IN line with its traditions and beliefs, Luxembourg will take advantage of its six months Presidency to be at the service of the Union and to ensure that European integration is taken forward. In a Union with 25 members, which is soon to become 27 and more, it is in the interests of everyone within the EU to forge their common and increasingly interlinked destiny on a continuous basis.
Reinforcing the EU also means providing it with the resources to become a knowledge-based society with a competitive economy that can also fulfil its citizens social and environmental ambitions. This is the objective of the Lisbon process and its mid-term review, which the Presidency is preparing to submit to the European Council in March, based on a Commission orientation report. This will mean re-launching the strategy, co-ordinated around its three pillars (economic, social and environmental), while identifying a restricted number of priorities. Simplifying the governance of the process will make the issues involved more accessible to everyone.
Side by side with the mechanisms specific to the Lisbon strategy, completion of the internal market remains an essential motor of European economic growth. Efforts to speed up and improve the transposition of directives must therefore continue apace. The Luxembourg Presidency will strive to ensure that this instrument of European integration, which is beneficial to both citizens and consumers as well as to economic operators and social partners, continues to generate positive effects. In addition, the emergence of new economic powers makes it essential for the EU to establish a truly effective and integrated European internal market in order to be able to respond to competition on a worldwide scale.
Reinforcing the economic governance of EMU and clarifying the implementation of the Stability and Growth Pact are other important objectives of the Luxembourg Presidency. The Presidency intends to successfully complete the examination of the pact by seeking to reach an agreement on its specific content in March.
All progress towards European construction requires adequate financial resources. The three-year strategic programme for 2004-2006 seeks to reach a political agreement in June 2005 on the financial perspectives for 2007-2013.
The Presidency intends to organise its work in order to meet this June 2005 strategic objective. This approach will enable the various legislative instruments included in the next financial framework for the end of 2005 to be adopted. In addition, it should enable the preparatory work essential for implementing the new generation of Community programmes starting from 2007 to be carried out in 2006.
The EU will continue its enlargement under the Luxembourg Presidency. The Treaty of Accession with Bulgaria and Romania will be finalised with a view to its signature at the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) to be held in April 2005. This signature will mark the end of the current accession cycle.
A new cycle encompassing the Balkan countries is currently being established on the basis of the conclusions of the Thessalonica European Council. Accession negotiations with Croatia should begin on March 17, 2005. The FYROM (former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) will forward its responses to the Commission questionnaire so that the latters opinion can be drawn up following the application for accession.
Preparations for accession negotiations with Turkey are unlikely to begin before summer 2005.
The importance of the Presidencys external relations dimension has grown considerably, as has the EUs standing on the world stage, and its resulting responsibilities. The EUs objectives are well known: a world which is safer, more prosperous and more respectful of human rights. These objectives underpin the EUs external action, and a range of instruments combine to carry it through.
The Presidency will be responsible for implementing the European security strategy, adopted a year ago, a framework that encompasses the EUs external action. This strategy raises a number of fundamental choices to which the Presidency will have to give concrete expression.
One of the essential aspects of this strategy is the priority afforded to multilateralism, a system the EU considers the best means of achieving its ambitious objectives.
At the WTO, the Presidency will seek the fastest possible conclusion of the work of the Doha Round, which is essential for developing the world economy and for drawing the developing countries into world trade.
The Hague Programme, which seeks to develop an area of freedom, security and justice, will act as a framework for the Luxembourg Presidency in Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) issues. This now means optimising operational co-operation among the 25 within a consolidating and continually developing legal framework. Work in the future will be organised with the support of the action programme to be formulated by the Commission, and which the Council should approve within the next six months.
For Luxembourg, all progress made in creating an area of freedom, security and justice also involves consolidating the four freedoms that underlie the great European project. Arising out of intergovernmental cooperation forming part of the Community framework throughout the treaties, the progress of the area of freedom, security and justice has now been marked out by the new Constitutional Treaty, the objective of which is the permanent removal of the JHA exception. Luxembourg believes that from now on all work within the JHA Council should be carried out towards this end. Its work should aim to achieve the final large-scale phase for JHA, namely its full integration into European construction through flawless application of the Community method.
Moreover, 2005 will be a crucial year in view of the ratification of the treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. The entry into force of this new founding pact is conditional upon its ratification by each of the 25 member states, most of which plan to bring their national procedures to a successful conclusion in 2005. Throughout the year, the different national ratification procedures will be very closely monitored, both for the member states that submit the text concerned to their Parliaments, and in member states where popular consultation is used. The results in both cases will be analysed in detail.
As in the past, the Luxembourg Presidency will work closely with the European Parliament, the Commission and the Secretariat of the Council to successfully conclude all these tasks.
Enlargement
In the area of enlargement, the Luxembourg Presidency will give priority to:
Finalising the drafting of the Treaty of Accession with Bulgaria and Romania. On concluding the institutional procedure that includes referral to the European Parliament, the organisation of an official signing ceremony during the GAERC in April 2005 will bring the protracted work of accession negotiations to a close. These two applicant countries will effectively join the EU on January 1, 2007, though monitoring the transposition of EU law will be continued resolutely. The December 16 and 17 European Council clearly indicated the priority chapters for such monitoring.
Initiating negotiations with Croatia on March 17, 2005, in accordance with the conclusions of the June 2004 European Council, which envisage opening talks in early 2005 with the recommendations expressed at the December 2004 European Council. These negotiations may begin, provided Croatia cooperates in full with the ICTY. This will mean preparing a negotiating framework from early 2005 that will determine the criteria for conducting the technical negotiations per se. Convening an IGC will signal the official start-up of the Commissions process of screening the acquis prior to opening the technical discussions chapter by chapter.
Beginning the preparatory work for negotiations with Turkey, following the conclusions of the December 2004 European Council. A detailed negotiating framework will probably be established during the second half of the year. It will then be a case of translating the concept of the three negotiating pillars advocated by the Commission into concrete terms and establishing the priorities of a working road map.
In parallel, existing agreements with Croatia and Turkey will have to be adjusted to the new circumstances of negotiations being opened with these two applicant countries. The Presidency will also bring the work on pre-accession instruments to a successful conclusion.
External relations
In accordance with European security strategy, the EU aims to promote peace, democracy and stability by combating the causes underlying insecurity in the world. To this end, it will use all its instruments in a coherent and integrated manner.
These include the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP), which will have to be reinforced in line with this strategy.
It is also primarily within a multilateral context that the Union will implement its strategy against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by supporting the action of the competent international organisations and the process of rendering existing treaties on disarmament universal. The Presidency attaches the utmost importance to ensuring the success of the Review conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty in May 2005.
Under the Luxembourg Presidency, the EU will also continue intensive co-operation with other multilateral organisations such as OSCE and the Council of Europe, particularly in areas of common interest such as human rights and the rule of law. Within this context, the preparation of the third summit of the Council of Europe set for May 16 and 17, 2005, in Warsaw is particularly important.
The EU will pay special attention to reinforcing stability by promoting democracy in a number of regions of the world.
The EU will remain committed to the process of reform in the Western Balkans, whose future lies within the EU. Implementation of the Thessalonica agenda will continue to form the general framework of the Unions action in the region with a view to taking the Stabilisation and Association process forward. Against this background, negotiations will be pursued with Albania with a view to concluding a Stabilisation and Association agreement. Negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as with Serbia and Montenegro will be initiated as soon as the conditions are met. The Presidency will initiate accession negotiations with Croatia on March 17, 2005, provided there is full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). The FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) will continue its preparations to return, during the first half of 2005, its answers to the Commission questionnaire that will underpin the latters opinion on Skopjes application for accession.
Special attention must be paid to the situation in Kosovo, with a view in particular to re-examining the standards policy, scheduled for mid-2005. Under the Luxembourg Presidency, the EU will maintain its global and coherent commitment to Kosovo, whose future lies within the EU, regardless of its status.
The Presidency will continue to work for closer relations with Russia, a strategic partner, because she is a major element of our security and prosperity. In accordance with the conclusions of the December 2004 European Council, the Presidency will endeavour to deliver a balanced package of four road maps based on common values and shared interests during the EU-Russia summit in May 2005.
Another major priority will be the implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy, by which the EU will pursue the development of its relations with the neighbouring countries of the enlarged Europe. This policy will be realised by drawing up and adopting action plans with all the neighbouring countries concerned.
The objective of a safe, stable, unified and democratic Iraq, which is thereby in a position to contribute to regional stability, will continue to be a major priority of EU action. To this end, the Presidency will continue the process currently under way of developing relations between the EU and Iraq. A crucial stage in this process will be the legislative elections scheduled for January 2005.
Particular attention will also be paid to the situation in Iran, especially in terms of combating nuclear proliferation and protecting human rights.
Another region close to the EU will continue to receive encouragement and support: Africa, with which the EU will continue to develop relations at all levels, whether with the African Union, sub-regional organisations or individual countries. Such dialogue will enable issues such as combating AIDS or the fate of child soldiers to be examined. Another priority will be crisis management and conflict prevention in the Great Lakes region and in Sudan. EU action will particularly seek to develop African peacekeeping capacity.
The Presidency will ensure that EU external policy is based more than ever on an effective and balanced transatlantic partnership. It is aware that in managing new challenges and threats at international level, the United States remains an irreplaceable partner for the EU. Transatlantic cooperation will remain essential, particularly in regulating conflicts in the Middle East and the Balkans.
A concrete follow-up to the declarations adopted at the EU-United States Summit in 2004, particularly those relating to reinforcing the economic partnership, combating terrorism or the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction will also have to be ensured. The EU-United States Summit of 2005, due to be held under the Luxembourg Presidency, will provide an opportunity to take stock of the initiatives under way and to reflect on potential new orientations.
President Bushs visit to Brussels in February will be an exceptional event that will inject fresh momentum into EU-United States relations.
European Security
and Defence Policy
Promoting the aims of the EUs external action presupposes, in addition to a multilateral system and close relations with a number of partners, a strengthening of the instruments at the service of the European Union, particularly the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).
Preventing conflicts requires, among other things, the capacity to react quickly. The Luxembourg Presidency will further the work on the EUs rapid-reaction capabilities.
The contribution of ESDP towards combating terrorism will be developed within the conceptual framework agreed in November 2004.
The Luxembourg Presidency will seek to improve cooperation between the EU and international organisations, such as UN, NATO, OSCE and the African Union, in a bid to foster efficient multilateralism, also through ESDP. The same approach will be applied to relations between the EU and its partners.
Development co-operation
In the area of development cooperation, the fight against poverty will be the main objective of the Presidency programme. We shall take a stance against situations of marginalisation, exclusion, disease, inequality and poverty in a large number of developing countries, particularly in Africa.
Under the Luxembourg Presidency, the EU will in particular have to agree on the level of aid it will be able to make available after 2006. With regard to this matter, we may recall that during the Monterrey Conference, the EU undertook to provide ODA of 0.39 per cent of its gross national income until this date.
Justice and Home Affairs
In accordance with the agreement reached by the European Council on November 4 and 5, 2004, the Luxembourg Presidency will be marked by the application of the procedure defined in Article 251 EC Treaty (qualified majority vote in the Council and co-decision with the European Parliament) to all measures relating to heading IV aimed at strengthening freedom, in conformity with the Nice Treaty, except in the area of legal immigration.
The Luxembourg Presidency will seek to ensure that this change will be made in continuity and an open spirit, in full co-operation with the European Parliament.
Work relating to the long-term resident status for refugees and those benefiting from subsidiary protection will begin as soon as the Commission has submitted its directive proposal. Together with the Commission, the Presidency will ensure work is continued to create the appropriate structures linking the asylum services of the member states and having to provide member states with assistance in processing requests for asylum. The Green Paper on the immigration of workers will be the subject of debates within the Council.
The Luxembourg Presidency attaches great importance to the external dimension of political asylum. Strengthening partnerships with the countries and regions of origin as well as those of transit is a matter that will remain on the EU agenda.
The same applies to evaluating relations with third countries regarding the fight against trafficking in human beings and the fight against illegal immigration, on the basis of the report to be submitted by the Commission.
The EUs return and readmission policy is of particular importance to the Presidency. The joint efforts made in this area towards a harmonised approach will be continued resolutely, in particular by adopting new negotiation mandates for readmission agreements. The Council will initiate discussions on the minimum norms applicable to return procedures as soon as the Commission has submitted a proposal.
The Luxembourg Presidency attaches great importance to improving co-operation between member states with regard to controlling common external borders. To this end, it will ensure that the European Agency for the management of operational co-operation at external borders is launched as scheduled, under the best conditions, on May 1, 2005.
The Presidency will seek to successfully round off negotiations on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders.
The introduction and use of biometric identifiers will be pursued so as to guarantee more effective identification of holders of travel and residence documents and to improve the securitisation of certain types of documents.
With regard to the policy on visas, particular attention will be paid to the reciprocity mechanism and consular cooperation, including the launch of a process which should help set up joint application centres.
Strengthening security
The Luxembourg Presidency will focus resolutely on operational co-operation at EU level in order to develop multilateral co-operation in addition to multiple bilateral initiatives. The development of a European security culture will enhance existing national security cultures.
The fight against terrorism remains a priority. The Luxembourg Presidency will consider the conclusions of the European Council of December 2004, and more particularly the approach to combating the financing of terrorism effectively. A genuine multidisciplinary approach must form the basis of EU action taken to prevent terrorism.
Strengthening justice
The Luxembourg Presidency will continue efforts aimed at consolidating the judicial area based principally on mutual recognition and reconciling legislation.
In criminal matters, particular attention will be paid to developing the procedural guarantees vital to maintaining the right balance between requirements linked to legal proceedings and those relating to defence rights. This will enable the mutual trust among member states and the trust of European citizens in legal Europe to be repaid.
As with police co-operation, improving information exchange backed by excellent relations between Eurojust and Europol represents a major challenge in operational co-operation.
Reinforcing the EU also means providing it with the resources to become a knowledge-based society with a competitive economy that can also fulfil its citizens social and environmental ambitions. This is the objective of the Lisbon process and its mid-term review, which the Presidency is preparing to submit to the European Council in March, based on a Commission orientation report. This will mean re-launching the strategy, co-ordinated around its three pillars (economic, social and environmental), while identifying a restricted number of priorities. Simplifying the governance of the process will make the issues involved more accessible to everyone.
Side by side with the mechanisms specific to the Lisbon strategy, completion of the internal market remains an essential motor of European economic growth. Efforts to speed up and improve the transposition of directives must therefore continue apace. The Luxembourg Presidency will strive to ensure that this instrument of European integration, which is beneficial to both citizens and consumers as well as to economic operators and social partners, continues to generate positive effects. In addition, the emergence of new economic powers makes it essential for the EU to establish a truly effective and integrated European internal market in order to be able to respond to competition on a worldwide scale.
Reinforcing the economic governance of EMU and clarifying the implementation of the Stability and Growth Pact are other important objectives of the Luxembourg Presidency. The Presidency intends to successfully complete the examination of the pact by seeking to reach an agreement on its specific content in March.
All progress towards European construction requires adequate financial resources. The three-year strategic programme for 2004-2006 seeks to reach a political agreement in June 2005 on the financial perspectives for 2007-2013.
The Presidency intends to organise its work in order to meet this June 2005 strategic objective. This approach will enable the various legislative instruments included in the next financial framework for the end of 2005 to be adopted. In addition, it should enable the preparatory work essential for implementing the new generation of Community programmes starting from 2007 to be carried out in 2006.
The EU will continue its enlargement under the Luxembourg Presidency. The Treaty of Accession with Bulgaria and Romania will be finalised with a view to its signature at the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) to be held in April 2005. This signature will mark the end of the current accession cycle.
A new cycle encompassing the Balkan countries is currently being established on the basis of the conclusions of the Thessalonica European Council. Accession negotiations with Croatia should begin on March 17, 2005. The FYROM (former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) will forward its responses to the Commission questionnaire so that the latters opinion can be drawn up following the application for accession.
Preparations for accession negotiations with Turkey are unlikely to begin before summer 2005.
The importance of the Presidencys external relations dimension has grown considerably, as has the EUs standing on the world stage, and its resulting responsibilities. The EUs objectives are well known: a world which is safer, more prosperous and more respectful of human rights. These objectives underpin the EUs external action, and a range of instruments combine to carry it through.
The Presidency will be responsible for implementing the European security strategy, adopted a year ago, a framework that encompasses the EUs external action. This strategy raises a number of fundamental choices to which the Presidency will have to give concrete expression.
One of the essential aspects of this strategy is the priority afforded to multilateralism, a system the EU considers the best means of achieving its ambitious objectives.
At the WTO, the Presidency will seek the fastest possible conclusion of the work of the Doha Round, which is essential for developing the world economy and for drawing the developing countries into world trade.
The Hague Programme, which seeks to develop an area of freedom, security and justice, will act as a framework for the Luxembourg Presidency in Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) issues. This now means optimising operational co-operation among the 25 within a consolidating and continually developing legal framework. Work in the future will be organised with the support of the action programme to be formulated by the Commission, and which the Council should approve within the next six months.
For Luxembourg, all progress made in creating an area of freedom, security and justice also involves consolidating the four freedoms that underlie the great European project. Arising out of intergovernmental cooperation forming part of the Community framework throughout the treaties, the progress of the area of freedom, security and justice has now been marked out by the new Constitutional Treaty, the objective of which is the permanent removal of the JHA exception. Luxembourg believes that from now on all work within the JHA Council should be carried out towards this end. Its work should aim to achieve the final large-scale phase for JHA, namely its full integration into European construction through flawless application of the Community method.
Moreover, 2005 will be a crucial year in view of the ratification of the treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. The entry into force of this new founding pact is conditional upon its ratification by each of the 25 member states, most of which plan to bring their national procedures to a successful conclusion in 2005. Throughout the year, the different national ratification procedures will be very closely monitored, both for the member states that submit the text concerned to their Parliaments, and in member states where popular consultation is used. The results in both cases will be analysed in detail.
As in the past, the Luxembourg Presidency will work closely with the European Parliament, the Commission and the Secretariat of the Council to successfully conclude all these tasks.
Enlargement
In the area of enlargement, the Luxembourg Presidency will give priority to:
Finalising the drafting of the Treaty of Accession with Bulgaria and Romania. On concluding the institutional procedure that includes referral to the European Parliament, the organisation of an official signing ceremony during the GAERC in April 2005 will bring the protracted work of accession negotiations to a close. These two applicant countries will effectively join the EU on January 1, 2007, though monitoring the transposition of EU law will be continued resolutely. The December 16 and 17 European Council clearly indicated the priority chapters for such monitoring.
Initiating negotiations with Croatia on March 17, 2005, in accordance with the conclusions of the June 2004 European Council, which envisage opening talks in early 2005 with the recommendations expressed at the December 2004 European Council. These negotiations may begin, provided Croatia cooperates in full with the ICTY. This will mean preparing a negotiating framework from early 2005 that will determine the criteria for conducting the technical negotiations per se. Convening an IGC will signal the official start-up of the Commissions process of screening the acquis prior to opening the technical discussions chapter by chapter.
Beginning the preparatory work for negotiations with Turkey, following the conclusions of the December 2004 European Council. A detailed negotiating framework will probably be established during the second half of the year. It will then be a case of translating the concept of the three negotiating pillars advocated by the Commission into concrete terms and establishing the priorities of a working road map.
In parallel, existing agreements with Croatia and Turkey will have to be adjusted to the new circumstances of negotiations being opened with these two applicant countries. The Presidency will also bring the work on pre-accession instruments to a successful conclusion.
External relations
In accordance with European security strategy, the EU aims to promote peace, democracy and stability by combating the causes underlying insecurity in the world. To this end, it will use all its instruments in a coherent and integrated manner.
These include the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP), which will have to be reinforced in line with this strategy.
It is also primarily within a multilateral context that the Union will implement its strategy against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by supporting the action of the competent international organisations and the process of rendering existing treaties on disarmament universal. The Presidency attaches the utmost importance to ensuring the success of the Review conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty in May 2005.
Under the Luxembourg Presidency, the EU will also continue intensive co-operation with other multilateral organisations such as OSCE and the Council of Europe, particularly in areas of common interest such as human rights and the rule of law. Within this context, the preparation of the third summit of the Council of Europe set for May 16 and 17, 2005, in Warsaw is particularly important.
The EU will pay special attention to reinforcing stability by promoting democracy in a number of regions of the world.
The EU will remain committed to the process of reform in the Western Balkans, whose future lies within the EU. Implementation of the Thessalonica agenda will continue to form the general framework of the Unions action in the region with a view to taking the Stabilisation and Association process forward. Against this background, negotiations will be pursued with Albania with a view to concluding a Stabilisation and Association agreement. Negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as with Serbia and Montenegro will be initiated as soon as the conditions are met. The Presidency will initiate accession negotiations with Croatia on March 17, 2005, provided there is full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). The FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) will continue its preparations to return, during the first half of 2005, its answers to the Commission questionnaire that will underpin the latters opinion on Skopjes application for accession.
Special attention must be paid to the situation in Kosovo, with a view in particular to re-examining the standards policy, scheduled for mid-2005. Under the Luxembourg Presidency, the EU will maintain its global and coherent commitment to Kosovo, whose future lies within the EU, regardless of its status.
The Presidency will continue to work for closer relations with Russia, a strategic partner, because she is a major element of our security and prosperity. In accordance with the conclusions of the December 2004 European Council, the Presidency will endeavour to deliver a balanced package of four road maps based on common values and shared interests during the EU-Russia summit in May 2005.
Another major priority will be the implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy, by which the EU will pursue the development of its relations with the neighbouring countries of the enlarged Europe. This policy will be realised by drawing up and adopting action plans with all the neighbouring countries concerned.
The objective of a safe, stable, unified and democratic Iraq, which is thereby in a position to contribute to regional stability, will continue to be a major priority of EU action. To this end, the Presidency will continue the process currently under way of developing relations between the EU and Iraq. A crucial stage in this process will be the legislative elections scheduled for January 2005.
Particular attention will also be paid to the situation in Iran, especially in terms of combating nuclear proliferation and protecting human rights.
Another region close to the EU will continue to receive encouragement and support: Africa, with which the EU will continue to develop relations at all levels, whether with the African Union, sub-regional organisations or individual countries. Such dialogue will enable issues such as combating AIDS or the fate of child soldiers to be examined. Another priority will be crisis management and conflict prevention in the Great Lakes region and in Sudan. EU action will particularly seek to develop African peacekeeping capacity.
The Presidency will ensure that EU external policy is based more than ever on an effective and balanced transatlantic partnership. It is aware that in managing new challenges and threats at international level, the United States remains an irreplaceable partner for the EU. Transatlantic cooperation will remain essential, particularly in regulating conflicts in the Middle East and the Balkans.
A concrete follow-up to the declarations adopted at the EU-United States Summit in 2004, particularly those relating to reinforcing the economic partnership, combating terrorism or the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction will also have to be ensured. The EU-United States Summit of 2005, due to be held under the Luxembourg Presidency, will provide an opportunity to take stock of the initiatives under way and to reflect on potential new orientations.
President Bushs visit to Brussels in February will be an exceptional event that will inject fresh momentum into EU-United States relations.
European Security
and Defence Policy
Promoting the aims of the EUs external action presupposes, in addition to a multilateral system and close relations with a number of partners, a strengthening of the instruments at the service of the European Union, particularly the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).
Preventing conflicts requires, among other things, the capacity to react quickly. The Luxembourg Presidency will further the work on the EUs rapid-reaction capabilities.
The contribution of ESDP towards combating terrorism will be developed within the conceptual framework agreed in November 2004.
The Luxembourg Presidency will seek to improve cooperation between the EU and international organisations, such as UN, NATO, OSCE and the African Union, in a bid to foster efficient multilateralism, also through ESDP. The same approach will be applied to relations between the EU and its partners.
Development co-operation
In the area of development cooperation, the fight against poverty will be the main objective of the Presidency programme. We shall take a stance against situations of marginalisation, exclusion, disease, inequality and poverty in a large number of developing countries, particularly in Africa.
Under the Luxembourg Presidency, the EU will in particular have to agree on the level of aid it will be able to make available after 2006. With regard to this matter, we may recall that during the Monterrey Conference, the EU undertook to provide ODA of 0.39 per cent of its gross national income until this date.
Justice and Home Affairs
In accordance with the agreement reached by the European Council on November 4 and 5, 2004, the Luxembourg Presidency will be marked by the application of the procedure defined in Article 251 EC Treaty (qualified majority vote in the Council and co-decision with the European Parliament) to all measures relating to heading IV aimed at strengthening freedom, in conformity with the Nice Treaty, except in the area of legal immigration.
The Luxembourg Presidency will seek to ensure that this change will be made in continuity and an open spirit, in full co-operation with the European Parliament.
Work relating to the long-term resident status for refugees and those benefiting from subsidiary protection will begin as soon as the Commission has submitted its directive proposal. Together with the Commission, the Presidency will ensure work is continued to create the appropriate structures linking the asylum services of the member states and having to provide member states with assistance in processing requests for asylum. The Green Paper on the immigration of workers will be the subject of debates within the Council.
The Luxembourg Presidency attaches great importance to the external dimension of political asylum. Strengthening partnerships with the countries and regions of origin as well as those of transit is a matter that will remain on the EU agenda.
The same applies to evaluating relations with third countries regarding the fight against trafficking in human beings and the fight against illegal immigration, on the basis of the report to be submitted by the Commission.
The EUs return and readmission policy is of particular importance to the Presidency. The joint efforts made in this area towards a harmonised approach will be continued resolutely, in particular by adopting new negotiation mandates for readmission agreements. The Council will initiate discussions on the minimum norms applicable to return procedures as soon as the Commission has submitted a proposal.
The Luxembourg Presidency attaches great importance to improving co-operation between member states with regard to controlling common external borders. To this end, it will ensure that the European Agency for the management of operational co-operation at external borders is launched as scheduled, under the best conditions, on May 1, 2005.
The Presidency will seek to successfully round off negotiations on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders.
The introduction and use of biometric identifiers will be pursued so as to guarantee more effective identification of holders of travel and residence documents and to improve the securitisation of certain types of documents.
With regard to the policy on visas, particular attention will be paid to the reciprocity mechanism and consular cooperation, including the launch of a process which should help set up joint application centres.
Strengthening security
The Luxembourg Presidency will focus resolutely on operational co-operation at EU level in order to develop multilateral co-operation in addition to multiple bilateral initiatives. The development of a European security culture will enhance existing national security cultures.
The fight against terrorism remains a priority. The Luxembourg Presidency will consider the conclusions of the European Council of December 2004, and more particularly the approach to combating the financing of terrorism effectively. A genuine multidisciplinary approach must form the basis of EU action taken to prevent terrorism.
Strengthening justice
The Luxembourg Presidency will continue efforts aimed at consolidating the judicial area based principally on mutual recognition and reconciling legislation.
In criminal matters, particular attention will be paid to developing the procedural guarantees vital to maintaining the right balance between requirements linked to legal proceedings and those relating to defence rights. This will enable the mutual trust among member states and the trust of European citizens in legal Europe to be repaid.
As with police co-operation, improving information exchange backed by excellent relations between Eurojust and Europol represents a major challenge in operational co-operation.
