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Europaudvalget 2008-09
Det Europæiske Råd 18-19/6-09 Bilag 2
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COUNCIL OF

THE EUROPEAN UNION

Brussels, 9 June 2009

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POLGEN 101

NOTE

from:

to:

Subject:

Presidency

COREPER/Council

European Council (18 and 19 June 2009)

– Draft conclusions

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

European Council on 18 and 19 June 2009.

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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.

Institutional issues

p.m.

II.

Economic, financial and social situation

The European Union, like the rest of the world, continues to face the effects of the deepest

and most widespread recession in the post-war era. It is therefore imperative for the EU to

continue to develop and implement the measures required to respond to the crisis, building on

the important achievements of the past months. As evidenced by the Council's report

assessing the national recovery measures (XXX/09), the significant measures taken by

governments and central banks have contributed to limiting the negative effects of the

downturn and have played a role in protecting jobs. They also pave the way towards a

sustainable economic recovery

At the global level, the EU is leading the way in implementing its G20 commitments under

the Washington and London Summit declarations and in developing new ideas for global

financial governance. It calls on all parties to accelerate their efforts to support the recovery

ahead of September G20 Summit.

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Building a new order in financial markets

The Council's report on the effectiveness of financial support schemes (XXXX/09) underlines

the extent to which state guarantees and recapitalisation operations have been crucial in

preventing a meltdown of the financial sector and have played a positive role in protecting the

interests of depositors. By supporting the flow of credit to the real economy they also

contribute to protecting jobs.

Although this coordinated strategy at the EU level has been effective in stabilising financial

markets, the banking sector remains under stress and credit flows continue to be constrained.

Governments must therefore stay alert to possible further measures which may be needed.

Any further actions must be consistent with single market principles and take into account a

credible exit strategy. The Commission is invited to provide further guidance on the valuation

of impaired banking assets as well as on the return of the banking sector to viability.

The financial crisis has clearly demonstrated the need to improve the regulation and

supervision of financial institutions, both in Europe and globally. Addressing the failures

exposed by the present crisis will contribute to preventing future crises. It will also help

restore confidence in the financial system, in particular by enhancing the protection of savers

and consumers, and thus facilitate the recovery of the European economy.

Important progress has already been achieved on improving the EU's regulatory framework,

in particular with the agreement reached on the Capital Requirements Directive, the Credit

Rating Agencies Regulation and the Solvency II Directive. The European Council calls for

rapid progress to be made in the field of regulation of financial market, notably on the

regulation on alternative investment funds and on improved capital requirements for banks. It

also invites the Member States to rapidly take action on executives' remunerations taking

account of the recommendations made by the Commission.

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The communication presented by the Commission on 27 May 2009 sets out the way forward

to establish a new framework for macro- and micro-prudential supervision. The European

Council agrees with the creation of a European Systemic Risk Board which will monitor and

assess potential threats to financial stability and, where necessary, issue recommendations for

action. It also recommends that a European System of Financial Supervisors be established,

aimed at safeguarding financial soundness at the level of individual financial firms and

protecting consumers of financial services.

The European Council welcomes the Commission's intention to bring forward, as soon as

possible, the legislative proposals to put in place the new framework for EU supervision,

taking full account of the Council conclusions of 9 June 2009. These proposals need to be

swiftly adopted in order for the new framework to be fully in place in the course of 2010. The

European Council will take stock of progress at its meeting in December 2009 and if

necessary provide further impetus.

It is equally important to rapidly advance work on building a comprehensive cross-border

framework for the prevention and management of financial crises. The European Council

therefore invites the Commission to rapidly come forward with appropriate initiatives in this

regard.

10.

By implementing ambitious responses to the crisis, including the development of a strong

regulatory and supervisory framework, the European Union will continue to be able to take

the lead at the global level. The European Council invites the Presidency and the Commission

to ensure a thorough preparation by the EU of the 24/25 September 2009 G20 Summit. It also

calls on the Presidency and the Commission to take up the issue of global regulation and

supervision systematically in contacts with international partners, including at the highest

level.

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Strengthening efforts to support employment

11.

The fight against unemployment remains a major priority. Whilst action in this field lies first

and foremost with the Member States, the European Union has an important role to play in

providing and improving the common framework required to ensure that measures taken are

coordinated, self-supporting and in line with single market rules.

12.

The European Council stresses the need not only to tackle the current recession, but also to

improve the entrepreneurial environment in Europe and transform Europe into a competitive,

knowledge-based, inclusive, innovative and eco-efficient economy. The European Union and

its Member States must assert their will to put people at the centre of their recovery plans.

13.

The informal Prague Employment Summit discussed concrete actions to help alleviate the

employment and social consequences of the crisis. In the context of this discussion three

priority areas which should receive particular attention were identified, both within the

recovery packages of the Member States and within the initiatives launched at European level:

(i) maintaining employment, creating new jobs and promoting mobility; (ii) upgrading skills

and matching labour market needs; (iii) increasing access to employment. Furthermore, the

Commission in its communication of 3 June 2009 developed those priorities into concrete

actions which can be supported through the European Social Fund. These measures show that

an accelerated mobilisation of existing resources and their better use can help the Member

States to find new ways of coping with unemployment and equipping people with the skills

and training needed for the jobs of the future.

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III. Climate change and sustainable development

14.

The international community must respond in a coherent manner to the challenges posed by

both the economic and financial crisis and climate change. Doing so will open up new

opportunities and make it possible to move to a low-carbon economy capable of generating

sustainable growth and creating new jobs. The time has therefore come to take on the

commitments needed to limit global warming to under 2°C.

15.

The European Union once again calls on all parties to cooperate in reaching an ambitious and

comprehensive agreement at the Copenhagen Conference and to speed up the pace of

negotiations to this end. It underlines the important role of high level international meetings in

advancing discussions and looks forward to a positive contribution by the G8 meeting in July

to the UN process. To build up this global process the EU has addressed the issue of climate

change at recent summits with Canada, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the

USA.

16.

The European Union stands ready to play a leading role in this process. It has itself entered

into an ambitious and legally binding commitment to reduce its CO

emissions by 20%

by 2020 compared to 1990 levels. Provided that other developed countries commit themselves

to comparable emission reductions and that developing countries contribute adequately

according to their responsibilities and respective capabilities, the Union is ready to increase its

commitment to 30%. The efforts the Union expects of the developed countries and the

developing countries, especially the most advanced among them, by 2020 are set out in the

conclusions of the Council of March 2009.

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17.

All countries, except the least developed, should contribute to the financing of the fight

against climate change in developing countries. The main principles of contribution should be

the ability to pay and the responsibility for emissions.

The European Union will contribute its

fair share of international public support for actions for mitigation and adaptation, in

particular in the least developed countries. Financing mechanisms should as far as possible

build on existing - and if necessary, reformed - instruments and institutions. The Union's

position on the international financing of climate change is set out in more detail in the

conclusions of the Council of 9 June 2009.

18.

The European Council calls on the Council and the Commission to develop a work program

to ensure that there is sufficient time for internal EU coordination and decision making prior

to important international meetings which will prepare the December Copenhagen

Conference. It invites the Commission to table proposals in this regard as soon as possible in

the light of developments in negotiations underway. The European Council will continue

reviewing this question.

19.

Sustainable development is a fundamental objective of the European Union, to which climate

change policy constitutes a significant contribution. Sustainable development should also be

pursued through an integrated approach to the specific challenges facing particular regions.

The European Council accordingly calls for work to be taken forward rapidly on the

Commission's communication on the Baltic Sea region with a view to adopting a Strategy on

the Baltic Sea Region at its meeting in October 2009. It also invites the Commission to

present an EU strategy for the Danube region before the end of 2010.

This is without prejudice to the internal EU burden sharing which will be determined in good

time before the Copenhagen Conference.

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IV. Illegal immigration

20.

Recent events underline the urgency of strengthening efforts to prevent and combat illegal

immigration in an efficient manner at the EU Southern maritime borders and thus prevent

future human tragedies. A genuine European response guided by both firmness and solidarity

in line with the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum and the Global Approach to

Migration is essential. Their implementation must be stepped up. All activities in the Western

Mediterranean region and at the Eastern and South-Eastern borders need to continue.

21.

The European Council calls for significant strengthening of concrete cooperation with the

main countries of origin and transit in managing migration, border control, return and

readmission, the reception of asylum seekers and protection of those in need of international

protection, including cooperation with relevant international organizations active in those

countries. The European Council urges the Council to take this fully into account when

preparing the new multi-annual framework programme in the area of Freedom, Justice and

Security.

External relations

[Pakistan

and Afghanistan]

[Future

of the European Security]

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