PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

Europaudvalget 2007-08 (2. samling)
Det Europæiske Råd 13-14/12-07 Bilag 4
Offentligt

COUNCIL OF

THE EUROPEAN UNION

Brussels, 6 December 2007

16000/1/07

REV 1

LIMITE

POLGEN 126

NOTE

from :

to :

Subject

Presidency

Coreper/Council

European Council (14 December 2007)

– Draft conclusions

The Presidency hereby submits draft conclusions to be agreed by the European Council at its

meeting on 14 December 2007.

16000/1/07 REV 1

DQPG

LIMITE EN

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

The meeting of the European Council was preceded by an exposé by the President of the

European Parliament, Mr Hans-Gert Pöttering, followed by an exchange of views.

The European Council welcomes the agreement reached at the IGC on 18 October 2007 and

the subsequent signing of the Treaty of Lisbon on 13 December, as well as the proclamation

of the Charter of Fundamental Rights on 12 December 2007. It calls for a swift completion of

national ratification processes with a view to allowing entry into force of the Treaty on

1 January 2009.

The European Council will take stock of progress on necessary preparatory work when

appropriate so as to ensure the full functioning of the Treaty as soon as it enters into force.

The Lisbon Treaty provides the Union with a stable institutional framework for the

foreseeable future. The Union will be able to fully concentrate on addressing the concrete

challenges ahead, including globalisation and climate change, as clearly underlined at the

19 October 2007 informal meeting of Heads of State or Government in Lisbon on the basis of

the Commission's Communication "The European Interest: Succeeding in the age of

globalisation". In this context the European Council adopts a Declaration on Globalisation

(see

annex I).

p.m. Reflection Group

FREEDOM, SECURITY AND JUSTICE

The European Council welcomes the enlargement of the Schengen area and the

abolition of

controls at the internal borders

of the Member States participating in the SISone4ALL

project, as from 21 December 2007 for land and sea borders, and by 30 March 2008 for air

borders, thus extending the effective free movement of persons.

16000/1/07 REV 1

DQPG

LIMITE EN

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

Further developing a

comprehensive European migration policy

complementing Member

States' policies remains a fundamental priority in order to meet the challenges and harness the

opportunities which migration represents in a new era of globalisation. The European Council

accordingly underlines the need for a renewed political commitment and welcomes in that

respect the Commission's communication on a common immigration policy. It looks forward

to the Commission's forthcoming proposals in 2008.

Cooperation with third countries remains vital for the purpose of well-managed migration

flows and fight against illegal immigration. The European Council welcomes the progress

being made in the implementation of the

Global Approach to Migration

with regard to

Africa and the Mediterranean, in particular the EU missions to African and the Mediterranean

countries as well as the progress on the application of this Global Approach to the Eastern and

South-Eastern neighbouring regions. It looks forward to the organisation of the second Euro-

African ministerial conference on migration and development in 2008. It endorses the

Council's conclusions of 6/7 December 2007 on mobility partnerships and circular migration

and welcomes in that connection the decision to open dialogue with a view to launching pilot

mobility partnerships with Cape Verde and Moldova. The Commission is invited to report

back on progress no later than June 2008. The recent Euro-Med Ministerial meeting on

Migration contributed to further development of practical cooperation with the Mediterranean

partners in all areas of migration. The European Council welcomes the adoption by the

Africa/EU Summit of a Joint Strategy which identifies migration as an area of mutual

priority for which both sides will seek common solutions; the Action Plan to the Joint

Strategy contains a partnership on migration, mobility and employment with a number of

concrete measures to be taken in the next three years. The European Council endorses the

Council conclusions of 19 November 2007 on coherence between migration and development

policies and calls for further work in this field. The European Council underlines the

importance of further engaging in dialogue with the Latin American and Caribbean region.

16000/1/07 REV 1

DQPG

LIMITE EN

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

There is a close link between migration, employment and the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and

Jobs. The European Council endorses the Council conclusions of 4 December 2007, which

acknowledge that migration can have a significant impact on growth potential and

employment growth, labour markets, adjustment capacity, productivity, competitiveness and

public finances, whilst stressing that immigration is no substitute for structural reform.

[Language

to be introduced following the joint meeting of ministers of Migration and

Employment].Labour

migration shall fully respect the Community acquis, Member States'

competences in this field and the principle of Community preference for EU citizens.

10.

The European Council invites the Council to take work forward on the recent Commission

proposals on the admission of third country nationals for the purpose of highly qualified

employment and on a single application procedure and a common set of rights for legally

residing third country workers.

11.

Combating illegal immigration requires concerted and effective measures directed to

undeclared work and illegal employment, in particular through the effective enforcement of

dissuasive sanctions. The Council and the European Parliament are invited to reach agreement

by the end of 2008 at the latest on the proposals on sanctions against employers of illegally

staying third country nationals. Work should also be taken forward following the

Commission's communication on undeclared work.

12.

The proper management of migration flows also requires work to be taken forward on the

further strengthening of the integrated management of the external borders. The European

Council accordingly looks forward to the forthcoming Commission communications on an

entry/exit system at the external borders, on the future development of Frontex and on a

European Border Surveillance System.

13.

The European Council also welcomes the progress made on the proposal for a Directive on

common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying

third-country nationals. It underlines the need for agreement on common standards in the area

of return policy and encourages the Council and European Parliament to continue their efforts

to find a basis for a swift agreement on the proposal.

16000/1/07 REV 1

DQPG

LIMITE EN

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

14.

The European Council underlines the need for progress on the future Common European

Asylum System with a view to its realisation by 2010. To this end, the European Council

invites the Commission to evaluate the implementation of the first phase and to present the

necessary initiatives in 2008.

15.

Integration is a pivotal element of the comprehensive European migration policy. The

European Council calls for better coordination between migration and integration policies. In

the context of the 2008 year of intercultural dialogue the European Council calls on the

Commission and the Member States to stress the opportunities, benefits and challenges of

migration in a pluralistic Europe.

16.

The strengthening of

police and judicial cooperation

remains a priority. The functioning of

Eurojust and Europol must be improved; for the latter, this requires the Council to reach

agreement on the decision establishing Europol by the end of June 2008 at the latest and to

review regularly the state of play regarding the Implementation Plan. The European Council

also welcomes the general approach for a Council Framework Decision on the protection of

personal data processed in the framework of police and judicial cooperation. Cooperation

through mutual recognition of decisions in criminal matters should be reinforced.

17.

The European Council calls for rapid progress on the Directive on the protection of the

environment through criminal law.

18.

Recent terrorist activity in Europe and numerous terrorist attacks elsewhere in the world

reinforce the need for the Union and its Member States to remain fully committed to the

implementation of the Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

16000/1/07 REV 1

DQPG

LIMITE EN

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

19.

The European Council welcomes important work recently undertaken in many areas of the

Strategy such as on the security of explosives and weapons, on cooperation between special

intervention units (ATLAS), on the protection of critical infrastructure, on countering

biological, radiological and on other non-conventional threats and the development of the

Union's crisis coordination arrangements. The European Council welcomes the appointment

by the SG/HR of Gilles de Kerchove as Counter-Terrorism Coordinator. It welcomes the

suggestions made by the Counter-Terrorism Coordinator with a view to further strengthening

the implementation of Counter Terrorism Strategy and calls for work to be taken forward

rapidly on them.

20.

The European Council welcomes work recently undertaken under the European Union

Strategy for Combating Radicalisation and Recruitment to Terrorism notably as regards

radicalization of youth and the role of the internet. It calls for its further strengthening in

particular through EU sectorial programmes and instruments both within the Union and in

cooperation with third countries. To the effect, it notes the Commission's intention to submit a

communication on best practices on countering violent radicalisation in the course of 2008.

21.

The European Council welcomes the adoption of the Decision establishing a Community

Civil Protection Mechanism (Recast) and invites the Council and the Commission to make the

best use of this instrument, along with the civil protection Financial Instrument, with a view to

be ready to cope with major emergencies in the future. In this context the European Council

looks forward to the forthcoming Commission proposal on reinforcing the Union's disaster

response capacity.

22.

The European Council reaffirms the need to enhance access to justice in the European Union

via simplified and more efficient and accessible procedures, welcomes the achievements in

the area of E-justice and calls for the continuation of work.

16000/1/07 REV 1

DQPG

LIMITE EN

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

23.

The European Council welcomes the political agreement on the Directive on some aspects of

mediation on civil and commercial matters which will allow citizens and business to have

access to an alternative dispute resolution mechanism enabling them to solve their cross

border disputes in and effective way and on the Regulation on the law applicable to

contractual obligations (Rome I) which are important elements of the European Justice Area.

24.

The Council is invited to find solutions on the Regulation on jurisdiction and applicable law

in matrimonial matters (Rome III). It is also invited to reach agreement on the Regulation on

maintenance obligations taking into account the recent agreement on the Hague Convention

on the International Recovery of Child Support and other forms of Family Maintenance. The

European Council welcomes the signing of the new Lugano Convention on jurisdiction and

the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters and calls for its

swift ratification.

25.

Recalling the Council conclusions of 8/9 November 2007 on combating cybercrime the

European Council emphasises that further steps towards adopting a coherent EU policy in this

respect are required.

26.

The European Council welcomes the ongoing work within the Council and the Commission

regarding protection of children.

16000/1/07 REV 1

DQPG

LIMITE EN

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

27.

The European Council welcomes the presentation of the Commission's Strategic Report

assessing the implementation of the renewed

Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs

and

making proposals for the next three-year cycle, including a new set of Integrated Guidelines,

country-specific recommendations and a new Community Lisbon programme. The European

Council calls for work to be taken forward speedily in order to launch the next cycle at its

meeting at Spring 2008. The European Council underlines the role of the new Community

Lisbon Programme for the partnership approach. This Programme must add value at

Community level to improve the coherence of reforms and maximise positive spill over

effects.

The Lisbon Strategy is delivering. The four priority areas of reform identified by the

European Council in Spring 2006 continue to be valid: knowledge and innovation, business

environment, employment and energy and climate change. Thus, whilst the challenges have

been evolving, the Integrated Guidelines do not need a fundamental overhaul. Preliminary

discussions at Council level have already identified the need for appropriate action in areas

such as European Research, innovation mechanisms, SMEs, the Single Market, public

administration modernization, education and skills, flexicurity, social inclusion, energy,

climate change, the visibility of the social dimension, sustainability, quality of public

finances. This effort should address the national, the Community and the external level of

action.

The role of the regional level to deliver growth and jobs should also be increased, as

recognised in the new generation of programmes of the cohesion policy covering the period

2007-2013. The Lisbon toolbox should be fully used by strengthening the existing horizontal

coordination, developing tailor-made communication and involving all relevant stakeholders.

16000/1/07 REV 1

DQPG

LIMITE EN

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

28.

Promoting the knowledge triangle (education-research-innovation) is central for the Europe of

the future and for the development of knowledge-based economies. The European Council

accordingly welcomes the setting-up of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology

and of the first Joint Technology Initiatives, as innovative public-private partnerships in

strategic areas. It calls on Member States to engage more actively in the implementation of

pan-European research infrastructures.

Human resources for science and technology in Europe need to be increased and the

attractiveness of Europe for highly qualified scientists boosted: the European Council

therefore endorses the objectives agreed by the Council in November 2007 on the future of

science and technology in Europe, as well as on the modernization of the universities.

Recalling the broad-based innovation strategy adopted in 2006, the European Council stresses

the relevance of the Commission's initiatives relating to public procurement and innovation in

services and invites it to complement them with the remaining expected initiatives. Delivering

lifelong learning

to all citizens is, alongside its social dimension, of particular importance for

more and better jobs. Accordingly, Member States and the Commission should give priority

to the implementation of the Education and Training work programme and the European

Qualifications Framework as well as the "New Skills for New Jobs" initiative and to

promoting greater mobility.

29.

The European Council confirms the integrated decision of the Council on the financing,

governance, and procurement policy for the European satellite navigation programmes

EGNOS and Galileo. This key project for the EU will deliver by 2013 a global satellite

navigation infrastructure, creating improved economic efficiencies, highly qualified jobs, and

new opportunities for advanced services and applications throughout the EU.

16000/1/07 REV 1

DQPG

LIMITE EN

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

30.

The European Council endorses the European

Agenda for Culture

which constitutes an

important step towards increasing coherence and visibility of the EU's action in this field,

while maximising the potential of cultural and creative industries especially as far as SMEs

are concerned, therefore contributing to the aims of the Lisbon Agenda.

31.

The

Single Market

has been an undisputed success and remains a pre-requisite for growth

and prosperity within the Union. Building on this, an integrated approach to European

Competitiveness should be fostered by a sustainable industrial policy, combined with

innovation and skills, while developing its external dimension in order to create a level

playing field. More needs to be done to untap the full potential of an enlarged Union,

inter

alia,

by addressing the remaining barriers and by allowing consumers and SMEs to take full

advantage of the opportunities of the Single Market. In order to promote European

competitiveness in a globalised world, the Single Market also needs to become more outward

looking. The European Council accordingly welcomes the recent presentation by the

Commission of the Single Market Review, accompanied by a Communication on Services of

general interest including social services of general interest, and invites the Council to

examine the initiatives set out in the Review so as to enable it to reach conclusions for

priorities for further action at its Spring 2008 meeting.

32.

The European Council stresses the crucial role that

tourism

plays in generating growth and

jobs in the EU and calls on the Commission, Member States, industry and other stakeholders

to join forces in the timely implementation of the recently adopted Agenda for a sustainable

and competitive European tourism.

16000/1/07 REV 1

DQPG

LIMITE EN

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

33.

The framework conditions for

business,

in particular

SMEs,

must continue to be improved.

The European Council welcomes the Commission's intention to present a Small Business Act

for Europe in 2008 with the aim of unlocking the full potential of SMEs. As regards the

Better Regulation

agenda, the European Council welcomes progress made towards the joint

reduction target of 25% of administrative burdens by 2012 arising from EU legislation and

urges those Members States who have not yet done so, to set national targets of comparable

ambition by 2008, taking into account the different starting points and traditions and

particular importance of this exercise for SMEs. The modernisation of

public administration

is key to improve efficiency and effectiveness of public finances. Reforms in this area should

therefore undergo regular analysis and exchange of best practices in particular in the context

of the Lisbon National Reform Programmes. In this context, the potential of e-Government

initiatives should be explored, in accordance with the four policy actions set out in the

Ministerial Declaration (Lisbon, September 2007).

34.

The European Council, in face of the recent developments in the

financial markets,

emphasises that macroeconomic fundamentals in the EU are strong and that sustained

economic growth is expected. Continued monitoring of financial markets and the economy is

crucial, as uncertainties remain. The European Council endorses the work programme adopted

by the Council on 9 October 2007 aimed at improving transparency for investors, markets and

regulators, improving valuation standards, improving the prudential framework, risk

management and supervision in the financial sector as well as reviewing the functioning of

markets, including the role of credit agencies. The European Council welcomes the significant

steps adopted regarding the enhancement of EU arrangements for financial stability and

strongly encourages their appropriate follow-up.

16000/1/07 REV 1

DQPG

LIMITE EN

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

35.

In the

employment and social policy area,

the European Council endorses the agreement on

the common principles on flexicurity reached in the Council on 5/6 December 2007 and

invites Member States to take these principles into good account when developing and

implementing national flexicurity-orientated policies. The European Council welcomes the

joint analysis of the European social partners on the labour markets and underlines their

important role in the design, implementation and monitoring of flexicurity policies. It also

welcomes the ongoing consultations on the social reality stocktaking, which pave the way for

a renewed and modern Social Agenda for Europe. The life-cycle approach to work should be

developed by fostering active ageing and the modernization of pension systems, to ensure

financial, economic and social sustainability by making the Youth Pact and the Gender Pact

more operational including effective monitoring and mainstreaming, as well as by exploiting

the possibilities offered by the European Alliance for Families. The European Council

welcomes the recent developments regarding structured dialogue and participation of young

people in decision-making process at the European Level. Active

inclusion

policies should

combine integration in the labour markets, adequate income support and quality, accessible

and effective social services. The European Council also reaffirms its commitment with the

decent work agenda as a global instrument to promote employment, better labour standards

and foster development. The European Council welcomes the results of the

European Year

of Equal Opportunities for All

and invites Member States to strengthen efforts to prevent

and combat discrimination inside and outside the labour market. In this connection the

European Council, conscious of the difficult situation faced by the Roma across the Union,

invites Member States and the Union to use all means to improve their inclusion. To this end

it invites the Commission to examine existing policies and instruments and to report to the

Council on progress achieved before the end of June 2008.

36.

With respect to

energy and climate change,

the European Council reiterates the importance

of implementing, in line with its March 2007 conclusions, all aspects of the comprehensive

2007-2009 Action Plan endorsed last Spring with a view to taking forward the three

objectives of the

Energy Policy for Europe:

security of supply, competitiveness and climate

change.

16000/1/07 REV 1

DQPG

LIMITE EN

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

It accordingly:

–

welcomes the Commission's communication "A Strategic Energy Technology Plan"

(SET-Plan) as well as the vision-paper on Energy Technologies; work should be taken

forward towards providing a framework that facilitates the speed up of technological

change including strategic planning, more effective implementation, increase in

resources and a reinforced approach to international cooperation regarding innovation in

low carbon technologies;

–

notes the progress achieved in the discussions on the 3rd internal market package for

gas and electricity to be pursued swiftly with a view to timely agreement in the course

of 2008;

–

as far as renewable energy and climate change-related instruments are concerned, looks

forward to the Commission's second set of legislative proposals, due in January 2008.

37.

[The

Bali Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate

Change

must respond to the urgent need for global action as identified in the Fourth

Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and agree to launch

negotiations leading to a global, comprehensive and effective post-2012 agreement by 2009.

In this connection the European Council recalls the Council conclusions of 30 October 2007

which set out in detail the objectives and elements which the Union is convinced should form

part of the future agreement and which should guide the negotiating process.]

The European Council also recalls the Council Conclusions of 19-20 November on Global

Climate Change Alliance between the EU and Development Countries which will provide a

platform for dialogue and cooperation in the areas of adaptation to climate change and

promoting disaster risk reduction and integrating climate change into poverty reduction efforts

in the most vulnerable countries.

16000/1/07 REV 1

DQPG

LIMITE EN

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

Sustainable development

is a fundamental objective of the European Union. The European

Council welcomes the Commission's first progress report on the renewed EU Sustainable

Development Strategy (SDS). It agrees that the objectives and priorities under the seven key

challenges contained in that strategy remain fully valid and that the main focus should

therefore be on effective implementation at all levels. The renewed EU Strategy and national

strategies for sustainable development also need to be linked up more closely. The

governance structure and tools of the SDS, in particular in relation to monitoring of progress

and best practice sharing, must be fully used and strengthened. The EU's integrated climate

and energy policy and an integrated approach to the sustainable management of natural

resources, the protection of biodiversity and ecosystem services and sustainable production

and consumption are among the drivers for achieving objectives under both the SDS and the

Lisbon strategy. The EU must continue to work to move towards more sustainable transport

and environmentally-friendly transport modes contributing to climate protection, energy

efficiency, improving air quality and reducing noise emissions. The Commission is invited to

present a roadmap together with its next Progress Report on the SDS setting out the remaining

actions to be implemented with highest priority.

38.

The European Council welcomes the Council Conclusions on

water scarcity and drought

and invites the Commission to present a report in 2008 and, on this basis, to review and

further develop the evolving EU strategy by 2012. It also acknowledges the need to reinforce

the link between Business and Biodiversity at European level, welcoming the EU Business

and Biodiversity Initiative and the commitment from the Commission to provide technical

support.

16000/1/07 REV 1

DQPG

LIMITE EN

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

39.

The European Council welcomes the Commission Communication on an

integrated

maritime policy

for the European Union and the proposed Action Plan which sets out the

first concrete steps in developing an integrated approach to maritime affairs. The broad

participation in the preceding public consultation and the comprehensive debate at the Lisbon

Ministerial Conference reflected the interest which stakeholders show for the development of

such a policy. The future integrated maritime policy should ensure synergies and coherence

between sectorial policies, bring added value and fully respect the principle of subsidiarity.

Furthermore it should be developed as a tool to address the challenges facing Europe's

sustainable development and competitiveness. It should take particularly account of the

different specificities of Member States and specific maritime regions which should call for

increased cooperation, including islands, archipelagos and outermost regions as well as of the

international dimension. The European Council welcomes the conclusion of the Marine

Strategy Framework Directive as the environmental pillar of this policy. The European

Council invites the Commission to come forward with the initiatives and proposals contained

in the Action Plan and calls on the future Presidencies to work on the establishment of an

integrated maritime policy for the Union. The Commission is invited to report on progress

achieved to the European Council at the end of 2009.

40.

The European Council welcomes the Commission report on the 2004 Strategy for the

Outermost Regions

stating its positive results and presenting the future prospects for

Community actions in those regions. The European Council looks forward to the conclusions

of the public consultation launched and invites the Commission to present the relevant

proposals at the latest in October 2008.

41.

The European Council welcomes the 4th Cohesion Report and stresses the importance of the

debate on the future of this fundamental policy, started in the Cohesion Forum, in September,

and pursued in the informal ministerial meeting on Regional Policy, in November.

16000/1/07 REV 1

DQPG

LIMITE EN

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

42.

The European Council stresses the importance of deepening the relations between the

European Union and its partners in an increasingly globalised World. The Summits held this

semester with Brazil, Russia, Ukraine, China, India, ASEAN and Africa contributed to

reinforce the EU's relations with these partners and to strengthen common ground in facing

global challenges.

43.

The summit held in July with

Brazil

launched a strategic partnership, aiming at upgrading the

bilateral relationship and enhancing the political dialogue on global and regional issues as

well as cooperation on a wide range of areas of common interest.

44.

[The European Council welcomes the second EU/Africa summit held on 8/9 December in

Lisbon. The summit expressed the determination of the two sides to move to a new level in

their relationship. To this end a Joint Africa/EU Strategy was adopted as well as an Action

Plan aimed at ensuring concrete delivery on the new political and developmental ambitions.

The Summit agreed to set up 8 partnerships on Peace and Security, Democratic Governance

and Human Rights, Trade and Regional Integration, Millennium Development Goals, Energy,

Climate change, Migration, Mobility and Employment, and Science, Information Society and

Space. These partnerships will enable the joint addressing of issues of mutual concern,

including of global nature, as well as helping the EU to make a better contribution to African

development. The European Council acknowledges that in order to reach within the next three

years concrete and tangible results, additional and combined efforts will be required from all

relevant actors.]

p.m. Western Balkans/Kosovo

16000/1/07 REV 1

DQPG

LIMITE EN

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

45.

The European Council reaffirms that the

European Neighbourhood Policy

(ENP) is a core

priority within the EU's external action. The European Council, recalling its conclusions of

June 2007 and keeping in mind the character of the ENP as a single and coherent policy

framework following the principle of differentiation, welcomes the progress achieved. It

welcomes the Commission's Communication of 5 December 2007 as well as the results of the

ENP Conference on 3 September 2007 and invites the upcoming Presidencies to take this

work forward on the basis of the relevant Commission communications and proposals.

46.

The European Council emphasises the strategic relevance of the relationship of the EU with

the

Mediterranean countries

and welcomes the progresses in developing the political and

security dialogue, in the creation of an area of shared prosperity and in the implementation of

the social, cultural and human partnership in accordance with the conclusions of the

ministerial meetings of foreign affairs as well as in other important fields such as migration.

The European Council welcomes Albania and Mauritania into the Barcelona Process.

The European Council welcomes the prospects for concluding a Framework Agreement with

Libya in line with the Council Conclusions of October 2008, which should constitute a

turning point on the development of a new stage in the relationship of the EU with this

Mediterranean country.

47.

The European Council recalls the importance it attaches to the implementation and further

development of the EU's Northern Dimension Policy.

48.

The European Council invites the Commission to present an EU strategy for the Baltic Sea

region at the latest by June 2009. This strategy should

inter alia

help to address the urgent

environmental challenges related to the Baltic Sea.

49.

The European Council supports the progress achieved at the first meeting of the

Transatlantic Economic Council

on 9 November 2007 and looks forward to further tangible

steps in the run-up to the next EU-US Summit.

16000/1/07 REV 1

DQPG

LIMITE EN

PDF to HTML - Convert PDF files to HTML files

50.

The European Council welcomes the debate held and the conclusions adopted at the

November GAERC on an EU response to situations of fragility, which highlight the

importance of democratic governance, rule of law, respect of human rights and fundamental

freedoms and the fight against poverty, having in mind the need to prevent and address

situations of fragility and develop instruments to ensure quicker and more flexible responses

in order to progress in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals of most

vulnerable countries.

51.

The European Council calls on the Commission to produce by March 2008 a report on

progress towards the

Millennium Development Goals

and on what the EU can do to

accelerate it.

52.

The European Council warmly welcomes the adoption of an EU Consensus on Humanitarian

Aid, which will be signed on 18 December by the Council, the Commission and the European

Parliament and shall be subsequently developed through a roadmap for action. This EU

Consensus on Humanitarian Aid will guide the EU humanitarian aid policy on the basis of the

principles of impartiality, neutrality, humanity and independence.

p.m. Iran

53.

The European Security Strategy adopted in 2003 provides the Union with a useful and

relevant framework for its external policy. In the light of the evolutions which have taken

place since, the European Council invites the SG/HR, in full association with the Commission

and in close cooperation with the Member States, to examine the implementation of the

Strategy with a view to proposing, as appropriate, possible adaptations in good time before

the December 2008 European Council.

16000/1/07 REV 1

DQPG

LIMITE EN