I. Economic facts of EU countries in 2005
To see this table please click here
II. Issues on the EU agenda (statement of the United Kingdom’s presidency July-December 2005)
Priorities for the UK Presidency of the EU 2005
The priorities are economic reform and social justice; EU enlargement; security and stability, and Europe’s role in the world.
The UK intends to take forward the issues of future financing and CAP reform as part of the wider debate on the future of Europe. In June, talks on fixing the EU budget for 2007-13 collapsed with Mr. Blair insisting he would only negotiate the UK’s annual rebate if European farm subsidies were reformed.
In more detail:
Future financing: With the Commission, the UK government will undertake a period of consultation with partners to find a way forward. The intention will also be to seek consensus on a general review of the EU budget structure and priorities.
CAP reform: An important part of a budget review will be the CAP. It is aimed at a properly planned process of reform building on previous changes to ensure European farming can meet the challenges of globalisation.
Economic and social justice: the UK Presidency will promote economic reform to deliver growth and social justice. The Commission has already identified the steps needed:
o Economic reform
implementing the Kok report of 2004: promoting the knowledge society; strengthening the Internal Market; improving the business climate; and driving through Lisbon’s national labour market reforms.
o Better regulation
Delivery of the Commission’s Better Regulation Agenda of March 2005. Including stronger impact assessments on new EU legislation, increased business input into the legislative process and simplification/withdrawal of some existing legislation.
Security and stability: Europe needs to be stronger together on issues such as terrorism, organised crime and illegal migration. The UK will begin implementing the Hague Work Programme. In particular:
o Counter terrorism
Taking forward EU Counter Terrorism Action Plan including measures such as the European Evidence Warrant which will enable law enforcement agencies to quickly access important evidence from elsewhere in the EU.
o People trafficking and migration
Developing an Action Plan on people trafficking and working for greater EU-wide police co-operation. Managing migration into the EU through stronger links with the main source countries worldwide and strengthening the EU’s borders.
o Enlargement
Taking forward existing commitments on enlargement including opening negotiations with Turkey on 3 October. Starting accession talks with Croatia as soon as the conditions are met and preparing for Bulgarian and Romanian entry in January 2007.
Europe’s role in the world: A strong Europe should be an active player in foreign policy. The UK Presidency will work with partners, High Representative Solana and the Commission:
o Africa
Developing a long-term strategy for Africa centred on governance, peace and security, access to basic services, growth and trade. Pushing this forward at the UN Millennium Review Summit, New York in September.
o Peace, stability and reform in the Middle East
Promoting peace, stability and reform in the Middle East, Afghanistan and Africa by supporting the MEPP (Middle East Peace Process), including Israeli disengagement; increasing Palestinian security capacity; delivering EU commitments to Iraq etc.
o Peace and stability in the Balkans
Entrenching peace and stability in the Balkans through the EU’s, UK-led, military mission in Bosnia; building police capacity in Bosnia and Macedonia; and playing a constructive role in the negotiations to resolve Kosovo’s final status.
Climate change
Representing the EU at the UN Climate Change negotiations in December. Developing a post-2012 strategy; international engagement, particularly with the growing economies of China and India; and addressing the impact of aviation on climate change.
Another issue of the UK EU presidency is education and training.
At the European Council in Lisbon in March 2000, Member States agreed to work together to meet a number of targets in education, such as halving the number of 18-24 year olds not in further education by 2010.
Policy priorities
The key expected areas of work in education and youth during the UK Presidency are as follows:
o Negotiating new EU education and youth programmes designed to promote co-operation among educational establishments and between educational establishments and companies, and promote country exchanges between lecturers, teachers and students such as the ERASMUS programme;
o Analyzing how improving the skills of the European workforce would contribute to increased productivity;
o A report on education and training's contribution to competitiveness and social inclusion under the Lisbon agenda;
o Improving quality assurance for Higher Education Institutions across Europe;
o Agreeing an EU Youth Pact which considers the problems of unemployed young people;
o Discussions on how universities can contribute to the Lisbon strategy.
III. EAPM news
HR professionals from 21 European countries came together from 11-13 May 2005 in Dublin for the 22nd EAPM congress. The congress had the theme “European Workplace of the Future – flexible and competitive”. Participants could find out about new challenges of HR management and learn how HR management can contribute to the organization’s strategy. The Irish branch of the CIPD was very pleased to have had more than 500 delegates at the conference.
After the congress, Michael McDonnell, Director of the CIPD in Ireland, was nominated EAPM president for the coming two years following after Filippo Abramo from Italy who will be past president for two years. Michael will also serve on the WFPMA board as first delegate representing the EAPM.
The next EAPM congress will take place in Vienna, Austria, from 20-22 June 2007, followed by the Netherlands organising the congress thereafter in summer 2009 in The Hague.
As far as EAPM projects are concerned, the result of the “Pan-European manager survey 2004/2005”, which was realised jointly with KPMG Italy, has been published at the EAPM conference. A copy is available at the EAPM Secretariat from Dorothee Ellerbrake, ellerbrake@dgfp.de.
