Le Parlement accueille avec tiédeur le programme 2009 de la Commission [en] 

Earlier this year, the European Commission launched a five-point priority action plan for 2009. The priorities are: 

1. Growth and jobs. Promoting sustainable economic and social reform in Europe under the renewed Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs, bearing in mind and meeting the effects of the global financial crisis. 
2. Climate change and sustainable Europe. Promoting the transition to a low-emission and resource-efficient economy: the 2009 Copenhagen conference on climate change will be key to the EU's role in concluding of a global agreement for the post-2012 period, to be completed by the end of 2009. 
3. Making the Common Immigration Policy a reality. Developing a common immigration policy to meet the challenges and harness the opportunities provided by migration in an era of globalisation: once this has been achieved, according to Commissioner Wallström, the EU can move “from pacts to acts”. 
4. Putting the citizen first  by revising the social agenda and delivering policies of direct interest for citizens. 
5. Europe as a world partner. The focus, according to Commissioner Wallström, will be on neighbourhood relations, the Doha Development Round and engaging with the new US administration. 

This was the first time a Parliament plenary debate was afforded the opportunity to provide input into the Commission’s proposed Work Programme. This new measure is intended to “make the process more political,” Commission officials told Euractiv. 

The Commission, represented by Vice-president Margot Wallström, reiterated the 5 priorities of its work programme, taking care to place these within the context of many current global uncertainties. 

Speaking before a largely empty Parliament plenary session, Commissioner Wallström explained that “this Commission’s final work programme is being debated in very specific circumstances,” citing “the crisis in Georgia, the Irish “no” vote, the increase in oil and food prices and the global financial crisis” as contemporary issues that will impact upon the Commission’s work in 2009. 

A mixed reception 

The responses from European Parliament groups varied widely. A number of voices offered broad support to the plan, while others saw it as ineffective and misguided. The polarized spectrum of opinion was perhaps best reflected while debating the Commission’s continuing plans for Europe to take the lead in the global fight against climate change. The European Greens expressed their disappointment at the programme’s energy and climate change package, which they felt did not go far enough, while one member of the Independents group expressed skepticism at the Commission’s scientific data, urging Commissioner Wallström to instigate a “full and open debate” on the subject. 

No Majority for a resolution 

Perhaps as a result of this multiplicity of views, the Parliament did not succeed in achieving a consensus on a resolution to the Commission’s Work Programme. 

A proposed joint resolution from the EPP-ED, ALDE and UEN groups was soundly rejected by a 3 to 1 majority later in the day (306 against and 102 in favour, 27 abstentions). 

All individual group resolutions were also rejected. 

According to Parliament representatives, “among the more controversial issues were the votes on a proposed amendment calling on the Commission to bring forward a raft of proposals for new social legislation as well as an amendment underlining the importance of continuing the accession process with Croatia and Turkey in the expectation that both countries will in due course meet all the criteria for membership.”

Socialist Group Vice-President Hannes Swoboda said: "This rejection is is a direct result of the failure of the EPP Group to agree to practical proposals for a greater social Europe", accusing it of failing "to take on board the importance of addressing the day to day concerns of our citizens". She lamented the missed opportunity: "For the first time Parliament had an opportunity to make its concerns known to the Commission before it presented its legislative programme. Thanks to EPP obstruction, Parliament failed to take advantage and we are left with no official parliament position." 

Silvana Koch-Mehrin (ALDE, DE) said the "platform" provided by the Work Programme "gives us an answer" to the big questions affecting European citizens. "It is important for ALDE to keep European competitiveness centre-stage," she explained. Koch-Mehrin also praised the Commission's "successes in the environmental field" and urged President Barroso and his colleagues to take more credit for their good work. 

Eva Lichtenberger (European Greens, AT) described the discussion of the Work Programme as an "hour of truth" and criticised the Commission for "not sticking to its promises". "Looking at this programme, it seems as if the Bali conference never happened and that the EU doesn't have to take the lead on global environment issues," she said. She went on to claim that "the Commission allows the car industry to do what it wants and talks only about nuclear energy while giving peanuts to renewables". Lichtenberger concluded by saying "I am very disappointed by this programme". 

Responding to this and other criticisms of the Commission's environmental track record, vice-president Margot Wallström said "I don't like the 'doom and gloom' atmosphere around the energy and climate change issues. Europe has the people, resources and know-how to take the lead in creating innovation and jobs that will bring Europeans a better quality of life". 

Meanwhile, Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL, PT) claimed the Commission was "persisting with the wrong strategy," arguing that the "Lisbon strategy and stability pact are impractical". She argued that the Commission needed to show proper respect to democracy, taking into account the referendum result in Ireland. The GUE/NGL resolution opposing the stability pact was defeated by a large majority. 

Non-aligned Slovakian MEP Sergej Kozlik also drew attention to the Lisbon Treaty, asking what would happen if the treaty did not come into force in 2009. "We need to make arrangements for this possibility," he warned. He concluded that the Work Programme was "something we can accept".