Week in Europe 8-14/10/03

EU news in brief

Poland and Spain insist on current voting weight in Council

Deep rift remains between Spain and Poland and the biggest EU Member States over voting rights in the Council. Based on the Nice Treaty, the two countries have a weight almost equal to that of other countries with far larger populations, including Germany. The new Constitution, however, would change that requiring the backing of at least half of the Member States representing 60 per cent of the EU's population in Council decisions.

Both French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder have alluded to the link between the approval of the Constitution and the priorities under the next financial perspectives (2007-2013).

In response, Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller has threatened to hold a referendum on the Constitution if the Polish position is not taken into account in the final draft.

Spanish European Affairs minister Ana Palacio has warned that the 60 per cent rule would give an unreasonable weight to big countries, and referred to the possible future accession of Turkey, which could become the most populous Member State one day. For more information see: www.euractiv.com

Czechs consider referendum on EU Constitution

The Czech Republic has joined a growing number of countries, including the UK, France and the Netherlands, pondering referenda on the EU's new Constitution.

Speaking at the Czech lower house of parliament's special session on 7 October, the Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla announced that his cabinet would propose a new general referendum law allowing for a plebiscite not only on the Constitution, but potentially on other issues as well.

The two main parties in opposition, the Civic Democrats and the Communists, are the chief promoters of a referendum on the EU Constitution. By contrast to the Social Democrats, they would prefer a special enabling legislation for each individual referendum. In June of this year, a specific piece of legislation enabling a referendum on EU accession was passed.

The Czech Republic is currently participating with full voting rights in the Intergovernmental Conference entrusted with the task of deciding on possible changes to the Convention's draft EU Constitution.

The eurosceptic Czech President, Vaclav Klaus, did not attend the opening session of the Intergovernmental Conference on 4 October.

The French want a referendum on the EU Constitution

According to a survey commissioned by Le Monde and released on 7 October, 74 per cent of the French wish to have a say on the new EU Constitution.

Three-quarters of the French would like a referendum on the EU Constitution, according to a survey published by Le Monde on 7 October. Even though eurosceptics were the strongest supporters of a referendum, a full 72 per cent supported the idea of a Constitution for Europe in principle. The poll also revealed that 47 per cent found Europe favourable to the economic growth of France, while 46 per cent thought the opposite. To 61 per cent, Europe is a "source of hope", while it is a "source of fear" for nearly 30 per cent. More than 40 per cent of the respondents declared that they did not receive sufficient information about Europe from their politicians.

If a referendum does take place, it would not be the first time the French have been consulted on a European issue. In 1992, only a small majority of French voters backed the Maastricht Treaty when various surveys had predicted 70 per cent support. The survey was conducted by telephone among 953 people representative of French society, on 3 and 4 October. A number of other current and "to-be" Member States are also engaged in debates over possible referenda on the EU Constitution, including the Netherlands, the UK and the Czech Republic.

[Background paper www.euractiv.com]

Digital technologies post-September 11th: more security but less privacy for the European citizen?

Will new technologies protect privacy or hamper it in the post-September 11 world? Trends in information society technology will have a significant impact on the balance between citizens' security and privacy, according to a report released by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC). The study on “Security and Privacy for the Citizen in the Post-September 11 Digital Age: A Prospective Overview”, commissioned by the European Parliament, analyses the security and privacy implications of three emerging technologies: identity management (on-line services based on the identification of the user), location-based services (focusing on local positioning and tracking of the user) and virtual residence in an ambient intelligence environment (with “smart” and mobile electronic devices connected to our home, office, car etc.). According to the report, there is a need to restore the balance in favour of privacy as the use of these technologies for some governmental or commercial actions stretch the ability of current legislation to provide adequate personal data protection.

For further information, please see

http://www.jrc.es/home/publications/publication.cfm?pub=1118

[Background paper IP/03/1344]

VAT: Commission welcomes Council adoption of rules for gas and electricity supplies

The European Commission has welcomed the Council's adoption of a Directive that modifies the rules for applying value added tax (VAT) to the supplies of gas and electricity so as to facilitate the Internal Market for energy. The new rules, based on a Commission proposal of 5 December 2002 (see IP/02/1823), will eliminate current problems of double taxation and non-taxation and distortions of competition between traders. They will do so by changing the place of taxation of natural gas in pipelines and of electricity from the place of supply to the place of consumption. The current rules worked adequately in a national context but are not appropriate now with market liberalisation and increasing cross-border supplies of gas and electricity. Member States must implement the new measures by 1 January 2005. The full text of the Directive will soon be available on the Europa internet site:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/taxation_customs/whatsnew.htm

[Background paper IP/03/1349]

Cinedays 2003: long live European cinema!

For the second consecutive year, at the initiative of the European Commission, Europe is celebrating its cinema: between 10 and 24 October nearly 600 cinemas, film archives, associations, festivals, regions and schools in 310 towns in 24 European countries, as well as 41 television channels, will be showing European films both the great classics and recent films organising debates, competitions and lessons in cinema. Following the success of the first festival which involved over 100 000 young people on the theme of education in the visual image Cinedays 2003 features greater involvement by the future Member States of the Union. For further information:

http://www.cinedays.org

[Background paper IP/03/1354]

Electronic Communications: European Commission launches infringement proceedings against eight Member States

After the entry into force of the new framework for electronic communications, the Commission has taken decisive action to ensure enforcement of the new framework by opening infringement proceedings against Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Portugal for failure to notify transposition measures. Erkki Liikanen, Commissioner for Enterprise and the Information society, said: “Following liberalisation of the European telecommunications markets in 1998, which has driven growth and innovation and the widespread availability of services to the public, the Commission now regards it as a priority to encourage timely transposition of the new framework for electronic communication. In addition to providing the legal predictability and regulatory flexibility necessary for continued investment in the sector, this will complement the eEurope objective of achieving competitive local access for internet services over broadband networks as cheaply as possible on a sustainable basis.”

[Background paper IP/03/1356]

Safety of smoke flavourings: Commissioner Byrne welcomes Council adoption of new Regulation

The Council has adopted the Regulation on smoke flavourings which will harmonise the substantially diverging national rules on the authorisation and use of smoke flavourings. Smoke flavourings are used to impart a smoky flavour to foods such as meat, fish or snacks. They are produced by condensing fresh smoke in water, after which the condensed smoke is purified. Because of the purification process, the use of smoke flavourings is generally considered to be less of a health concern than the traditional smoking process. The Regulation enters into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. Member States have to apply the new rules within the next 18 months, so latest in the beginning of 2005. Further information is available on the flavourings web site of the Commission's Health and Consumer Protection Directorate General:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sfp/addit_flavor/flavourings/index_en.html

[Background paper IP/03/1370]

Enlargement news

Portugal has ratified the Accession Treaty

On 3 October 2003, the Parliament of Portugal ratified the EU Accession Protocols by a unanimous vote.

The Treaty of Accession, signed on 16 April 2003 in Athens, has to be ratified by the 15 current and the 10 future EU Member States before enlargement can take place on 1 May 2004. Accordingly, Portugal has joined Germany and Denmark whose Parliaments have endorsed the accession to the EU by ten new Member States.

Report on Sapard welcomes contribution of this instrument on the enlargement process

This annual report on Special Pre-Accession Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (Sapard) has been prepared by DG Agriculture and published by the European Commission. It describes the work done in the framework of the Programme in the year 2002 as well as the results that have been achieved. To provide the reader with a comprehensive picture of the operational function of the Programme the report includes some additional developments of the early part of 2003. This is the first annual report that applies to all ten beneficiary countries and the outcome of its operation in preparation for accession. The report comments inter alia on the Conferral of Management of Aid to the ten candidate countries and on the reshaping of the legal framework with the introduction of a number of technical changes through the Annual Financing Agreement for 2002. It describes and presents other specific initiatives taken by the Commission to help with application of Sapard, such as helping to prepare Monitoring Committees, giving advice during them and ensuring follow-up of all initiatives taken in that context. This report includes a separate individual chapter with the summary reports contributed by beneficiary countries.

For the full text of the report please see:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/publi/reports/sapard2002/full_en.pdf

Commission approves major reorganisation of its Interpretation and Conference Service to prepare for enlargement and increase effectiveness

The European Commission has approved the transformation of the Joint Interpretation and Conference Service (known as SCIC) into a Directorate General for Interpretation (DG INCO), on a proposal by Vice-President for Reform Neil Kinnock. The main objectives are to ensure a smooth integration of the interpreters for the nine new languages as of the first day of enlargement, and reinforce management capacity to cope with the increase in the volume and complexity of the tasks to be carried out and by the increase in the number of staff, which should rise by roughly 40%, to 900 in total. The new DG will be organised around three Directorates, reflecting the main areas of activity of the DG : the management of intrepreters, who will be grouped into 5 interpretation departments within a single Interpretation Directorate ; the provision of services, responsible for programming of meetings and interpretation and improving performance ; and internal management of the DG, to implement internal controls, training, career development and the management of information technology. The reorganisation will be effective as of 15 October 2003.

Eurobarometer : latest survey shows growing support for key EU policies in acceding countries

Public support for a number of key European Union policy priorities is continuing to grow in the ten acceding and three candidate countries, according to the most recent Eurobarometer opinion survey. The survey is the latest in a series carried out in the ten countries due to join the EU next May as well as Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey. It asks a number of questions about citizens' attitudes on a range of issues relating to the EU and its policies as well as their own lifestyles and outlook. This survey questioned 12,126 people in the 13 countries between 16 June and 18 July. The results show a continued growth in support for accession to the EU, membership of the euro and joint EU decision-making in foreign and defence policy. The full report is available in English on paper and on the website of the Public Opinion Sector of the Commission at:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/public_opinion

and via the Commission's enlargement website at:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/opinion

[Background paper IP/03/1366]

Young Europeans have same pastimes, different views

Television, listening to music and meeting up with friends are the leisure pursuits that unite young people in the EU and the future member states, according to a new Eurobarometer survey released last week.

The mobile phone is the most common form of technology, although only three-quarters of young people in the acceding countries use a mobile phone every week, compared to four-fifths in the EU15. But young people in the future member states spend even more time on the computer (63% at least once a week, compared with 56% in the EU15), regularly checking the Internet (50% against 37%), and using e-mail (34% against 31%).

Young people in the acceding and candidate countries go less often to the cinema, to concerts or to the theatre, but slightly more of them enjoy reading and twice as many help with work around the house.

They know more foreign languages, too. A higher proportion of young people in the acceding and candidate countries than in the present Union know one, two or three foreign languages (two thirds can take part in a conversation in a language other than their mother tongue, and only 17% know no foreign language at all, as opposed to 32% in EU 15). As in the EU15, the main foreign language known by young people is English (47%, compared with 50% in EU 15). The next most common second languages are German (17%), Russian (8%) and French (7%).

Their social attitudes are noticeably different, the survey suggests. A higher proportion of young people in the acceding and candidate countries than in EU 15 think their generation favours compulsory AIDS testing (66% compared with 61%), compulsory medical treatment of paedophiles (74% compared with 62%), birth control for the poor (32% compared with 27%) and the death penalty (47% compared with 27%). At the same time, a lower proportion thinks that their generation favours euthanasia (39% compared with 50% in EU 15), homosexual marriages (38% compared with 59%) and child adoption by homosexual couples (19% compared with 40%). At the same time, 49% of young people in the acceding and candidate countries think there are not many foreigners in their country, compared with only 9% of respondents in the EU 15 survey, and 46% (compared with 27% in the EU) think that foreigners should have the same rights as their own country's nationals.

And young people in the acceding states have a more positive view of the European Union than their counterparts in the current member states. They see it chiefly as a hope of a better future (61% for the 13 countries and 47% for the 10 countries due to join in 2004, compared with 28% in EU 15). The main reasons given are job opportunities, freedom to move, and a better quality of life and more money.

"Young people in the acceding and candidate countries share similar tastes and lifestyles to those of young people in the 15 existing EU Member States", concluded Viviane Reding, the European Commissioner for Education and Culture, announcing the results. But they have "very high expectations of the Union, and these must be taken into account when preparing the next generation of European programmes for which I am responsible, and in which most of these countries are already participating," she said. For the full survey see http://europa.eu.int/comm/public_opinion/cceb_en.htm.

Enlargement looms large in EU-Ukraine summit

EU enlargement was the leitmotif of last week's meeting between Ukraine's president, Leonid Kuchma, and the EU's top foreign affairs figures Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, European Commission President Romano Prodi, Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, and European External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten. Not surprising, since Ukraine will become a direct neighbour of the EU from 1 May 2003, with borders with Poland, Slovakia and Hungary. A joint statement after their summit in Yalta noted "the background of the conclusion of a new wave of European Union enlargement" and emphasised that "sharing common goals and values", there will be "new opportunities and responsibilities for assuring peace, stability and prosperity in an indivisible Europe".

Ukraine reiterated its long-term strategic goal to be fully integrated into the EU, and the EU acknowledged these European aspirations and welcomed its "European choice". And both sides reconfirmed their commitment - declared in the April 2003 European Conference in Athens - to promote policies of political and economic rapprochement and gradual integration of social and economic structures.

There was agreement too that the EU's "Wider Europe - Neighbourhood" initiative would help Ukraine's progressive participation in the EU's internal market and in EU policies and programmes. This initiative, to build new links with all the EU's new neighbours, from Russia in the north-east to Morocco in the south-west, has been carefully phrased by the EU as a separate exercise from EU enlargement a distinction that Ukraine took note of during the summit.

The joint statement "welcomed the EU enlargement process and agreed that maintenance of traditionally close ties between Ukraine and the new EU member states is vital for regional stability, and will facilitate Ukraine's further integration with the EU." Discussions will continue on the impact of EU enlargement on all aspects of EU-Ukraine relations. And both sides endorsed the principle of co-operation on the integration of infrastructure networks between Ukraine and the EU in the context of EU enlargement particularly in energy and transport.

Estonians look forward to easier travel

The Estonian border guard service says it is now ready for the changes that EU membership will bring. Border guard chief of staff Colonel Aare Evisalu says the new arrangements "will significantly simplify Estonian citizens' travel in EU member countries". Border crossings will become faster for all EU citizens as border control procedures are simplified. "The border control of Estonian citizens leaving Estonia for an EU country will be reduced to the confirmation of identity on the basis of a travel document", he said. And going to Finland, just an hour or so away by fast ferry from Tallinn, "There will no longer be questions on the border as to whether the person is carrying enough money, why he or she is coming into the country and when he or she is going to leave it", said Evisalu. Full border and customs check-ups at Estonian borders will, however, only disappear after full application of the Schengen rules which will not happen until 2007 at the earliest, he conceded.