Europe: the Challenge

Europe: The Challenge The principles, achievements and objectives of the EPP Group from 1979 to 1984 EUROPE: The Challenge The principles, achievements and objectives of the EPP Group from 1979 to 1984 Publisher: EPP Group (CD Group) of the European Parliament Editor: General Secretariat of the EPP Group Documentation Section December 1983 II Contents page Preface by Paolo Barbi . IV Contents . VI A Europe of Peace, Freedom and Security .................... Economic, Social and Cultural Europe........................... 25 Europe and the World . .. .. 165 Europe and its Institutions........................................... 199 Group Organs, Members of the Group in the Organs of the European Parliament, Division and Function of Members in Committees and Delegations ....................................... 239 Index ...................................................................... 257 Ill Preface The citizens of Europe have never been more truly the masters of their own destinies than since the first direct elections to the European Parliament in June 1979, when 111 mi.llion men and women went to the polls to express their confidence in Europe. For the first time in the history of Europe its citizens signed, in effect, a 'European covenant', an act of faith which will be renewed on 14- 17 June 1984, when the second direct elections are held. What has been the outcome of these five years of parliamentary activity 'in Europe'? True to our convictions as Christian Democrats, we have made every effort to preserve Europe's unity in the economic sphere and extend it in the political sphere. In the course of these five years we have taken a great step forward in the history of this continent, standing united in the face of mounting problems in order to overcome them more successfully. But over the last five years it has also been brought home to us that Europe is progressing at a painfully slow rate. Europe's failure to make the necessary headway is not merely due to practical problems or the international economic crisis, but also to the shortcomings of the institutions through which our common political aspirations should be expressed, and the mechanisms whereby they should be translated into action. This is why we in the European Parliament conceived the idea of reforming the institutions so that they might correspond more closely to our ideals of solidarity and supranational unity and our pro-European policies, while taking account of our practical experience and the extent of the new challenges faced by Europe. This publication provides a brief survey of how we have worked towards our goal of European Union in the interests of all Europeans. It shows the concrete measures we have taken to overcome the economic crisis and modernize our industries, and hence maintain employment; to streamline the Community's farms, improve agricultural workers' incomes and expand the markets for agricultural products; to safeguard energy supplies; to eliminate disparities in the structures, and hence the economies, of the various regions of Europe; to promote public health and consumer protection; to encourage small businesses, and to provide adequate support for the weakest members of society: in a IV word, to protect the interests of all European citizens. But it also details our efforts to codify, simplify and improve innumerable laws and regulations affecting individuals, goods and social groups, and ultimately to help all Europeans coexist in a free, civilized, dignified and productive fashion. But we must also emphasize our commitment to safeguarding Europe's security, peace and progress within the international community and ensuring that the Community demonstrates its solidarity with the most deprived inhabitants of the Third and Fourth Worlds. All too often, our desire for progress has been thwarted by uncertainty, indecisiveness, nationalistic attitudes, or the veto of the Council of Ministers. Much more could have been done, for we are convinced that in many areas decisive joint action is much more valuable and effective than a number of isolated national initiatives, however laudable they may be. That is why we have been - and mean to continue to be - the most enthusiastic supporters of European Union, which we regard as essential for the peace, liberty and economic progress of our peoples. While recognizing the problems encountered, we are convinced that the five year term or the first directly elected European Parliament has not been wasted, and that its 117 Christian Democrat Members have lived up to the confidence expressed in them by Europe's voters. We have done all that we can, within the rather limited scope of our powers, to keep faith with the 'European covenant' of 1979. Our next and crucial appointment with the public is for 14- 17 June 1984: let us stand united, and let us give Europe a chance. Paolo Barbi Chairman of the EPP Group v 1 . A Europe of Peace, Freedom and,Security 1 . 1 Guiding principles .................................... 1 .1 . 1 Peace in freedom and justice ..................... .. 1.1.2 The safeguarding of international law . 1 1.1.3 The importance of human rights .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 1.2 International relations ................................ 4 1.2.1 Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe ( CSCE) . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 1.2.2 East-West Relations .................................. 7 1.2.3 North-South Relations .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 1.2.4 The Community and the USA .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 11 1.2.5 Enlargement southwards Mediterranean policy ..................................................... 13 1.2.6 The Middle East problem .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15 1.2.7 South Africa . 17 1.3 Security policy . 18 1.4 Resolution of EPP and ECDU on peace with freedom and justice . 21 2. Economic, Social and Cultural Aspects of Europe ................................................... 25 2.1 The Social Market Economy as the Economic Order of the European Community and as a guideline for the path towards Economic Union 25 2.1.1 Guidelines . 25 2.1.2 Economic policy aims of the Union ............... 25 2.1.2.1 Convergence . 25 2.1.2.2 Conjunctural policy .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 26 2.1.3 European economic order .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 27 2.1.3.1 Regulatory policy . 27 2.1.3.2 Competition policy . 28 2.1.3.3 European policy on small and medium undertakings ................................................... 28 2.1.3.4 Subsidies ................................................ 29 2.1.3.5 Consumer Protection .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 30 2.1.3.5.1 Action Programmes . .. .. .. .. .. .. 30 2.1.3.5.2 Measures and achievements ........................ 32 VI 2.1.3.5.3 Specific questions: Responsibility for defective products, consumer credit, freedom of establish ment in the insurance sector, improvement in harmonization of third party insurance for vehicles . 34 2.1.3.5.4 Importance of consumer protection in the Draft Treaty for European Union . .. .. .. 37 2.1.3.6 The Fifth Directive on the structure of and employee participation in limited compal')ies . 37 2.1.3.7 Directive on the consultation of employees of undertakings with complex structures and in particular transnational structures . 41 2.1.4 Preconditions for Economic Union ................ 44 2.1.4.1 Europe without borders . .. .. 44 2.1.4.2 An efficient internal market . 45 2.1.4.3 Removal of trade barriers . 46 2.1.4.4 Tax harmonisation . .. .. .. .. 47 2.1.4.5 Further development of the European Monetary System (EMS) into a uniform monetary area . 47 2.2 Sectoral policies . 49 2.2.1 Agricultural policy ..................................... 49 2.2.2 Industrial policy . .. .. 55 2.2.2.1 Steel ...................................................... 55 2.2.2.2 Eletronic data processing . .. .. 57 2.3 The Community Budget and Financial System 58 2.3.1 Budgetary autonomy and adequate Communi ty-own resources to finance European policies 58 2.3.1.1 Principles of budgetary and financial activity of the Community . .. 58 2.3.1.2 Economic efficiency of the European Budget - a policy of re-allocation - examples . 60 2.3.1.3 Stages of development of the Community's system of own resources . 63 2.3.1.4 EPP position on an increase in the Community's own resources .......................................... 64 2.3.1.5 Latest Commission proposals on an increase in its own resources . 66 2.3.2 European Parliament's defence of its budgetary powers ................................................... 66 2.3.2.1 Budgetary powers within the existing Treaties 66 VII 2.3.2.2 Statistics for Budgets 1980 - 1984 . 67 2.3.2.3 EPP position on exercise of budgetary powers 71 2.3.3 Individual annual budgets since direct elections 74 2.3.3.1 1980 Budget - rejected by Parliament and modified budget adopted in June 1980 . 74 2.3.3.2 1981 Budget . 78 2.3.3.3 1982 Budget . .. 80 2.3.3.4 1983 Budget and rejection of supplementary budget No 2 I 1982 ................................... 84 2.3.4 Discussion of the so-called "fair net contribution" 86 2.3.5 Need for and instruments of budgetary control 87 2.3.6 Success of budgetary control ..................... 90 2.4 Regional policy of the European Community .. 92 2.4.1 The aim of regional policy .......................... 96 2.4.2 The instruments for the implementation of regional policy . 98 2.4.3 Enlargement southwards - the consequences of regional policy . 106 2.4.4 Conclusions . 115 2.5 Employment policy . .. .. .. .. .. 115 2.5.1 Unemployment: the scourge of the Community 118 2.5.2 Youth unemployment . 119 2.5.3 Options and obstacles of the Community in the struggle against unemployment . 120 2.5.4 Migrant workers: a special responsibility . 122 2.6 Environmental protection and health policy . 123 2.6.1 The needs, aims, objectives and instruments of environmental policy . 123 2.6.2 Action programmes . 126 2.6.2.1 Water and sea pollution . .. .. .. 126 2.6.2.2 Air pollution . 129 2.6.2.3 Preventive measures . 131 2.6.2.4 Conservation and protection of endangered plant and animal species . .. .. .. .. .. 134 2.6.3 Health policy . 135 VIII 2.

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