Europe's economy should be Irish Presidency's top priority, says Eurochambres
The president of Eurochambres, Christoph Leitl, has used a meeting with the Irish Minister for foreign affairs, Dick Roche, to urge the country's government to focus on Europe's economic situation when it takes over the Presidency of the EU in January 2004. Mr Leitl said that it is understandable that political attention has recently been focused on the enlargement of the EU and related constitutional reforms, but argued that the time has come 'to refocus on business in order to catch up for the Lisbon target'. 'We urge the Irish Presidency to focus on the sluggish European economy despite the administrative work which has to be done to create an adequate organisational framework for the political future of the Union,' said Mr Leitl. The association of European chambers of commerce and industry believes that the enlargement of the EU makes the Lisbon agenda even more of a priority, and calls on Member States to restore credibility by delivering on past promises on competitiveness, fostering entrepreneurship and creating a favourable framework for research and development.
Countries
Ireland