Belangrijkste resultaten van de vergadering van de Europese Raad Concurrentievermogen (en)

CONTENTS1

PARTICIPANTS

ITEMS DEBATED

New industrial policy - Council conclusions

Intellectual property rights in the internal market - Resolution

New European strategy for jobs and growth

European Research Council: review of its structure and mechanisms - Council conclusions

Mobility and careers of European researchers - Council conclusions

European Earth observation programme (GMES) and its initial operations (2011-2013)

Baltic Sea research project ("BONUS-169 programme")

OTHER BUSINESS

OTHER ITEMS APPROVED

COMMON FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY

• - 

  Restrictive measures (Eritrea - Iraq - Liberia - Somalia)

TRADE POLICY

• - 

  Anti-dumping - Imports of furfuryl alcohol from China

ENVIRONMENT

• - 

  Register for biocidal products

• - 

  Trade with illegally harvested timber*

PARTICIPANTS

The Governments of the Member States and the European Commission were represented as follows:

Belgium:

Mr Vincent VAN QUICKENBORNE Minister for Enterprise and Simplification

Mr Benoît CEREXHE Minister of the Brussels Capital Regional Government, with responsibility for Employment, Economic Affairs, Scientific Research, Fire Prevention and Emergency Medical Aid

Mr Jean-Claude MARCOURT Ministre wallon de l’Economie, des PME, des Technologies nouvelles, du Commerce extérieur et de l’Enseignement supérieur

Bulgaria:

Mr Sergey IGNATOV Deputy Minister for Education, Youth and Science

Mr Evgeny ANGELOV Deputy Minister for Economy, Energy and Tourism

Czech Republic:

Mr Erik GEUSS Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade

Mr Vlastimil R?ŽI?KA Deputy Minister of Education, Youth and Sports

Ms Jana REINISOVÁ Deputy Permanent Representative

Denmark:

Ms Charlotte SAHL-MADSEN Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation

Mr Jonas BERING LIISBERG Deputy Permanent Representative

Germany:

Mr Bernd PFAFFENBACH State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology

Mr Georg SCHÜTTE State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Education and Research

Estonia:

Mr Tõnis LUKAS Minister for Education and Science

Mr Gert ANTSU Deputy Permanent Representative

Ireland:

Ms Mary COUGHLAN Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Ms Geraldine BYRNE-NASON Deputy Permanent Representative

Greece:

Mr Ioannis PANARETOS Deputy Minister of Education, Life-long learning and Religious Affairs

Mr Alexandros FOURLAS Secretary General

Spain:

Mr Miguel Sebastián Minister of Industry, Tourism and Commerce

Ms Cristina GARMENDIA MENDIZÁBAL Minister for Science and Innovation

Mr Diego LÓPEZ GARRIDO Secretary of State for the European Union in the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation

Mr Felipe PETRIZ Secretary of State for Investigation at the Ministry of Science and Innovation

France:

Mr Philippe LEGLISE-COSTA Deputy Permanent Representative

Italy:

Mr Giuseppe PIZZA State Secretary for Education, Universities and Research

Mr Vincenzo GRASSI Deputy Permanent Representative

Cyprus:

Mr Antonis PASCHALIDES Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism

Mr Costas IACOVOU Director of Planning at the Planning Bureau

Latvia:

Mr Artis KAMPARS Minister for Economic Affairs

Ms Tatjana KO?E Minister for Education and Science

Lithuania:

Mr Dainius KREIVYS Minister of Economy

Mr Raimundas KAROBLIS Deputy Permanent Representative

Luxembourg:

Mr Jeannot KRECKÉ Minister for Economic Affairs and Foreign Trade

Mr François BILTGEN Minister for Labour and Employment, Minister for Culture, Higher Education and Research, Minister for Religious Affairs

Hungary:

Mr István VARGA Minister for National Development and Economic Affairs

Malta:

Ms Theresa CUTAJAR Deputy Permanent Representative

Netherlands:

Ms Maria van der HOEVEN Minister for Economic Affairs

Mr Peter KOK Deputy Permanent Representative

Austria:

Mr Harald GÜNTHER Deputy Permanent Representative

Poland:

Mr Marcin KOROLEC Deputy State Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs

Ms Maria Elzbieta ORLOWSKA Secretary of State of Science and Higher Education

Portugal:

Mr José MARIANO GAGO Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education

Mr Carlos ZORRINHO State Secretary of Energy and Innovation

Romania:

Mr Borbely KAROLY State Secretary

Mr Cristian BADESCU Deputy Permanent Representative

Slovenia:

Mr Gregor GOLOBI? Minister for Science and Higher Education

Mr Uroš VAJGL Deputy Permanent Representative

Slovakia:

Mr Luboš HALÁK State Secretary

Mr Peter JAVORCIK Deputy Permanent Representative

Finland:

Ms Anni SINNEMÄKI Minister for Labour

Ms Riina NEVAMÄKI State Secretary for Economic Affairs

Sweden:

Ms Maud OLOFSSON Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Enterprise and Energy

Mr Tobias KRANTZ Minister for Higher Education and Research

Mr Gunnar WIESLANDER State Secretary to the Minister for Trade

United Kingdom:

Mr Ian LUCAS Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Business and Regulatory Reform

Mr Andy LEBRECHT Deputy Permanent Representative

Commission:

Mr Antonio TAJANI Vice-President

Mr Michel BARNIER Member

Ms Máire GEOGHEGAN-QUINN Member

ITEMS DEBATED

New industrial policy - Council conclusions

The Council held an exchange of views on key objectives for establishing the principles for a new ambitious industrial policy with a continuing focus on sustainable growth and employment.

In particular, Ministers stressed the importance of sustainability, eco-efficiency, operational key indicators as well as inclusion of innovative sectors like the space into the scope of the new industrial policy. They underlined the need for a new networked and knowledge-triangle oriented approach in industrial policy, focussing on strengthening the knowledge base and sustainability, stressing the necessity of a strong link between the new industrial policy and the upcoming European research and innovation plan.

The new policy needs to combine the horizontal policies with concrete sectoral initiatives. As a first step in this direction, Ministers invited the Commission to present an Action plan for clean and energy-efficient vehicles, including the growing role of fully electric cars and plug in hybrids.

In addition, EU delegations highlighted the following aspects:

• 1) 

  required industrial restructuring and transformation needs to be managed in a socially responsible way.

• 2) 

  The "credit crunch" was still considered a serious problem, in particular for SMEs, which are called to play a central role in the recovery process. It was acknowledged the importance of improving SMEs regulatory framework and the implementation of the Small Business Act in order to stimulate business activities.

• 3) 

  The cohesion and the awareness of different starting positions in member states will have to be taken into consideration in the new industrial strategy.

• 4) 

  With regard to the external dimension, Ministers called for a proactive raw materials strategy, warned of the risk of carbon leakage and underlined the importance of an appropriate international regulatory framework in order to achieve a global level playing field.

Finally, Ministers called for a proactive new role of the Competitiveness Council in the framework of the EU 2020 strategy.

At the end of the debate the Council adopted the conclusions set out in document 6391/10.

Intellectual property rights in the internal market - Resolution

The Council adopted the following resolution aimed at enhancing the enforcement of intellectual property rights in the internal market: 6363/10.

New European strategy for jobs and growth

The Council held exchanges of views on a new EU strategy for the creation of growth and jobs, following presentations by the Commission on the main elements of its communication on the EU 2020 strategy, which is to be published on 3 March.

The outcome of the debates, together with the Commission communication and the preparatory work to be provided by relevant Council formations, will allow the Spring European Council (25 and 26 March) to concentrate on the general framework of the strategy.

Both ministerial configurations, industry/internal market ministers on 1 March and research ministers on 2 March, examined key aspects to start designing the architecture of the future strategy from their respective fields of responsibility.

On the basis of questionnaires submitted by the Presidency (6070/1/10 REV and 6389/10), the discussions focused on the best possible actions to be taken at European level in order to foster competitiveness, thus contributing to the new strategy for growth and jobs.

Delegations highlighted the need for setting up ambitious, realistic and clear objectives involving political commitment for member states.

The debates showed a high degree of convergence on several dimensions to be taken into account in view of the launching of the future strategy, including:

• - 

  the importance of deepening the single market, to give it a new political impetus and to keep it attractive for third countries by avoiding protectionism;

• - 

  the necessity to reinforce a European industry capable of making progress in the new challenges towards a sustainable and green economy;

• - 

  the convenience of setting objectives close to the concerns of European citizens, considering their social dimension and favouring geographical cohesion;

• - 

  the opportunity of placing research and innovation at the heart of the different EU policies in the new agenda;

• - 

  the focus of research in the major upcoming societal challenges, such as climate change, energy, food security, health and demography; and

• - 

  the development of the European Research Area.

Ministers also made interventions on the concrete use of appropriate tools to better achieve these targets. It was mentioned:

• - 

  investment in innovative technologies;

• - 

  the reinforcement of the physical infrastructure of transport and energy networks;

• - 

  the development of key elements to benefit from the full potential of the internal market: the digital agenda, the protection of industrial and intellectual property rights, the facilitation of electronic transactions, the implementation of the services directive, etc.;

• - 

  the improvement of the regulatory framework for enterprises, in particular for SMEs, and the improvement of their conditions on access to financing and to innovation;

• - 

  the simplification of the available instruments for scientific research and their efficient use;

• - 

  the promotion of human capital (education and training, better conditions for researchers, etc.); and

• - 

  the strengthening of the three sides of the "knowledge triangle": education, business and research.

The new strategy is also expected to combine a successful exit from the general economic crisis with an ambitious structural reform agenda with actions at both EU and national levels.

The crucial role that the Competitiveness Council will have to play in the coordination, implementation and monitoring of the future strategy was also acknowledged.

European Research Council: review of its structure and mechanisms - Council conclusions

The Council adopted the following conclusions on the review of the structures and mechanisms of the European Research Council: 6666/10.

Mobility and careers of European researchers - Council conclusions

The Council adopted conclusions on the mobility and careers of researchers and agreed to forward them to the employment and social policy ministers for an exchange of views on 8 March.

The conclusions are set out in 6362/2/10

European Earth observation programme (GMES) and its initial operations (2011-2013)

The Council took note of a Presidency progress report (6069/10) on a draft regulation on the European Earth observation programme (GMES) and its initial operations (2011-2013).

The draft regulation is aimed at establishing GMES as an operational programme by providing additional funds for its initial operations, in order to enable a gradual build-up of capabilities up to the end of the current EU financial framework in 2013.

The proposal, which was presented by the Commission in May 2009 (10285/09), is currently under examination by EU experts with a view to reaching an early agreement with the European Parliament. The main outstanding issues of the proposal are the funding for 2011 to 2013, the governance and the treatment of data and the information policy.

GMES is an EU-led initiative to develop Europe's own operational Earth observation capacity in order to collect information about the planet’s physical, chemical and biological systems or, more generally, monitoring of the natural environment. It draws on both space-based (i.e. satellites) and ground-based installations. Data collected via satellites are processed to provide information services allowing better management of the environment and enhancing security for citizens.

Baltic Sea research project ("BONUS-169 programme")

During a public session, the Council took note of a Presidency report on the ongoing work aimed at approving the participation by the Community in a research project in the Baltic Sea ("BONUS-169 programme") undertaken by several EU countries (6046/10).

The Commission and the Baltic countries made statements highlighting the importance of the project for the Baltic region.

BONUS-169 is a joint research programme undertaken by the eight Baltic Sea member states (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden) in support of the Baltic Sea region's sustainable development.

Its main objective is to provide an effective response to key challenges in the region in relation to environmental protection and sustainable development, tourism, aquaculture, food safety, maritime transport and socio-economic issues (15234/09).

BONUS-169, which is in line with the objectives of the European strategy for maritime research and the Union's strategy for the Baltic Sea region, is to be considered as a pilot case for other similar regional initiatives. Moreover, the initiative is also intended to help the establishment and structuring of the European Research Area in the region.

OTHER BUSINESS

Ministerial working lunch

Over lunch on 1 March, ministers exchanged views on priority areas for reinvigorating the single market and the links between market integration in goods, services, labour and capital and the social and citizens’ dimensions of Europe. The informal debate followed an introduction by Mr Mario Monti, president of Bocconi University, who has been entrusted with the mission of drawing up a report on the future of the internal market.

Mr Antonio Tajani, new commissioner for industry and entrepreneurship, and Mr Michel Barnier, new commissioner in charge of internal market and services, also attended the ministerial lunch.

The research ministers’ informal working lunch on 2 March was devoted to the development of the European Research Area and targets and indicators to measure it, with the participation of the new commissioner for research, innovation and science, Mrs Máire Geoghegan-Quinn.

Copenhagen Conference on climate change: implications for European industry

The Commission presented oral information on the outcome of the Copenhagen Conference of December 2009 and its impact on EU efforts for climate change and transforming Europe into a low-carbon economy.

Informal Competitiveness Council on 8 and 9 February

The Presidency briefed the Council on the outcome of the informal Competitiveness Council meeting that took place in San Sebastián, Spain, on 8 and 9 February (6760/1/10).

At the meeting, ministers responsible for research discussed the upcoming challenges with regard to the European Research Area. During the second part of the meeting the Spanish Presidency undertook to promote a European strategy on electric vehicles and to continue the debate at the Competitiveness Council in May.

Electric vehicles: standardisation

The Presidency and the Commission provided information on the state of play and the steps to be taken with a view to adopting a harmonised type-approval system for both purely electric (propelled exclusively by the power stored in their batteries) and hybrid vehicles (combination of electric propulsion with internal combustion engines), taking into account environmental performance (6827/10).

Development of the internal market - Services directive

The Council took note of the state of transposition of the directive on services into national law, as it stands two months after the expiry of the transposition deadline. A report delivered by the Commission (6817/10) points out the need for urgent action on several issues and in a number of EU member states.

This directive, adopted in 2006, aims at eliminating obstacles to trade in services, allowing the development of cross-border operations, bringing down prices and improving quality and choice for consumers. The Council adopted conclusions on this subject on 16 February 2010 (6060/10).

The Commission also presented the following three reports:

• - 

  The Internal Market Scoreboard No 20: state of play of implementation by member states of internal market directives into national law;

• - 

  Report on the SOLVIT system (an online internal market problem-solving network);

• - 

  Report on the “Citizens Sign Post Service”, a service that provides personalised advice to individual citizens in relation to the rights they enjoy under single market rules.

Moreover, the Commission presented statistics on the use of the Internal Market Infomation (IMI) system in 2009. IMI is an electronic tool developed to improve communication between member states' administrations for a more effective day-to-day cooperation in the implementation of internal market legislation (6922/10).

ITER experimental fusion reactor project

The Council took note on preparations carried out by the Commission with a view to the forthcoming meetings of the Council of the ITER International Fusion Energy Organisation. It also took note of the appointment of Mr Frank Briscoe (UK) as the new director of the "Fusion for Energy" Agency, the joint undertaking that manages Europe’s contributions to the ITER project (http://fusionforenergy.europa.eu/).

Public-Private partnership initiatives

The Commission presented a report on the development of the following public-private partnership (PPP) initiatives: "Factories of the future", "Energy-efficient buildings" and "Green cars". The three PPPs will commit €3.2 billion over the period 2010-2013, with half coming from private sources and half from the EU’s Seventh framework programme for research.

This will be one of the main topics of the upcoming conference entitled "The European framework programme: from recovery to sustainability", scheduled to take place in Valencia, Spain, on 13 and 14 April.

On 19 November 2009, the Commission presented its communication entitled: "Mobilising private and public investment for recovery and long-term structural change: developing PPPs".

The Commission also submitted a report on a PPP for the future of the Internet (6807/10), following its proposal for a EU-wide Internet innovation strategy, presented in October 2009. Current research efforts on the future Internet are addressed in more than 90 EU-funded projects involving some €400 million.

Event on information and communication technologies for energy efficiency

The Council took note of the outcome of the second edition of the high-level event on information and communication technologies for energy efficiency that took place in Brussels on 23 and 24 February. On 9 October 2009 the Commission adopted a recommendation on this subject (14450/09).

Euro-Mediterranean conference on education, research and innovation

The Council took note of information by the Slovenian delegation on the preparations for the Euro?Mediterranean ministerial conference on higher education, research and innovation that will take place in Brdo, Slovenia, on 25 April.

OTHER ITEMS APPROVED

COMMON FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY

Restrictive measures (Eritrea - Iraq - Liberia - Somalia)

Eritrea

The Council adopted a decision (5534/10) imposing restrictive measures against Eritrea in line with United Nations Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 1907 (2009).

For more details, see (6383/10).

Iraq

The Council adopted a common position amending common position 2003/495/CFSP on Iraq, implementing UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution 1905 (2009) (5789/10).

UNSC resolution 1905 (2009) extends, until 31 December 2010, the arrangements for depositing proceeds from export sales of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas into the Development Fund for Iraq and the immunity from legal proceedings of certain Iraqi assets, as referred to in UNSC resolutions 1483 (2003) and 1546 (2004).

In addition, the Council adopted a regulation amending regulation 1210/2003 concerning certain specific restrictions on economic and financial relations with Iraq (5791/10), in order to implement the above mentioned measures at Community level.

Liberia

The Council adopted a decision amending the current restrictive measures on arms against Liberia in order to implement the resolution 1903 adopted by the United Nations Security Council on 17 December 2009.

Somalia

The Council adopted a decision amending common position 2009/138/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Somalia, in order to bring it in line with UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution 1907 (2009) (5502/09).

Last December, the UN Security Council adopted resolution 1907 (2009) introducing additional restrictive measures against Somalia and calling upon all States to inspect, in accordance with their national legislations and consistent with international law, all cargoes to and from Somalia, in their territory, including seaports and airports, provided that there exist reasonable grounds to believe that the cargo contains items prohibited under the arms embargo to Somalia.

In February 2009, the Council adopted common position 2009/138/CFSP implementing UNSC resolution 1844 (2008), which introduced restrictive measures against those who seek to prevent or block a peaceful political process, or those who threaten the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs) of Somalia or the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) by force, or take action that undermines stability in Somalia or the region.

TRADE POLICY

Anti-dumping - Imports of furfuryl alcohol from China

The Council adopted a regulation amending regulation 1202/2009 imposing a definitive anti?dumping duty on imports of furfuryl alcohol originating in China following a 'new exporter' review pursuant to regulation 1225/2009 (6334/10).

ENVIRONMENT

Register for biocidal products

The Council decided not to oppose the adoption of a Commission decision to establish a register for biocidal products.

Under the regulatory procedure with scrutiny, the Council can oppose an act which exceeds the implementing powers of the Commission, is not compatible with the aim or content of the basic instrument or does not respect subsidiarity or proportionality if the regulatory committee previously supported the envisaged measures.

Trade with illegally harvested timber*

The Council adopted its first-reading position on a draft regulation laying down the obligations of operators who place timber and timber products on the European market (6527/1/10 REV 1 + 6527/1/10 ADD 1 REV 1 + 5885/10 + 5885/10 ADD 1). The Netherlands voted against, while the United Kingdom abstained. The future regulation is aimed at minimising the risk of placing illegally harvested timber and timber products on the EU market. During a written procedure completed on 29 January 2010, the Council reached political agreement on its first-reading position.

For further details, see 5688/10.