Competitiveness comes first, says Verheugen
The Lisbon strategy must be Europe's top priority, European Commissioner Günter Verheugen told a European Parliament confirmation hearing on 30 September, stating that the EU's current economic goals - including a drive for more job creation and economic growth - had been made vulnerable by a 'lack of focus.' Mr Verheugen, who will begin his mandate as Enterprise and Industry Commissioner on 1 November if approved by the Parliament, also suggested he might consider changing the proposed chemical safety rules. He insisted, however, that there was no plan to withdraw the REACH directive (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals), despite criticisms from quarters of the European chemicals industry. Admitting that it was increasingly difficult to meet the Lisbon target of 2010, Commissioner Verheugen insisted that 'this does not mean that we should give up the effort,' and that the goal of becoming the world's most competitive economy by 2010 should remain a top priority in the next few years. He called on national leaders to give more prominence to the process, stop internal wrangling and concentrate on promoting growth and innovation to better compete on the international scene. 'We have to make sure that Europe is not a third league player but that it is going for the world championship as far as competitiveness is concerned,' he told the European Parliament's Industry, Research and Energy Committee. 'We should take stock where the Union of 25 is already world-class and to further concentrate and explore where the Union of 25 could rapidly catch up with global best performers. That requires a thorough sector analysis and appropriate decisions afterwards. In this regard the European space policy and enhanced European efforts towards a highly efficient security and defence industry could be decisive,' stated Commissioner Verheugen. Mr Verheugen explained that Commission President-designate José Barroso had specifically asked him to be responsible for competitiveness. This means that 'every proposal from the Commission needs to meet the competitiveness test - not necessarily a huge impact assessment, but a proper evaluation,' Mr Verheugen told MEPs. Mr Verheugen also placed emphasis on the role of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in a flexible, adaptable economy, and said that his role was vital in helping them exploit the results of research. Insisting that the linkages between the Lisbon agenda and the pursuit of environmental objectives can and should be improved, Mr Verheugen said that a competitive and innovative economy remains a key prerequisite for effectively tackling environmental concerns. Having made clear that economic growth must come first, Mr Verheugen said he would work to improve the draft legislation affecting the chemicals industry. 'We want to make sure that REACH is functional, usable, and we want to make sure companies do not collapse under the weight of REACH,' Mr Verheugen told the hearing. 'If it turns out that we have to make adjustments, we will make them. If studies showed that the project is not practical, that there are too many obstacles, too much burden, then that has to be reviewed,' he said, pointing out, however, that the studies could also show that more needs to be done for the environment. 'Proposals to improve the practical cost-efficiency and proposals to minimise the burden on small and medium-sized enterprises are particularly important as long as environmental goals are not affected,' Mr Verheugen concluded.