on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council directive on the quality of fresh waters needing protection or improvement in order to support fish life (codified version)

By letter of 19 January 2004 the Commission submitted to Parliament, pursuant to Articles 251(2) and 175(1) of the EC Treaty, the proposal for a European Parliament and Council directive on the quality of fresh waters needing protection or improvement in order to support fish life (codified version) (COM(2004) 19 – 2004/0002(COD)).

All the services previously carried out by APT were entrusted to EPI., At the same time the losses cumulated from 1959 to 1994 by APT were taken over by the State.

In the light of these data the Commission has also confirmed the conclusion reached in the opening decision that the coverage of APT losses cumulated before 1994 represents an ex-post coverage of the cost of the general service mission entrusted to APT over the period 1959 1994.

I believe that he is the person who has shown himself, in this historic process, to be the most capable of seeing through the complex evolution which involves the development of a European identity in terms of defence, in which NATO itself and our North American partners are coming to accept the need for a strong European pillar, not only in the field of defence, but also in terms of the industrial dimension which must support it and also in the role of stabilising and consolidating democracy in Europe and the Mediterranean.

As far as specific issues are concerned, the Commission has identified, in particular, the following: - adaptability at the workplace, and the potential for developing new forms of employment based on new forms of work organisation - the development of new working time structures able to expand employment opportunities; - the development of training systems and qualifications able to improve integration into the labour market, and anticipate structural change - investigating the scope for reducing labour costs and increasing employment-intensity, notably by modifying the incidence of taxation systems; - the exploitation of the employme ...[+++]nt growth potential of new areas of work - the environmental industries, the arts, household services etc; - the creation of employment through small businesses, and self- employment, and the role of SMEs generally; - the role of local initiatives and local economic and employment development in strengthening the capacity of areas to create employment; - the role of different agencies and partners in developing efficient external labour markets.