On 18 November, the European Commission adopted a work program setting out the policy direction for 2023, containing 43 new policy initiatives under six headline targets. Among the priorities are instruments to respond to the multiple crises that Europeans are currently experiencing in connection with Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
1. The European Green Deal
The European Commission plans to avert the energy crisis and solve the problem of high energy prices, while accelerating the ecological transformation. Therefore a comprehensive reform of the EU electricity market is to be proposed at the beginning of 2023, based on the decoupling of electricity prices from gas prices. In addition, the Commission will propose the creation of a new European Hydrogen Bank, which will initially invest €3 billion to create an EU hydrogen market. In addition, actions are to be taken to reduce waste and the environmental impact of waste, with a particular focus on food and textile waste, and a review of EU animal welfare legislation.
2. A Europe fit for the digital age
The Commission plans to create instruments to ensure adequate and diversified access to critical raw materials needed for Europe's digital and economic resilience. In addition, there are plans to identify and address gaps in the implementation of the underlying provisions and to use digital tools and processes in company law to simplify administrative and judicial procedures. A common European mobility data space is also to be developed.
3. An economy that works for people
The Commission plans to review the EU economic governance framework to ensure that it remains fit for the purpose. In order to strengthen the Union's budget, a mid-term review of the EU budget for 2021-2027 is to be carried out and a second set of new own resources legislation is to be submitted, based on a proposal for a single set of tax rules for doing business in Europe. In addition, a proposal on the principles of the digital euro is to be presented ahead of its possible issuance by the European Central Bank.
4. A stronger Europe in the world
The Commission plans to present an EU Space Strategy for Security and Defense as well as a new EU Maritime Security Strategy. The sanctions toolkit is also to be updated to include corruption. In its programme, the EC intends to revitalize Europe's relations with Latin America and the Caribbean and to continue cooperation with candidate countries in the Western Balkans, as well as with Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, with a view to their future accession to the Union.
5. Promoting a European way of life
In this area, the Commission will propose next year to update the current EU framework for learning mobility to make it easier for students to move between education systems. To this end, proposals will be made on the recognition of qualifications of third-country nationals. In addition, to ensure the resilience and security of the Schengen area, draft rules on the digitization of EU travel documents and travel facilitation are to be drafted. Another aspect the Commission wants to focus on will be launching an initiative for a comprehensive approach to mental health, including recommendations on smoke-free environments and new guidelines on vaccine-preventable cancers.
6. A new impetus for European democracy
In 2023, the Commission is due to present a democracy defense package, including an initiative to protect the EU's democratic space from foreign interests. The EC will also propose a European Disability Card, which aims to ensure that the status of a person with a disability is recognized in all Member States. It is also to continue working on eliminating the gaps in legal protection against discrimination based on racial or ethnic origin. The next step will be negotiations with the European Parliament and the Council of the EU to draw up a list of common legislative priorities on which the co-legislators agree to take swift action. The plans are ambitious and 2023 will certainly bring a lot of changes for which EU Member States will have to prepare.
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