Press Release: Commission’s Annual Policy Strategy: Political and financial priorities for 2005

The Annual Policy Strategy adopted by the Commission today sets out the political priorities for 2005. This will be the guideline for the Commission's legislative programme and the allocation of resources. The top operational priority is the integration of the new Member States. Politically, the Commission wants to ensure that in the EU of 25 Member States and 450 million citizens competitiveness and cohesion are enhanced, security and European citizenship are guaranteed for a greater number of more mobile citizens, and that the Union will be able to take on more external responsibility.