Commission reveals 26-point programme for its final year

Date: 05/11/1998

By Rory Watson

THE European Commission has drawn up a 26-point legislative programme for its final year of office.

In line with the renewed importance which EU governments are now attaching to employment, economic growth and the fight against crime, the agenda is dominated by moves to extend the single market, promote social policy and strengthen judicial cooperation.

The Commission intends to table a proposal on job creation as well as initiatives to tackle discrimination and social exclusion.

Social Affairs Commissioner Pádraig Flynn will also present a new public health action programme to replace the existing schemes which are due to expire next year.

On the internal market front, proposals will be drawn up on venture capital funds, the creation of an EU-wide patent, the patentability of computer programs, the pension rights of people moving from one member state to another, and on a single place for levying value added tax.

Justice and home affairs are expected to be among the busiest legislative areas during 1999 as the Commission comes forward with proposals to implement the new provisions of the Amsterdam Treaty on immigration, asylum, the crossing of external frontiers and judicial cooperation.

These will be complemented by further legislation to clamp down on money laundering and to protect the euro against counterfeiting.

Environmental initiatives will be limited to producing specifications for heavy vehicles, motorcycles and fuels, while the Commission's transport priorities will be reflected in draft legislation on conditions of access to markets in port services and on the loading and unloading of bulk carriers in ports.

In contrast to the heavy legislative load usually associated with the common agricultural and fisheries policies, next year will see just two proposals: reform of the organisation of the markets for cotton and for fishery products.

This reflects the fact that talks between farm ministers in the early part of the year will be dominated by the need to get agreement on the Agenda 2000 proposals for CAP reform.

Measures which are likely to attract broad public support next year include Commission plans for legislation on banning land mines and on guaranteeing the public access to EU institutions' internal documents.

In addition to its 26 legislative priorities, the Commission intends to work on a further 120 internal and external policy issues throughout the year.