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Europaudvalget 2004-05 (1. samling)
Det Europæiske Råd 4-5/11-04 Bilag 4
Offentligt

Medlemmerne af Folketingets Europaudvalg

og deres stedfortrædere

Bilag

Journalnummer

400.C.2-0

Kontor

EUK

26. oktober 2004

Til underretning for Folketingets Europaudvalg vedlægges formandskabets

reviderede udkast til konklusioner vedrørende Det Europæiske Råds møde i

Bruxelles den 4.-5. november 2004, 13803/04.

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COUNCIL OF

THE EUROPEAN UNION

Brussels, 22 October 2004

13803/04

LIMITE

POLGEN 41

NOTE

From :

To :

Subject :

The Presidency

Coreper

European Council (4-5 November 2004)

– Draft conclusions

The Presidency hereby submits to Coreper a revised draft of the conclusions to be

arrived at by the European Council.

This draft may require updating in order to reflect the outcome of the JHA Council

(25/26 October 2004).

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The European Council discussed in particular



preparation of the Mid Term Review of the Lisbon Strategy

an area of Freedom, Security and Justice: the Hague Programme

communicating Europe

It also held discussions with the Prime Minister of Iraq, Mr Allawi.

The meeting of the European Council was preceded by an expose by the

President of the European Parliament, Mr Josep Borrell, followed by an

exchange of views.

The European Council met for the first time with the President of the new

Commission, Mr José Manuel Barroso, participating. It expressed its de-

sire to work constructively in the years ahead with both the newly elected

Parliament and the new Commission.

THE LISBON STRATEGY: PREPARING FOR THE MID TERM

REVIEW

The European Council confirmed the validity and relevance of the process

it set in motion in Lisbon in March 2000 aimed at enhancing substantially

the competitiveness of European economies through a balanced strategy

with an economic, social and environmental dimension. It encouraged the

Council to build on the progress made since the Spring meeting and to

maintain the momentum of its work. It reiterated the importance of the im-

plementation of agreed measures by the Member States.

The European Council stressed the importance of the Mid Term Review at

the 2005 Spring European Council for providing renewed impetus to the

Lisbon Strategy. In this connection it welcomed a presentation by

Mr Wim Kok, Chairman of the High Level Group advising the Commis-

sion on its preparations for the Mid Term Review. The presentation was

followed by an exchange of views.

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The European Council welcomed the new European Commission's inten-

tion to make implementation of the Lisbon Strategy a key component of its

policy. In this connection it invited the President of the Commission, on

the basis of the Report by the High Level Group chaired by Mr Kok and

taking into account views of Member States, to bring forward proposals by

the end of January 2005 for the Mid Term Review. The European Council

invited the Council to examine these proposals in good time and looks

forward to further concrete contributions with a view to the successful im-

plementation of the Lisbon Strategy in all its dimensions to promote sus-

tainable economic growth and employment.

The European Council took note of the exchange of views at the Tripartite

Social Summit and, recognising the key role social partners play at all lev-

els in relation to modernisation of the labour market and anticipation of

change, invited them to commit to the Mid Term Review on a more effec-

tive implementation of the Lisbon Strategy.

The European Council noted with satisfaction that a programme of actions was

undertaken to drive the joint initiative on better regulation forward. EU in-

stitutions have made good progress towards developing a common meth-

odology for impact assessments and adapting working methods for the

simplification programme, as foreseen in the Inter Institutional Agreement

on Better Lawmaking.

The European Council further welcomed



the recommendations by the Economic Policy Committee regarding

a common methodology for measuring administrative burdens;



the Commission's intention to present shortly a communication on

this issue;

the cooperation between the Commission and Member States in pilot

projects aiming at the further determination of this methodology, to

be completed as soon as possible in 2005.

The European Council called on the Commission to implement the metho-

dology in its guidelines for impact assessments and working methods for

simplification after finalisation of the pilots.

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The European Council welcomed the progress made by the Commission,

Member States and the Council towards establishing Council priorities for

simplification of existing Community legislation and invited the Commission

to include these in its rolling simplification programme. It noted that the pri-

orities are likely to be identified in the [agriculture, environment, e-commerce,

transport and statistics] sectors. It invited the Council to pursue work prima-

rily within these selected sectors and to identify, at its November meeting, ag-

reed priorities in the form of a shortlist of 10-15 legal acts.

The 2005 Spring Council will discuss better regulation in the context of the

Lisbon Mid Term Review.

II.

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY AND JUSTICE: THE HAGUE

PROGRAMME

The security of the European Union and its Member States has acquired a new

urgency, especially in the light of the terrorist attacks in the United States

on 11 September 2001 and in Madrid on 11 March 2004. The citizens of

Europe rightly expect the European Union, while guaranteeing respect for

fundamental freedoms and rights, to take a more effective, joint approach

to cross-border problems such as terrorism, organised crime, illegal migra-

tion as well as trafficking in and smuggling of human beings.

Five years after the European Council's meeting in Tampere, when it agreed on a

programme which laid the foundation for important achievements in the

area of freedom, security and justice, it is time for a new programme to en-

able the Union to build on these achievements and to effectively meet the

new challenges it will face. To this end, it adopted a new multi-annual

programme for the next five years, to be known as the Hague Programme,

which is attached to these conclusions. This programme reflects the ambi-

tions as expressed in the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe and

contributes to the preparation of the Union for its entering into force. It

takes full account of the evaluation by the Commission as welcomed by

the European Council in June 2004 as well as the Recommendation on the

use of qualified majority voting and co-decision procedure adopted by the

European Parliament on 14 October 2004.

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The Hague Programme deals with all aspects of policies relating to the

area of freedom, security and justice including their external dimension,

notably fundamental rights and citizenship, asylum and migration includ-

ing border management, integration, the fight against terrorism and organ-

ised crime, justice and police cooperation, and civil law, while a drugs

strategy will be added in December 2004. In conjunction, the European

Council considers that creating appropriate European legal instruments and

strengthening practical and operational cooperation between relevant na-

tional agencies as well as timely implementation of agreed measures are of

vital importance.

In the light of this Programme, the European Council invites the Commission to

present an Action Plan in 2005 with proposals for concrete actions and a

timetable for their adoption and implementation. Furthermore, it invites

the Commission to present to the Council an annual report on implementa-

tion of Union measures ("scoreboard"). Member States shall provide the

relevant information to this end. In this context, the European Council em-

phasised the importance of transparency and the involvement of the Euro-

pean Parliament.

The European Council called on the Council to ensure that the timetable for each

of the various measures is observed.

Without prejudice to the eventual Financial Framework 2007-2013, the Europe-

an Council noted that due account should be taken of the financial implica-

tions of the multi-annual agenda for the area of freedom, security and jus-

tice.

The European Council will review progress on the Hague Programme in the

second half of 2006.

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III. COMMUNICATING EUROPE

The European Council reiterated the need to strengthen awareness among

citizens of the importance of the work of the Union and welcomes the out-

come of the meeting of the Ministers of European Affairs dedicated to this

subject. It encourages also future presidencies to continue discussion of

this matter, including examination of possibilities for televised public de-

bates on European issues prior to European Council meetings. The citizens

of Europe hold essential values in common and politicians both at the na-

tional and the European level have a responsibility to communicate the

relevance of European cooperation and to involve Europeans, through pub-

lic debate and active citizenship, in decision making.

The European Council welcomed the special emphasis that the Commis-

sion places on communication, as demonstrated by the appointment of a

Vice President responsible for Communication. It welcomed the Commis-

sion's intention to present its communication strategy in good time before

the June 2005 European Council.

The European Council reiterated that the process of ratification of the

Constitutional Treaty provides an important opportunity to inform the pub-

lic about European issues. Member States may share information and ex-

periences on this process, notwithstanding that campaigns relating to rati-

fication remain the national responsibility of each Member State.

IV.

ENLARGEMENT

The European Council heard a presentation by the President of the Euro-

pean Commission on the Progress Reports, the Strategy Paper on En-

largement and Recommendations regarding the four candidate states as

well as the study on Issues arising from Turkey's membership perspective

published by the Commission on 6 October 2004.

The European Council confirmed that, in line with previous conclusions, it

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will address outstanding enlargement issues at its meeting in December

2004.

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EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

Sudan

These conclusions will be prepared by PSC on 26 October and will include language on possible

further EU support to the African Union in its efforts to stabilise the situation in Darfur.

Iraq

The European Council met Iraqi Prime Minister Allawi to discuss the situ-

ation in Iraq and reiterated its strong support for the Iraqi Interim Govern-

ment. It welcomed the Iraqi determination to continue the political process

and assured the Prime Minister that the European Union will continue to

support the brave and difficult course the people of Iraq are steering to-

wards the restoration of security, democracy and the rule of law. In this

context, the European Council adopted the attached Declaration and en-

couraged the Council and the Commission to take the necessary action for

its implementation as a matter of urgency.

The text of the draft Declaration is to be circulated later in view of discussions still taking place in

the Council framework on the basis of the report of the Fact Finding Mission.

Middle East

The SG/HR will present his plans regarding the short and medium term (as announced at the

GAERC of 11 October) at the GAERC of 2 November. Draft conclusions will therefore only

become available shortly before the European Council.

Iran

The Presidency will propose a draft text for these conclusions shortly before the European Council.