2007-2013 Financial Perspectives: New proposals from the EU Presidency and Parliament

On 2 June the Luxembourg Presidency presented a revised version of the “negotiating box” on the 2007-2013 Financial Perspectives. In its document, the Presidency proposes limiting commitment appropriations to a level in the region of 1.06% of the enlarged EU’s GDP (i.e. €864 billion over a seven-year period). The Presidency’s document also suggests progressively phasing out the British rebate, whereas Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden would benefit from measures enabling them to reduce their contribution to the EU budget. More specifically, the breakdown of the Presidency’s proposals is as follows:

• Competitiveness for growth and employment: €74 billion;
• Cohesion for growth and employment: €305 billion;
• Preservation and management of natural resources: The allocation for the new rural development instrument is estimated at €73-75 billion; additional appropriations amounting to €2 million have been earmarked to cover expenditure in respect of Bulgaria and Romania after accession. As for the rest, the document merely states that market expenditure and direct payments will be in line with the amounts approved by the European Council of October 2002;
• Freedom, security and justice: €7.4 billion;
• Other policies of direct interest to Europe’s citizens: €4.5 billion;
• The EU as a global partner: €51 billion (without taking into account the EDF, which would amount to €92 billion).

The European Parliament has also agreed on the amounts that it will advocate at the negotiations on the next Financial Perspectives. The figures proposed in the Böge Report are higher than those put forward by the Council and amount to 1.18% of the EU’s GDP in commitment appropriations (or €975 billion overall). The breakdown of the EP’s proposals is as follows:

• Competitiveness and cohesion: €459 billion;
• Preservation and management of natural resources: €369.2 billion;
• Citizenship, freedom, security and justice: €19.4 billion;
• The EU as a global partner: €70.6 billion.

The debate on the 2007-2013 Financial Perspectives will take place at the forthcoming European Summit of 16-17 June. Follow developments on: http://europa.eu.int/comm/councils/bx20050616/index_en.htm

 

 

News from the institutions

2007 designated as “European Year of Equal Opportunities for All”

The European Commission has decided to designate 2007 as “European Year of Equal Opportunities for All”. This initiative will be the cornerstone of a framework strategy to combat discrimination effectively and to promote diversity and equal opportunities for all .

The Commission intends to structure the European Year around four main themes:

• Rights: Increasing public awareness of the right to equal treatment and non-discrimination;
• Representation: Promoting a debate on ways of strengthening the social participation of under-represented groups;
• Recognition: C elebrating and welcoming diversity ;
• Mutual respect and tolerance: Working for a more cooperative, caring society.

The proposed €3.6 million budget will cover the preparatory actions implemented in 2006 as well as those implemented in the course of the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All (2007). In addition to the European Year, the Commission’s communication announces a number of other initiatives, among them the establishment of a high-level advisory group on the “social and labour market integration of disadvantaged ethnic minorities” , including the Roma. Gender equality issues will also be addressed during the European Year as well as in the wider context of the non-discrimination strategy. The framework strategy and the European Year are part of the follow-up to the broad public consultation undertaken by the Commission in 2004 on the basis of its Green Paper on “Equality and non-discrimination in an enlarged EU ”. For further details, visit:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/fundamental_rights/index_en.htm

A strategy to boost the digital economy

On 1 st June 2005, the European Commission adopted a new initiative to foster growth and jobs in the information society and media industries. Named “i2010”, this, the first initiative of its kind adopted within the framework of the revised Lisbon strategy, focuses on three policy priorities:

• To promote the digital convergence of communication networks, multimedia and ICT platforms. To this end, the Commission will propose a number of regulatory measures aimed at creating an open and competitive single market for information society and media services within the EU. In particular, these measures will concern the development of an efficient spectrum management policy, audiovisual media services, electronic communications, a strategy for a secure information society, and the management of digital rights.
• To increase EU investment in research on information and communication technologies (ICTs) and their impact by 80%, e.g. by means of trans-European “demonstrator projects” and by integrating small and medium-sized enterprises better in EU research projects.
• To promote an inclusive European information society. The Commission has announced the launch of an Action Plan on e-Government for citizen-centred services in addition to three “quality of life” ICT flagship initiatives and various actions to overcome the geographic and social digital divide, culminating in a European Initiative on e-Inclusion.

Comprehensive information on i2010 can be found at: http://europa.eu.int/information_society/eeurope/i2010/index_en.htm

Results of consultation on public-private partnerships

The European Commission has published a report on the contributions which it requested in May 2004 in its Green Paper on Public-Private Partnership (PPP). This kind of partnership is central to the ongoing debate on services of general interest and the evolution of the role of the state. The latter is to become less involved in implementation and focus more on its regulatory and monitoring functions. In total the Commission received 195 replies to the list of questions set out in the PPP Green Paper. Governments or individual ministries from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom, as well as 15 other public authorities from these Member States, 111 associations with private and/or public entities as their members, 38 enterprises and 13 individuals, contributed in writing to the consultation. Both the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions have also adopted opinions on the PPP Green Paper. The report on the public consultation does not draw political conclusions from the consultation process. As far as the political follow-up is concerned, the Commission envisages adopting a Communication before the end of 2005. For more information, visit: http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/publicprocurement/ppp_en.htm

 

News from the networks

European Knowledge Centre for Youth Policy

The European Knowledge Centre (EKC) for Youth Policy is a ‘state of the art’ knowledge management system that will, for the first time, provide the youth field with a single entry point to retrieve accurate up-to-date research-based information in a user-friendly manner on the realities of youth across Europe. It was developed within the framework of the Youth Research Partnership between the Council of Europe and European Commission. The EKC is supported by a European wide network of European Knowledge Centre correspondents, who were nominated by the member state ministries. The correspondents input answers to questionnaires directly into the EKC. Topics include youth policy, participation, information, voluntary activities and a better understanding of youth. The answers can be found in the EKC website which offers a specific search mechanism that allows the user to search for information by multiple countries for one question and one year and for multiple years for one question and one country. There is a glossary to help with the terms used. Anyone can register into the EKC and all registered users can participate in the development of the European Knowledge Centre by contributing information. The first launch of the European Knowledge Centre pilot project will take place during the Luxembourg Presidency Summit of 16-18 June 2005. Surf: http://www.youth-knowledge.net

 

Funding opportunities

Pan-European awareness-raising campaign on climate change

The European Commission has published a contract notice concerning an awareness-raising campaign across the EU-25 on climate change. The campaign should be designed to target the general public on the issue of climate change and highlight the positive role that each citizen can play in the fight against climate change. Amount of the contract: €5,000,000. Closing date for submission of tenders: 11 July 2005. For further information, contact: European Commission, Att: “Markets” Team, DG ENV.F.2 (BU-5 00/122), B-1049 Brussels. T: +32 2 296 00 08, F: +32 2 299 44 49, E-mail: env-tenders@cec.eu.int. Reference: ENV.A.1/SER/2005/0029, OJ S 102 of 28.05.2005.

Bulgaria , Romania and Turkey

Non-profit-making organisations in the EU, Bulgaria, Romania or Turkey can now apply to the Small Projects Programme. This funding programme supports projects which aim to raise awareness on European integration and enlargement, contribute directly to closer European integration or increase the visibility of the European Union in Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey. Priority issues for 2005 are: 1) The reinforcement of the judicial system, 2) The implementation and enforcement of the safety standards and measures related to work organisation and production and to consumption/use of products and food stuffs. Deadline: 14 July 2005. Questions regarding this call for projects should be sent to F: +32.2.296.80.40, e-mail: elarg-spp@cec.eu.int. The deadline for the submission of questions is 23 June 2005. Questions that may be relevant to other applicants, together with the answers, as well as all relevant information, will be published on the internet at : http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/cgi/frame12.pl (selecting in the left window the following criteria: Phare/ISPA/SAPARD - Open - Grants - All - All). Call reference: EuropeAid/121409/C/G/Multi. 

Major emergency simulation exercises

The Commission has published the 2005 call for proposals concerning the “Community mechanism to facilitate reinforced cooperation in civil protection assistance interventions: Major emergency simulation exercises”. Deadline: 31 July 2005. For more information, visit: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/funding/intro_en.htm. OJ C 134 of 1 st June 2005.

 

Forthcoming events

22 June 2005, Mons (BE)

The organisations “Solidarité des alternatives wallonnes” (Alliance of Walloon alternative social and economic initiatives – SAW-B), “Assemblée permanente de l’économie solidaire Nord-Pas-de-Calais” (Permanent Assembly of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais Cooperative Economy – APES), ESSOR, the “Centre de ressources sur l’économie solidaire et le développement local” (Cooperative Economy and Local Development Resource Centre) of the University of Valenciennes (known as “Réseau 21”), and the “Facultés Universitaires Catholiques de Mons” (Mons Catholic University Faculties – FUCAM) have jointly organised a cross-border meeting of actors involved in the cooperative and social economy in Wallonia and the Nord-Pas-de-Calais Region. The event will focus on the theme “Social clauses in public procurement contracts” and will provide an opportunity to review – with the help of experts and practitioners from both regions – the practices developed in different contexts. Timetable: From 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Venue: FUCAM campus, Chaussée de Binche 151, B-7000 Mons. Intending participants are required to register by 13 June at SAW-B, T: +32 71 53 28 30, Fax: +32 71 53 28 31, E-mail: info@saw-b.be or APES, T: +33 3 20 30 98 25, F: +33 3 20 54 68 42, E-mail: apesnpc@wanadoo.fr

27-29 June 2005, Brussels (BE)

The European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) is organising a seminar entitled “How Can Member States Effectively Influence Community Decision-Making: A Practical Guide for Preparing a Winning Strategy”. This is a training programme which aims to offer participants who are directly or indirectly involved in the European decision-making process the essential tools for developing a strategy to effectively exert influence on the Council. The seminar will be held in English and simultaneous interpretation will be provided in French. The closing date for completing the registration form is 13 June. Participation fee €850. For more information, contact: Ms Nancy Vermeulen, EIPA, B.P. 1229, NL-6201 BE Maastricht, T: + 31 43 3296 212, F: +31 43 3296 296, Website: http://www.eipa.nl

11 July 2005, Avignon (FR)

The association “Les Rencontres” is organising a seminar on “European Capitals of Culture” in cooperation with the European Commission, the City of Avignon, the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region and the “Jardin des Cultures d’Europe”. The event will gather, in Avignon, representatives and professionals of cities which are, have been or wish to become “Cultural Capitals of Europe”, in order to exchange experiences, discuss prospects and reflect on all the various cultural, political and European dimensions of this cultural programme, which has been renewed and is currently up for approval by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers. Registration fee: €200 for organisations andlocal or regional authorities, €30 for individuals, free of charge for members of the Les Rencontres association. Intending participants are invited to register by 24 June, Fax: +33 1 45 38 70 13, E-mail: info@lesrencontres.org, Website: http://www.lesrencontres.org/cec

 

Publications

Regional growth agendas

Over 250 papers were submitted to the conference on “Regional Growth Agendas”, held in Alborg ( Denmark) from 28 to 31 May. This, the 10 th international conference organised by the Regional Studies Association (RSA), brought together some 270 participants from 27 countries with the aim of exploring new strategies for regional growth and critically examining different options, trends and solutions, both in terms of the perception and conception of regional development and in terms of the concrete policies implemented to support various kinds of development. The written contributions to the conference are available at: http://www.regional-studies-assoc.ac.uk/events/280505abstracts.asp

What financial means are available for Europe?

The debate on the financial perspectives of the European Union from 2007 is already under way. Two main issues are at stake: Are Member States equal in terms of Community expenditure? Does the EU budget need to be increased and, furthermore, what should it be used for? Alexandre Muller’s study, “What financial means are available for Europe? A debate on the budget of the European Union”, analyses the various possible answers and provides a detailed presentation of the European budget. Robert Schuman Foundation Note No. 28, available on request (Price: €10) at the following E-mail address: c.antonini@robert-schuman.org

A portal for audiovisual information on science

The European Commission, in association with a number of professional media and science organisations, has launched a web portal designed to assist audiovisual and scientific communities in Europe in “promoting and communicating about science”. The new platform includes a multilingual electronic library of science programmes; a European science news service; on-line screening in medium or high definition; new types of contract for the negotiation, sale or exchange of material; background dossiers on important science and research themes; a calendar of key events; and a forum/marketplace for co-productions and partnerships. Visit: http://www.ath enaweb.org

 

 

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Responsible at Law: William Van Dingenen - Editor in Chief: Isabelle Mirambet - Editors: Monique Braem, Eirini Nikolaïdou, Maylis Campbell.