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Europaudvalget 2009-10
Rådsmøde 2999 - konkurrenceevne
Offentligt

COUNCIL OF

THE EUROPEAN UNION

6983/1/10 REV 1

PRESSE 48

PRESS RELEASE

2999th Council meeting

Competitiveness (Internal Market, Industry and Research)

Brussels, 1-2 March 2010

President

Mr Miguel Sebastián

Minister of Industry, Tourism and Commerce

Mrs Cristina Garmendia

Minister for Science and Innovation

Mr Diego López Garrido

State Secretary for the EU

of Spain

PRESS

Rue de la Loi 175

B – 1048 BRUSSELS

Tel.: +32 (0)2 281 6083 / 6319

Fax: +32 (0)2 281 8026

[email protected] http://www.consilium.europa.eu/Newsroom

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Main results of the Council

The Council adopted conclusions on industrial policy, following a debate on key objectives for

establishing the principles for a

new industrial policy

with a continuing focus on sustainable

growth and employment.

In preparation for the next Spring European Council, ministers for competitiveness held an

exchange of views on the future

strategy for the creation of growth and jobs.

The Council adopted a resolution aimed at enhancing the enforcement of

intellectual property

rights

in the internal market.

The Council adopted conclusions on the

mobility and careers of researchers.

It also adopted

conclusions on ways for improving the structure of the

European Research Council.

Without discussion, the Council adopted a decision introducing restrictive measures against

Eritrea.

It also adopted its position at first reading on a draft regulation on

trade in timber.

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CONTENTS

PARTICIPANTS................................................................................................................................ 4

ITEMS DEBATED

NEW INDUSTRIAL POLICY -

Council conclusions

........................................................................ 6

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS IN THE INTERNAL MARKET -

Resolution..................

NEW EUROPEAN STRATEGY FOR JOBS AND GROWTH ......................................................... 7

EUROPEAN RESEARCH COUNCIL: REVIEW OF ITS STRUCTURE AND

MECHANISMS -

Council conclusions

............................................................................................... 9

MOBILITY AND CAREERS OF EUROPEAN RESEARCHERS -

Council conclusions................

EUROPEAN EARTH OBSERVATION PROGRAMME (GMES) AND ITS INITIAL

OPERATIONS (2011-2013)................................................................................................................ 9

BALTIC SEA RESEARCH PROJECT ("BONUS-169 PROGRAMME") ...................................... 10

OTHER BUSINESS .......................................................................................................................... 11

OTHER ITEMS APPROVED

COMMON FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY

–

Restrictive measures (Eritrea - Iraq - Liberia - Somalia)....................................................................................... 15

TRADE POLICY

–

Anti-dumping - Imports of furfuryl alcohol from China ....................................................................................... 16

ENVIRONMENT

–

Register for biocidal products................................................................................................................................ 16

Trade with illegally harvested timber* .................................................................................................................. 17

Where declarations, conclusions or resolutions have been formally adopted by the Council, this is indicated

in the heading for the item concerned and the text is placed between quotation marks.

Documents for which references are given in the text are available on the Council's Internet site

(http://www.consilium.europa.eu).

Acts adopted with statements for the Council minutes which may be released to the public are indicated by

an asterisk; these statements are available on the Council's Internet site or may be obtained from the Press

Office.

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PARTICIPANTS

Belgium:

Mr Vincent VAN QUICKENBORNE

Mr Benoît CEREXHE

Mr Jean-Claude MARCOURT

Minister for Enterprise and Simplification

Minister of the Brussels Capital Regional Government,

with responsibility for Employment, Economic Affairs,

Scientific Research, Fire Prevention and Emergency

Medical Aid

Ministre wallon de l’Economie, des PME, des

Technologies nouvelles, du Commerce extérieur et de

l’Enseignement supérieur

Deputy Minister for Education, Youth and Science

Deputy Minister for Economy, Energy and Tourism

Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade

Deputy Minister of Education, Youth and Sports

Deputy Permanent Representative

Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation

Deputy Permanent Representative

State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Economics and

Technology

State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Education and

Research

Minister for Education and Science

Deputy Permanent Representative

Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) and Minister for

Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Deputy Permanent Representative

Deputy Minister of Education, Life-long learning and

Religious Affairs

Secretary General

Minister of Industry, Tourism and Commerce

Minister for Science and Innovation

Secretary of State for the European Union in the Spanish

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation

Secretary of State for Investigation at the Ministry of

Science and Innovation

Deputy Permanent Representative

State Secretary for Education, Universities and Research

Deputy Permanent Representative

Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism

Director of Planning at the Planning Bureau

Minister for Economic Affairs

Minister for Education and Science

Bulgaria:

Mr Sergey IGNATOV

Mr Evgeny ANGELOV

Czech Republic:

Mr Erik GEUSS

Mr Vlastimil RŮ�½IČKA

Ms Jana REINISOVÁ

Denmark:

Ms Charlotte SAHL-MADSEN

Mr Jonas BERING LIISBERG

Germany:

Mr Bernd PFAFFENBACH

Mr Georg SCHÜTTE

Estonia:

Mr Tõnis LUKAS

Mr Gert ANTSU

Ireland:

Ms Mary COUGHLAN

Ms Geraldine BYRNE-NASON

Greece:

Mr Ioannis PANARETOS

Mr Alexandros FOURLAS

Spain:

Mr Miguel SEBASTIÁN

Ms Cristina GARMENDIA MENDIZÁBAL

Mr Diego LÓPEZ GARRIDO

Mr Felipe PETRIZ

France:

Mr Philippe LEGLISE-COSTA

Italy:

Mr Giuseppe PIZZA

Mr Vincenzo GRASSI

Cyprus:

Mr Antonis PASCHALIDES

Mr Costas IACOVOU

Latvia:

Mr Artis KAMPARS

Ms Tatjana KO E

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Lithuania:

Mr Dainius KREIVYS

Mr Raimundas KAROBLIS

Luxembourg:

Mr Jeannot KRECKÉ

Mr François BILTGEN

Minister of Economy

Deputy Permanent Representative

Minister for Economic Affairs and Foreign Trade

Minister for Labour and Employment, Minister for

Culture, Higher Education and Research, Minister for

Religious Affairs

Minister for National Development and Economic Affairs

Deputy Permanent Representative

Minister for Economic Affairs

Deputy Permanent Representative

Deputy State Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs

Secretary of State of Science and Higher Education

Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education

State Secretary of Energy and Innovation

State Secretary

Deputy Permanent Representative

Minister for Science and Higher Education

Deputy Permanent Representative

State Secretary

Deputy Permanent Representative

Minister for Labour

State Secretary for Economic Affairs

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Enterprise and

Energy

Minister for Higher Education and Research

State Secretary to the Minister for Trade

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Business and

Regulatory Reform

Deputy Permanent Representative

Hungary:

Mr István VARGA

Malta:

Ms Theresa CUTAJAR

Netherlands:

Ms Maria van der HOEVEN

Mr Peter KOK

Austria:

Mr Harald GÜNTHER

Poland:

Mr Marcin KOROLEC

Ms Maria Elzbieta ORLOWSKA

Portugal:

Mr José MARIANO GAGO

Mr Carlos ZORRINHO

Romania:

Mr Borbely KAROLY

Mr Cristian BADESCU

Slovenia:

Mr Gregor GOLOBIČ

Mr Uroš VAJGL

Slovakia:

Mr Luboš HALÁK

Mr Peter JAVORCIK

Finland:

Ms Anni SINNEMÄKI

Ms Riina NEVAMÄKI

Sweden:

Ms Maud OLOFSSON

Mr Tobias KRANTZ

Mr Gunnar WIESLANDER

United Kingdom:

Mr Ian LUCAS

Mr Andy LEBRECHT

Commission:

Mr Antonio TAJANI

Mr Michel BARNIER

Ms Máire GEOGHEGAN-QUINN

Vice-President

Member

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ITEMS DEBATED

NEW INDUSTRIAL POLICY -

Council conclusions

The Council held an exchange of views on key objectives for establishing the principles for a new

ambitious industrial policy with a continuing focus on sustainable growth and employment.

In particular, Ministers stressed the importance of sustainability, eco-efficiency, operational key

indicators as well as inclusion of innovative sectors like the space into the scope of the new

industrial policy. They underlined the need for a new networked and knowledge-triangle oriented

approach in industrial policy, focussing on strengthening the knowledge base and sustainability,

stressing the necessity of a strong link between the new industrial policy and the upcoming

European research and innovation plan.

The new policy needs to combine the horizontal policies with concrete sectoral initiatives. As a first

step in this direction, Ministers invited the Commission to present an Action plan for clean and

energy-efficient vehicles, including the growing role of fully electric cars and plug in hybrids.

In addition, EU delegations highlighted the following aspects:

required industrial restructuring and transformation needs to be managed in a socially

responsible way.

The "credit crunch" was still considered a serious problem, in particular for SMEs, which

are called to play a central role in the recovery process. It was acknowledged the

importance of improving SMEs regulatory framework and the implementation of the Small

Business Act in order to stimulate business activities.

The cohesion and the awareness of different starting positions in member states will have

to be taken into consideration in the new industrial strategy.

With regard to the external dimension, Ministers called for a proactive raw materials

strategy, warned of the risk of carbon leakage and underlined the importance of an

appropriate international regulatory framework in order to achieve a global level playing

field.

Finally, Ministers called for a proactive new role of the Competitiveness Council in the framework

of the EU 2020 strategy.

At the end of the debate the Council adopted the conclusions set out in document

6391/10.

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INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS IN THE INTERNAL MARKET -

Resolution

The Council adopted the following resolution aimed at enhancing the enforcement of intellectual

property rights in the internal market:

6363/10.

NEW EUROPEAN STRATEGY FOR JOBS AND GROWTH

The Council held exchanges of views on a new EU strategy for the creation of growth and jobs,

following presentations by the Commission on the main elements of its communication on the EU

2020 strategy, which is to be published on 3 March.

The outcome of the debates, together with the Commission communication and the preparatory

work to be provided by relevant Council formations, will allow the Spring European Council

(25 and 26 March) to concentrate on the general framework of the strategy.

Both ministerial configurations, industry/internal market ministers on 1 March and research

ministers on 2 March, examined key aspects to start designing the architecture of the future strategy

from their respective fields of responsibility.

On the basis of questionnaires submitted by the Presidency

(6070/1/10

REV

and

6389/10),

the

discussions focused on the best possible actions to be taken at European level in order to foster

competitiveness, thus contributing to the new strategy for growth and jobs.

Delegations highlighted the need for setting up ambitious, realistic and clear objectives involving

political commitment for member states.

The debates showed a high degree of convergence on several dimensions to be taken into account in

view of the launching of the future strategy, including:

–

the importance of deepening the single market, to give it a new political impetus and to

keep it attractive for third countries by avoiding protectionism;

the necessity to reinforce a European industry capable of making progress in the new

challenges towards a sustainable and green economy;

the convenience of setting objectives close to the concerns of European citizens,

considering their social dimension and favouring geographical cohesion;

–

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–

the opportunity of placing research and innovation at the heart of the different EU policies

in the new agenda;

the focus of research in the major upcoming societal challenges, such as climate change,

energy, food security, health and demography; and

the development of the European Research Area.

–

Ministers also made interventions on the concrete use of appropriate tools to better achieve these

targets. It was mentioned:

–

investment in innovative technologies;

the reinforcement of the physical infrastructure of transport and energy networks;

the development of key elements to benefit from the full potential of the internal market:

the digital agenda, the protection of industrial and intellectual property rights, the

facilitation of electronic transactions, the implementation of the services directive, etc.;

the improvement of the regulatory framework for enterprises, in particular for SMEs, and

the improvement of their conditions on access to financing and to innovation;

the simplification of the available instruments for scientific research and their efficient use;

the promotion of human capital (education and training, better conditions for researchers,

etc.); and

the strengthening of the three sides of the "knowledge triangle": education, business and

research.

–

The new strategy is also expected to combine a successful exit from the general economic crisis

with an ambitious structural reform agenda with actions at both EU and national levels.

The crucial role that the Competitiveness Council will have to play in the coordination,

implementation and monitoring of the future strategy was also acknowledged.

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EUROPEAN RESEARCH COUNCIL: REVIEW OF ITS STRUCTURE AND

MECHANISMS -

Council conclusions

The Council adopted the following conclusions on the review of the structures and mechanisms of

the European Research Council:

6666/10.

MOBILITY AND CAREERS OF EUROPEAN RESEARCHERS -

Council conclusions

The Council adopted conclusions on the mobility and careers of researchers and agreed to forward

them to the employment and social policy ministers for an exchange of views on 8 March.

The conclusions are set out in

6362/2/10

EUROPEAN EARTH OBSERVATION PROGRAMME (GMES) AND ITS INITIAL

OPERATIONS (2011-2013)

The Council took note of a Presidency progress report

(6069/10)

on a draft regulation on the

European Earth observation programme (GMES) and its initial operations (2011-2013).

The draft regulation is aimed at establishing GMES as an operational programme by providing

additional funds for its initial operations, in order to enable a gradual build-up of capabilities up to

the end of the current EU financial framework in 2013.

The proposal, which was presented by the Commission in May 2009 (10285/09), is currently under

examination by EU experts with a view to reaching an early agreement with the European

Parliament. The main outstanding issues of the proposal are the funding for 2011 to 2013, the

governance and the treatment of data and the information policy.

GMES is an EU-led initiative to develop Europe's own operational Earth observation capacity in

order to collect information about the planet’s physical, chemical and biological systems or, more

generally, monitoring of the natural environment. It draws on both space-based (i.e. satellites) and

ground-based installations. Data collected via satellites are processed to provide information

services allowing better management of the environment and enhancing security for citizens.

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BALTIC SEA RESEARCH PROJECT ("BONUS-169 PROGRAMME")

During a public session, the Council took note of a Presidency report on the ongoing work aimed at

approving the participation by the Community in a research project in the Baltic Sea ("BONUS-169

programme") undertaken by several EU countries

(6046/10).

The Commission and the Baltic countries made statements highlighting the importance of the

project for the Baltic region.

BONUS-169 is a joint research programme undertaken by the eight Baltic Sea member states

(Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden) in support of the

Baltic Sea region's sustainable development.

Its main objective is to provide an effective response to key challenges in the region in relation to

environmental protection and sustainable development, tourism, aquaculture, food safety, maritime

transport and socio-economic issues (15234/09).

BONUS-169, which is in line with the objectives of the European strategy for maritime research

and the Union's strategy for the Baltic Sea region, is to be considered as a pilot case for other

similar regional initiatives. Moreover, the initiative is also intended to help the establishment and

structuring of the European Research Area in the region.

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OTHER BUSINESS

Ministerial working lunch

Over lunch on 1 March, ministers exchanged views on priority areas for reinvigorating the single

market and the links between market integration in goods, services, labour and capital and the social

and citizens’ dimensions of Europe. The informal debate followed an introduction by Mr Mario

Monti, president of Bocconi University, who has been entrusted with the mission of drawing up a

report on the future of the internal market.

Mr Antonio Tajani, new commissioner for industry and entrepreneurship, and Mr Michel Barnier,

new commissioner in charge of internal market and services, also attended the ministerial lunch.

The research ministers’ informal working lunch on 2 March was devoted to the development of the

European Research Area and targets and indicators to measure it, with the participation of the new

commissioner for research, innovation and science, Mrs Máire Geoghegan-Quinn.

Copenhagen Conference on climate change: implications for European industry

The Commission presented oral information on the outcome of the Copenhagen Conference of

December 2009 and its impact on EU efforts for climate change and transforming Europe into a

low-carbon economy.

Informal Competitiveness Council on 8 and 9 February

The Presidency briefed the Council on the outcome of the informal Competitiveness Council

meeting that took place in San Sebastián, Spain, on 8 and 9 February

(6760/1/10).

At the meeting, ministers responsible for research discussed the upcoming challenges with regard to

the European Research Area. During the second part of the meeting the Spanish Presidency

undertook to promote a European strategy on electric vehicles and to continue the debate at the

Competitiveness Council in May.

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Electric vehicles: standardisation

The Presidency and the Commission provided information on the state of play and the steps to be

taken with a view to adopting a harmonised type-approval system for both purely electric (propelled

exclusively by the power stored in their batteries) and hybrid vehicles (combination of electric

propulsion with internal combustion engines), taking into account environmental performance

(6827/10).

Development of the internal market - Services directive

The Council took note of the state of transposition of the directive on services into national law, as

it stands two months after the expiry of the transposition deadline. A report delivered by the

Commission

(6817/10)

points out the need for urgent action on several issues and in a number of

EU member states.

This directive, adopted in 2006, aims at eliminating obstacles to trade in services, allowing the

development of cross-border operations, bringing down prices and improving quality and choice for

consumers. The Council adopted conclusions on this subject on 16 February 2010

(6060/10).

The Commission also presented the following three reports:

–

The Internal Market Scoreboard No 20: state of play of implementation by member states

of internal market directives into national law;

Report on the SOLVIT system (an online internal market problem-solving network);

Report on the “Citizens Sign Post Service”, a service that provides personalised advice to

individual citizens in relation to the rights they enjoy under single market rules.

–

Moreover, the Commission presented statistics on the use of the Internal Market Infomation (IMI)

system in 2009. IMI is an electronic tool developed to improve communication between member

states' administrations for a more effective day-to-day cooperation in the implementation of internal

market legislation

(6922/10).

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ITER experimental fusion reactor project

The Council took note on preparations carried out by the Commission with a view to the

forthcoming meetings of the Council of the ITER International Fusion Energy Organisation. It also

took note of the appointment of Mr Frank Briscoe (UK) as the new director of the "Fusion for

Energy" Agency, the joint undertaking that manages Europe’s contributions to the ITER project

(http://fusionforenergy.europa.eu/).

Public-Private partnership initiatives

The Commission presented a report on the development of the following public-private partnership

(PPP) initiatives: "Factories of the future", "Energy-efficient buildings" and "Green cars". The three

PPPs will commit €3.2 billion over the period 2010-2013, with half coming from private sources

and half from the EU’s Seventh framework programme for research.

This will be one of the main topics of the upcoming conference entitled "The European framework

programme: from recovery to sustainability", scheduled to take place in Valencia, Spain, on 13 and

14 April.

On 19 November 2009, the Commission presented its communication entitled: "Mobilising private

and public investment for recovery and long-term structural change: developing PPPs".

The Commission also submitted a report on a PPP for the future of the Internet (6807/10), following

its proposal for a EU-wide Internet innovation strategy, presented in October 2009. Current research

efforts on the future Internet are addressed in more than 90 EU-funded projects involving some

€400 million.

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Event on information and communication technologies for energy efficiency

The Council took note of the outcome of the second edition of the high-level event on information

and communication technologies for energy efficiency that took place in Brussels on 23 and

24 February. On 9 October 2009 the Commission adopted a recommendation on this subject

(14450/09).

Euro-Mediterranean conference on education, research and innovation

The Council took note of information by the Slovenian delegation on the preparations for the

Euro-Mediterranean ministerial conference on higher education, research and innovation that will

take place in Brdo, Slovenia, on 25 April.

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OTHER ITEMS APPROVED

COMMON FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY

Restrictive measures (Eritrea - Iraq - Liberia - Somalia)

Eritrea

The Council adopted a decision

(5534/10)

imposing restrictive measures against Eritrea in line with

United Nations Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 1907 (2009).

For more details, see (6383/10).

Iraq

The Council adopted a decision amending common position 2003/495/CFSP on Iraq, implementing

UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution 1905 (2009)

(5789/10).

UNSC resolution 1905 (2009) extends, until 31 December 2010, the arrangements for depositing

proceeds from export sales of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas into the

Development

Fund for Iraq

and the immunity from legal proceedings of certain Iraqi assets, as referred to in

UNSC resolutions 1483 (2003) and 1546 (2004).

In addition, the Council adopted a regulation amending regulation 1210/2003 concerning certain

specific restrictions on economic and financial relations with Iraq

(5791/10),

in order to implement

the above mentioned measures at Community level.

Liberia

The Council adopted a decision amending the current restrictive measures on arms against Liberia

in order to implement the resolution 1903 adopted by the United Nations Security Council on

17 December 2009.

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Somalia

The Council adopted a decision amending common position 2009/138/CFSP concerning restrictive

measures against Somalia, in order to bring it in line with UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution

1907 (2009)

(5502/09).

Last December, the UN Security Council adopted resolution 1907 (2009) introducing additional

restrictive measures against Somalia and calling upon all States to inspect, in accordance with their

national legislations and consistent with international law, all cargoes to and from Somalia, in their

territory, including seaports and airports, provided that there exist reasonable grounds to believe

that the cargo contains items prohibited under the arms embargo to Somalia.

In February 2009, the Council adopted common position 2009/138/CFSP implementing UNSC

resolution 1844 (2008), which introduced restrictive measures against those who seek to prevent or

block a peaceful political process, or those who threaten the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs)

of Somalia or the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) by force, or take action that

undermines stability in Somalia or the region.

TRADE POLICY

Anti-dumping - Imports of furfuryl alcohol from China

The Council adopted a regulation amending regulation 1202/2009 imposing a definitive

anti-dumping duty on imports of furfuryl alcohol originating in China following a 'new exporter'

review pursuant to regulation 1225/2009

(6334/10).

ENVIRONMENT

The Council decided not to oppose the adoption of a Commission decision to establish a register for

biocidal products.

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Under the regulatory procedure with scrutiny, the Council can oppose an act which exceeds the

implementing powers of the Commission, is not compatible with the aim or content of the basic

instrument or does not respect subsidiarity or proportionality if the regulatory committee previously

supported the envisaged measures.

Trade with illegally harvested timber*

The Council adopted its first-reading position on a draft regulation laying down the obligations of

operators who place timber and timber products on the European market (6527/1/10

REV 1

6527/1/10 ADD 1 REV 1

5885/10

5885/10 ADD 1).

The Netherlands voted against, while the

United Kingdom abstained. The future regulation is aimed at minimising the risk of placing

illegally harvested timber and timber products on the EU market. During a written procedure

completed on 29 January 2010, the Council reached political agreement on its first-reading position.

For further details, see

5688/10.

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