I read the Commission's 2023 Work Programme
New initiatives to reinforce Europe's arsenal in the multi-crisis era.
From the start until the end of the document, it is clear that the European Commission is taking stock of the multi-crisis era affecting Europe and the world. The post-covid recovery, the war in Ukraine, and the ensuing energy crisis are all events that are challenging the Union.
For the European Commission, the objective is clear: Europe needs greater collaboration and unity. That’s the subtitle of this year’s Work Programme: “A Union standing firm and united.”
The document that I read for you is an ambitious agenda to mitigate the impact of the crisis we face, and to stir Europe past today’s uncertain times.
Energised Green Deal
If there is an issue that was most challenged, it must have been climate change. The energy crisis, fueled by the conflict in Ukraine and the speedy recovery from the pandemic forced Europe and the world to tackle climate defense after the security of resources.
For 2023, the Commission hopes for a swift agreement on the ‘Fit for 55’ package and wants to create a European Hydrogen Bank to invest €3 billion in the technology.
An extensive reform of the EU electricity market—already the subject of much debate at the Council—will apply in early 2023. The Commission will want to reduce food and plastic waste—another recommendation of the CoFoE.
Finaly, a revision of the chemical legislation (REACH) is underway.
Forward-looking digital Europe
At the risk of appearing too science-fictional, the Commission wants to regulate metaverses and the hyperloop (Elon Musk’s not-so-innovative idea to transport cars and people in depresurised underground tubes).
Talking about Elon, the digital agenda of the Commission will also deal with the piracy of live content, namely the live illegal streaming of sports events.
Economy and social policies
In the chapter dedicated to the “economy that works for people,” the Commission “stands ready to re-evaluate after the winter, […] those measures that can affect competitiveness.”
Initiatives will be proposed to implement the European Pillar of Social Right action plan. EU interns—and others—will hopefully enjoy the update of the quality framework traineeships.
The Commission boldly suggests that the own resources of the European Union be increased with a tax on foreign companies doing business in Europe. Again on fiscal issues, 2023 will see the midterm review of the multianual financial framework.
Strong diplomacy?
It is clear to anyone: the world order is being challenged by the new geopolitical giants, among them China and Russia.
Sanctions against the latter will remain until the end of the war and the withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied territory, including Crimea.
A new space strategy for security and defense will be put forward next year, and the collaboration with direct neighbors reinforced—including via Emmanuel Macron’s brainchild the European Political Community.
To prepare for next year’s drought, the Commission wrote it would double its firefighting capacities ahead of the summer.
What’s this way of life?
The Commission acknowledges that “a clear and robust framework for our migration and asylum system is so vital.” One might ask—vital for who? But since this issue is a matter of the Member states, there is so much that the Commission can hope to achieve, regardless of its good intentions.
Upholding democratic values and institutions
The unexpected decision of last week to withhold Hungary’s recovery funds over Rule of Law concerns could have been foreseen by attentive readers of the work programme. It reads—although Hungary is never mentioned, “systematically upholding the rule of law across all Member States was an objective formulated by the [CoFoE].”
The Commission also encourages the recent initiatives from the European Parliament on political advertising, the funding of European political parties and foundations, and on the electoral rights of mobile Europeans. “[The Commission] stand[s] ready to support co-legislators also in their work on the proposal of the European Parliament for a new Electoral law.”
Conclusions
In this document, the Commission recognised the effort Europe provided to war-torn Ukraine, through the European Peace Facility, the EU civil Protection Mechanism, and other tools. The Union will continue to provide, by rehabilitating damaged Ukrainian schools and facilitating the country’s integration into the single market.
Furthermore, the Commission delivered on the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE). The CoFoE did not end in May 2020, when citizens gave their recommendations to the EU institutions gathered in Strasbourg. I would argue that its success depends on the dutiful follow-up by all European institutions. Most of the Commission’s proposals for new initiatives directly or indirectly derive from the results of the Conference. Looking at you, Council.