Speech by Minister of Industry and Trade Mr Martin Říman; EP Committee on Industry, Research and Energy – ITRE, 21 Jan 2009
Dear Madam Chair, Honourable Members of the European Parliament,
I should like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to present the priorities of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union to your Committee. My Ministerial responsibilities also cover the internal market, trade, energy and telecommunications, which means there are many points at which our professional paths intersect.
Firstly, allow me to congratulate you on the work achieved by your Committee during its current term of office.
At the same time I should like to acknowledge the progress made by the previous Presidencies, which we will attempt to continue. In this respect, I must emphasise the extremely close cooperation achieved by the Presidency trio. Together with France and Sweden, we have prepared the priorities for our common eighteen-month programme, which also provides the basis for the priorities of the Czech Presidency.
Over the coming months, I should like to reinforce and further develop the very cooperative relations that exist between the Council and the Parliament. We have to use the time remaining of our terms in office to prepare quality legislation. This means that our collaboration under co-decision procedures must be as effective as possible to enable us to make significant progress on the maximum number of open issues.
The priorities of the Czech Presidency can be summarised in brief as the “three Es” – these standing for Economy, Energy and External Relations. The motto of the Czech presidency is “Europe without Barriers” and I am convinced that we can work with your Committee to remove a number of existing barriers.
I should like to start by informing you of the Czech Presidency’s energy programme. The Russian-Ukrainian gas dispute meant that we had to assume our presiding role on the stroke of midnight on 1st January. However, we had obviously been preparing for this moment for weeks beforehand.
The gas crisis has underlined our foresight in including energy security among our priorities. Although the interruption of Russian gas supplies to the EU via Ukraine tested the operational ability of the Czech Presidency from the outset, I am convinced that we have passed this test excellently. Since the beginning of the crisis we have been continually negotiating with both parties to the conflict in the name of the European Union. During these talks, we managed to establish conditions to enable political progress to be made without getting involved in the dispute itself. By sending a monitoring mission, the European Union gave a positive response to both parties, resulting in a promise that supplies would be renewed. The failure to immediately abide by this promise has done serious damage to the reputation of both Ukraine and Russia.
This gas crisis is unprecedented in the history of gas supplies to Europe. In view of the gravity of the situation in several Member States, we called an emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers for Energy on 12th January. We are extremely glad that during the whole time of the crisis, the European Union managed to speak with “one voice” and expressed itself as one single and confident entity.
The Council agreed that in order to avoid a repeat of the present situation, European Union and its Member States can only ensure our energy security by:
- diversifying sources and routes of energy supplies,
- extending interconnections between Member States
- and increasing supply transparency and solidarity between Member States.
The Council therefore called for the mobilisation of potential funding to increase investment in energy infrastructure. Substantial progress must also be made on the European Economic Recovery Plan adopted in December 2008. Measures must also be taken in the area of the internal energy market, energy efficiency and renewable energy in order to reinforce energy security.
It is also important to identify the economic and social outcomes of the crisis and to prepare detailed evaluation of mitigating measures adopted. For this reason, the Council has called on the European Commission to perform this analysis in cooperation with the Member States affected and to submit the results at the February meeting of the Energy Council.
At this point in time, the crisis seems to be over. There is however still a great deal of work ahead of us as regards specific policies and strategies that have already been proposed to ensure EU energy security. To achieve this we would like to continue discussions on the second Strategic Energy Review. We intend to elaborate on all the steps that can be taken by the European Union in order to reinforce our energy infrastructure, interconnections and effective cooperation not only between Member States but also with our external partners. We are therefore calling for the mobilisation of potential resources from the EU budget to be invested in projects that reinforce EU energy security.
The European Union has declared as its long-term goal the need to secure permanent and reliable supplies and to diversify energy sources and routes. In line with this, we want to focus on creating and developing contractual relations with third countries and regions. The Czech Presidency will organise a Southern Corridor Summit for May 2009, which will be attended by Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Turkey. Energy will also be a key topic at a number of EU summits with third countries during the Czech Presidency.
As far as specific legislative proposals are concerned, the Czech Presidency inherited a number of dossiers. We have a limited period of time to agree these, given the current global economic situation and factors that impact on energy production, consumption and security.
From the outset, our Presidency will press forward with negotiations on the Third Liberalisation Package. Our goal is to reach agreement in the second reading by the end of March. We have devoted all our efforts to ensure that discussions with this Committee’s rapporteurs can commence by the end of January.
During the course of our Presidency, we would also like to achieve agreement on the Oil Stocks Directive. The main reason for amending this Directive is to ensure its compliance with the principles of the International Energy Agency and to promote transparency in the area of emergency stocks. We are aware that this problem is extremely important for a number of Member States. For this reason, we would like to introduce a debate on this proposal at the Energy Council in February.
We will also address the extensive and important issue of energy efficiency and savings, which form an integral part of energy policies. The Czech Presidency intends to make sufficient progress in this area to ensure that the three proposals submitted by the European Commission in November 2008 can be approved by the end of 2009.
I am well aware of the fact that the Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings has enormous support from within the European Parliament. Unfortunately, given the work we already have in progress, and the enormous demands on our time, we can realistically assume that if this legislation were to be approved on its first reading it would be rushed and of poor quality.
The major priority of the Czech Presidency in the field of telecommunications is to finalise the review of the Regulatory Framework for Electronic Communications, also referred to as the Telecommunications Package. We will pick up the threads of the work already accomplished by the French Presidency and strive to find a compromise for any issues as yet unresolved.
It is my ambition to adopt the Telecommunications Package at the June meeting of the Telecommunications Council at the latest. There are therefore only three months remaining for us to agree on a compromise text. If all parties are prepared to step back from their current positions, we should be able to reach agreement. However, we will have to find a compromise for many problems – whether it be the extension of the Commission’s veto power on remedies, the degree of harmonisation of the use of the radio spectrum in the EU, or the definition of the competencies of an independent advisory body for the electronic communications market in the EU.
In the field of roaming, the Czech Presidency understands the aim of Member States and of the European Parliament to ensure EU citizens are charged reasonable rates for international calls and data transmission within the Community in mobile networks as well as to achieve significantly greater transparency of the prices asked for such services.
As you know, the Council’s position on this issue is close to the proposal of the European Commission. I eagerly await the position of the European Parliament and stand ready to act quickly and openly. I appreciate the efforts aimed at ensuring our citizens are able to benefit from these changes by this summer. Nevertheless, the aim of the Czech Presidency is to adopt a high-quality legislative text which will not only bring benefits to consumers, but will also be technically feasible for industry.
I assume you are familiar with the general position of the Czech Republic on price regulation, which is that it should only be applied as an exceptional and temporary measure. As the presiding Member State, we will be searching for a common path towards more conceptual and longer-term solutions.
Another priority of the Czech Presidency in the area of telecommunications concerns the amendment of the GSM Directive. Until now, the 900MHz frequency band has been reserved exclusively for GSM systems. By amending this Directive, other technology (such as UMTS) could also use it, which would enable faster transmission of larger amounts of data.
This would be an extremely important step both for industry and the user, and because of this, we will attempt to reach a compromise as quickly as possible. At the same time, we would prefer that this proposal be debated separately from the Telecommunications Package.
The Czech Presidency places enormous importance on the further implementation of satellite navigation programmes. We regard the completion of the GALILEO Project to be an indispensable investment in the satellite infrastructure of the European Union. We will therefore carefully analyse the annual report that is due to be submitted by the Commission in the near future.
Our Presidency is prepared to initiate discussions immediately on any other proposals or reports the European Commission intends to submit in the short term. This particularly concerns the proposal for an amendment to the Regulation on the establishment of structures for the management of the European satellite radio-navigation programmes.
I should now like to draw your attention to issues of competitiveness, which also form part of our common agenda. The Czech Republic has undertaken its presidential role under conditions that will fundamentally test the viability of the European project. By this I mean the current global financial and economic crisis, fallout from which is now affecting the whole world.
The European Union has been able to develop its economic strength through fulfilling the ideals of the four basic freedoms – free movement of persons, capital, goods and services. It is therefore important that our search for common responses to the current situation is based on respect to fundamental principles of European integration.
We should unanimously support a healthy competitive environment and retain a level playing field for all stakeholders. For this reason, the motto “Europe without barriers” is now, more than ever, a vital prerequisite for a competitive economy that can also hold its own in global terms.
I should now like to address some specific priorities in the area of competitiveness. As regards small and medium enterprises, our Presidency will focus on the implementation of specific measures arising from the European Small Business Act Action Plan adopted by the Council in December.
In the field of legislation, we wish to reach political agreement regarding the draft proposal for a European Private Company Statute. We will strive to achieve progress on the upcoming review of the Directive on Late Payments, which we understand the European Commission intends to publish in March.
Given the present economic situation, it is particularly important to facilitate access to funds for small and medium-sized enterprises. In our opinion, suitable tools include preferential loans, risk capital or guarantees. These measures will enable entrepreneurs to continue their investment activities, particularly as regards expenditure on innovation.
Support for innovation may help us create conditions that will turn the economy round from the present crisis back to prosperity. This aim is also emphasised by the “European Year of Creativity and Innovation”, the motto selected for the year 2009. It aims to support creativity and an innovative approach in all areas of human activity, particularly in relation to business.
In association with the upcoming Swedish Presidency, the Czech Presidency wishes to intensify debate on the further development of innovation policies at EU level. This includes our aim to achieve progress in negotiations on a Community Patent and a Patent Litigation System.
As the presiding Member State, we are aware that another important agenda is EU industrial policy. In addition to the Spring Summit, we will concentrate on industrial policies during the second half of our Presidency.
Industrial policy must reflect the current economic situation. A number of industrial sectors, such as the automotive or construction industries are encountering existential problems. We must apply increasing pressure to improve the framework conditions for industry, to reduce administrative burdens and to resolve European industry’s dependence on imports of raw materials.
The Czech Presidency will also focus on evaluating the most important sectoral initiatives. This primarily concerns the conclusions of a medium-term assessment of the CARS 21 initiative. This area plays an important role in the creation of a European product and in employment, and for this reason it is extremely important that the competitiveness of this sector is supported as widely as possible. The conclusions of the medium-term assessment of the CARS 21 initiative, which were received in October 2008, also have general application to other sectors.
We also intend to respond to the conclusions and recommendations of the High-Level Group for the Electrotechnical Engineering Industry (ELECTRA) and the High-Level Group on Competitiveness of the European Chemical Industry. A conference on the competitiveness of the European chemical industry, which is due to take place in the Czech Republic in April, will address the importance of the European chemical industry. The dramatic slowdown in most European economies has made the issue of the European industrial sector’s dependence on imports of both energy and non-energy raw materials a further priority. The Council will therefore continue its debate on the European Commission’s communication on access to non-energy raw materials.
In conclusion, I should once again like to express my appreciation to you – Members of Parliament – for the excellent results you have achieved so far during this term of office.
Your Committee has had to cope with many difficult situations. At the same time, however, it has always worked to find a solution and/or to reach agreement. I believe these words will be equally applicable in the coming months and that we will successfully manage to accomplish our common tasks.
In this respect, I wish to assure you of my great personal commitment.
I wish you every success and look forward to having the opportunity to meet with some of you again at the end of February when a delegation from your Committee is due to visit Prague.
Many thanks for your attention. I would be happy now to respond to your questions and comments.
Last update: 16.8.2011 15:51
