Priorities and programmes of the Commission Social and economic recovery, climate change and sustainable development, ascribing a “central role to EU citizens”, Europe as a “world partner”: these are the four priorities that the Commission included in the “policy strategy”, i.e., the 2010 working programme. The present Commission underlined that the priorities will “be object of debate with the other institutions prior confirmation” from the next Commission that will be appointed in the summer and will take office starting next November. The Annual Policy Strategy “is the first step of the Commission’s planning system. It aims to launch the Interinstitutional dialogue on the priorities for next year” and to prepare for the “preliminary draft budget” that the Commission will be presenting in April. “Operative” issues envisaged by the Barroso Commission include the follow-up to the December 2009 Copenhagen Conference on a “new international agreement on climate change”; “the implementation of the Stockholm programme in the areas of freedom, security and justice”; undertaking “the next phase of the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Employment”; “fully implementing the 2008 “Small Business Act”; implementing the Service Directive as well as the Postal Services Directive “to help the markets regain competitiveness in the years after 2010”. Equal importance is given to the revision of the Community budget structure and the novelties that may ensue the enforcement of the Lisbon Treaty.European Asylum Support Office An operational agency to step up cooperation on asylum between Member States “so helping to harmonize the different national practices”. A few days ago the Commission adopted a proposal for the Regulation of a “European Asylum Support Office”. The proposal is presented “under the Pact for Immigration and Asylum” in response of a request by the European Council. The Office will also serve “to align existing asylum rules in the EU”. Commission vice-President Jacques Barrot, responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security, pointed out: “We are actively working to put in place the Common European Asylum System. In this context, it is essential that we align not only our laws but also our practices. The asylum authorities of the Member States have crucial need of material support for their day-to-day operational requirements”. “Support teams deployed by the Office will also help to find solutions to emergency situations, such as a mass influx of asylum seekers”. According to the Commission, “current practice in the implementation of the right of asylum illustrates the fact that there are major differences in the way Member States deal with applications for international protection. For example, an Iraqi has a 71% chance of obtaining protection in one Member State but only a 2% chance in another”. The Policy Plan on Asylum adopted by the Commission in June 2008 proposed “an ambitious extension and overhaul of European legislation on asylum. This work is in progress but needs to be underpinned by a stepping-up of administrative cooperation between the Member States with a view to aligning national practices”. The Office will be set up in the form of an “EU Agency”, an independent European body. If the proposal is adopted quickly, the Office could be up and running by 2010. Hotline phone number for missing children Two years ago the Commission decided to reserve “116000” phone number as a hotline to report missing children throughout Europe. In that circumstance it called upon Member States “to adopt and implement it”. To date the hotline is available in five countries (Greece, Hungary, The Netherlands, Portugal and Romania) while “it is expected to be operative soon in Belgium and Slovakia”. “The toll-free number 116000 is operative in five EU States and this is very good news – said last week EU Telecom Commissioner Viviane Reding – However, I would have expected that this initiative were welcomed with greater conviction by the other Member States”. “Self-complacency is out of place when the safety of our children is at stake”, Commissioner Reding declared. This is why “the Commission, after having reserved the toll-free phone number 116000 to all Member States, as provided for in EU regulations, calls upon adherent States “to enable parents and minors to dial the toll-free number from any part of Europe by granting support to the hotline operators”.
