We will turn to the first set of proposals for consideration today, that is, documents which it is proposed should be referred to sectoral committees for further scrutiny. The first is COM (2004) 487, a Commission communication of 14 July 2004 on the future financial perspective. It is addressed to the European institutions and sets out the Commission's general thinking on the European Union's next financial perspective for the period 2007-13. Like the document considered at the previous meeting of the sub-committee on the future of the sugar market, this communication is not a legislative proposal. I understand it follows talks during the Irish Presidency that highlighted areas where further discussion would be required on the Commission's earlier indications of its views on the upcoming financial perspective.
Members will have seen that in the communication the Commission argues that the European Union's budget is relatively small and that much is expected of it. It also contends that as there is a lack of connection between the efforts of the member states across various sectors, the effectiveness of action is impeded; that there is a lack of European perspectives for larger projects undertaken by member states resulting in a waste of resources and impeding the efficiency of action; and that there is a lack of synergy between objectives and actions arising from the absence of systematic complementarity in "the different levels of action", that is, supranational, national and regional.
The Commission is suggesting that there is a need for substantial increases in expenditure in certain policy areas for the period 2007 to 2013. One argument it uses to support these increases is that it believes "a failure to match commitments to act with the necessary resources is a recipe for public disillusionment about Europe". It also gives a short outline of the areas which require further funding. These are the subject of separate proposals that will be considered by the sub-committee. At its previous meeting, it considered four of these proposals, three of which were forwarded to sectoral committees while consideration of the other, COM (2004) 477, was deferred.
I understand the related proposals are likely to advance at approximately the same pace as discussions on the financial perspective. The framework of the net contributions of member states will only emerge fully following discussions and agreement in working groups on the criteria for qualification for support in the related programmes. The agreed outline of the perspective is likely to advance towards conclusion at the end of the Dutch Presidency. However, it is possible that discussions could continue into the Luxembourg Presidency.
It is proposed that the Department be requested to keep the sub-committee informed of major developments on the proposed financial perspective with a view to determining at a later date when this issue might be considered for detailed scrutiny. It is also proposed that the communication be forwarded for information to all sectoral committees to which related proposals have been referred for further scrutiny. It is further proposed that the Department of Finance be requested to keep the sub-committee informed of progress on the related package of funding proposals. Is that agreed? Agreed
COM (2004) 469 is a proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and the Council establishing the Culture 2007 Programme, 2007-13. In the memorandum to this proposal the Commission contends that the consultation exercise it undertook as regards this proposal demonstrated "the merits and relevance of cultural action by the European Union". Members will have seen that the Commission also outlines what it sees as shortcomings in the existing cultural actions at the level of the European Union. These perceived shortcomings are outlined forcefully. It is suggested in the memorandum that the fragmented nature of the existing programmes "harms the Community's image with its citizens".
Through this proposal the Commission is seeking to address the perceived shortcomings in the existing cultural actions by consolidating all cultural actions in one programme with three strands of intervention. The programme would run for the period 2007 to 2013 and the three strands would consist of action in the following areas: supporting the transnational mobility of people working in the cultural sector, for example, through exchanges; encouraging the circulation of works of art and artistic and cultural products; and promoting intercultural dialogue. The programme would also seek to promote "European culture" and "the European dimension" of the European Capitals of Culture project. Support would also be given to European cultural co-operation organisations.
The Commission is proposing that the programme would have a budget of €408 million over the period 2007 to 2013. The Department indicates that it views the proposal as one of significance which should result in greater co-operation between member states on cultural matters and lead to "a strengthening of our common cultural heritage". It is proposed, therefore, that the proposal be forwarded to the Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs for further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed
COM (2004) 470 is a proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and the Council concerning the implementation of a programme of support for the European audiovisual sector, MEDIA 2007. In its communications on the next financial perspective the Commission has set out its view that there is a need to instil a greater European perspective into the programmes of the European Union. This theme runs through much of the proposed implementing measure for EU support for the European audiovisual sector in the period 2007 to 2013. For example, in justifying greater and more focused support, the Commission suggests that there is a need for a "harmonious construction of a common European identity and the political concept of European citizenship". It then outlines that the sector and the cultures in which it operates are fragmented. While it views this plurality as positive to some extent, it indicates that it believes the industry needs to overcome aspects of this fragmentation if it is to "match the high competitiveness of its American counterpart".
Three central aims are set for the proposed programme: to increase the circulation of European audiovisual works inside and outside the European Union; to strengthen the competitiveness of the European audiovisual sector; and to preserve and enhance cultural diversity and promote intercultural dialogue. In addition, the focus of the programme would be on the areas of pre-production and post-production in the audiovisual sector.
The proposed budget for the programme is €1 billion which would appear to be an increase of approximately one third on the existing programme. I understand, however, that the Department has confirmed that it is not currently possible to make a direct comparison with the existing programme as the proposed measure includes a number of innovations. It is proposed to refer the proposal to the Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs for further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed
COM (2004) 471 is a proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and the Council creating the Youth in Action programme for the period 2007 to 2013. The youth programme is the European Union's mobility and non-formal education initiative targeting young people aged between 15 and 25 years. The current programme is open to youth in 31 European countries and concludes in 2006. The programme offers possibilities to young people across a wide spectrum of activities for which there are national agencies in participating countries. In Ireland the relevant agency is Léargas which, like agencies in the other states involved, assists with the promotion and implementation of the programme at national level.
The proposed programme would be open to young people aged between 13 and 30 years. I understand this wide spectrum of ages is likely to be the subject of some debate, given the very different requirements and needs of those at both ends of the spectrum. The proposed budget for the programme is €950 million. It is proposed that the proposal be forwarded to the Joint Committee on Education and Science for further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.
COM (2004) 474 is a proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and the Council establishing an integrated action programme in the field of lifelong learning. This proposal for an integrated programme for lifelong learning follows earlier indications from the Commission that it intended to build on the existing mechanism for supporting specific activities in the field of education and training such as the ERASMUS, Leonardo and Grundtvig programmes. In its memorandum to this proposal the Commission argues that an integrated programme with a budget of €13,620 million for the period 2007 to 2013 is required due to four developments: the new challenges of a knowledge-based society and demographic change; the need to progress the Lisbon strategy; the current lack of synergy in the programmes highlighted in interim evaluations; and the need to simplify Community legislative programmes.
The Department indicates that it welcomes the proposal in relation to the simplification of the process of drawing down funding, that the proposed integrated programme should be more user-friendly and that it believes it would cut down on the bureaucracy involved. I understand the adopted proposal would be of major significance to the education sector for the five year period concerned. It is proposed, therefore, that the proposal be forwarded to the Joint Committee on Education and Science for further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed
The next document is COM (2004) 478. In its memorandum to this proposal the Commission outlines some sobering forecasts for the increase in road freight over the next ten to 15 years. These suggest that it will increase by between 50% and 60% over the period. The Commission goes on to outline some of the environmental and socio-economic implications, including an over-dependence on fossil fuels leaving member states vulnerable to changing supply patterns and a loss of GDP due to congestion.
Building on its White Paper on Transport of 2001, the Commission is proposing that a budget of €740 million be allocated for the period 2007-13 to fund a second Marco Polo programme which would encourage alternative modes of transport, including so-called "motorways of the sea". It would also encourage inter-modal transport. On previous occasions the sub-committee has considered proposals seeking the adoption of EU standards for inter-modal loading units.
The Department's note highlights Ireland's overwhelming dependence on sea transport for economic activity and sets out its view that the development of new or improved sea links between Ireland and Community markets and regions should deliver positive economic benefits for the country. The material circulated indicates that the Department was asked to provide additional information on a number of lesser points raised in the note. It has now done so. It sets out that one aim of the proposed programme would be to encourage more load-on/load-off freight traffic, as distinct from roll-on/roll-off traffic. It is proposed, therefore, that the proposal be forwarded to the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources for further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.
The next document is COM (2004) 493. The European Social Fund, inter alia, aims to support improvements in productivity at work and promote social inclusion and cohesion in the European Union. The Commission proposes that the efforts of the fund during the next financial period, 2007 to 2013, should be more focused on the goals of the Lisbon strategy. In this regard, it has set for the fund four key areas for particular action: increasing the adaptability of workers and enterprises; enhancing access to employment and prolonging working lives; promoting the integration of disadvantaged people in work; and promoting partnership for reform in the fields of employment. It is proposed, therefore, that the proposal be forwarded to the Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business for further scrutiny and the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service and the Joint Committee on European Affairs for their information. Is that agreed? Agreed.
The next document is COM (2004) 495. The recent enlargement of the European Union has, as set out by the Commission, resulted in a large increase in the number of regions lagging behind, with many facing the challenge of achieving convergence. However, the Commission's memorandum to the proposal also acknowledges that other relatively more developed regions face the continuing challenge of establishing and reinforcing their attractiveness through increasing their competitiveness. The European Regional Development Fund, ERDF, has been designed with a view to paying particular attention to territorial specificities and take account of particular situations and-or natural difficulties.
During the next financial perspective the goals of the ERDF, as set out in the proposal, are to strengthen competitiveness and innovation; to create sustainable jobs; and to promote environmentally sound growth. With a view to achieving these goals, the ERDF would support productive investment, infrastructure and development initiatives. It is proposed, therefore, that the proposal be forwarded to the Joint Committee on European Affairs for further scrutiny and the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service, the Joint Committee on Transport and the Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business for their information. Is that agreed? Agreed.
The next document is COM (2004) 496. In its memorandum to this proposal the Commission outlines that it is of the view that to date cross-border co-operation has not been at a level that will achieve the treaty objective of greater economic, social and territorial cohesion across the member states of the European Union. It also contends that the existing economic structures are ill-adapted to programmes such as INTERREG. It is proposing, therefore, that bodies be established across the member states that would be delegated work regarding specific cross-border tasks and projects and which would be known as European groupings of cross-border co-operation, EGCC. According to the proposal, it would be possible for member states and-or regional and local authorities and-or local public bodies to participate in an EGCC, the tasks of which would also be set out in a convention on European cross-border co-operation.
The proposed EU-wide commitment for EGCCs would be €13 billion over the period 2007 to 2013. This is one of a number of significant proposals that are intrinsically linked to the process of concluding agreement on the next financial perspective. It has a significant additional dimension of seeking to encourage cross-border co-operation in an EU context, with all of the associated possible implications for the further development of cross-border relations in a European context. It is proposed, therefore, that it be forwarded to the Joint Committee on European Affairs for further scrutiny and the Joint Committee on Environment and Local Government for its information. Is that agreed? Agreed.
