Enterprise advisory group inaugurated
A major step in establishing a framework for the creation of the world's most dynamic knowledge-based economy was taken on 11 June when the new 'professional chamber' of the enterprise policy group (EPG) met for the first time in Brussels. The group, made up of 35 expert professionals from a variety of sectors and countries, will advise the European Commission on the best policy options for achieving the goal of a knowledge-based economy that had been set at the Lisbon European council in March 2000. Acting independently, the group's activities include discussing policies, addressing enterprise related issues, fine tuning solutions, benchmarking and disseminating best practice. Commenting on the first meeting of the group, European Enterprise and Information society Commissioner, Erkki Liikanen, said that he welcomed the new development. 'The European Commission is increasingly focusing its activities on ways of developing a more efficient Europe, one where all stakeholders - institutions, individuals and enterprises - contribute to the wellbeing of the European citizen...the aim of the EPG is to coordinate efforts throughout the European Union to meet this vital challenge,' he said.