There were great expectations of the British Presidency when it announced its intention to raise Europe's profile in the UK, while Britain itself was to play a leading role in shaping future events across the continent. But with the squabble at the April summit over the appointment of the president of the European Central Bank, and with British ministers giving the impression that foreign policy issues were best solved through the Atlantic Alliance rather than by closer European co-operation, the Presidency was soon heading for a public relations disaster. And yet as the Presidency drew to a close with a whole series of last-minute deals settling controversial issues such as, for example, subsidies for olive oil and tobacco, and binding measures to cut pollution from cars, it became clear that substantial progress had been made on a number of outstanding questions.
This month, EP News looks at the achievements of the British Presidency in pushing through legislation by agreement with MEPs in the Conciliation Committee, and in securing compromises in Council in other areas such as social policy and consumer protection.
The Environment
The environment was identified by British ministers as a priority area for progress at EU level. By the end of the second Environment Council meeting on June 24th, 1998, the UK was expressing satisfaction that all five goals of the Presidency had been achieved.
These comprised agreeing legislation to improve air quality, tackling the threat from acid rain, responding to the threat of climate change, improving animal welfare standards in zoos and establishing a basis for an EU commitment to cleaner water. Perhaps even more significantly, the British Presidency secured a compromise agreement with Parliament for a mandatory cut in emissions from cars as from the year 2000.
Agriculture
While major CAP reforms under the Agenda 2000 programme were shelved until after the September elections in Germany, the last Agriculture Council on June 26th did reach agreement on a number of sensitive issues including set-aside, olive oil, tobacco and bananas. The beef ban in Northern Ireland was lifted and control measures on the rest of British beef put in place with a view to preparing the way to ending the ban completely. In the fisheries area, agreement was reached to end the use of drift nets, harmful to dolphins.
Other successes were notched up on the single market and preparation for a single currency. Progress was made towards opening up the telecommunications market and legislation adopted on the legal protection of inventions involving biotechnology.
Numerous other measures were agreed relating to the introduction of the euro and to the operations of the new European Central Bank. Help for Europe's small firms - now seen as the key to creating new jobs - was elevated to the top of the agenda. There was agreement on access to EU budget support for venture capital, grants to go towards cross-border initiatives and loan guarantees.
Consumers
Bringing the EU closer to the citizen can be seen in the adoption of proposals to strengthen consumer rights over plane tickets and increasing safety measures for cross-channel ferries. The UK also brokered an agreement on consumer guarantees for cross-border purchases with a two-year validity throughout the EU, backed up with the right of access to the courts in the event of a dispute. This was accompanied by an agreement designed to settle minor consumer disputes out-of-court.
Education and Training
Also of direct relevance to citizens, education and training received a boost with another last-minute Council agreement to follow the Erasmus student exchange programme with a similar scheme for apprenticeships. Some 70,000 young people will benefit from an ECU 7 million work-linked programme designed to enable the part of the course undertaken in another EU country to be officially recognised at EU level. In the long run, this will contribute towards making it easier to work abroad, as well as enabling young workers to learn from best practices.
The voluntary sector has not been forgotten. After some tough negotiations with MEPs in the conciliation procedure, British ministers agreed to increase the amount allocated to Europe's new voluntary service programme from Ecu 35 million to Ecu 47.5 million, which will enable a further 8,000 people to benefit.
Agreement was reached in June safeguarding private pension rights when employees change country of employment, which will help workers move about the EU. This will be reassuring to the estimated half-million workers posted abroad each year, and those retiring to another EU state who can now insist on the pension being paid in the country where they live.