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Europaudvalget 2005-06, Det Udenrigspolitiske Nævn 2005-06, Forsvarsudvalget 2005-06, Udenrigsudvalget 2005-06
Det Europæiske Råd 15-16/12-05 Bilag 3, UPN Alm.del Bilag 27, FOU Alm.del Bilag 46, URU Alm.del Bilag 72
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COUNCIL OF

THE EUROPEAN UNION

Brussels, 29 November 2005

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LIMITE

POLGEN 41

NOTE

from:

to:

Subject:

Presidency

COREPER / Council

European Council (15 and 16 December 2005)

– Draft conclusions

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 notes the report from the President of the Commission on work

underway on a number of key priorities designed to ensure that the EU responds successfully

to the challenges and opportunities of globalisation; and from the SG/HR on CFSP and

Europe’s place in the world. The European Council agrees to return to these issues under the

Austrian Presidency.

The European Council recalls the importance of the common European values of solidarity,

social justice and sustainability as the basis for the development of the Union's policies. This

constitutes the framework in which the guidelines set out in these conclusions should be taken

forward.

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Recalling the EU’s support for an effective multilateral system based on the rule of law, and a

United Nations better equipped to meet the challenges of the 21

Century, the European

Council underlines its commitment to early and full implementation of the reforms and

commitments agreed at the 2005 UN World Summit.

The European Council notes the joint UK-Austrian interim report on national debates on the

future of Europe underway in all Member States, further to the Declaration by the Heads of

State or Government at the June 2005 European Council on this issue. The European Council

will return to the issue in the first half of 2006 under the Austrian Presidency on the basis of

preparatory work in the General Affairs Council.

FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVES

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II.

AFRICA

The European Council adopts the EU strategy "The EU and Africa: Towards a Strategic

Partnership" as called for by the June 2005 European Council (attached at Annex X); it

stresses the importance of enhanced EU-Africa political dialogue and agrees to review

progress on the implementation of the Strategy regularly, starting in June 2006.

III. GLOBAL APPROACH TO MIGRATION

[In the light of Member States' comments on our original paragraphs, and ahead of the Commission

Communication due on 30 November, the Presidency will circulate separately a discussion paper

for Ministers at the JHA Council, for examination in Coreper. The Presidency will update this

section of the European Council conclusions and draft the "priority actions" paper in the light of

this Ministerial debate, and will circulate the relevant documents on 2 December].

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IV. COUNTER-TERRORISM

The European Council welcomes the agreement of the EU Counter-Terrorism Strategy

(attached at Annex X) which sets out a framework for work to prevent people turning to

terrorism, to protect citizens and infrastructure, to pursue and investigate terrorists, and to

improve the response to the consequences of attacks. The European Council notes that the

EU Counter-Terrorism Action Plan, the instrument for tracking implementation, is being

revised to ensure full coherence with the new Strategy.

The European Council also welcomed the progress made on priority dossiers as set out in the

Counter-Terrorism Co-ordinator's six monthly report. The European Council will monitor

progress on implementing the Counter-Terrorism Strategy at its meeting in June 2006.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The European Council [notes] [looks forward] to the presentation of the Commission's

Communication "xxx", proposing a renewed EU Sustainable Development Strategy for the

next 5 years. This ambitious and comprehensive strategy, including indicators and an efficient

monitoring procedure, should integrate the internal and external dimensions. It should be

based on a positive long-term vision, bringing together the Community's sustainable

development priorities and objectives in a clear, coherent strategy that can be communicated

simply and effectively to citizens and will be adopted at the June 2006 European Council.

VI. CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY

10.

The European Council welcomes the progress made during 2005 in developing a medium and

long-term EU strategy and re-invigorating the international negotiations on climate change.

In this context, the Council stresses the importance of:



work under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, including the

implementation of the Kyoto Protocol.

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

implementation of the Gleneagles Plan of Action with its strong emphasis on

technology transfer and managing the impacts of climate change.



taking forward the dialogue and technological co-operation agreed with India, China

and Russia, including at future summits, while working to develop partnerships with all

major energy-consuming countries.

11.

The European Council stresses the importance of an integrated approach to climate change,

energy and competitiveness objectives, and notes that strategies to invest in cleaner and more

sustainable energy both in the EU and more widely can support a range of policy objectives,

including energy security, competitiveness, employment, air quality and reduced greenhouse

gas emissions. In this context, the European Council welcomes the launch of the second

phase of the European Climate Change Programme and the Commission's intention to

develop an Action Plan on energy efficiency.

[This text will be updated following the Environment Council on 2 December and the

Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in

Montreal 28 November - 9 December.]

VII. GROWTH AND JOBS

12.

The European Council welcomes the Member States' National Reform Programmes and the

Commission's Community Lisbon Programme. It stresses the importance of National Reform

Programmes to strengthen the overall governance of the Lisbon Strategy and invites Member

States and the Council to monitor and evaluate their implementation and to take stock of

progress in reform, including in the context of the multilateral surveillance exercise. It recalls

the importance of taking all necessary action to implement the Lisbon Strategy and deliver the

jobs and growth agenda agreed at the Spring European Council and looks forward to the

Commission's January progress report. The European Council underlines the importance of

innovation, research and human capital for achieving higher employment and sustainable

growth across the European Union.

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13.

Taking due account of the principle of subsidiarity, and recalling the provisions of the IIA the

European Council stresses that an improved regulatory framework in the European Union, at

Community and Member States level, is key to delivering growth and jobs. Emphasis should

be placed on implementing commitments already made by all institutions.

14.

The European Council reaffirms the importance of reducing unnecessary burdens for business

and citizens, while respecting the acquis communautaire. In this respect it welcomes the

Commission's new programme for simplifying EU legislation

, and calls on the Council to

give high priority to progressing simplification proposals through the legislative system. It

welcomes the Commission's screening initiative, notes the outcome and invites the

Commission to continue to monitor pending proposals in terms of their impacts, including

economic, social and environmental, with a view to modification, replacement or withdrawal,

where these would be appropriate.

The European Council welcomes the Commission's revised impact assessment system

including the commitment to prepare balanced integrated impact assessments for all major

legislative proposals and policy defining documents in its work programme. It calls on the

Council to make full use of Commission impact assessments as a tool to inform political

decision making. It reaffirms the importance of transparency in policy making and timely and

effective stakeholder consultation and looks forward to the comprehensive independent

evaluation of the Commission's impact assessment system to be launched early in 2006.

15.

Doc. 13976/05 COMPET 232 (COM (2005) 535 final)

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16.

The European Council welcomes the Commission Communication on an EU common

methodology for assessing administrative costs imposed by legislation

, and invites the

Commission to start measuring administrative burdens, on a consistent basis and in line with

transparent criteria, as part of integrated impact assessments launched as of January 2006. In

this context it notes with interest the important contribution this methodology could play in

identifying legislation in need of simplification and invites the Commission to explore options

for establishing measurable targets in specific sectors for reducing administrative burdens.

The European Council recognises the importance for Member States to provide, on request

and in a proportionate manner, the information needed to assess administrative costs imposed

by EU legislation.

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VIII. EXTERNAL RELATIONS

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Doc. 13629/05 ECOFIN 322 COMPET 221 (COM (2005) 518 final)

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