PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

Europaudvalget 2005-06
2698 - Økofin Bilag 6
Offentligt

Notat

Referat fra EU finans- og økonomiministermøde (ECOFIN) den 6.

december 2005

Dagsordenspunkt:

Globaliseringens udfordringer

12. december 2005

Som opfølgning på uformelt finans- og økonomiministermøde i september 2005

havde Rådet en drøftelse af og vedtog konklusioner om

globaliseringens

udfordringer,

jf. vedlagte bilag.

Der var blandt ministrene bred enighed om, at effekterne af globalisering først og

fremmest er forbundet med en række fordele gennem øget handel og større

internationale kapitalbevægelser, samt at øget økonomisk integration med

omverdenen kan give pæne bidrag til levestandarden i det enkelte land.

Det blev også fremhævet, at globaliseringens udfordringer bør håndteres ved at

sikre en større omstillingsevne i økonomierne gennem reformer, herunder på

arbejdsmarkedet.

Dagsordenspunkt:

Lissabon reformproces – nationale

reformprogrammer

Rådet drøftede – på baggrund af en rapport fra Den Økonomisk-Politiske Komité

(EPC) – indholdet af og den videre proces for de nationale reformprogrammer

forberedt af medlemsstaterne. Rapporten sammenfatter resultaterne af de

nationale reformprogrammer og de gennemførte landeeksaminationer og giver et

overblik over hovedudfordringerne for medlemsstaternes politik.

Rådet tiltrådte den foreløbige vurdering af medlemslandenes nationale

reformprogrammer, og der blev vedtaget konklusioner herom,

jf. vedlagte bilag.

Dagsordenspunkt:

Bedre regulering

Med udgangspunkt i et program præsenteret af det britiske formandskab og de to

kommende formandskaber, Østrig og Finland, drøftede Rådet det videre arbejde

med bedre regulering i EU.

Dagsordenspunkt:

Direktiv om nedsat moms

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

udgangspunkt i formandskabets løsningsforslag.

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

arbejdskraftintensive ydelser og kravet om ligebehandling.

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

Det blev besluttet at sætte sagen på dagsordenen for mødet i Det Europæiske Råd

(DER) den 15.-16. december 2005.

Dagsordenspunkt:

Adfærdskodeks for erhvervsbeskatning

Formanden for adfærdskodeksgruppen præsenterede en rapport om gruppens

arbejde i andet halvår 2005 med at overvåge, at EU-landene overholder aftalen i

adfærdskodeksen om ikke at have skatteordninger, der kan skade andre lande.

Rådet drøftede emnet kort og det britiske formandskab drog på den baggrund

konklusioner om adfærdskodeksgruppens arbejde,

jf. vedlagte bilag.

Dagsordenspunkt:

Fremtidig politik for finansielle tjenesteydelser 2005-

2010 (Kommissionens hvidbog)

Kommissionen redegjorde for indholdet i hvidbogen vedrørende den fremtidige

politik på det finansielle område i perioden 2005-2010, og fremhævede at den i

vidt omfang bygger på den tidligere fremlagte grønbog. Rådet tog Kommissionens

præsentation til efterretning.

Dagsordenspunkt:

Finansielle tjenesteydelser – forordning vedr.

oplysninger om indbetaler ved pengeoverførsel

(SRVII)

Rådet drøftede forslaget til forordning vedrørende oplysninger om indbetaler ved

pengeoverførsel. Forslaget har til formål at gennemføre FATF

’s særlige

anbefaling nr. VII vedr. oplysninger om indbetaler ved en elektronisk

pengeoverførsel.

Forslaget skal behandles i Europa-Parlamentet primo 2006. Herefter ventes

forslaget endeligt vedtaget.

Dagsordenspunkt:

Bekæmpelse af terrorfinansiering

Rådet noterede sig statusrapporten om bekæmpelse af terrorfinansiering fra EU’s

anti-terrorkoordinator samt et udkast til en ny overordnet anti-terrorstrategi.

Dagsordenspunkt:

Energi

Som opfølgning på erklæring om oliepriserne fra det uformelle finans- og

økonomiministermøde i september 2005 havde Rådet en drøftelse af

energirelaterede emner, herunder i forhold til politiktiltag på såvel udbuds- som

efterspørgselssiden. Der blev i den forbindelse bl.a. lagt vægt på investeringer i

energiproduktion, markedstransparens, dialogen med de olieproducerende lande

og energieffektivitet.

Financial Action Task Force (International organisation til bekæmpelse af hvidvask af penge og finansiering af

terrorisme).

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

Rådet blev endvidere orienteret dels om formanden for ECOFIN og den franske

finansministers besøg i Saudi-Arabien dels om de energirelaterede drøftelser ved

G7 finansministrenes møde i London den 2. og 3. december 2005.

A-punkter

Rådet vedtog uden drøftelse en beslutning om at godkende konklusionen om en

aftale om deltagelsen af de ti nye medlemslande i Det Europæiske Økonomiske

Område.

Diverse

Rådet havde under frokosten en drøftelse om valg af ny direktør for Den

Europæiske Investeringsbank (EIB). Der var generelt opbakning til genvalg af den

nuværende belgiske direktør for EIB, Philippe Maystadt.

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

Bilag

Rådskonklusioner om globaliseringens udfordringer

Responding to the challenges of globalisation

The Council adopted the following conclusions:

“The Council discussed the opportunities and challenges of globalisation and the

policy responses needed, within the framework of the re-launched Lisbon

strategy, to address citizens’ concerns and ensure high levels of growth and

employment. It welcomed the preliminary assessment prepared by the Economic

Policy Committee and noted that:



the world economy is experiencing a period of rapid and significant

economic change characterised by substantial growth in world trade and

capital flows, and driven by the increased integration of low-wage emerging

market economies into the global economic system, trade and investment

liberalisation, and technological change. China and India are expected to

increase their share of world output in future years with important

consequences for the geographical distribution of EU trade and investment;



these changes bring significant opportunities for European economies. For

companies, they bring new opportunities for efficiency gains and

productivity growth. Consumers stand to benefit from a wider choice of

goods and services, lower prices and higher disposable incomes. A sizeable

share of the rise in EU living standards over the last five decades is

attributable to increased external trade. It is also necessary to take up the

concerns of European citizens and communicate clearly the benefits and

challenges of globalisation;



globalisation raises important challenges involving the need for swift

adjustment of jobs and activities from contracting to expanding sectors in

order to limit potential adverse impacts on certain regions and Member

States, sectors and groups, including the low skilled. Moreover, while there

is no clear evidence of significant pressures on national public finances as a

result of higher mobility of capital, businesses and labour, an efficient use

of public funds is also needed to support growth enhancing investment

while addressing welfare needs and the fiscal challenges of ageing

populations;



the opportunities of globalisation should outweigh the challenges provided

the right policies are in place. There is no room for complacency even if

there is little evidence so far that increased trade has significantly affected

overall employment or wage prospects for European workers, including the

low-skilled, as the impact of trade has been partly offset by other factors.

However, Europe will only realise the full benefits of globalisation and

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

minimise its risks through further reform of labour and product markets to

ensure that resources can be moved swiftly to alternative uses;



labour market reform is a priority, so that opportunity and fairness are

extended to all in society, particularly given the high average levels of long-

term and structural unemployment in the EU. In a global economy of

increased specialisation and technological progress, jobs and occupations

will change. All Member States must continue to take action to provide

assistance to ensure that workers are equipped to move swiftly into new

areas of economic activity and thus are willing to embrace change;



no single labour market or social model is appropriate in all circumstances.

Different combinations of labour market policies can be used successfully

to address the challenges of globalisation and realise its potential benefits.

However, experience suggests that structural reforms in line with the Broad

Economic Policy Guidelines have been most successful in delivering strong

labour market outcomes;



to deliver high and sustainable levels of employment in the face of global

economic change labour market reform must focus on protecting workers

rather than jobs. This requires tax and benefit reforms to increase

incentives to work; a reduction of non-wage labour costs for low skilled

workers can also make a contribution; active labour market policies that

target effectively obstacles to employment; investment in education, higher

education and lifelong learning to help workers move between jobs;

proportionate and well designed employment protection legislation that

combines flexibility with security; and wage flexibility in response to

productivity differences;



reform is also needed in product markets and should focus on creating the

framework conditions which facilitate business growth and investment and

will ensure that Europe remains an attractive place for mobile businesses to

locate. In this context, action is urgently needed to complete the Single

Market in the economically important services sector, while preserving

European social objectives, and through effective control of state aids.

Continued action is also needed to improve the regulatory environment for

enterprises in Europe and to promote business innovation, inter alia

through national education and training strategies and improved investment

in research;



the removal of external barriers to trade and investment multilaterally can

provide new market opportunities for European firms and has the potential

to increase significantly growth and productivity in Europe. This requires

an ambitious and balanced multilateral trade agreement which reduces

substantially levels of trade-distorting subsidies. It also requires improved

regulatory cooperation and a more forward-looking financial markets

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

regulatory dialogue to strengthen and deepen bilateral trade and investment

relationships between the EU and its major economic partners; and



growth and stability orientated macroeconomic policies help to attract

business and stimulate private investment, improve the environment for

structural adjustment, and place countries in a stronger position to adjust

efficiently to global economic change.

The Council agreed that Member States and the EU should work together to

develop and implement the reforms needed to maximise the benefits and

minimise the risks of globalisation for Europe’s citizens. They agreed to return to

these themes in 2006.”

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

Rådskonklusioner om de nationale reformprogrammer

Lisbon national reform programmes

The Council adopted the following conclusions:

“The Council discussed the actions planned by Member States in the context of

National Reform Programmes and by the Community in the context of the

Community Lisbon Programme to deliver jobs and growth in response to the

Integrated Guidelines. It endorsed the preliminary economic review of reform

programmes prepared by the Economic Policy Committee and noted that:



the introduction of National Reform Programmes strengthens the overall

governance of the Lisbon strategy. National Reform Programmes have

benefited from the input of a wide range of stakeholders, including

parliaments, local and regional authorities and social partners, and stand to

increase national ownership and implementation of reforms;



the National Reform Programmes provide a positive picture of the overall

outlook for reform. Significant synergies exist between the key challenges

identified by Member States with the majority of reform programmes

prioritising actions to:



improve the sustainability and quality of public finances. In many Member

States population ageing is projected to place considerable pressures on

pensions and healthcare spending and most are implementing or preparing

further reforms of pensions and healthcare systems to enhance the

sustainability of public finances;



strengthen labour market performance. Member States propose significant

reforms to enhance the adaptability of national labour markets, and a

majority have established quantitative targets for employment which

correspond to an overall employment rate close to the EU’s 70 per cent

target for 2010;



promote knowledge and innovation. Most Member States plan to increase

public investment in research and development and announce measures to

stimulate private research investment;



strengthen the overall climate for business and enterprise. An increasing

number of Member States have in place reforms to improve the regulatory

environment for businesses, complementing and reinforcing those at the

Community level and helping to improve the overall environment for

enterprise and innovation; and

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files



education and skills. High quality education and training systems are pivotal

to delivering an adaptable workforce and many Member States plan

additional policy reforms in this area.

The Council agreed that comprehensive implementation of national reforms

remained key to the long-term economic success of the European economy. It

noted that Member States had a shared responsibility to be ambitious in

developing further reforms and should draw on the experiences of others in doing

so. It agreed that, in line with the 2005 Spring European Council conclusions,

Member States, the Council and the Commission should monitor and evaluate

rigorously the implementation and impact of economic reforms to assess whether

the level of action and ambition is commensurate to the challenge. In this context,

and on the basis of the preliminary review prepared by the EPC, it noted that the

Commission, when preparing its Annual Progress Report, would consider

inter

alia:



ongoing threats to long-term sustainability of public finances, given

inadequate progress in raising employment rates and reducing debt

burdens;



the extent to which further reform of tax and benefit systems and increases

in the adaptability of labour markets would be needed to achieve the EU’s

employment target;



the considerable scope for improving competition, in the services sector

and by removing barriers to entry in network industries, which should

promote efficiency and job creation;



the continued emphasis on R&D, in particular private and innovation

performance, the effectiveness of public research expenditure in promoting

private research investment, and the scope for improving the links between

science and industry; and



the continued development of national strategies for regulatory reform,

given their important role in improving the environment for enterprise in

Europe.

The Council also agreed that the Community Lisbon Programme was central to

the partnership approach embodied in the re-launched Lisbon strategy. At the

Community level, action should prioritise, inter alia, the creation of a genuine

Single Market in services, including financial services; completion of the European

energy market; reducing, improving and simplifying the overall burden of EU

regulation; improving the environment for innovation including in the area of

intellectual property rights; and the delivery of an ambitious outcome to

multilateral trade negotiations.

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

In the context of the Integrated Guidelines, the Council invites the Commission

to present in January 2006 a fully fledged assessment of the National Reform

Programmes, including country specific assessments, in its first Annual Progress

Report on the Lisbon Strategy, and believes these Council conclusions and the

EPC report provide an important contribution to the Commission’s work. It will

examine closely the Report prepared by the Commission and invites the EPC and

the EFC to assist it in the preparation of its contribution to the 2006 spring

European Council. In the context of multilateral surveillance, the Council looks

forward to reviewing progress in line with the European Council conclusions of

March 2005.”

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

Konklusioner om adfærdskodeksen for erhvervsbeskatning

Code of conduct on business taxation

The Council heard a report from the Chair of the code of conduct group.

Following a discussion the president of the Council drew the following

conclusions:

“The Chair of the code of conduct group has presented her report. The code of

conduct group has done important work over the last eight years as part of the

commitment to eliminate harmful tax competition. The code of conduct group

has already started to consider how this work and this commitment should be

taken forward. It is useful for the code of conduct group to reflect on the

discussion at this Council in considering the future of the code of conduct. The

issue is referred back to the code of conduct group.”