Conclusies Raad Algemene Zaken 26 maart 2012 (en)
COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
PROVISIONAL VERSION
PRESSE 136 PR CO 19
PRESS RELEASE
3158th Council meeting General Affairs
Brussels, 26 March 2012
President Mr Nicolai WAMM
Minister for European Affairs of Denmark
PROVISIONAL VERSION
26.111.2012
Main results of the Council
The Council focused on the multiannual financial framework (MFF)for the 2014-2020 period, discussing the first elements of a so-called negotiating box outlining the most central issues and options for certain parts of the MFF.
The discussion covered budget headings 1 (smart and inclusive growth), with the exception of cohesion policy and the "Connecting Europe" facility, 3 (security and citizenship), 4 (global Europe) and 5 (administration), as well as some horizontal issues.
The Danish presidency intends to establish the basis for a substantive discussion by the European Council in June, so as to enable the MFF to be adopted by the end of the year. This would allow a smooth transition to the new MFF from the one currently in force.
PROVISIONAL VERSION 26.111.2012
CONTTS1
PARTICIPANTS................................................................................................................................4
ITEMS DEBATED
MULTIANNUAL FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK...............................................................................6
FOLLOW-UP TO THE DECEMBER AND MARCH EUROPEAN COUNCILS............................8
OTHER ITEMS APPROVED
BUDGETS
— Financing of ITER...................................................................................................................................................9
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
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-International Cocoa Agreement...............................................................................................................................9
EMPLOYMT
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-Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Spain................................................................9
VIRONMT
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-Ecolabel - Newsprint paper...................................................................................................................................10
TRADE POLICY
— Euro-Mediterranean convention on preferential rules of origin............................................................................10
TRANSPARCY
— Public access to documents...................................................................................................................................10
APPOINTMTS
Committee of the Regions.....................................................................................................................................11
1 • Where declarations, conclusions or resolutions have been formally adopted by the Council, this is indicated in the heading for the item concerned and the text is placed between quotation marks
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•Documents for which references are given in the text are available on the Council's Internet site (http://www.consilium.europa.eu)
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•Acts adopted with statements for the Council minutes which may be released to the public are indicated by an asterisk; these statements are available on the Council's Internet site or may be obtained from the Press Office
PROVISIONAL VERSION
26.111.2012
PARTICIPANTS
Belgium:
Mr Dirk WOUTERS Bulgaria:
Ms Bisserka BISHEVA
Czech Republic:
Mr Vojtéch BELLING
Denmark:
Mr Nicolai Halby WAMM Mr Michael ZILMER-JOHNS
Germany:
Mr Michael LINK
Estonia:
Mr Matti MAASIKAS Ireland:
Ms Lucinda CREIGHTON
Greece:
Mr Stavros DIMAS Spain:
Mr Inigo MÉNDEZ DE VIGO Y MONTOJO France:
Mr Jean LEONETTI
Italy:
Mr Enzo MOAVERO MILANESI Cyprus:
Mr Andreas MAVROYIANNIS
Latvia:
Mr Andris TEIKMANIS Lithuania:
Mr Egidijus MEILÜNAS
Luxembourg:
Mr Jean GRAFF
Hungary:
Ms Enikö GYÖRI
Malta:
Mr Richard CACHIA CARUANA
Netherlands:
Mr Ben KNAP
Austria:
Mr Wolfgang WALDNER
Poland:
Mr Mikolaj DOWGIELEWICZ Portugal:
Mr Miguel MORAIS LEITAO
Permanent Representative
Director General for the EU, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Secretary of State (Office of the Government)
Minister for European Affairs State Secretary for Foreign Policy
State Minister of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Permanent Representative
Minister of State for European Affairs (Departments of the Taoiseach and Foreign Affairs)
Minister for Foreign Affairs
State Secretary for the European Union
Minister with responsibility for European Affairs, attached to the Ministre d'Etat, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs
Minister responsible for European Affairs
Deputy Minister to the President of the Republic of Cyprus for European Affairs
State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs
Director General for Economic and International Affairs
State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Permanent Representative
Minister for European Affairs and International Cooperation
State Secretary, Federal Ministry of European and International Affairs
State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
State Secretary attached to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, with responsibility for European Affairs
PROVISIONAL VERSION
26.111.2012
Romania:
Mr Leonard ORBAN
Slovenia:
Mr Igor SCAR
Slovakia:
Mr Ivan KORCOK
Finland:
Mr Jan STORE
Sweden:
Ms Birgitta OHLSSON
United Kingdom:
Mr David LIDINGTON
Minister for European Affairs
State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Permanent Representative
Permanent Representative
Minister for EU Affairs
Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Commission:
Maros SEFCOVIC Vice President
Mr Janusz LEWANDOWS KI Member
The government of the acceding state was represented as follows:
Croatia:
Mr Josko KLISOVIC Deputy Minister of Foreign and European Affairs
PROVISIONAL VERSION
26.111.2012
ITEMS DEBATED
MULTIANNUAL FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK
The Council discussed, in public session, the first elements of the negotiating box outlining the most central issues and options for certain parts of the multiannual financial framework (MFF) for the 2014-2020 period ( + ADD 1).
The negotiating box discussed by ministers covers budget headings 1 (smart and inclusive growth), with the exception of cohesion policy and the "Connecting Europe" facility (CEF)1, 3 (security and citizenship), 4 (global Europe) and 5 (administration), as well as some horizontal issues, in particular the question whether some instruments should be put inside or outside the MFF
Many delegations called for consolidation efforts undertaken at the national level to be reflected in the EU budget framework for 2014-2020. Some highlighted the contribution that the EU budget may make in terms of enhancing growth and creating jobs. Nearly all referred to the importance of simplifying EU legislation. Many member states asked that macro-economic conditionality be included in the horizontal part of the negotiating box rather than limiting it to the cohesion part of the box
On heading 1, all delegations agreed that excellence should be a core criterion in research and development financing. Some highlighted, however, the need for a balanced access to funding for all member states. Some member states asked that nuclear decommissioning be mentioned in the negotiating box
With regard to heading 3, many delegations stressed the importance of EU action in the area of asylum and migration. Some suggested that the current structure of this heading be maintained, with a sub-heading 3a dedicated to freedom, security and justice and a sub-heading 3b covering citizenship
On heading 4, many member states emphasised enlargement and neighbourhood policy as priority areas. A number of delegations highlighted the importance of reaching the goal of spending 0.7% of the EU's Gross National Income (GNI) on official development assistance by 2015. Some insisted on a fixed percentage for assistance meeting the criteria of the development assistance committee (DAC) of the OECD, while others preferred not to have a quantitative objective
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The "Connecting Europe" facility is a new instrument proposed by the Commission aimed at accelerating infrastructure development in transport, energy and information and communication technologies across the EU
PROVISIONAL VERSION
26.111.2012
Concerning heading 5, the need to consolidate administrative expenditure was raised by many delegations, and various proposals for savings were made. At the same time, delegations underlined the need for the European civil service to remain efficient
On the question whether some instruments should be placed inside or outside the MFF, some member states considered that all instruments should be put inside the MFF for the sake of transparency and budget discipline. Others considered that, on account of their specific characteristics, some instruments should be put outside the MFF, as proposed by the Commission. Some member states objected to the proposed new contribution key for the European Development Fund (EDF). Some opposed increased flexibility for enabling the European Union to respond to unforeseen circumstances. Some delegations advocated the elimination of certain instruments which are outside the 2007-2013 MFF. Several delegations mentioned the issue of unused commitments ("reste a liquider", RAL); some called for concrete measures to reduce the scope of RAL, whereas others considered unused commitments to be a normal feature of the EU budget procedure
In the coming weeks, the presidency will supplement the negotiating box with the remaining elements of the MFF negotiating package, i.e. cohesion, CEF, heading 2 (sustainable growth: natural resources and own resources). The General Affairs Council of 24 April is will discuss the negotiating box for cohesion and heading 2 (sustainable growth: natural resources). From mid-May onwards the Council will pursue its work on the MFF on the basis of a negotiating box comprising all parts of the negotiation package
As the negotiations progress, the negotiating box will be continuously updated with a view to reducing the gaps between the member states' positions and ultimately reconciling them
Finance ministers will discuss the MFF at an informal meeting in Copenhagen on 30 and 31 March, without however drawing any conclusions
The European Council on 28 and 29 June will discuss the negotiating box as the basis for the final stage of negotiations. The aim is to finalise the negotiations on the MFF by the end of this year
PROVISIONAL VERSION 26.111.2012
FOLLOW-UP TO THE DECEMBER AND MARCH EUROPEAN COUNCILS
The Council took stock, on the basis of a note from the presidency, of the follow-up given to the December and March meetings of the European Council, as well as the January meeting of heads of state or government
The presidency note focuses on the growth agenda, economic policy, the multiannual financial framework, justice and home affairs, climate policy, trade and enlargement {/12 REV 1).
PROVISIONAL VERSION
26.111.2012
OTHER ITEMS APPROVED
BUDGETS
Financing of ITER
The Council adopted its position on draft amending budget no 1 for 2012, approving the incorporation of EUR 650 million in commitments from the margin of sub-heading la (competitiveness for growth and employment) into the article devoted to the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)1
This measure is fully in line with the agreement reached between the European Parliament and the Council in December 2011 ().
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
International Cocoa Agreement
The Council adopted a decision approving the conclusion of a revised international cocoa agreement2
The 2010 agreement, negotiated by the UN cocoa conference, replaces a 2001 version of the international cocoa agreement. It was signed by the EU in June 2011 has been provisionally applied since then. The European Parliament gave its consent on 13 March 2012
EMPLOYMT
Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Spain
The Council adopted a decision mobilising EUR 1.64 million under the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, providing support for workers made redundant in the Spanish construction sector
Demand for new houses has dropped significantly in Spain, due to a reduction of loans to the sector and to individuals following the global financial and economic crisis
The Luxembourg, Dutch and Swedish delegations abstained
The text of the International Cocoa Agreement was published in OJ L259 of 4 October 2011, p. 8
PROVISIONAL VERSION
26.111.2012
VIRONMT Ecolabel - Newsprint paper
The Council decided not to oppose adoption by the Commission of a decision establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the EU Ecolabel for newsprint paper ().
The production of newsprint paper consumes significant amounts of energy, wood and chemicals, and may lead to environmental damage or risks related to the use of the natural resources
Established by regulation 66/20101, the EU Ecolabel is awarded to products with a reduced environmental impact during their life cycle. The draft decision is subject to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny; now that the Council has given its consent, the Commission may adoptthe decision, unless the European Parliament objects
TRADE POLICY
Euro-Mediterranean convention on preferential rules of origin
The Council authorised the conclusion, on behalf of the EU, of a regional convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin ().
The convention provides a single legal instrument to replace the current pan-Euro-Mediterranean system of cumulation of origin based on individual protocols applicable between partner countries
For details, see press release: . TRANSPARCY
Public access to documents
The Council approved:
the reply to confirmatory application No 04/c/01/12, the Danish, Finnish and Swedish delegations voting against ( ).
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OJL 27, 30.1.2010
PROVISIONAL VERSION
26.111.2012
APPOINTMTS Committee of the Regions
The Council appointed Ms Urve ERIKSON (Estonia) as member of the Committee of the Regions for the remainder of the current term of office, which runs until 25 January 2015 ().