Candidate countries' entrepreneurs have a role to play in achieving Lisbon targets - Busquin
Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin invited entrepreneurs from candidate countries to participate in the debate on the realisation of the Lisbon goal at the European Business Summit (EBS) on June 7. The Commissioner was addressing 1500 policy makers and business executives on the issue of entrepreneurship and sustainable development in an enlarged Europe. He asked all participants to join the effort to raise the EU average research and development (R&D) spending to 3 per cent of European Gross Domestic Product (GDP) set out at the 2002 Barcelona European Council. 'Member States, Candidate Countries and EU Institutions, policy makers and entrepreneurs have to join forces to meet this challenge' said Mr Busquin, He also emphasized the importance of the creation of technological platforms to bridge the gap between enterprises and universities and invited all participants in the ESB to steer the 2004 edition of the EBS towards research and development and innovation.