Evaluatie Spaans voorzitterschap: antwoord op de crisis, implementatie van nieuwe instituties en Europa 2020-strategie (en)

This six-month period has seen an immediate response to the economic and financial crisis; the design and approval of a strategy for growth and employment, including reforms with indicators, commitments and obligations capable of changing the economic growth model by the 2020 horizon, and the implementation of institutional changes introduced by the Treaty of Lisbon, among other achievements summarised below:

New economic governance

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  The EU has taken a decisive step in economic governance and coordination. The Greek crisis and tensions in the financial markets highlighted the need to strengthen the economic governance of the Union.
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  Creation of the European Financial Stabilisation Mechanism, capable of mobilising up to €750 billion in order to support countries undergoing extraordinary difficulties.
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  New Europe 2020 Strategy. This sets out five objectives in the fields of employment, innovation, education, climate change and energy, and social inclusion.

Control and supervision of the financial markets

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  Progress in the integrated regulation of the financial markets.
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  Creation of the European Systemic Risk Board. From January 2011, this will be able to assess possible threats to financial stability and issue risk alerts.
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  Implementation of the European Supervisory Authorities, which will intervene in financial emergencies, and the European Securities and Markets Authority, with the power to supervise credit rating agencies in the EU.
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  Steps towards approval of the Directive on Alternative Investment Fund Managers.
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  The results of stress tests carried out on the banking sector will be published in the second half of July.
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  Agreement to introduce systems of levies and taxes on financial institutions.

More internal market, greater cohesion and significant progress on the European Agenda

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  Promotion of the electric vehicle and the European Digital Agenda. Guaranteed high-speed internet and more affordable prices.
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  Message against counterfeiting and piracy.
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  Reform of the General Regulation on the Structural Funds.
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  Commitment to adopt measures to support outermost regions.
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  In the field of transport:
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  Protocol of the second phase of the "Open Skies" agreement on air transport between the EU and the United States.
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  Steps towards developing regulations on investigating air incidents and accidents.
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  Regulation to improve competitiveness in the rail sector.
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  Approval of the directive to reduce administrative barriers between sea ports and the regulation to protect passengers' rights.
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  Start of discussions on the Common Fisheries Policy.
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  Directive on the illegal trade in wood. Progress on the issue of electric and electronic waste, commercialisation of biocides and limits on light vehicle emissions.
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  Regulation on the security of gas supply.
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  Directives on the efficiency of buildings and the labelling of energy products.

Implementation of institutional changes under the Treaty of Lisbon

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  Application of Treaty of Lisbon, in both spirit and letter, with full support for the President of the European Council and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
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  Successful introduction of the role of the General Affairs Council.
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  Implementation of the inter-governmental procedure to approve the proposed amendment to the Treaty. This would allow the incorporation of 18 new members of the European Parliament.
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  Agreement to help citizens cope with situations such as cross-border divorces and separations more easily.
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  Citizens' Legislative Initiative.
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  The EU's signing of the European Convention on Human Rights. This will mean that acts of the Union and its institutions will be subject, for the first time, to external judicial control in the form of the European Court of Human Rights.

Consolidation of the EU's role in the world

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  Preparations for implementing the European External Action Service.
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  Extension of political and trade ties between the Union and its prime partners, particularly in Latin America.
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  EU-Central America Association Agreement; Multipartite Agreement with Colombia and Peru;
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  EU-Mercosur Association Agreement.
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  The EU-Morocco summit marked an important step forward in consolidating Morocco's Advanced Statute with the Union.
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  Joint EU and US declaration on the battle against terrorism.
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  Signing of the review of agreements on the transmission of Swift consortium financial data and the Toledo Declaration on Aviation Security.
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  Clear advances on the EU enlargement with Croatia and Turkey, and significant steps on the European prospects of the Western Balkans.
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  Signing of the Copenhagen Accord, with commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020 in comparison with 1990 levels.
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  Agreement on the EU's joint position regarding the conservation of endangered species, such as red tuna and the African elephant, as well as the start-up of talks to achieve a binding agreement on mercury.

More equality, freedom and security

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  Progress on the Stockholm Programme Action Plan, encompassing actions regarding the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice, to be carried out between 2010 and 2014.
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  Home Affairs Security Strategy, defining the European security model on the basis of citizens' rights and freedoms, and with a fundamentally preventive approach.
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  Progress on the discussion of the European Protection Order.
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  First steps towards setting up the European Observatory on Violence Against Women.
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  Agreement on the text of the proposed directive on the battle against human trafficking and protection for the victims of this trade, and discussions on the proposed directive to fight the sexual exploitation of minors and child pornography.
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  Directive on rights to interpretation and translation in criminal cases.
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  Promotion of European police training based on the Erasmus Programme and creation of the Standing Committee on Internal Security (COSI).
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  Action Plan on Unaccompanied Foreign Minors.

Progress on social rights

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  Action Plan on Organ Donation and Transplantation.
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  Directive on Patients' Rights in Crossborder Healthcare.
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  Directive to Prevent Injuries and Infections to Healthcare Workers From Sharp Objects Such As Needle Sticks.
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  Agreement to define the content of the new pharmacology directive.
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  Improvement in the social situation of self-employed workers.