Brussels, 04/01/2010 (Agence Europe) - Prior to appearing before the European Parliament economic and monetary affairs committee on 11 January, Economic and Financial Affairs Commissioner designate Olli Rehn has set out his three priorities for the next five years, if he is appointed. In his responses to the MEPs' questionnaire, he places the emphasis first and foremost on growth and jobs. This should be our “overarching objective”, he writes, and he hopes, through a coordinated strategy for managing the exit from the current crisis, “to create conditions for sustainable and smart growth for current and future generations”. The EU 2020 strategy will be a “key instrument” in this approach, which also requires improvement in the sustainability and quality of public finances. Rehn's third priority is to enhance the role of the EU in international economic relations, especially in the G20. In the long term, this will mean the members of the euro area and the EU speaking with a single voice, but in the meantime, “it is of the utmost importance to put in place a significantly strengthened coordination mechanism as soon as possible”.
From there flow several initiatives, such as: - a communication on the establishment of a system of enhanced policy cooperation based on broader and deeper surveillance for euro area member states; - a communication on strengthening European participation and representation in international financial institutions; - a Green Paper on the adequacy and sustainability of pension systems in the EU (working with the commissioner for employment, social affairs and inclusion and the commissioner for the internal market and services); - a legislative proposal on the external mandate of the European Investment Bank (EIB) for the period 2011-2013 and a communication on the longer-term future activity of the EIB ; - (if possible,) a proposal for a framework instrument on EU macro-financial assistance to third countries; - a communication on establishing, within the framework of the EU 2020 strategy, a methodological framework and data collection for measuring progress towards headline targets, and also complex socio-economic issues (as a follow-up to the Stiglitz report and the Commission communication, “GDP and Beyond” - see EUROPE 9963). (A.B./transl.rt)