Ministers outline an integrated strategy for European competitiveness
European Ministers responsible for competitiveness have outlined key elements of a new integrated strategy aimed at meeting the Lisbon and Barcelona objectives. Details of the strategy were announced after ministerial representatives from EU, accession and candidate countries, as well as delegates from EFTA states and the European Commission, gathered in Rome on 11 and 12 July for an informal meeting of the Competitiveness Council. The participants concluded that the strategy 'should encompass the following elements: analysis of the state of competitiveness; review of ongoing initiatives relevant for European competitiveness and their consistency; monitoring of pertinent actions; and regular discussion at Council level.' In identifying a strategy for competitiveness, ministers were responding to a request made by Heads of State and Government at the 2003 Spring European Council. Another element of the strategy highlighted by ministers in Rome was the need for complementarity across those policy areas that affect competitiveness, as well as with other Council formations such as the ECOFIN (economic and financial affairs) Council. In other discussions on policy areas such as research, the internal market, and industrial policy, ministers highlighted priority areas for the duration of the Italian EU Presidency. Regarding research, participants argued that using a greater proportion of EU Structural Funds to support research and development (R&D) should be a consideration. Ministers also argued that the creation of a European venture capital market would help to achieve the Barcelona research spending target of three per cent of GDP, and provide a boost to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Lastly, delegates reiterated the importance of European technology platforms in areas such as advanced technologies, biotechnology and nanotechnology. Removing the remaining barriers to the internal market is seen as a further priority; in particular, the need to protect intellectual property rights through the implementation of the Community Patent and the adoption of a proposal on the patentability of computer related inventions. The final area discussed during the informal Council meeting was European industrial policy. Competitiveness would be enhanced by maintaining a balance between the three pillars of sustainable development, through the creation of public-private partnerships in the high tech sector, and by promoting the transfer of innovation between research institutions and enterprises, ministers concluded.
Countries
Italy