Irish Regions Office Website

April 02, 2010

Commission adopts 2010 Work Programme

The European Commission's Work Programme (CWP) translates its annual policy strategy into concrete policy objectives and an operational programme of decisions to be adopted. It sets out the direction of the Commission's major upcoming political priorities and identifies legislative initiatives, executive and other acts that it intends to adopt in order to realise these.

The 2010 CWP, 'Time to Act', revealed on 31 March, emphasises four priorities:
* Tackling the economic crisis and sustaining Europe's social market economy;
* Building a citizens' agenda which puts people at the heart of European action;
* Developing an ambitious and coherent external agenda with global outreach;
* Modernising EU instruments and ways of working.

This CWP has several new features which distinguishes it from its predecessors. It is multiannual - providing not only an overview of the Commission's agenda for the coming year but defining the direction of its work up to the end of its mandate in 2014. This is intended to improve predictability by including a non-exhaustive list of initiatives under consideration for the coming years and should additionally facilitate cooperation with the other EU institutions. Following the experience of the financial crisis, the new Work Programme also has an increased element of flexibility, intended to allow the Commission to react rapidly if necessary. Annual updates to the CWP are programmed.

The first measures, to be presented in 2010, primarily concern the EU single market and reform of the financial sector. The Commission will also be proposing an agenda for new skills and jobs, aimed at boosting labour mobility and creating a European platform to combat poverty. Reducing barriers to international flows of trade and investment is another priority this year.

2010 Work Programme
Political Guidelines for the Next Commission

Posted by iroronan at April 2, 2010 04:49 PM