Europe's Social Democrats propose measures to get Lisbon strategy 'back on track'
The Party of European Socialists in the European Parliament (PES) are to launch a campaign aimed at shaking up policies connected to the Lisbon process, and strengthening the strategy's social and environmental elements. PES leaders say they are anxious that progress be made at the Spring European Council to put the Lisbon process back on track. Discussions at the Council are expected to focus on the commitment made by EU leaders in Lisbon in 2000 to make Europe the world's most competitive knowledge-based economy by 2010. 'Next week's summit must stimulate strong and sustainable economic activity and in doing so, it must deliver concrete and tangible benefits and opportunities to ordinary people throughout the EU [...],' said former Danish Prime Minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, who chairs a PES task force that is examining progress towards meeting the Lisbon goals. The task force has concluded that several difficulties have arisen in relation to the Lisbon process. Economic reform has taken priority over the environmental and social elements of the strategy, which are equally necessary; a failure to carry out structural reforms has placed the 2010 timeframe in doubt; and policies are not sufficiently focused towards jobs and growth, the task force says. The PES calls for action in three broad areas: the strategy needs redirection, with more investment in human resources and research, public finances must contribute to sustainable growth and employment, and related policies should be better coordinated and properly implemented. 'The Party of European Socialists is convinced that our policy proposals will show the right way forward to a 'working-rich strategy' for Europe,' said Mr Rasmussen.