Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik said: "The European Innovation Partnership on Water will help ensure that we can continue to provide safe, available and affordable water for all, by supporting the development of innovative solutions to deal with water challenges – while simultaneously aiming to position Europe as a world leader in water technology and services".

This situation does not promote free movement within the internal market or create an environment conducive to healthy competition.

The priority goals are environmentally efficient transport, safe products, sustainable energy consumption, ecological planning and management, environmentally efficient waste processing and a healthy indoor environment.

The EU should encourage: - the irreversible consolidation of economic reforms in Russia which, through economic growth and a steady rise in living standards, will promote stability in Russian society and strengthen democracy in that country; - the integration of Russia into the international economy according to market economy principles and its admission to the WTO as soon as possible and subsequently to other international economic institutions of which Russia is not yet a member; - the development of trade and investment and harmonious economic relations between the Parties based on the principles of market economy and so as to foster sustainable development in the Parties; - the creation as foreseen in the PCA of the necessary condit ...[+++]ions for the future establishment of a free trade area between the Community and Russia covering substantially all trade in goods between them, as well as conditions for bringing about freedom of establishment of companies, of cross-border trade in services and of capital movements; - the progressive integration between Russia and a wider area of cooperation in Europe; - regional cooperation between Russia and its neighbouring countries according to the OSCE principles; - the application by Russia of sound macro-economic policies elaborated with the IMF; - the application by Russia of internationally formulated safety principles for nuclear installations; - the improvement of environmental protection in Russia in accordance with the principle of sustainable development; - the completion and consolidation of the legal framework in Russia concerning economic activities together with the progressive compatibility of Russian legislation with that existing in the Union. 6. Methods: - Putting into effect, as soon as possible, the Interim and Partnership and Cooperation Agreements and pursuing cooperation in the specific fields provided for in these agreements; - Negotiating and concluding new bilateral agreements provided for in ...

This programme - which has been drawn up on the basis of a detailed analysis of the requirements of small businesses and consultations with the European organizations representing small businesses, the trade unions, independent research centres and the Member States - identifies two main objectives for Community action : (a) To contribute to the creation of a favourable environment for small businesses within the Community's internal market. This objective is reflected in seven projects: the promotion of a spirit of enterprise and rec ...[+++]ognition for the social role of the private businessman, the improvement of the administrative environment, the completion of the internal market, company law, a healthy competition structure, the fiscal situation and improvement of the social environment (b) To make a positive contribution to the need for flexibility in the case of small businesses.

That involves, inter alia: - the improvement of the functioning of the internal energy market, in particular the completion of the internal electricity and gas market; - respect for the general principles of competition and services of general economic interest, wherever they exist and according to the conditions laid down in the Treaty; - the definition of standardization programmes to promote energy efficiency and new and renewable sources of energy; - a consistent approach in the environmental field; - the development of trans-European networks; - the setting of energy priorities in future research programmes; - the establishmen ...[+++]t of a consistent approach as regards external relations; - the more coherent definition of programmes for energy efficiency and new and renewable sources of energy to allow for more effective use of budgetary means, 4. considers that the common energy objectives identified in the Resolution on the Green Paper should be implemented at Community level and invites the Commission to put in place a process of cooperation between the Community and the Member States in order to ensure that Community and national energy policies are compatible with those objectives, 5. believes that Community energy decisions must be taken in the context of a shared analysis of the energy situation and of future trends and invites the Commission to organize cooperation between Member States on energy studies, as called for in the resolution on the Green Paper, 6. considers that the promotion of new and renewable energies and energy efficiency can make a valid contribution to a safer and healthier environment and, together with the development of indigenous sources, both reduce the Community's energy dependency on external sources and promote economic growth and employment, 7. believes that the opening up of the internal energy market and environmental issues related to energy require transparency of economic indicators and invites the Commission to report ...