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Europaudvalget 2008-09
Det Europæiske Råd 11-12/12-08 Bilag 4
Offentligt

COUNCIL OF

THE EUROPEAN UNION

Brussels, 5 December 2008

(OR. fr)

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POLGEN 137

NOTE

from:

to:

Subject:

Presidency

Council

European Council (11 and 12 December 2008)

– Draft conclusions

The attached revised draft conclusions are presented by the Presidency with a view to their adoption

by the European Council on 11 and 12 December 2008.

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The European Council on 11 and 12 December 2008 approved a European Economic Recovery

Plan, equivalent to [at least 1,5 %] of the GDP of the European Union (a figure amounting to,

around EUR 200 billion). The plan provides a common framework for the efforts to be made by

Member States and by the European Union, with a view to ensuring consistency and maximising

effectiveness. [The European Council also reached agreement on the energy/climate change

package. This decisive breakthrough fulfils the ambitious commitments entered into in this area in

2007 and will enable the European Union to maintain its leading role in efforts to achieve an

ambitious and comprehensive global agreement at Copenhagen next year.] The European Council

demonstrated its intent, through concrete decisions, to give new impetus to the European Security

and Defence Policy in order to meet the new security challenges. [Lisbon Treaty]

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.

Lisbon Treaty

p.m.

II.

Economic and financial questions

The economic and financial crisis is a global crisis. That is why the European Union is

working together with its international partners. The Washington Summit, held at the

initiative of the EU, drew up an ambitious programme of work with a view to coordinated

recovery of the world economy, more effective regulation of financial markets, better global

governance and the rejection of protectionism.

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We must continue to implement the major guidelines agreed in Washington, in accordance

with the schedule laid down. The Council is requested to organise the preparation of this work

together with the Commission and report to the Spring 2009 European Council on progress

made, with a view to the next Summit on 2 April 2009.

The EU has determined, in a coordinated manner, the emergency measures required to restore

the smooth operation of the financial system and confidence among market players. The

European Council stresses the need for Member States to be able to finalise these measures

without delay. It calls for their full and rapid implementation, with the assistance of all parties

involved in accordance with the framework established by the Council on 2 December. The

European Council urges banks and financial institutions to make full use of the facilities

granted to them to maintain and support lending to the economy and pass on key interest rate

reductions to borrowers. It should be ensured in this context that measures within the common

framework, particularly guarantee mechanisms, are actually implemented so as to help lower

the cost of financing for financial institutions, for the benefit of enterprises and households.

The financial markets remain fragile. We must remain vigilant and continue to implement, as

a priority, measures to create greater stability in, and improve supervision of, the financial

sector, particularly those envisaged by the ECOFIN Council road map. In this context, the

European Council hopes that negotiations with the European Parliament will lead to the rapid

adoption of the legislative decisions on which the Council has agreed a general approach

. It

also calls for decisions to be taken quickly on the other priority issues identified, in particular

credit rating agencies, financial supervision and accounting standards.

Draft Directives on capital requirements, solvency of insurance companies, undertakings for

collective investment in transferable securities and protection of savers' deposits.

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The financial crisis is now impacting on the economy. The euro area, and indeed the Union as

a whole, are threatened with recession. In these exceptional circumstances, Europe must take

united, strong, rapid and decisive action to avoid a recessionary spiral and sustain economic

activity and employment. It must mobilise all the instruments available to it and act in a

concerted manner to maximise the effect of the measures taken by the Union and by each

Member State. In that context, Member States' policies on social protection and inclusion and

their social integration policies also have vital parts to play.

The European Council agrees on a European economic recovery plan, described below. The

plan will provide a coherent framework for action to be taken at the level of the Union as well

as for measures adopted by each Member State, taking account of their individual

circumstances. In line with the Commission communication of 26 November 2008, it is based

on a fiscal effort equivalent in total to [at least 1,5 %] of European Union GDP. It also

envisages the initiation of priority action to enable our economies to adjust more rapidly to

current challenges.

In this context, the European Central Bank and the other central banks have considerably

reduced their interest rates: they are thereby supporting non-inflationary growth and

contributing to financial stability.

As regards action by the European Union, the European Council supports in particular:

−

an increase in intervention by the European Investment Bank of EUR 30 billion in

2009/2010, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises, renewable energy and

the automotive industry;

rapid additional action by the European Social Fund to support employment, especially

for the benefit of the most vulnerable groups in the population;

mobilisation to promote employment in key sectors of the European economy, in

particular by the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund;

−

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−

simplification of procedures and faster implementation of programmes financed by the

Structural Funds and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, and

greater investment in infrastructure and in energy efficiency;

[the possibility of applying reduced VAT rates to labour-intensive services and green

products and services;]

raising the

de minimis

threshold for State aid and adapting the framework, as required to

increase support for enterprises, especially SMEs, and full implementation of the action

plan for a Small Business Act adopted by the Council on 1 December.

−

The European Council invites the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission to

adopt the necessary decisions, in full compliance with the current financial perspective, as

soon as possible and by its meeting in March 2009 at the latest.

For their part, Member States have already taken a number of important measures, in response

to their specific circumstances and reflecting their different scope for action. An increased,

coordinated effort is required, given the scale of the crisis, within the framework of a common

approach based on the following guidelines:

−

measures to support demand must aim to produce immediate effects, be of limited

duration and be targeted at the sectors most affected (e.g. the automotive industry and

the construction sector);

depending on national circumstances, these measures may take the form of increased

public spending, judicious reductions in tax burdens, a reduction in social security

contributions, aid for certain categories of enterprises or direct aid to households,

especially those which are most vulnerable;

they are to be accompanied by increased efforts to implement the structural reforms

envisaged in the Lisbon Strategy. These reforms should be oriented towards increased

funding for investment and infrastructure, improving the competitiveness of enterprises,

greater support for SMEs, the promotion of employment and the promotion of R&D,

innovation and education.

−

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10.

The European Council emphasises that the revised Stability and Growth Pact remains the

cornerstone of the EU's budgetary framework. It affords the flexibility for all the recovery

plan measures to be implemented in conformity with the objective of long-term budgetary

sustainability, which implies a swift return to the reduction of deficits which have been

temporarily increased.

11.

In the current circumstances, the application by the Commission of the competition rules must

also respond to the need for fast and flexible action. In this context, the European Council

welcomes inter alia the Commission's adoption of new guidelines for financial institutions and

calls for their rapid implementation.

12.

The European Council will evaluate, from its March 2009 meeting, how well the recovery

plan has been implemented and may add to it or adapt it as necessary.

13.

[(poss.) WTO/Doha Round]

14.

Europe must continue to invest in its future. That is the price of its future prosperity. The

European Council calls for the launching of a European plan for innovation, combined with

the development of the European area of research and with reflection on the future of the

Lisbon Strategy beyond 2010, encompassing all the conditions for sustainable development

and the main technologies of the future (inter alia energy, information technology,

nanotechnologies, space technology and services derived from it, and life sciences).

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III. Energy and climate change

15.

The European Council applauds the results of the work undertaken with the

European Parliament, under the co-decision procedure, which has given rise to broad

agreement in principle on the bulk of the four proposals in the energy/climate legislative

package. It also applauds the full agreement on the legislative proposals concerning light

vehicles' CO

emissions and fuel quality.

16.

The European Council discussed the issues raised by the implementation of the package, and

some questions still outstanding. It reached agreement on the following points:

[…]

17.

The European Council invites the Council to seek agreement with the European Parliament on

the basis of the above, to enable the whole package to be adopted at first reading by the end of

the year.

18.

This package will implement the ambitious energy and climate commitments entered into by

the European Union in March 2007 and March 2008, especially the target of a 20 % reduction

in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. The European Council confirms the European Union's

commitment to increasing this reduction to 30 % within the framework of an ambitious and

comprehensive global agreement in Copenhagen on climate change for the period after 2012

on condition that the other developed countries undertake to achieve comparable emission

reductions and that the economically more advanced developing countries make a

contribution commensurate with their respective responsibilities and capabilities.

19.

In the context of this agreement and of the economic recovery plan, it is imperative to

intensify action to improve the energy efficiency of buildings and energy infrastructure, to

promote green products and to support the automobile industry's efforts to produce more

eco-friendly vehicles.

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20.

The Union's efforts to combat climate change are coupled with resolute action to enhance its

energy security, including interconnections and the connection of the most isolated

European countries. In this respect, the European Council asks the Council, on the basis of the

guidelines defined in its October 2008 conclusions, to conduct a rapid examination of the

Energy Security and Solidarity Action Plan presented by the Commission, in preparation for

its March 2009 meeting.

IV.

Common Agricultural Policy

21.

The European Council underlines the importance of the agreement reached in the Council on

the "health check" on the Common Agricultural Policy in view of the key role played by

agriculture in the Union's food independence, territorial balance and rural development, food

security and environmental balance, while responding better to market signals. It also

constitutes a useful reference for future discussions.

External relations and European Security and Defence Policy

European Neighbourhood Policy

22.

The European Council endorses the guidelines evolved at the ministerial meeting in

Marseilles on 3 and 4 November 2008, which made it possible to define the working methods

of the Union for the Mediterranean. Within the framework of the structures put in place, it

calls for the further ambitious implementation of this initiative in all its dimensions.

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23.

Based on the establishment of the Union for the Mediterranean, the Eastern Partnership will

bring about a significant strengthening of EU policy with regard to the Eastern partners of the

European Neighbourhood Policy

in a bilateral and multilateral framework, to complement

the other forms of cooperation already existing in the Union's neighbourhood, such as the

Black Sea Synergy. The Eastern Partnership is expected to help the partner countries to make

progress in their reform processes by contributing to their stability and their further movement

towards the EU. The European Council instructs the Council to study the proposals put

forward by the Commission in its communication of 3 December 2008 and to report to it with

a view to this ambitious initiative being approved by the European Council at its meeting in

March 2009 and the Eastern Partnership being launched at a summit meeting with the partner

countries organised by the incoming Czech Presidency.

European Security and Defence Policy

The European Council states its determination to give, by means of the attached declaration

a fresh impetus to the European Security and Defence Policy, in full complementarity with

NATO in the framework of the strategic partnership between the EU and NATO and without

affecting the specific nature of certain Member States' security and defence policy. To this

end, it endorses the documents adopted or submitted by the Council

, which review and

augment implementation of the European Security Strategy of 2003, agree on new goals for

strengthening and optimising European capabilities in the years ahead and emphasise the EU's

desire to work for the cause of international peace and security, while making a tangible

contribution to the security of citizens.

24.

_____________________

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Republic of Moldova, Ukraine.

see Annex 1.

see references in Annex 2.

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ANNEX 1

DECLARATION BY THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL ON THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE

EUROPEAN SECURITY AND DEFENCE POLICY (ESDP)

Over the last ten years the European Union has established itself as a global political player. It

has assumed increasing responsibilities, as witnessed by its ever more ambitious and

diversified civilian and military operations in the service of effective multilateralism and

peace.

The Union's action continues to be based on a shared analysis of the threats and risks affecting

the common interests of Europeans. The European Council accordingly endorses the

document adopted by the Council at its meeting on 8 December 2008 reviewing the

implementation of the 2003 security strategy so as to improve it and add new elements to it.

This document reveals the continuing existence of the threats identified in 2003 as well as the

emergence of fresh risks likely to threaten, directly or indirectly, the security of the EU, which

it has to tackle globally.

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In order to rise to these challenges, the European Council intends to make good the

inadequate resources available in Europe by gradually improving civilian and military

capabilities. This effort is also the prerequisite for allowing Europeans to assume in a credible

and effective manner their responsibilities under the Transatlantic Partnership, to which it

reaffirms its commitment. To this end, the European Council subscribes to the declaration on

capabilities adopted by the Council, which sets numerical and precise targets to enable the

EU, in the coming years, to conduct simultaneously, outside its territory, a series of civilian

missions and military operations of varying scope, corresponding to the most likely

scenarios.

This renewed goal requires a commitment to develop robust, flexible and interoperable

capabilities. This will entail, on a voluntary basis, innovative forms of specialisation, pooling

and sharing of major equipment projects, with priority being given to planning, crisis

management, space and maritime security. In this respect the declaration on capabilities

highlights several concrete projects in key sectors. The European Council voices its

determination to support this effort in the long term and calls on the Member States to convert

these commitments into national requirements in terms of equipment.

Europe should actually be capable, in the years ahead, in the framework of the level of

ambition established, inter alia of deploying 60 000 men in 60 days for a major operation,

within the range of operations envisaged within the overall 2010 objective and within the

overall 2010 civilian objective, of planning and conducting simultaneously:

– two major stabilisation and reconstruction operations, with a suitable civilian component,

supported by a maximum of 10 000 men for at least two years;

– two rapid response operations of limited duration using inter alia the EU's battle groups;

– an emergency operation for the evacuation of European nationals (in less than ten days),

bearing in mind the primary role of each Member State as regards its nationals and

making use of the consular lead State concept;

– a maritime or air surveillance/interdiction mission;

– a civilian-military humanitarian assistance operation lasting up to 90 days;

– around a dozen ESDP civilian missions (inter alia police, rule of law, civil administration,

civil protection, security sector reform and observation missions) of varying formats,

inter alia in a rapid reaction situation, including a major mission (possibly up to

3000 experts), which could last several years.

For its operations and missions, the European Union uses, in an appropriate manner and in

accordance with its procedures, the resources and capabilities of Member States, of the

European Union and, if appropriate for its military operations, of NATO.

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Restructuring of the European defence technological and industrial base around centres of

European excellence, avoiding duplication, in order to ensure its soundness and its

competitiveness, is a strategic and economic necessity. It calls for a strengthening of corporate

governance mechanisms and an increased research and technology drive, and making the

European armaments market more dynamic. In this connection the European Council calls for

early finalisation of the directives on intra-Community transfer of defence goods and on

defence procurement.

The European Council also supports the decision to launch an initiative, based on the

Erasmus programme, to promote exchanges of young European officers.

The European Council would encourage the efforts of the Secretary-General / High

Representative to establish a new, single civilian-military planning structure at strategic level

for ESDP operations and missions .

The European Council states the Union's determination to continue its support for the

United Nations and for the efforts made by regional security organisations, including the

African Union, to promote international peace and security. It also reaffirms the goal of

strengthening the strategic partnership between the EU and NATO in order to address current

needs, in a spirit of mutual enhancement and respect for their decision-making autonomy. To

this end, it backs the setting up of an EU-NATO high-level group to improve cooperation

between the two organisations on the ground in a pragmatic manner. It recalls the need to

exploit fully the framework that makes it possible to associate with the ESDP those European

allies which are not members of the EU.

Lastly, the European Council endorses the declaration on international security adopted by the

Council, which decides on specific actions to enable the EU to play a more active role in

combating terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, organised crime and cyber

attacks. It asks the Council and the Member States to give substance to it by adopting

appropriate policies and instruments.

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ANNEX 2

List of reference documents submitted to the European Council

−

Report by the Secretary-General/High Representative on the European security strategy

(XXX/08)

−

Council declaration of 8 December 2008 on the enhancement of the capabilities of the

European Security and Defence Policy (XXX/08)

−

Council declaration of 8 December 2008 on international security (XXX/08).

−

–

Council conclusions of 8 December 2008 on the inclusion of Roma (XXX/08)

Council conclusions of 8 December 2008 on the integrated maritime policy (XXX/08)

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