Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-04-09-Speech-2-145"
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"en.20020409.7.2-145"2
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". – Mr President, as mentioned in the question put by Mr Brok, the Commission communication of December 1997, 'implementing the strategy of the Union's defence-related industries', regulated an ambitious overall approach. It contained a draft Council common position relating to the development of a European armaments policy and an action plan of 14 points for the defence-related industries. Among the 14 items of the action plan, some of these measures require legislation, while others can be carried out using instruments already available to the Union.
A good deal of progress has been made with regard to most of the actions, in fact with 11 out of a total of 14. However, until recently, Council discussions have generally been characterised by differences of opinion between the Member States preventing the adoption of a common position on the framing of a European armaments policy. This made progress especially difficult with regard to measures requiring legislative action such as the action plan items on customs duties and intra-Community transfers. I would like to underline today, however, that the Commission has begun infringement proceedings against 10 Member States on the question of the proper application of the Common Customs Tariff on military and non-military goods. This action may serve to reactivate discussions on the issue. Furthermore, as regards the intra-Community transfers of these goods, work on trying to find appropriate technical solutions continues and some progress has been made.
Despite the difficulties in moving forward on some of these critical issues as rapidly as we had hoped, I would like to stress that the analysis advocating a need for re-structuring the European defence industry and for creating a single market for defence products is as valid as ever. It is even more pertinent for at least two reasons. They are: firstly, the development of the European security policy and defence policy and secondly, the constitution of trans-national defence companies. The competitiveness of the European defence industry is vital to the credibility of the nascent European security and defence policy. Thus, the Commission expects that governments increasingly recognise the urgency for a change in attitudes in order to end policies and practices that prevent European defence companies from working together more efficiently.
Such a change in the position of the Member States might allow the Commission to contribute more effectively to the creation of the European defence equipment market through exercising its competence, and to Community policies such as the creation of the single market in defence, external trade etc. Thus, the Commission intends – and that was the question to which I replied positively, Mr Brok – to re-examine and update the action plan in order to take into account any new developments.
In addition the Commission is pursuing the objective of promoting the greater competitiveness of Europe's defence industry in close cooperation with national authorities and industry representatives.
Mr Brok also mentioned the question of standardisation. An important initiative in this context is our efforts aimed at promoting awareness of the importance of standardisation issues for the efficiency and the competitiveness of the European defence industries, and of investigating options and possible start-up actions for defence standards reform. On this occasion, the European standardisation organisation CEN was identified as the ideal forum to implement this effort in the form of a handbook of defence standards and procedures which, when in place, will offer more transparency, improving inter-operability, harmonisation requirements and cost-efficiency in procurement.
In the foreseeable future, two ongoing processes make us feel confident that efficient solutions may finally be within reach. They are: progress on ESDP paving the way for harmonising the demand in Europe for defence equipment and, in parallel, the gradual recognition of the need to harmonise the rules and regulations which affect the competitiveness of the industries once restructured.
As Commissioner Patten mentioned, these developments are acknowledged in the STAR 21 initiative: the strategic aerospace review for 21st century currently in progress. STAR 21 aims to broaden the understanding of aerospace-related issues in Europe and trigger the action which will ensure that Europe's aerospace industry can play a full part in Europe's future. This initiative brings together senior representatives from industry with the Commission, the Council and also with the European Parliament as was mentioned here today, with the participation of Mr von Wogau and of Mr Westendorp y Cabeza, Chairman of the Committee on Industry.
I hope that this report, which we will present in July, will give a further push to our efforts to have a strong competitive European defence industry."@en1
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