ISSN 0378-3693 European Commission Bulletin of the European Union 12 ·1995 The Bulletin of the European Union reports on the activities of the Commission and the other Community institutions. it is produced by the Secretariat-General of the European Commission and published 10 times a year in the official European languages. The following reference system is used: the first digit indicates the part number, the second digit the chapter number and the subsequent digit or digits the point number. Citations should there­ fore read as follows: Bull1/2-1994, point 1.1.1 or 2.2.3. Supplements to the Bulletin are published in a separate series at irregular intervals. They contain official Commission material (e.g. communications to the Council, programmes, reports and pro­ posals). European Commission Secretariat-Genera I Editorial team: rue de la Loi 200- B-1049 Brussels- Tel. 2957930 Sent to press in March 1996 © ECSC-EC-EAEC, Brussels • Luxembourg, 1995 Reproduction is authorized provided the source is acknowledged Printed in France European Commission Bulletin of the European Union 12 ·1995 Bulletin information service Readers can obtain information on developments since this issue went to press (date of adoption of instruments by the Council, of opinions given by Parliament or the Economic and Social Committee, of publication in the Official Journal, etc.) by tele­ phoning the documentation service of the Commission Offices on the following numbers: London (171) 222 8122 Belfast 240 708 Cardiff 371 631 Edinburgh 225 2058 Dublin 671 2244 References in the text References to other parts of the same issue of the Bulletin are given in parentheses in text, thus (---+ point 2.1.53). Standardized abbreviations for the designation of certain monetary units in the different languages of the Community. BFR = Belgische frank/ Franc beige DKR = Dansk krone DM = Deutsche Mark DR = Greek drachma ESC = Escudo FF = Franc fran~ais FMK = Suomen markka HFL = Nederlandse gulden (Hollandse florijn) IRL = Irish pound 1 punt LFR = Franc luxembourgeois LIT = Lira italiana OS = bsterreichische Schilling PTA = Peseta SKR = Svensk Krona UKL = Pound sterling USD = United States dollar Contents Part One ACTIVITIES IN DECEMBER 1995 News in brief 6 I Madrid European Council 9 Conclusions of the Presidency 9 1 Union citizenship 52 2 Human rights 53 3 The Community economic and social area 56 Implementation of the White Paper on growth, competitiveness and employment 56 Economic and monetary policy 56 Internal market 56 Competition 62 Industrial policy 74 Enterprise policy 74 Research and technology 75 Education, vocational training and youth 76 Economic and social cohesion 76 Trans-European networks 81 Energy 82 Transport 84 Information society, telecommunications 88 Environment 90 Agriculture 95 Fisheries 98 Employment and social policy 107 Equal opportunities 109 Solidarity 109 Public health 110 Consumer policy Ill Culture 112 Information, communication and audiovisual media 112 4 Role of the Union in the world 113 Common foreign and security policy 113 International organizations and conferences 115 Common commercial policy 118 Development policy 121 Humanitarian aid 124 Central and Eastern Europe, Baltic States 125 Mediterranean and Middle East 126 Independent States of the former Soviet Union; Mongolia 133 United States, Japan and other industrialized countries 135 Asia 135 Latin America 136 ACP countries, South Africa and OCTs 138 Diplomatic relations 142 5 Justice and home affairs cooperation 143 6 Financing Community activities 145 Budgets 145 Financial operations 150 Measures to combat fraud 150 7 Statistical system 152 8 Community law 153 Monitoring the application of Community law 153 Decisions by the Court of Justice and the Court of First Instance 154 9 Institutional affairs 161 10 Community institutions 163 Parliament 163 Council 164 Commission 168 Court of Auditors 169 European Investment Bank 169 Economic and Social Committee 174 ECSC Consultative Committee 175 Part Two DOCUMENTATION 1 The ecu 178 2 Parliament resolution the implementation of the legislative programme and other activities in 1995, and on the Commis- sion's work programme for 1996 180 3 Additional references in the Official Journal 183 4 Corrigenda 186 5 Index 187 PART ONE ACTIVITIES IN DECEMBER 1995 News in brief European Council o The European Council meets in Madrid on 15 and 16 December (---+ points 1.1 to 1.111). Human rights o Fight against racism, xenophobia and anti-semitism: the Commission adopts a communi­ cation (---+ point 1.2.1) and a proposal for a Council Decision designating 1997 European Year against Racism(---+ point 1.2.1). The Community economic and social area Economic and monetary policy o Madrid European Council: the European Council adopts the scenario for the introduction of the single currency, which it decides to call the 'euro', and confirms that the third phase of eco­ nomic and monetary union will begin on 1 January 1999 (---+point 1.3.8). Internal market D Abolition of barriers to trade: Parliament and the Council adopt a Decision establishing a procedure for the exchange of information on national measures derogating from the principle of the free movement of goods (---+ point 1.3.11). o Legal protection of biotechnological inventions: the Commission adopts a new proposal for a Parliament and Council Directive(---+ point 1.3.29). Competition D The Commission adopts a draft Community framework for State aid for research and devel­ opment (---+ point 1.3.57) and a draft notice to the Member States on the non-imposition or the mitigation of fines in cartel cases (---+ point 1.3.34). Research and technology D The Commission adopts a Green Paper on innovation (---+ point 1.3.75). Energy D The Commission adopts a White Paper entitled An energy policy for the European Union (---+ point 1.3.101). Transport D The Commission adopts a Green Paper entitled Towards fair and efficient pricing in trans­ port(---+ point 1.3.108). 6 Bull. EU 12-1995 News in brief o Air transport: the Council agrees the proposal for a Directive on access to the groundhand­ ling market at Community airports (-+ point 1.3.119) and the Commission adopts a proposal for a Council Regulation on air carrier liability in case of air accidents (-+ point 1.3.120). Environment o The Council agrees the proposal for a Directive on the assessment of the impact of certain public and private projects on the environment(-+ point 1.3.128). o The Commission adopts a communication on a Community strategy to reduce C02 emissions from passenger cars (-+ point 1.3.146). Agriculture Reform of the rice sector: the Council adopts two Regulations (-+ points 1.3.154 and 1.3.155). Fisheries o The Council adopts TACs and quotas for 1996 (-+point 1.3.167). Employment and social policy o The Commission and the Council adopt a joint report on employment for transmission to the Madrid European Council (-+ point 1.3.198). o The social partners sign an agreement on parental leave (-+ point 1.3.203). Equal opportunities o The fourth Community action programme (1996-2000) is adopted by the Council (-+point 1.3.205). Role of the Union in the world o The European Council confirms the principle of enlargement and specifies the timetable for negotiations with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and with Cyprus and Malta (-+ points 1.25 and 1.63 to 1.67). Central and Eastern Europe, Baltic States o Lithuania(-+ point 1.4.60) and Bulgaria(-+ point 1.4.61) apply to join the European Union. Mediterranean and Middle East o Turkey: Parliament gives its assent to implementation of the final phase of the customs union (-+ point 1.4.67). o Bosnia-Herzegovina: the Commission adopts a proposal for a Regulation to include Bosnia­ Herzegovina in the PHARE programme (-+ point 1.4. 78) and a meeting of donor countries and organizations is held on the reconstruction of Bosnia-Herzegovina (---+ point 1.4.83). o Tunisia: Parliament gives its assent to the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement (-+ point 1.4.90). United States, Japan and other industrialized countries o A European Union-United States summit is held and a new transatlantic agenda is adopted (---+ point 1.4.104). Bull. EU 12-1995 7 News in brief Asia o The Council adopts conclusions on China(-+ point 1.4.107). Latin America o An interregional framework agreement is signed with Mercosur (-+ point 1.4.111 ). o A joint declaration on political dialogue is signed by the European Union and Chile (-+ point 1.4.112). o The Council adopts conclusions on general guidelines for cooperation with Latin America 1996-2000 (-+ point 1.4.110). Financing Community activities Budgets o The 1996 budget is adopted (-+ point 1.6.2). Measures to combat fraud o Protection of the Communities' financial interests: the Council adopts a Regulation on the protection of the Communities' financial interests (-+ point 1.6.7) and the Commission adopts a proposal for a Regulation concerning on-the-spot checks and inspections by the Commission (-+ point 1.6.8) and a proposal for a Council act drawing up the additional Protocol to the Con­ vention on the protection of the Communities' financial interests (-+ point 1.5.7). Institutional affairs o The Reflection Group set up to prepare for the Intergovernmental Conference presents its final report and the European Council agrees that the Conference should open on 29 March 1996 (-+ point 1.9.2). Community institutions Commission o The Commission presents its 1996 work programme to Parliament(-+ point 1.10.11). 8 Bull. EU 12-1995 I - Madrid European Council. Madrid, 15 and 16 December In this connection, having welcomed the Reflection Group's report, the European Council decided to 1.1. Chaired by Mr Gonzalez, President of the launch the Intergovernmental Conference on 29 March 1996 in order to establish the political and European Council and Prime Minister of Spain, institutional conditions for adapting the European the summit of Heads of State or Government of Union to present and future needs, particularly with a the Member States took place in Madrid in the view to the next enlargement.