News
BackAs promised, the EU Commission introduced its 2015 Work Programme before the end of the year. In it, the Commission boasts in grandiose terms that over the coming twelve months it will provide important impulses for more jobs, growth and investments and that citizens will be able to enjoy actual benefits. That is exactly how one imagines a Christmas present to be but will it deliver on its promise? One thing already catches the eye - there will be far fewer legislative proposals in 2015; talk is about only 23. Normally, the Commission introduces 130 legislative proposals per year!
EU Commission’s Work Programme is too vague
There are no doubts about the political targets of the EU Commission and not only since it introduced the 315 billion investment plan. However, targets alone are not good enough; they have to be filled with life and unambiguous content. And that is exactly the problem with the EU Commission Programme for 2015. Compared to previous programmes this latest one has been slimmed down drastically. The Commission is even retracting 83 legislative proposals, which are already on the table. However, only too often there is no progress beyond announcements and one is not exactly sure what is behind this. For example, it has been planned to implement a package of measures or the mobility of workers. However, the target, which is to be pursued, remains vague. Supposedly it shall enable promoting the mobility of workers, fighting misuse by improved coordination of the social security systems, the targeted review of the Posting of Workers Directive and the strengthening of EURES, European Employment Services. However, more information is not forthcoming and by the way, the previous Commission already came up with the same idea, only to fail to provide more precise proposals later. Hence, it would have been very nice if the planned initiatives had been accompanied by a detailed time schedule, which apparently exists within the EU Commission, but which it decided to keep close to its chest.
The attitude in the EU Parliament towards the Commission Programme is mixed
This week, the EU Parliament already had the opportunity to discuss the new Programme with Commission President Juncker. Some of the MEPs were satisfied with the key aspects in respect of tax avoidance and tax evasion; however, they would like more commitment with regard to reducing the level of unemployment and concerning measures against social inequality. What is definitely new is the fact that the Commission for the first time has agreed its Work Programme with the European Parliament and the Member States prior to presenting it and that it made an early effort to gain political support. One can only hope that these efforts will pay off and that the early Christmas present will not turn out to be just deceptive packaging.
Further Information:
Website der EU Commission with the 2015 Work Programme
There are no doubts about the political targets of the EU Commission and not only since it introduced the 315 billion investment plan. However, targets alone are not good enough; they have to be filled with life and unambiguous content. And that is exactly the problem with the EU Commission Programme for 2015. Compared to previous programmes this latest one has been slimmed down drastically. The Commission is even retracting 83 legislative proposals, which are already on the table. However, only too often there is no progress beyond announcements and one is not exactly sure what is behind this. For example, it has been planned to implement a package of measures or the mobility of workers. However, the target, which is to be pursued, remains vague. Supposedly it shall enable promoting the mobility of workers, fighting misuse by improved coordination of the social security systems, the targeted review of the Posting of Workers Directive and the strengthening of EURES, European Employment Services. However, more information is not forthcoming and by the way, the previous Commission already came up with the same idea, only to fail to provide more precise proposals later. Hence, it would have been very nice if the planned initiatives had been accompanied by a detailed time schedule, which apparently exists within the EU Commission, but which it decided to keep close to its chest.
The attitude in the EU Parliament towards the Commission Programme is mixed
This week, the EU Parliament already had the opportunity to discuss the new Programme with Commission President Juncker. Some of the MEPs were satisfied with the key aspects in respect of tax avoidance and tax evasion; however, they would like more commitment with regard to reducing the level of unemployment and concerning measures against social inequality. What is definitely new is the fact that the Commission for the first time has agreed its Work Programme with the European Parliament and the Member States prior to presenting it and that it made an early effort to gain political support. One can only hope that these efforts will pay off and that the early Christmas present will not turn out to be just deceptive packaging.
Further Information:
Website der EU Commission with the 2015 Work Programme