EU industry ministers aim for the top
Making Europe the world' s most competitive region with ten years will be the topic of discussion at a meeting between the EU's industry ministers in Manchester, UK, on 19 and 20 February. Enterprise and Information Society Commissioner Errki Liikanen, Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin and Internal Market Commissioner Frits Bolkestein have all been invited to attend the conference, which will be opened by Swedish industry minister Lars Rekke. 'I am expecting fruitful discussions on what we have achieved and on measures to which the Union should be giving priority during the coming year to make Europe more competitive,' says Mr Rekke. The meeting follows the European Council proclamation in Lisbon in March 2000 that the EU must become the world's most competitive economy and will have entrepreneurship as an overall theme. Issues including the simplification of regulations, attitudes towards risk taking, innovation, e-trade, the use of information technology and sustainable development will be discussed. 'These are top priority issues during the Swedish Presidency. The conference in Manchester will give industry ministers the opportunity to come to an agreement on concrete measures and timetables for this work,' says Minister Rekke.
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Sweden