav udtryk for.

A-punkter

Rådet vedtog uden drøftelse konklusioner om Revisionsrettens særberetning om

forvaltningen af Det Europæiske Kontor for Bekæmpelse af Svig (OLAF),

jf. vedlag-

te bilag.

D iverse

Rådet havde under frokosten en drøftelse med finansministrene fra EFTA-landene

vedrørende de økonomiske udfordringer for europæisk økonomi i lyset af globalise-

ringen.

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

Bilag

Rådskonklusioner om Kommissionens køreplan hen imod en positiv

revisionserklæring (D AS)

EU BUDGET CONTROL FRAMEWORK

“Introduction

Since its introduction for the discharge of the 1994 budget, the European

Court of Auditors has given a qualified Statement of Assurance (DAS

) for

most transactions underlying the European Union’s accounts. Nonetheless,

the Council welcomes the substantial progress made by the Commission and

the Member States to strengthen control systems and now notes the publica-

tion of the Commission’s Communication on

“a

Roadmap to an integrated

internal control framework”. A panel of experts met on 21 and 22 September

2005 to discuss the issues raised by the communication.

Numerous measures have already been implemented to improve sound fi-

nancial management. It is in the EU’s interests to continue to improve finan-

cial management so that reasonable and verifiable assurance can be had that

controls are in place which work correctly and effectively. Achieving a posi-

tive DAS is an ambitious mid-term objective.

The Council recalls that, under the EC Treaty, the Commission is responsible

for the implementation of the European Union’s budget. It also considers

that the controls and assurance required should be improved by building on

existing control structures with a view to improving the cost-benefit ratio and

promoting simplification. Participants in the management of EU funds

should ensure that controls are operating effectively.

The Council believes that the achievement of an effective integrated internal

control framework in line with the principles set out in the Court’s opinion

No. 2/2004 should provide reasonable assurance regarding the management

of the risk of error in the underlying transactions.

Simplification

It is of fundamental importance to pursue the harmonisation of the principles

of controls and also the simplification of legislation. The regulations to be

adopted for the programming period 2007-13 should include simplification

of the control requirements while providing reasonable assurance. These reg-

ulations should be simple, easy to apply and predictable throughout the pro-

gramming period. The Council requests that the Commission assess the cost

Déclaration d ’assu rance (DAS)

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

of controls by area of expenditure. Simplification should not lead to any in-

crease of the current level of administrative and control costs and should en-

sure elimination of multiple internal controls by different bodies and entities.

Control Systems

The Member States and the Commission should seek to optimise the effec-

tiveness, economy and efficiency of current control systems. While recognis-

ing the different national administrative arrangements of the Member States,

the Council believes that there is scope for general common principles and

elements regarding internal controls, whether existing or to be adopted for

the programming period 2007-13. For multi-annual programmes, the control

systems to manage the risk of error should also be assessed over the period as

the whole. It requests that the Commission provide clarification in a number

of areas identified in its communication

, inter alia:

–

Simplification of legislation and harmonisation;

Single Audit in the context of internal control;

Assessment of the relevance of the various internal controls standards;

Assessment of the risk of error and the consequential financial impact of

those errors;

Balancing costs and benefits of controls, taking a risk based approach; and

Roles of the various actors.

Action by the European Commission

An initial analysis has been made with the publication of the Commission

services’ “gap assessment between the internal control framework in the

Commission Services and the control principles set out in the Court of Audi-

tors’ proposal for a Community internal control framework opinion No.

2/2004”. The Council will consider the Commission's Action Plan to im-

prove the quality of systems of administration and control.

The Council notes the Commission’s actions, identified in its communica-

tion

, to improve the Commission’s internal control framework for budgetary

management and centrally managed funds, and to improve the framework for

decentralised management. As regards shared management, the Commission

is invited to assess the implementation of the current regulations concerning

inter alia sample checks on operations, paying authorities and winding up

bodies' activities.

The Commission, working with the Member States, should provide an as-

sessment of the present controls at sector and regional level and the value of

existing statements and declarations.

The Role for Member States

10326/ 05 COM (2005) 252 final

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

10.

The Council recalls that the Commission implements the budget on its own

responsibility, and that Member States, in the framework of their cooperation

with the Commission under Article 274 of the EC Treaty should continue to

undertake and improve controls over funds under shared management ar-

rangements.

Contract of Confidence arrangements proposed under the Structural Funds

programmes could help increase assurance under the present regulations, and

the Council invites the Commission and Member States which have indicated

their wish to proceed to complete the process of their adoption of these ar-

rangements.

11.

Declarations and Decentralised management of EU funds

12.

Taking into account the need not to put into question the existing balance

between the Commission and the Member States or to compromise respon-

sibility and accountability at the operational level, the Council believes exist-

ing operational-level declarations can provide an important means of assur-

ance for the Commission and ultimately the Court of Auditors and should be

useful and cost effective and be taken into account by the Commission and

ultimately the Court of Auditors to attain a positive DAS.

Audit Issues

13.

The Council emphasises the need for a strict distinction between internal

control and external audit. External bodies are not part of the internal control

framework.

The Council stresses that any form of cooperation between Independent

Supreme Audit Institutions and the Court of Auditors can only be based on

Article 248 of the EC Treaty. It notes the possibility that some Independent

Supreme Audit Institutions are willing to discuss further how they might

strengthen their contribution to an integrated control framework governing

EU funds.

The Commission and Member States should ensure that their approach con-

cerning the integrated internal control framework is based on common con-

trol standards and should consider together, in the appropriate formation,

how these standards can be most effectively applied. The Council invites the

European Court of Auditors to examine and report on how the integrated in-

ternal control framework would affect its audit approach taking account of

current International Auditing Standards.

The Council encourages the Court to:

–

continue to improve the clarity of for the DAS;

identify each year the factors which have prevented the supervisory and

control systems from functioning effectively so as to manage adequately the

risk to the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions;

14.

15.

16.

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

–

address the issue of multi-annual programmes and their relationship with

the DAS;

take into account existing declarations from Member States; and

present the DAS supplemented by a specific assessment of each major areas

of Community activity, in accordance with Article 248 of the EC Treaty.

The Council encourages Member States, within the framework of the existing pro-

cedure, to discuss bilaterally with the Court the findings of the latter's DAS audits,

and to resolve any systemic problems which are identified. The Commission is en-

couraged to develop solutions to problems common to several Member States and

to report to the Council.

17.

The Council believes, in line with the Court's opinion 2/2004, that it should

reach an understanding with the European Parliament regarding the risks to

be tolerated in the underlying transactions, having regard to the costs and

benefits of controls for the different policy areas and the value of the ex-

penditure concerned.

Next Steps

18.

On the occasion of the 2004 discharge process, the Council should examine

the Commission's Action Plan to fill the gaps in the present control frame-

work.

The Council will examine progress in respect of the present conclusions dur-

ing 2006 to further improve internal control.”

19.

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

Rådskonklusioner om Bedre regulering

REDUCING THE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN ON BUSINESS

“The Council underlines the importance of better regulation to the Lisbon agenda

and welcomes the commitment made by the Commission to place regulatory re-

form among the top priorities in its strategy for promoting jobs and growth. In this

context, it notes with concern the burden imposed on European businesses by the

administrative costs of national and EU regulation and calls for urgent action at the

EU and national levels to control and reduce these burdens, while respecting the

wider objectives and benefits of legislation and regulation.

The Council (ECOFIN) recalls its October 2004 conclusions

and the conclusions

of the November 2004 European Council which supported the development of a

common methodology for measuring the administrative burden of EU legislation,

and invited the Commission to implement the methodology in impact assessments

and in simplification of existing EU legislation as soon as possible in 2005, after

completion of a pilot phase. The Council further recalls the March 2005 European

Council conclusions

which called on the Commission and the Council, in the con-

text of the re-launched Lisbon strategy, to develop a common methodology for

measuring administrative burdens with the aim of reaching an agreement by the end

of 2005.

The Council (ECOFIN) welcomes the successful conclusion of the Commission’s

pilot phase and the Commission’s commitment to begin implementation with a

view to securing improvements in the regulatory environment and promoting jobs

and growth. Looking forward, the Council (ECOFIN):

–

invites the Commission to start measuring administrative burdens, as vali-

dated by the pilot phase, on a consistent basis and in line with transparent

criteria, as part of integrated impact assessments of new EU regulatory pro-

posals from January 2006;

reiterates its October 2004 commitment to assist the Commission in im-

plementing the methodology. In this context Ministers agree: to provide, on

request and in a proportionate manner, the information needed to carry out

assessments of EU administrative burdens and; that the methodology pro-

posed by the Commission provides a common basis for the collection and

exchange of data;

notes that the measurement of administrative burdens at the EU level com-

plements and reinforces the domestic initiatives of a number of Member

States, which remain voluntary in nature;

–

103017/ 04 Presse 284

71619/ 05

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

–

invites the Commission to explore how best to integrate the measurement

of administrative burdens into its simplification work programme and to

provide information to the Council on how this is being achieved during

the first half of 2006;

reiterates its October 2004 invitation to the Commission and the member

States to consider developing quantitative objectives for the reduction of

the administrative burden on business in selected areas. In this context, the

Council (ECOFIN) invites the Commission to explore options for estab-

lishing measurable targets for the reduction of the administrative burden of

EU regulation in specific sectors and to bring forward proposals on this is-

sue by spring 2006;

calls for continued and enhanced cooperation between the Commission and

the member States to review use of the methodology and invites the Com-

mission to report on the progress made and lessons learned after an initial,

twelve month, implementation phase, with a view to adapting, if necessary,

the methodology, in order to maximise the contribution of administrative

burden measurement to improving the regulatory environment in the EU;

and

notes that administrative procedures and complex regulatory requirements

often impose the greatest burdens on SMEs and welcomes the intention of

the Commission to address these burdens through its simplification and

wider work programme while respecting the principles of subsidiarity and

proportionality. In this context, the Council invites the Commission, build-

ing on its administrative burdens work, to present proposals for ensuring

that SMEs are protected from disproportionate burdens imposed by new

EU regulatory proposals.”

–

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

Rådskonklusioner om EU-statistik

EU STATISTICAL GOVERNANCE

“The Council welcomes the EFC Status Report on Information Requirements in

EMU. Due to the commitments of, and close-cooperation between, Eurostat and

national statistical institutes (NSIs), major progress has been achieved in several

fields of the Principal European Economic Indicators (PEEIs) over recent years.

Furthermore, important new legislation was enacted paving the way for further

progress in those areas. Overall, nine out of a total nineteen PEEIs currently fulfil

or are close to the PEEI timeliness and coverage targets, thus improving considera-

bly the information base for economic analysis and monetary policy.

This progress notwithstanding, the Council acknowledges that important challenges

remain. The availability of timely and high-coverage indicators for services and la-

bour markets, in particular employment data, should be improved as a matter of

priority. Generally, despite some important improvements to timeliness, most

PEEIs still lag far behind the US indicators and major efforts are

still required to catch up with US timeliness. In order to meet these challenges,

stronger commitments are needed in the longer term from NSIs and Eurostat, with

the support of the ECB; in the short and medium-term the efforts should be con-

centrated on fully implementing all PEEIs and consolidating the improvements

achieved rather than setting new ambitious goals. The “First for Europe” principle

for PEEIs should be reinforced, with regard to a closer coordination of release,

revision and dissemination practices, seasonal and working day adjustment for Eu-

ropean aggregates; and the use of European sampling schemes. For that purpose,

Eurostat and the ECB should produce a further progress report on these objectives

and on the implementation plan for the PEEIs. The Council invites the European

statistical system (ESS) to study the best practices in the EU for each indicator and

to provide a report to the EFC on the way to apply these more widely. These two

elements should be integrated into the 2006 status report prepared jointly by Euro-

stat and the ECB before the end of 2006.

Benchmarking exercises against other countries worldwide should be carried out

from time to time so that European statistics match the best international stand-

ards. The full and prompt implementation by Member States of the legislative

framework that has been adopted under the EMU Action Plan is strongly support-

ed so as to improve the critical areas identified. To free up the necessary resources

at the national and European level the Council asks the Commission to continue

and reinforce the efforts on prioritisation.

With respect to the compliance of Member States with the Code of Best Practice

on the compilation and reporting of data of the Excessive Deficit Procedure, the

Council welcomes that the September 2005 EDP notifications can generally be

considered of a good quality. However, there are still some open issues, including

the fact that a number of Member States have not yet updated their inventories.

With a view to the next Convergence Reports in spring 2006, the Council urges the

Member States concerned to fill the remaining gaps in their statistical data underly-

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

ing these Convergence Reports as soon as possible. The Council welcomes the

Progress Report on the Action Plan on Economic, Monetary and Financial Statis-

tics for the acceding and candidate countries. The Council considers that these is-

sues should be discussed in the context of the next dialogue meeting in spring 2006.

EU Statistical Governance

Independence, integrity and accountability of Eurostat and of the European Statistical System

(ESS)

In the context of improving the governance of the European statistical system

(ESS), the Ecofin Council emphasised in its report on the Stability and Growth

Pact, which was endorsed by the European Council on 23 March 2005, the im-

portance of developing the operational capacity, monitoring power, independence

and accountability of Eurostat. The Council therefore welcomes the Commission’s

assurance that the principles of the Code of Practice will be respected by Eurostat

through the implementation of the Commission “Recommendation on the inde-

pendence, integrity and accountability of the national and Community statistical

authorities”. The Council had reiterated at several occasions that the professional

independence and credibility of Eurostat stems much from its competence in statis-

tics and its operational capacity to fulfil its ermanent professional tasks. Appropri-

ate and expert staff resources are key in this context.

The Council notes the Commission’s intention to propose a major reform of the

European Advisory Committee on statistical information in the economic and so-

cial spheres (CEIES) so as to have a smaller and more efficient body. A reformed

CEIES would contribute to the improvement of the governance of the ESS and to

the enhancement of the quality of community statistics.

The Council confirms its view that the core issue remains to ensure adequate prac-

tices, resources, capabilities to produce high quality statistics at the national and

European level with a view to ensuring the independence, integrity and accountabil-

ity of both national statistical offices and Eurostat. The Council is of the view that a

new high-level advisory body would enhance the independence, integrity and ac-

countability of Eurostat and, in the context of the peer review assessment of im-

plementing the European Statistics Code of Practice, of the ESS. The new body

should be a small group of persons appointed on the basis of the independence and

competence of these persons. It should be chaired by an influential and well re-

garded person selected by the Council. The new body should draw up an annual

report for the Council and the European Parliament on the implementation of the

European Statistics Code of Practice as it relates to Eurostat. This report will com-

plement the implementation report on the ESS by the Commission. The Council

further notes that the Commission intends to set up a reporting system to monitor

adherence to the Code of Practice in the ESS in line with the proportionality prin-

ciple. The reformed CEIES should be given the task to voice the interests of non-

government users and respondents of European Statistics. With regard to its com-

position it must be in a position to give representation to all stakeholders of Euro-

pean Statistics.

Amendment of Regulation 3605/93

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

In the conclusions on EU statistical governance adopted on 7 June 2005, the Eco-

fin Council expressed the view that further details concerning the conduct of possi-

ble methodological visits were expected in an upcoming Commission document on

these visits, and that the practical modalities would have to be discussed with the

relevant fora, in particular the EFC. Finally, the Council concluded that these mo-

dalities would be made public when the Council regulation is adopted.

The Council welcomes the letter by the Commission to the Council President

providing clarification on the principles and details guiding Eurostat’s methodologi-

cal visits, and assurance that Eurostat will discuss any possible revision with Mem-

ber States and duly take into account their comments if the need for revisions aris-

es.

In the view of the Council, legal obligations of Member States have to be specified.

The Council advises that these legal obligations have a legal nature as well as Euro-

stat new capacity of investigation, so they should be integrated in the draft regula-

tion as an annex. In particular, Member States have to provide specified data lim-

ited to the information strictly necessary to check the compliance with ESA rules.

The Council also suggests for transparency purposes that Member States be con-

sulted on the questionnaires' format, for instance through the CMFB. Furthermore,

along with the Legal Service, the Council advises that it must be defined who are

the statistical authorities concerned by the methodological visits: they are the au-

thorities responsible for the EDP reporting. Furthermore, the Council is of the

opinion that national experts taking part in the methodological visits to Member

States must be nominated by the national authorities responsible for the EDP re-

porting in the experts’ home country.

As the annex has been agreed, the Council endorses the draft Regulation amending

Regulation 3605/93 and foresees a timely adoption of the Regulation with a view to

its application in the next EDP notification.

CMFB

The 7 June 2005 Ecofin conclusions state that the role, areas of competence and

functioning of the CMFB as well as its interaction with Eurostat including the

communication policy of the eventual Eurostat decisions in relation to EDP statis-

tics should be evaluated. Against this background, the Council examined the situa-

tion. The current system based on CMFB consultations has worked satisfactorily

for many years, with the CMFB delivering opinions regularly.

There was a broad majority in favour of keeping the CMFB and not to change the

current set-up of the CMFB as an advisory body. This view is based on the follow-

ing key arguments. Contrary to other areas of statistics, the fundamental objective

of the EDP procedure is to identify, as quickly as possible, a situation of excessive

deficit or debt and to put an end to it, so that Member States can avoid excessive

public deficits. The CMFB provides invaluable expertise advice from Member

States’ NSIs and National Central Banks in a timely manner which allows Eurostat

to react swiftly in contentious cases. The procedures and transparency as well as the

provision of information to the EFC have been constantly developed and stream-

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

lined over time. Being an advisory body that uses the expertise of the most experi-

enced European statisticians has the merit that CMFB opinions are seen as purely

technical and not the result of a political agreement. This reinforces the image of

independence of European statistics and the credibility of EDP data. The Council

invites the CMFB to review its procedures and to examine possible areas and ways

of improvements. The Council welcomes in this context the intentions of the

Commission to review its communication policy of Eurostat decisions.

Review of Priorities

Already in June 2004, the Ecofin Council identified the importance of reviewing

statistical priorities and reducing statistical requirements for areas which are now

considered to be of less importance. The Council has returned to the issue of prior-

itisation at several occasions since then, most recently on 7 June 2005 when it asked

for an acceleration of the work on prioritisation.

The Council welcomes the initiatives taken and the progress achieved over the past

year. In particular, it takes note of and endorses the work of the Eurostat Task

Force, which builds upon the three guiding principles for priority setting endorsed

by the Ecofin Council. It should be underlined that reprioritisation is not primarily

about cost cutting, but about reallocating resources to their most effective use. Fur-

thermore, new EU statistical requirements should be accepted only when they are

needed for the implementation of EU policies. The Council believes that it is time

now to focus on putting reprioritisation into practice, and that there are a number

of complementary ways in which this can be achieved. The Council acknowledges

the importance of both a top-down and bottom-up approach to reprioritisation. It

recommends incorporating the work of the Task Force, including the evaluation of

costs, into the forthcoming proposal from the Commission on the multi-annual

statistical programme for 2008-12 and, as a pilot exercise, into the 2007 annual

work programme. It further recommends developing and incorporating other in-

struments and mechanisms of reprioritisation.

Several areas that are not part and parcel of the EMU Action plan have been identi-

fied as negative priorities by national statistical institutes. These include agricultural

statistics, INTRASTAT, Prodcom, structural business statistics and transport statis-

tics. Eurostat in accordance with the Task Force on priority setting is invited to

consider these areas for pilot studies and to report on progress by December 2005

with a view to reach concrete results by July 2006.

The Council also notes the Communication to the European Parliament and the

Council on "Implementing the Community Lisbon Programme: A strategy for the

simplification of the regulatory environment", as adopted by the Commission on 25

October 2005. In this context, it is acknowledged that the reduction of statistics

and data collection deserves particular attention, taking particular account of the

special needs and limited resources of small and medium sized businesses. Fur-

thermore, the Council notes that structural business statistics and INTRASTAT

statistics will be covered by the simplification programme of EU legislation for

2005-2008 proposed by the Commission and is looking forward to examining the

specific proposals. This work should be aligned so as to contribute to the above

mentioned discussions by July 2006. Improved coordination of all initiatives at the

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

European level and a better information policy for all stakeholders is vital for the

success of reprioritisation.

Treatment of complex methodological cases with relevance for EDP

Moreover, as a separate element from the above package, the Council discussed the

handling of complex methodological cases with relevance for EDP statistics. There

are established procedures to ensure the correct treatment of individual cases such

as the classification of government transactions and liabilities. In this context, the

Council is of the view that a distinction should be made concerning Eurostat’s and

the CMFB’s views and Eurostat’s decisions on past transactions on

one hand and views concerning transactions that will take place in the future on the

other, notably when the planned transactions will have potentially significant impact

on Council decisions on EDP matters. As to the former, Article 11 of the envis-

aged amendment to Regulation 3605/93 stipulates the procedures to clarify com-

plex cases and in that way provides maximum certainty. As to the latter, timely

views and guidance provided under mutual trust are essential to facilitate effective

fiscal planning and forecasting. The Council invites the Commission to reflect fur-

ther on this issue and will revert to the matter in a later meeting, in particular with a

view to establishing procedural guidelines, including CMFB consultation, for the

delivery of such advice. The objective of this new governance structure should be

to maximise the certainty of the guidance offered to the Member States. This

should also address possible controversial classification issues for actual data.”

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

Rådskonklusioner om rådsbeslutning til Ungarn under artikel 104.8

EXCESSIVE DEFICIT PROCEDURE - HUNGARY

“The Council reviewed measures taken by Hungary following the Recommendation

it issued on 8 March 2005 under the EU’s excessive deficit procedure. In this Rec-

ommendation, the Council had invited the Hungarian authorities to put an end to

the present excessive deficit situation as rapidly as possible and to take action in a

medium-term framework as foreseen in the Hungarian Convergence programme

update of December 2004. It had also set a deadline of 8 July 2005 for Hungary to

take effective action regarding the measures envisaged to achieve the revised 2005

deficit target of 3.6% of GDP (including the pension fund contributions) contained

in the December 2004 Convergence Programme update.

While a number of additional measures were taken in March and June, the Council

regrets that the 2005 target referred to in the Council recommendation of March

2005 will be missed by a sizeable margin and that contrary to previous commit-

ments the government decided not to take corrective action. Furthermore, the

Council notes that the 2006 deficit target also referred to in the Council recom-

mendation has been abandoned and even the new much looser target is unlikely to

be met. The Council reiterates its recommendation to Hungary of March 2005 to

make the timing and implementation of tax cuts conditional upon the achievement

of the deficit targets.

The Council is concerned about the situation and outlook for public finances in

Hungary. Without urgent and determined action by the Government, the growing

fiscal imbalances do not only put at risk the credibility of the planned adjustment

path aiming at correcting the excessive deficit by 2008 but also jeopardise the need-

ed improvement in macro-economic imbalances therefore increasing the vulnerabil-

ity of the economy.”

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

Formandskabskonklusioner vedr. grænseoverskridende fusioner og

virksomhedsopkøb i den finansielle sektor

CROSS-BORDER CONSOLIDATION IN FINANCIAL SERVICES

“The PRESIDENCY, and all Members of the Council except one:

–

NOTE the Commission study into the obstacles to cross-border consolida-

tion in the financial services sector and ENCOURAGES further discussion

on these issues in 2006.

SUPPORT the Commission’s on-going review of the existing supervisory

rules in Article 16 of the Codified Banking Directive (2000/12/EC) and in

the corresponding articles of the insurance Directives.

UNDERLINE the importance of fair, transparent and consistent supervi-

sory rules for mergers and acquisitions across EU financial markets and in-

stitutions to enhance the EU’s attractiveness for foreign investment and to

ensure an efficient allocation of capital in the EU. In that respect, conver-

gence of practices and increased co-operation among supervisors should be

promoted.

ENCOURAGE the Commission to:

ii.

provide prudential criteria to improve transparency and result in a

more consistent approach to shareholder control evaluation by su-

pervisory authorities in different Member States;

working with the relevant “level 3” supervisory Committees, base

the consistent approach on a clear procedure for financial institu-

tions and supervisory authorities to follow when assessing qualifying

shareholdings including obligations on transparency and market dis-

closure;

ensure sufficient supervisory co-operation in assessing a proposed

acquisition in an EU cross-border context, reflecting the respective

responsibilities of the competent authorities concerned;

clarify the procedure that should be followed when the proposed

acquirer is from outside the EU.

–

iii.

iv.

–

EMPHASISE the need for consistency across financial services sectors in

the prudential rules that apply to mergers and acquisitions.

REQUEST that, in line with better regulation principles, the Commission

undertakes a comprehensive consultation exercise with market participants

and a full impact assessment of this review in advance of any formal pro-

posals to the Council and the European Parliament.”

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

Rådskonklusioner om Revisionsrettens særberetning om forvaltnin-

gen af D et Europæiske Kontor for Bekæmpelse af Svig (OLAF)

EUROPEAN COURT OF AUDITORS SPECIAL REPORT

“The Council:

WELCOMES the European Court of Auditors' (ECA) special report con-

cerning the management of the European Anti-Fraud Office, which is part of

the Council request for conducting an external audit of OLAF, dated De-

cember 2003.

RECALLS that OLAF operates within a complex institutional framework,

where numerous actors and authorities are directly or indirectly engaged in

protecting the financial interests of the European Union; attaches great im-

portance to OLAF's independent investigative function in tackling fraud.

SHARES ECA's view that OLAF's hybrid status has brought advantages and

has not affected the independence of its investigative function and that there

is no need to consider amending the Office's status at this stage.

URGES OLAF to ensure an appropriate balance between internal and exter-

nal

investigations; stresses the importance of mobilising its personnel in a more

effective way, particularly as regards the introduction of targeted investiga-

tions in areas where the risk of fraud is considered to be the highest.

AGREES that resources should be refocused on OLAF’s investigative role.

It urges the Office to clarify more precisely the objectives set for the investi-

gators in every case and establish a time-recording system to measure investi-

gators’ workloads. It considers that the Office should also assist the Commis-

sion in legislative follow-up and in the strategy for the protection of EU fi-

nancial interests and that financial follow-up should not be part of OLAF's

remit.

AGREES with the ECA's approach to better defining the role of the Super-

visory Committee while recognising the usefulness of its monitoring of the

implementation of the Office. The Committee should avoid interfering with

the conduct of investigations in progress, and avoid overlaps between its role

and the European Ombudsman.

STRESSES the importance of clarifying the rules on opening, closing and

extending investigations carried out by OLAF; recalls the usefulness of mak-

ing a clear distinction between investigation and assistance.

WELCOMES the fact that, after a transitional setting-up period, the Office

undertook substantial reorganisation measures in November 2003 and intro-

duced a registry and a case management system (CMS).

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

10.

SHARES the recommendation of the ECA on the need to shorten the length

of inquiries carried out by OLAF; recommends the Office to establish a tar-

get maximum duration for inquiries and to submit a list concerning follow-up

to the result of investigations based on whether it is of an administrative, dis-

ciplinary or criminal nature to all relevant Institutions and parties.

UNDERLINES the need to guarantee the legality of investigative procedures

and to enhance procedural rights of defence for persons under investigation;

emphasises the need to remedy discrepancies in the protection of persons

under investigation in internal and external investigations; welcomes the pub-

lication by OLAF of its rules of procedure.

INVITES OLAF to establish a system for assessing its results; the develop-

ment and enhancement of performance indicators should make it possible to

evaluate these.

URGES OLAF and Member States to strengthen their cooperation in order

to enhance coordination of their activities in the field of protection of EU fi-

nancial interests and fight against fraud; considers it useful to improve proce-

dures for information exchange to that end; shares ECA's view on the possi-

bility of creating a special structure dedicated to coordination and assistance

operations.

In addition to the views expressed by the Court, CALLS on OLAF, EURO-

JUST and EUROPOL to improve their collaboration and notes with satisfac-

tion that OLAF and EUROJUST have recently started to work together to

co-operate within their respective competences regarding the protection of

the financial interests of the European Union.

INVITES the Commission to regularly report back on the progress made

following these conclusions.

NOTES finally that the Commission intends to present an amended proposal

concerning Regulation N. 1073/1999. The Council will consider this pro-

posal carefully, inter alia in the light of this special report.”

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.