The Commission’s work programme for 1999

The Commission's work programme for 1999:
The European Commission has adopted its work programme for 1999. Continuing the policy line developed by Commission President Jacques Santer since his investiture by the European Parliament, the new programme sets out to 'pursue the consolidation of recent progress in European integration and the preparations for the 21st century'. Against this background the Commission attaches great importance to its own modernisation, one of the top priorities of its work programme. The Commission feels that renewal of the Community institutions, itself included, is vital if the European Union is to realise its ambitions and meet public expectations. The Commission's other priorities for 1999 are:

- to put into effect the measures proposed in Agenda 2000

- to implement the Amsterdam Treaty

- to ensure the success of economic and monetary union

- to create the conditions for sustainable growth and employment

- to promote a strong Europe that is open to the world.

The Commission will pursue its work programme for 1999 with full respect for the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality which require collective discipline on the part of all the Community Institutions and the Member States. It presented the programme to the European Parliament on 4 November 1998.

A modern, efficient institution:
The Commission must modernise, adapt its structures, rethink its working methods, decentralise, assign responsibilities, control matters more closely and simplify its management, so that it can play its role effectively. That is why it has embarked on a wide-ranging analysis of its structure and operation with a view to gradual, thorough reform. The objective for 1999 will be to push forward the preparation of 'Tomorrow's Commission'. Jacques Santer has asked for an overall plan to be drawn up during the first half of 1999, covering the priorities for action, the structure of the next Commission and the organisation of its departments, which he will then present to the future President, to be appointed in July 1999.

The Commission has also begun preparing proposals for the creation of an independent structure for both external and internal fraud investigations.

Another proposal in the pipeline is for the revision of the Financial Regulation applicable to the Community budget following the debate which began in the European Parliament and the Council on the basis of a Commission working document presented in July 1998.

Finally, in 1999 the Commission will table a legislative proposal on public access to the documents of the Community institutions under the new Treaty provisions on transparency.

Putting Agenda 2000 into effect:
For more than ten years, the Commission has been using a new method to give the necessary impetus to European integration, which consists of setting the pace by taking general decisions. One example of this method was Agenda 2000 (see COM (97)2000 final (15.7.97) and COM (98)182 final (18.3.98)). The Commission now sees it as essential that all the individual measures of Agenda 2000 be adopted in spring 1999. These measures are interdependent and form an indivisible whole. Without them it will be difficult to respond effectively to the challenges of enlargement.

The adoption of proposals for reform of the Structural Funds, the conclusion of a new interinstitutional agreement and the establishment of the financial perspective for 2000-2006 will open the way to the new programming period for the Union's structural action. All these stages must be completed in the first half of 1999. In the spring the Commission will set its priorities for intervention under the various objectives of the structural policies.

The Commission's report on the functioning of the own resources system, COM (98)560 final (7.10.98), will contribute to the debate leading to the definition of the new financial framework.

In the CAP, besides the reforms proposed in Agenda 2000, the stress will be on improving the quality of food products and increasing the level of protection and control in the veterinary and plant health field.

Finally, one of the Commission's main political priorities in 1999 will be to forge closer links with the associated countries and press ahead with preparations for their accession.

Implementing the Amsterdam Treaty:
The Amsterdam Treaty represents a new stage in European integration. Implementing the new co-ordinated employment strategy must be at the very top of the Union's priorities. The 1999 Joint Report will present the first set of evaluation results and underpin the proposals for employment guidelines for 2000. As well as pursuing economic integration, the Union must also enhance its social dimension, concentrating on three areas: jobs, qualifications and mobility; changes in the world of work; and a society based on the integration principle.

The Commission will also take forward the action plan requested by the European Council on how best to implement the provisions of the Amsterdam Treaty for the establishment of an area of freedom, security and justice (see COM(98)459 final (14.7.98)). For the Commission this means putting forward proposals on immigration, asylum, the crossing of external borders and judicial co-operation. The Commission would like to see these issues discussed at a special European Council in 1999 during the Finnish Presidency.

The Amsterdam Treaty will also have direct repercussions on environmental protection and on health and consumer protection (product safety will be a key issue here).

Finally, the Amsterdam Treaty marks a new stage in institutional reform. However, the Commission feels that this new reform needs to go further and will therefore lend its weight to initiatives in 1999 calling for a new intergovernmental conference to be convened. Nevertheless, it also believes that if the institutions are to serve the Union and its citizens better, it is important not to ignore other measures which can be taken without any amendment of the Treaty.

Making a success of EMU and creating the conditions for sustainable growth and employment:
1999 will see the introduction of the euro. With a view to co-ordinating economic policy and promoting economic convergence, the relevant Treaty provisions and secondary legislation, including the Stability and Growth Pact, will be put into practice. On the international front, economic and monetary union will create a centre of stability. The euro will give Europe a new place in international relations, bringing with it the need for greater coherence in the Union's foreign policy. It will, therefore, be important to ensure that the Union can speak as one in international forums.

The Single Market will continue to be the driving force behind the effort to improve growth and competitiveness and promote employment. Measures will be required in the financial services sector to safeguard the competitive position of companies and improve financial stability. On the tax and customs front, the priorities for 1999 will be working towards the implementation of the new VAT system, the fight against customs fraud and measures to improve the flow and security of external trade.

The Commission's priorities for competition policy in 1999 will be to continue its efforts to lay down guidelines for State aids, to adjust the framework for liberalising telecommunications and to press ahead with the process of modernising procedural legislation in order to make this policy simpler and more transparent. Accordingly, the Commission will adopt proposals for regulations exempting certain categories.

The Commission will also publish a White Paper on the revision of the Community guidelines for trans-European networks and take a number of initiatives on transport policy (safety improvements), energy policy (energy efficiency and security of supply) and in the fields of research (international competitiveness of hi-tech industries), the information society (training) and telecommunications (general review of the regulatory framework).

Finally, the Commission will present proposals for a fourth multiannual programme for small and medium-sized businesses and for a reform of the basic fisheries Regulation.

A strong Europe, open to the world:
The Commission will seek to enhance the Union's capacity to act as a more visible, unified and coherent, and hence stronger, entity on the international scene. It will further strengthen the Union's relations with its partners and ensure continued support for developing countries, countries in transition and regional integration processes. It will also strive to promote the Union's trade interests, particularly in the new round of WTO negotiations.

Commission President Jacques Santer presented the Commission Work Programme for 1999 to the European Parliament on 4 November 1998. The text of the speech he gave on that day can be accessed on the RAPID database as SPEECH No.230, 1998 (4.11.98). RAPID can be accessed on the Internet at http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/welcome.htm. The text of the Programme and the list of legislative initiatives can be found in COM (98) 604 and 609 final (28.10.98) respectively.

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