The Irish Presidency has submitted to the European Council a review of progress since the Spring summit and outlined areas for future priority EU action.
The document highlighted progress achieved on mobility of European citizens, businesses and services; through legislation on recognition of professional qualifications, social security co-ordination, the Europass and the introduction of the European Health Insurance Card.
The Presidency invited the Council to address drug abuse and drug trafficking and by the end of the year finalise a new Drugs Strategy for the period 2005-2012.
The Presidency urges that work proceeds quickly specially in the "proposed framework Directive on services, the consideration of the White Paper on services of general interest, the REACH proposal regarding chemicals and emission reduction strategies in the context of climate change, and on the promotion of environmental technologies."
Regarding environment protection, the presidency claimed major progress in implementing "measures on air quality, maritime protection, environmental liability, biodiversity conservation and climate change, including putting in place all the necessary mechanisms for the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme to facilitate compliance with the Kyoto Protocol Goals."
