DTI will have a large amount of work to take forward during the Presidency: for many of our policy areas, such as international trade, the single market and better regulation, we need to work with our European partners to deliver. As Presidency, the UK will be responsible for taking forward the ‘inherited agenda’ i.e. the EU’s current business in these and other areas.

This is an agenda the UK has shaped, in partnership with other member states. The Multiannual Strategic Programme, a three-year high-level policy programme, was agreed by the six EU member states holding the Presidency in the period 2004-6. The UK-Luxembourg work plan for 2005 sets out a more detailed menu of policy areas to be taken forward in 2005.

Policy Priorities

The UK’s primary aim is to run an impartial, fair and well-organised Presidency to take forward important work on economic reform, climate change, security and Africa for the long term. The DTI will concentrate on work to promote jobs and growth in Europe and help achieve the EU’s Lisbon goals, aiming particularly for progress in four key areas:

Better regulation

DTI will work within Europe to pursue vigorous competitiveness testing and impact assessment for all new EU proposals, in line with European Commission commitments, and press for simpler EU legislation to achieve a better regulatory environment for all.

Open and sustainable markets in an outward facing Europe

Europe needs to encourage world-class companies capable of competing successfully in the global market and DTI will take forward important work to achieve this.

Within the EU, we will work to extend the benefits of the Single Market to areas not yet covered, for example large elements of the services sector, and support Commission work on implementing the single market in energy. We will also work to promote energy security of supply and tackle climate change, promoting sustainable markets.

We also want to open markets globally. During our Presidency there will be a Ministerial trade meeting in Hong Kong that will aim to progress the current round of world trade talks (the Doha Development Agenda). We will work with our EU partners to achieve an outcome, which promotes trade liberalisation, including better access to markets for developing countries.

Boosting our economies’ potential for research and innovation

To compete in the global economy, Europe also needs to be better at translating our high-quality research into new or better products and services. We aim to promote excellence in research, align support of industrial research more closely with business needs and encourage knowledge transfer. Work in this area will include progressing negotiations on the 7th Research and Development Framework Programme, the EU’s main mechanism for supporting science and technology, and the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme.

Promoting employment

Jobs and growth are at the heart of the revitalized Lisbon economic reform agenda, the EU’s programme to reform the European Economy. DTI will promote enterprise, and support high growth innovative businesses and promote labour market reform, encouraging workplace choice and flexibility and promoting equality of opportunity.

Key Events

DTI ministers will chair EU Council of Ministers meetings for the Competitiveness Council and the Telecoms and Energy sessions of the Transport, Telecoms and Energy Councils. Some DTI business will also be transacted in the General Affairs and External Relations Council and the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council.

DTI will also host a number of events in the UK, including an Informal Competitiveness Council meeting and an Equality Ministerial Informal. For a full list of planned Presidency events, click here.