Introduction
Policy and legislative decisions at EU level are taken almost every day, and they affect local government, business, citizens and other organisations in the South West of England.
The European Union has policies that cover all its areas of responsibility and activity.
The main ones of interest to Somerset County Council and its partners are listed below.
Cohesion Policy
Cohesion stands for solidarity among member states to make regions more attractive, innovative and competitive places to live and work. This benefits all regions: the less developed ones receive investment which would not otherwise be available, while at the same time business opportunities are created for people and companies in more developed regions too.
European Union Enlargement
Enlargement is the process through which new member states join the EU. In 2004 ten new countries joined the union, and in 2007 two more countries (Romania and Bulgaria) followed suit.
Structural Funds
The EU Structural Funds exist to help areas of Europe that, for one reason or another, are suffering difficulties. The funds are to be used to help sponsor projects, which will directly address locally identified needs (e.g. to help train people with new skills, or help set-up new businesses).
a) Convergence Objective
b) Regional Competitiveness Objective
c) Territorial Co-operation Objective
Rural Development
The EU's Rural Development Programme varies between the different member states according to their differing needs. Here in the South West it aims to enable rural communities to retain and strengthen their cultural distinctiveness, economic viability and quality of life through integrated rural development, which conserves the special character and diversity of the Region's environmental assets.
Agriculture
The aim of the EU Common Agricultural Policy is to provide farmers with a reasonable standard of living and consumers with quality food at fair prices. The way these aims are met has changed over the years. Food safety, preservation of the rural environment and value for money are now all key concepts.
Environment
European Union environment policy is based on the belief that high environmental standards stimulate innovation and business opportunities. Economic, social and environment policies are closely integrated
Energy
The vast majority of the energy the EU consumes is from fossil fuels – oil, natural gas and coal. An increasing proportion of this comes from outside the EU. Dependence on imported oil and gas, which is currently 50%, could rise to 70% by 2030. This will increase the EU’s vulnerability to supply problems, cuts or higher prices resulting from international crises. The EU also needs to burn less fossil fuel in order to reverse global warming. EU energy policy aims to address these problems in the most sustainable way possible.
Transport
EU transport policy, which began in 1957, is aimed at sustainable mobility combining the competitiveness of Europe with the welfare of its citizens, making for greater safety and security and enhanced rights. It is an essential component of the Lisbon strategy and contributes to the EU’s social and territorial cohesion
European Employment Strategy
Since its launch in 1997, the EES has played a central role in coordinating the EU's policies in order to create more and better jobs. In line with the Lisbon strategy, the European employment guidelines established by the Council in 2003 have set three overarching objectives: full employment, quality and productivity at work and strengthened social cohesion and inclusion.
Lisbon Agenda
In March 2000, EU heads of state and government agreed on an ambitious goal: making the EU "the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion".
Gothenburg Strategy
The EU’s Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS), adopted at the 2001 Gothenburg European Council, outlines priorities for action in four key areas: climate change, transport, public health and natural resources. It also contains a ‘global dimension’, which sets out a sustainable development agenda for EU policies in the wider world.
Social Policy Agenda
The 2005-2010 Social Agenda covers policies designed to provide jobs, fight poverty and promote equal opportunities for all. Employment and social policy are central to what is known as the ‘Lisbon agenda’, the EU policy framework for creating growth and jobs.
State Aid
A company in receipt of government support obtains an advantage over its competitors. The EC Treaty generally prohibits State Aid unless it is justified by reasons of general economic development. To ensure that this prohibition is respected and exemptions are applied equally across the European Union, the European Commission is in charge of watching over the compliance of State Aid with EU rules.
Support for SMEs
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the European economy, and the best potential source of jobs and growth. That is why the Commission has shifted Europe’s SME policy into a higher gear, putting the needs of small business at the heart of everything we do and acting to improve the financial and regulatory environment for them
To find out more about the individual European policy areas mentioned above, click on their title.
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