IP/07/215
Brussels, 21 February
Commission presents policy priorities for 2008
The Commission has today presented its Annual Policy Strategy setting out its political priorities for 2008. This document is presented every year around March and marks the beginning of the Commission's policy cycle. It outlines the Commission's policy objectives, namely in the four key strategic areas of the Barroso Commission: prosperity, solidarity, security and freedom and a stronger role of the EU in the world. It also puts forward key actions in cross-cutting issues such as jobs, energy and climate change and migration management.
Commission President, José Manuel Barroso said, "Tangible achievements are what this Commission is about. The Annual Policy Strategy aims to achieve results for the benefit of EU citizen's and business. This paper builds on our Citizen's Agenda from last year and sets out clear strategic priorities which will guide the work of the Commission in 2008. I hope that we will quickly reach a consensus with the other EU institutions so we can move forward".
The Annual Policy Strategy presents the Commission's proposals for key initiatives to be taken forward in 2008. It also proposes an allocation of human resources to reinforce the Commission's ability to deliver in priority areas. 2008 will be an important year for the debate on the future of Europe and the Commission hopes to see a positive outcome on the institutional settlement. It will also be a year of consolidation and continued implementation of the existing acquis.
The Commission will maintain its focus on delivering results within the overall strategic objectives. Growth and jobs remain a major policy priority for the Union, backed up by further efforts to tackle climate change and to meet the energy needs of the Union. The latest enlargement of the EU will also see further consolidation when new member states progressively join the Schengen area and adopt the euro. On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the launch of the euro, the Commission will present a review of how EMU has functioned to date and how it can be better equipped to meet future challenges. The Commission will also continue to deliver on its better regulation agenda, and to give further attention to the proper enforcement of EU legislation.
During 2008, the Commission will draw on the consultation exercises launched on the Single Market review and the Social Reality Stocktaking. These will feed into a range of concrete initiatives. The Commission will also deepen its preparatory work on the comprehensive budget review with a view to issuing a review document in 2008-09.
For the first time, the Commission has identified a series of cross-cutting issues that involve and contribute to several, or all, of the strategic objectives. The main examples are energy and climate change, the Lisbon agenda for growth and jobs, and migration. These are issues that need to be addressed both through action within the EU and through a global approach with partners around the world.
The Annual Policy Strategy also identified the main communication priorities for 2008. The Commission will therefore give specific focus in 2008 to the budget, single market and social reality stocktaking reviews; migration; the institutional settlement; energy and climate change; and, the EU's role in the world.
The Commission will begin an exchange of views with the European parliament and Council on where the policy priorities should lie in 2008, and how this should be reflected in the Commission's legislative and work programme to be adopted in October and in the budget for 2008.
More information and the Annual Policy Strategy 2008 can be found at: