Commission sets out eight EU initiatives to support growth and jobs
The European Commission has outlined a series of measures to be taken at EU level in order to boost growth and create more jobs by making Europe a more attractive place in which to invest and work. The so-called Community Lisbon Programme published on 20 July is intended to complement the national reform programmes that Member States must publish by October 2005 as part of the 'partnership for growth and jobs'. It seeks to complete the internal market in certain areas and implement common activities that support and complement national policies. Commission President José Manuel Barroso said: 'We must invest in skills and education, lead in research and innovation and equip people for change. At the same time we must create an environment in Europe where we can modernise, innovate and move up the value chain. Our goal is to combine economic dynamism with sustainable growth, building a society with more opportunity for all.' To achieve its three key goals of boosting innovation and knowledge, making Europe a more attractive place to invest and work, and creating more and better jobs, the Commission intends to concentrate on the following eight key measures: - supporting knowledge and innovation in Europe; - reform of state aid policy; - improvement and simplification of the regulatory framework in which business operates; - completion of the internal market for services; - completion of an ambitious agreement in the Doha round of trade negotiations; - removal of obstacles to physical, labour and academic mobility; - developing a common approach to economic migration; - supporting efforts to deal with the social consequences of economic restructuring. The Commission describes each of these as areas where purely national action would be insufficient. It therefore hopes to further open markets, cut red tape, invest in modern infrastructure and step up efforts to support education, lifelong learning and entrepreneurship. Commission Vice President Günter Verheugen concluded: 'With this action plan, the Commission is moving from words to deeds. It is up to Member States to deliver at their end by coming up with credible and ambitious national reform programmes.'