Independent Reflection Group to consider EU’s future
The European Council that met in Brussels on 14 December decided to establish an independent Reflection Group to consider the future of the European Union. The Group will be chaired by former Prime Minister of Spain, Felipe Gonzalez. Deputy chairpersons will be Chairman of the Boards of Directors of Shell and Nokia, Jorma Ollila, and former President of Latvia, Vaira Vike-Freiberga. Other members will be decided later.
The Group is to identify the EU’s key long-term challenges and to analyse how these might be addressed. Key issues may include, for example, strengthening the Union’s competitiveness, sustainable development, energy and climate protection, migration, and fight against international crime and terrorism. Particular attention should be given to ways of better reaching out to citizens and addressing their expectations and needs. The Group shall conclude its work by the European Council meeting of June 2010. In Finland’s view, the establishment of the Group provides a new way to thoroughly consider the challenges and possibilities of the European Union.
The Heads of State or Government and Foreign Ministers discussed the situation in Kosovo during working lunch and reiterated that the EU will prepare for a civilian crisis management operation to promote the development of Kosovo’s own infrastructure. They also agreed on a clearer European perspective for Serbia.
The European Council adopted a separate Declaration on Globalisation describing Union-level measures with which to meet the challenges and possibilities of globalisation. The EU aims at being a major player shaping globalisation and strives to increase the effectiveness of its internal functions, for example its internal market, to strengthen its external action.
Key issues in addressing globalisation challenges include stable financial markets, fight against climate change, balanced free trade, coherent development policies and responsibility for global security and stability.
In the implementation of a comprehensive European migration policy, the European Council emphasised cooperation both within the Union and with third countries. The meeting also discussed fight against illegal immigration, integration and links between migration and the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs. The European Council underlined the need for progress on the future Common European Asylum System.
The European Council welcomed the enlargement of the Schengen area. With the abolition of controls at the internal borders of the Member States one of the main principles and achievements of European integration will be reached: the free movement of persons.
The European Council invited the European Commission to draw up a Baltic Sea Strategy for the EU by June 2009. Finland is pleased that, in the contexts of the EU Baltic Sea Strategy, the conclusions make reference to the Northern Dimension and thus include the external dimension of the Baltic Sea cooperation, particularly Russia.
The European Council welcomed the development of an integrated maritime policy and noted that a well-coordinated maritime policy can also offer means to support competitiveness and climate and energy policy objectives.
The European Council invited the Secretary-General/High Representative for common foreign and security policy to examine the implementation of the European Security Strategy with a view to proposing elements to complement it.
The European Council welcomed the agreement reached at by Head of State or Government in October and the subsequent signing of the Treaty of Lisbon on 13 December, as well as the proclamation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights. It called for a swift completion of national ratification processes.
Press release by the Government of Finland(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)