Competitiveness Council backs 'partnership for growth and jobs'
As Europe's leaders are gearing up for this year's spring summit, where Heads of State and Government will discuss Commission President José Manuel Barroso's re-launch of the Lisbon agenda, other members of the College of Commissioners are seeking endorsement at ministerial level. The 'partnership for growth and jobs' approach, outlined in the communication on the new-look Lisbon agenda, was presented to the Competitiveness Council by Commission Vice President with responsibility for Enterprise and Industry, Günter Verheugen, on 7 March. Ministers backed the proposals, which recommend a focus on growth and jobs through fewer and clearer priorities in a number of core areas, and the introduction of sharper policy instruments for implementation. 'The broad support for the Commission's 'partnership for growth and jobs' is highly encouraging,' said Mr Verheugen after the meeting. 'Ministers share the Commission's vision: we need a new, focused partnership with Member States, concrete national action plans, less red tape and more innovation and research.' Mr Verheugen added that he is confident of receiving support from the European Council later in March. The Council committed to implementing actions in the areas of research, the internal market (particularly for services), and economic reform. Ministers reiterated their commitment to creating a European Research Area, to increasing research funding to three per cent of GDP, and to implementing the Seventh Framework Programme for research and the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme. They also signed up to optimising human capital, and promoting and investing in new technologies and technology transfer.