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Europaudvalget 2005-06, Det Udenrigspolitiske Nævn 2005-06, Forsvarsudvalget 2005-06, Udenrigsudvalget 2005-06
Det Europæiske Råd 15-16/12-05 Bilag 4, UPN Alm.del Bilag 29, FOU Alm.del Bilag 55, URU Alm.del Bilag 82
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COUNCIL OF

THE EUROPEAN UNION

Brussels, 6 December 2005

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LIMITE

POLGEN 45

NOTE

from:

to:

Subject:

Presidency

COREPER / Council

European Council (15 and 16 December 2005)

– Draft conclusions

The meeting of the European Council was preceded by an exposé by the President of the

European Parliament, Mr Josep Borrell, followed by an exchange of views.

The European Council recalls the importance of the common European values of solidarity,

social justice and sustainability as the basis for the development of the Union's policies. This

constitutes the framework in which the guidelines set out in these conclusions should be taken

forward.

The European Council recalls the EU's support for an effective multilateral system based on

the rule of law, and the need for a United Nations better equipped to meet the challenges of

the 21

Century. It underlines its commitment to early and full implementation of the reforms

and commitments agreed at the 2005 UN World Summit.

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FUTURE DIRECTION OF EUROPE

Following the Hampton Court Informal Heads of State or Government meeting, the European

Council notes the reports from the President of the Commission and the

Secretary-General/High Representative and agrees to return to these issues under the Austrian

Presidency.

The European Council notes the joint UK-Austrian interim report on national debates on the

future of Europe underway in all Member States, further to the Declaration by the Heads of

State or Government at the June 2005 European Council on this issue. The European Council

will return to the issue in the first half of 2006 under the Austrian Presidency on the basis of

preparatory work in the General Affairs and External Relations Council. The European

Council also takes note of the discussion held at the conference "Sharing power in Europe"

co-organised by the Presidency and the Netherlands in The Hague on 17 November 2005, and

notes the Austrian Presidency's intention to come back to this issue.

II.

FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE

[PM]

III. AFRICA

Following the adoption of conclusions by the Council on 21 November 2005, the European

Council adopts the EU strategy "The EU and Africa: Towards a Strategic Partnership" as

called for by the June 2005 European Council (doc.XXXX/05); it stresses the importance of

enhanced EU-Africa political dialogue and agrees to review progress on the implementation

of the Strategy regularly, starting in 2006.

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IV. GLOBAL APPROACH TO MIGRATION

The European Council notes the increasing importance of migration issues for the EU and its

Member States. It welcomes the Commission's Communication of 30 November 2005:

Priority Actions for Responding to the Challenges of Migration. It underlines the need for a

global approach, and for policies to combat illegal immigration, while taking account of the

benefits of legal migration. It recalls that migration issues are a central element in the EU's

relations with a broad range of third countries, including all those neighbouring the Union: the

EU will strengthen its dialogue and cooperation with those countries in a spirit of partnership.

The European Council notes that recent developments in the Mediterranean region have led to

mounting public concern in a number of Member States, and decides that the EU should

respond to those developments as a matter of priority. It agrees that action in the following

areas is appropriate:



strengthening cooperation and action between Member States;

increasing dialogue and cooperation with African states;

increasing dialogue and cooperation with neighbouring countries covering the entire

Mediterranean region.

It adopts, accordingly, the document on priority actions for 2006 annexed to these

conclusions.

COUNTER-TERRORISM

10.

The European Council underlines the importance of a comprehensive and proportionate

response to the threat from terrorism. The European Council adopts the EU

Counter-Terrorism Strategy (doc.XXXX/05) which sets out a framework for work to prevent

radicalisation and the recruitment to terrorism, to protect citizens and infrastructure, to pursue

and investigate terrorists, and to improve the response to the consequences of attacks. The

European Council notes that the EU Counter-Terrorism Action Plan, the instrument for

tracking implementation, is being revised to ensure full coherence with the new Strategy.

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11.

The European Council also welcomes the progress made on priority dossiers as set out in the

Counter-Terrorism Co-ordinator's six monthly report and calls for this momentum to be

maintained. The European Council will monitor progress on implementing the

Counter-Terrorism Strategy at its meeting in June 2006.

VI. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

12.

The European Council [welcomes] [looks forward] to the presentation of the Commission's

Communication on a renewed EU Sustainable Development Strategy for the next 5 years.

The European Council looks forward to adopting in June 2006 an ambitious and

comprehensive strategy, which could include indicators and an efficient monitoring

procedure, integrate the internal and external dimensions and be based on a positive long-term

vision, bringing together the Community's sustainable development priorities and objectives

in a clear, coherent strategy that can be communicated simply and effectively to citizens.

VII. CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY

13.

The European Council welcomes the progress made during 2005 in developing a medium and

long-term EU strategy and re-invigorating the international negotiations on climate change.

In this context, the European Council stresses the importance of the work under the UN

Framework Convention on Climate Change, including the implementation of the Kyoto

Protocol. In support of this work, the European Council also underlines the importance of the

implementation of the Gleneagles Plan of Action with its strong emphasis on technology

transfer and managing the impacts of climate change, and taking forward the dialogue and

technological co-operation agreed with India, China and Russia, including at future summits,

while working to develop partnerships with all major energy-consuming countries.

14.

The European Council also welcomes the Commission Communication "Reducing the climate

impact of aviation", recognises that the inclusion of the aviation sector in the EU Emissions

Trading Scheme seems to be the best way forward, and urges the Commission to bring

forward a legislative proposal by the end of 2006 accompanied by an impact assessment.

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15.

The European Council stresses the importance of an integrated approach to climate change,

energy and competitiveness objectives, and underlines that strategies to invest in cleaner and

more sustainable energy both in the EU and more widely can support a range of policy

objectives, including energy security, competitiveness, employment, air quality and reduced

greenhouse gas emissions. In this context, the European Council welcomes the launch of the

second phase of the European Climate Change Programme and the Commission's intention to

develop an Action Plan on energy efficiency.

VIII. GROWTH AND JOBS

16.

The European Council notes that the world economy is experiencing a period of rapid and

significant economic change and agrees that Europe needs economic reforms and social

modernisation to safeguard its values and respond effectively to the challenges and

opportunities of globalisation and demographic change. The European Council underlines the

importance of innovation, Information and Communication Technology, research and human

capital for achieving higher employment and sustainable growth across the European Union.

17.

The European Council welcomes the Member States' National Reform Programmes and the

Commission's Community Lisbon Programme and looks forward to the Commission's

January progress report. It stresses the importance of National Reform Programmes to

strengthen the overall governance of the Lisbon Strategy and invites Member States, the

Commission and the Council to monitor and evaluate their implementation in line with the

March 2005 European Council conclusions.

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18.

Taking due account of the principle of subsidiarity and the importance of respecting the

acquis communitaire, the European Council stresses that an improved regulatory framework

in the European Union, at Community and Member States level, is key to delivering growth

and jobs. Emphasis should be placed on implementing commitments already made by all

institutions, including the provisions of the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better

Law-Making of 16 December 2003. On that basis, the European Council welcomes the

significant progress made since its last meeting and agrees on the importance of further work

as set out in the attached annex covering i) measuring and reducing the administrative burdens

on business; ii) the revised impact assessment system and iii) EU common methodology for

assessing the administrative costs of legislation.

[PM FYROM]

IX. EXTERNAL RELATIONS

19.

The European Council adopts a declaration on the Mediterranean and the Middle East

annexed to these conclusions.

20.

The European Council endorses the Presidency report on ESDP, including the mandate for the

incoming Presidency.

________________________

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ANNEX ....

BETTER REGULATION

Reducing the unnecessary burdens for business

The European Council reaffirms the importance of reducing unnecessary burdens for business and

citizens. In this respect it welcomes the Commission's new programme for simplifying EU

legislation

, and calls on the Council to give high priority to progressing simplification proposals

through the legislative system. It welcomes the Commission's screening initiative, notes the

outcome and invites the Commission to continue to monitor pending proposals in terms of their

impacts, including economic, social and environmental, with a view to modification, replacement or

withdrawal, where these would be appropriate.

Revised impact assessment system

The European Council welcomes the Commission's revised impact assessment system

, including

the commitment to prepare integrated impact assessments for all major legislative proposals and

policy defining documents in its work programme. These assessments should include exploring a

range of options, drawing on sectoral analyses where available, which could potentially meet the set

objectives of a proposal, including non-legislative options and further harmonisation, as

appropriate. It calls on the Council to make full use of Commission impact assessments as a tool to

inform political decision making. It reaffirms the importance of transparency in policy making and

timely and effective stakeholder consultation and looks forward to the comprehensive independent

evaluation of the Commission's impact assessment system to be launched early in 2006.

Doc. 13976/05

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EU common methodology for assessing administrative costs imposed by legislation

The European Council welcomes the Commission Communication on an EU common methodology

for assessing administrative costs imposed by legislation

, and invites the Commission to start

measuring administrative burdens, on a consistent basis and in line with transparent criteria, as part

of integrated impact assessments launched as of January 2006. In this context it notes with interest

the important contribution this methodology could play in identifying legislation in need of

simplification and invites the Commission to explore options for establishing measurable targets in

specific sectors for reducing administrative burdens. The European Council recognises the

importance for Member States to provide, on request and in a proportionate manner, the information

needed to assess administrative costs imposed by EU legislation.

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Doc. 13629/05

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ANNEX ...