The Week in Europe 19-25/03/03

The Week in Europe 19-25/03/03

EU news in brief

Statement on Iraq by Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission

"This is a sad and sombre day for all nations around the world. The onslaught of war has put paid to the international community's efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Iraq crisis within the United Nations. Today we must all pray that the war will be short and as bloodless as possible and that it will bring the least possible disruption to the region. We trust that all involved will do their utmost to limit the number of civilian casualties. Iraq's territorial integrity must be preserved. The Commission is committed to delivering humanitarian aid quickly and effectively, under international auspices, where it is most needed. The United Nations has played an important role and it will continue to be crucial in the future. We need to concentrate all our efforts, under the auspices of the UN, on finding a solution that will bring a return to peace as soon as possible. Whatever the outcome of the war, there can be no denying this is a bad time for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, for the European Union as a whole, for the authority of the UN, for NATO, and for transatlantic relations. In war there are no winners, just losers. Today the leaders of the EU's nations will meet in Brussels to discuss the situation. The Commission urges all Member States to strive to build on what we share in our approach to the conflict now commencing. The Commission has worked hard with the Presidency of the Union to seek a common position and it will continue to do so. These difficult circumstances also show it is time to draw the lessons from this crisis. Europe can make an effective contribution to peace in the world only if its nations pull together within the European Union. We all agree that we owe our wealth and prosperity to the Union. It is not in our interest to continue relying on others when it comes to defending our values militarily. We must press forward with the Middle East peace process too. It is heartening to see the United States is now ready to proceed with the Road Map towards a two-State solution prepared several months ago within the international Quartet. We must now ensure this brings the implementation of these ideas urgently, not a protracted discussion on their validity with the parties. Peace in the Middle East is the key to stability throughout the region."

Conflict in Iraq: Commission sets aside EUR 21 million of humanitarian funding for possible victims

Following the news of military action against Iraq, Poul Nielson, the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid has announced an initial allocation of €21 million in humanitarian aid. Mr Nielson said: "Our key objective is to dispatch aid as speedily as possible to the victims of this crisis. Obviously, the exact scale and nature of the humanitarian needs over the coming days and weeks are not yet clear but what we do know is that, even in the best case scenario, a lot of people are going to need help. Our initial efforts are focused on ensuring that basic relief items such as medical supplies, tents, blankets and food are available for populations displaced as a result of the fighting and for other vulnerable groups." Further Information on ECHO activities can be found on our website at the following address:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/echo/field/iraq/index_en.htm

Iraq: Commission provides details of immediate humanitarian relief through the Red Cross (EUR 3 million)

Further to the announcement by Commissioner Nielson (SPEECH/03/146 and IP/03/416), the European Commission has released further details of its first humanitarian aid decision for civilians in Iraq. €3 million has been allocated by the Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) under the fast-track "primary emergency" procedure to provide at least 75,000 internally displaced people with emergency relief, through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). More details on ECHO activities in Iraq can be found on our website at the following address:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/echo/field/iraq/index_en.htm

[Background paper IP/03/422]

Pneumonia/SARS: EU's communicable disease network regularly updates health authorities on latest developments

The first two cases of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in the European Union have been confirmed by German health authorities. Several suspected cases of SARS have been reported by several EU Member States and accession country Slovenia. Scientists in Hong Kong claim to have identified the virus which is causing this atypical pneumonia. The Commission is monitoring the situation closely through the early warning and response system (EWRS) of the EU's network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases and is also in permanent contact with the World Health Organisation (WHO). To coordinate national measures, the Commission convened an extraordinary meeting of the EU's communicable disease network in Luxembourg. The main conclusions of the meeting are: the surveillance system has been working efficiently; SARS is spread from person to person only through close contact, people most at risk are therefore healthcare workers and family members of SARS cases; special guidance has been given to airlines and medical professionals; Member States continue to update regularly on the situation through the EWRS. Putting the issue in a broader public health perspective, Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner David Byrne said: "Cases like SARS demonstrate only too clearly that contagious diseases require a high level of preparedness across borders. Imagine if it had been an influenza pandemic which, in the past, had a devastating impact on humans. In order to meet the contemporary public health threat of communicable diseases, we must strengthen coordination and surveillance at Community level. The most effective way to do so is by setting up a European centre for disease control." For further information on SARS see: http://www.who.int/.

[Background paper IP/03/409]

EU and Russia advance space co-operation agenda

European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin met Mr Yuri Koptev, Director-General of Rosaviakosmos, the Russian Space Agency. They discussed current and future progress in Euro-Russian co-operation in space, within the "Space Partnership". They addressed the need for common research on the EU Global Monitoring for the Environment and Security (GMES) satellite programme, on launchers and on the satellite positioning systems GALILEO and GLONASS. The Green Paper on European Space Policy, elaborated jointly by the European Commission and the European Space Agency, was also on the agenda. Moreover, Russia can now participate in EU projects as a full and equal partner under the EU 6th Research Framework Programme (2003-2006). Commissioner Busquin and Mr Koptev discussed opportunities for joint research projects in the space field. They exchanged views on long-term issues such as the joint exploration of the solar system and new spaceship engines. For further information please visit:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/space/index_en.html

[Background paper IP/03/413]

Greek Presidency and Commission launch first 'Tripartite Social Summit for Growth and Employment'

The first meeting of the Tripartite Social Summit for Growth and Employment took place on 20 March 2003 on the eve of the European Council's Spring Summit in Brussels. The summit, chaired by Greek President of the EU Costas Simitis and European Commission President Romano Prodi, exchanged views on implementation of the Lisbon strategy and the contribution of the social partners to achieving the goals of the strategy. The summit was also attended by Greek Minister for Employment and Social Affairs Dimitrios Reppas, Italian minister Roberto Maroni, Irish minister Frank Fahey, Employment and Social Affairs Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou and representatives of the social partners at the highest level.

Brussels European council - 20 and 21 March 2003

The European Council met in Brussels on 20 and 21 March for its third annual Spring meeting on the economic, social and environmental situation in the Union. The meeting was preceded by an exchange of views with the President of the European Parliament, Mr Pat Cox, on the main topics for discussion.

Heads of State or Government, Foreign and Finance Ministers also came together with their counterparts from the thirteen acceding and candidate countries to discuss the Lisbon Strategy and its implementation as well as international issues.

At its annual Spring meetings, the European Council assumes the central role in setting the direction for the Union's economic, social and environmental action in order to meet the objectives of the Lisbon strategy to make the European economy the most competitive and dynamic knowledge based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion.

At the end of its deliberations, the European Council signals its agreement on the following:

-on the priority objectives for the European Union concerning the Lisbon reform programme;

-on a number of orientations and specific measures in order to achieve these objectives;

Furthermore, it adopted conclusions on enlargement and on a number of international issues.

Full text of conclusions

Access to justice: Commission launches a new 11-language website for European citizens

Three months after the entry into force of the Council Decision establishing a European judicial network in civil and commercial matters, the Commission has brought on line a new website designed to provide the public with information about the law and legal practices of the individual Member States and about Community law and international law http://europa.eu.int/comm/justice_home/ejn/ Antonio Vitorino, the Commissioner with responsibility for justice and home affairs, welcomed this move, stating that "for the first time European citizens are to have access to a well-structured user-friendly website giving details of all the European legal systems. What is more the information is available in all eleven official languages of the European Union and is also free of charge."

[Background paper IP/03/423]

CAP reform: "Proposals boost less intensive farming and secure income rises for farmers", new studies say

The Commission has published two new impact analyses of the Commission proposals of January 2003 to reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The studies show that the Commission's proposal to sever the link between production and subsidy ("de-coupling") would favour the extensification of production and would secure significant income gains for EU farmers. According to the analysis, farm income would increase by 8.5 % compared to 2001. As to a scenario based on the existing policy (Agenda 2000), the income impact would be largely neutral for EU-15 (-0.1% in 2009). While beef production in the EU-15 is expected to fall by 2.7% in the medium-term, beef producers should see a price increase of 7% by 2009. For the new Member States, the CAP reform would secure the income gains generated by enlargement. In 2009, market income is expected to increase by 17% in real terms as compared to the situation in 2002 without enlargement. Taking account of the phasing-in of direct payments and rural development, this real income increase could reach more than 45%. De-coupling in the new Member States would produce similar trends to those in the EU-15, as producers' decisions would be driven by market considerations rather than by the maximisation of farm subsidies. Further details on the reform proposals at:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/mtr/index_en.htm

[Background paper IP/03/429]

Eurostat news releases

Fourth quarter 2002: production in the construction sector down by 0.8% in euro-zone; down by 0.2% in EU15

According to Eurostat, seasonally adjusted production in the construction sector decreased by 0.8% in the euro-zone and by 0.2% in the EU15 in the fourth quarter of 2002, compared to the third quarter of 2002. In the third quarter, production was stable in the euro-zone and increased by 0.4% in the EU15, after a decrease of 1.2% in both zones in the second quarter.

[Background paper STAT/03/33]

European cinema industry in 2001: Irish go to the cinema three times as often as Greeks and Finns; Cinema-going in the EU up by 10% in 2001

In 2001, cinema-going increased by 10.2% in the EU, to reach 930 million admissions. Box office receipts rose by 12.9%, to exceed 5 billion euro. On average across the EU, first estimates for cinema attendance in 2002 indicate the levels of admissions were little changed from 2001.

In 2001, the number of spectators increased in all Member States except Finland (-8%) and Belgium (-2%). The highest growth in the number of admissions was seen in Germany (+17%), France (+12%) and Denmark (+11%).

On average EU inhabitants went to the cinema 2.4 times in 2001, compared with 5.4 times in the US and 1.3 in Japan. Within the EU, the Irish were the most frequent cinema-goers in 2001 (4.2 admissions per inhabitant), followed by the Spanish (3.6), while at the other end of the scale the least fond of cinema-going were Finns and Greeks (both 1.3).

On the eve of the Oscar ceremony in the US, these findings come from a report published by Eurostat. The publication also includes data for Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, the United States and Japan.

Enlargement news

Slovenia votes strongly for EU membership

Some nine out of every ten voters said "yes" to the European Union in the referendum in Slovenia at the weekend - the first plebiscite on accession in central Europe. Provisional results of the legally-binding referendum showed 89.6% vote in favour of joining the EU - and 66% favour of joining NATO, too. See http://www.rvk.si/referendum/eu-nato/eng/

Slovene Prime Minister Anton Pop said he was delighted with the results, describing them as "the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. Dmitrij Rupel, Slovenia's foreign minister and long-time campaigner for independence, said the EU vote meant the transition is over for his country. And European Parliament President Pat Cox, who had gone to Slovenia for the referendum, congratulated Slovenian leaders with the observation: "You are back in Europe where you belong".

The European Commission welcomed "the overwhelming support the Slovenian people have expressed in favour of the accession of their country to the European Union". A Commission statement went on to note that "In these times of war, such a commitment to the European project, which is devoted to peace, stability and prosperity, has a special significance. Slovenia is going to join not only a strong economic community, but also a real Union based on the defence of the universal values of democracy and human rights…. We strongly hope that the States and the peoples of the United Europe will play together an even stronger role in defending and promoting such fundamental values."

The next referendum is in Hungary on April 12.

See http://europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/negotiations/accession_process.htm

EU summit looks ahead to Accession Treaty signature

European Union leaders at their Brussels summit last week found time amid the discussions of Iraq to agree a statement on EU enlargement, too. "Following the successful conclusion of the accession negotiations with Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia in Copenhagen in December 2002, the European Council welcomes the considerable efforts by all involved to finalise the Treaty and Act of Accession with a view to signing in Athens on 16 April 2003. This will be a momentous occasion, sealing the determination of both the present and future Member States to come together in pursuit of the European project", the European Council conclusions ran.

Parliament gives further support for enlargement

The European Parliament's foreign affairs committee last week strongly backed the accession of ten new member states in May 2004. In its vote in Brussels on March 19th it noted that some continuing problems remained to be tackled on corruption, democracy and human rights, and that it would pay special attention to these issues under the monitoring procedure that will take place between now and accession. But overall the committee gave its support to the enlargement process.

If an agreement is reached with the EU Council of Ministers on the Parliament's continuing dispute of the budget figures in the Accession Treaty, the committee's recommendation will be debated by the full plenary session of the Parliament in Strasbourg on April 9th. This is the date initially scheduled for the Parliament to give its formal assent: accession of any new country to the EU requires an absolute majority of all members of the Parliament - currently 314 out of 626 votes.

But Parliament still claims it has been sidelined by the Copenhagen deal on funding enlargement. So the foreign affairs committee also approved a recommendation drawn up jointly with the Parliament's budget committee, insisting that the EU heads of state or government either withdraw the fixed budgetary figures in the Accession Treaty or agree to raise the budgetary ceiling for internal policies. The full Parliament is scheduled to vote on this recommendation on 27th March - although it is possible that by then a compromise will have been reached with the Council.

The foreign affairs committee overwhelmingly endorsed the overall report on enlargement by its chairman, Elmar Brok, which gives the all clear to the Copenhagen deal. 55 members voted for, with two against, and one abstention. The decision "marks a significant step on the road to completing the union of the European continent. If the Parliament as a whole takes the Committee's lead on April 9th, then nothing would stand in the way of the ceremony marking the signing of the EU Accession Treaty under the Acropolis in Athens a week later, on April 16th," with the ten new member states, Brok said after the vote in Brussels.

The committee predicted that the arrival of ten new member states would help in "building an even stronger and more effective European Union, consolidating democracy and peace, strengthening its economy and sustainable development, based upon the shared values of liberty, respect for fundamental rights, good governance and the rule of law".

Certain MEPs had called for the Czech Republic to make a political gesture concerning the Czechoslovak Presidential Decrees of 1945. However, a declaration last week by newly-elected Czech president Vaclav Klaus, in which he stated that the post-war treatment of the Sudeten Germans was unacceptable by today's standards and the crimes committed against them, was seen by Brok as "enough … the political gesture we expected". As a result, the report on the Czech Republic went through, by 54 to 2 against. The text reads: "...we assume that following the entry of the new Member States, as per the treaty, all European Union citizens in all countries have the same rights, and cannot be discriminated against by any laws, judicial decisions, or official measures."

The results of the committee's votes on the reports were as follows

Cyprus: 57 in favour, 1 against, 2 abstentions

Czech Republic: 54 in favour, 2 against

Estonia: 56 in favour, 2 against, 0 abstentions

Hungary: 58 in favour, 1 against, 0 abstentions

Latvia: 55 in favour, 1 against, 2 abstentions

Lithuania: 57 in favour, 1 against, 2 abstentions

Malta: 58 in favour, 0 against, 2 abstentions

Poland: 53 in favour, 4 against, 3 abstentions

Slovakia: 56 in favour, 1 against, 2 abstentions

Slovenia: 56 in favour, 1 against, 1 abstention

MEPs also insisted that an enlarged EU should speak with a common voice on the international stage. The EU's new geo-political position as a result of the accession of ten new countries should not weaken its internal cohesion, they argued - and the committee urged current and future member states to cooperate actively right now in formulating a common foreign and security policy.

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