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EU: Treaty of Nice

Answer

The European Space Programme will implement the European Space Policy, which is due to be agreed by the end of 2005. The sixth framework programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities, contributing to the creation of the European research area and to innovation (2002–06) covers ““aeronautics and space””. It takes forward the Council decision of 30 September 2002 adopting a specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration, ““Integrating and strengthening the European Research Area”” (2002–06), which was agreed on the basis of Article 166(3) of the treaty establishing the European Community. A specific implementing measure of the sixth framework programme was the European Commission’s Green Paper entitled European Space Policy.The European Commission has adopted two proposals for the establishment of the fundamental rights agency, a proposal for a Council regulation establishing a European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, based on Article 308 of the treaty establishing the European Community; and a proposal for a Council decision empowering the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights to pursue its activities in areas referred to in Title VI of the Treaty on European Union, based on Articles 30, 31 and 34(2)(c) of the Treaty on European Union.The European Union does not have any embassies overseas. However, the European Commission has 123 missions to third countries, five missions to international organisations, four representations and offices, and seven technical offices. These represent the EU in areas of Commission competence such as external trade and European Commission development assistance. The first Commission overseas mission was established in 1954. The legal base for the establishment of Commission delegations in third countries derives from the Commission’s powers under the treaty establishing the European Community including Articles 211, 217 and 302.The legal bases of the EU-led crisis management mission Operation Artemis in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2003 were Articles 14, 17(2), 18(5), 25, 26 and 28(3) of the Treaty on European Union, in support of the overall objectives for the common foreign and security policy as set out in Article 11 of the Treaty on European Union.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

768; 673 c109-10WA

Session

2005-06

Related items

EU Fundamental Rights Agency
Wednesday, 11 January 2006
Written questions
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EU: Treaty of Nice
Tuesday, 13 December 2005
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Subjects

Human rights EU common foreign and security policy EU action EU institutions Peacekeeping operations Treaty of Nice Democratic Republic of the Congo Embassies Spaceflight

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk