Brussels, 10/03/2010 (Agence Europe) - With its adoption, by 462 votes to 140, and 58 abstentions, of a joint resolution put down by the EPP, S&D and ALDE groups, the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday 10 March “welcomed” the Commission proposal on the EU 2020 strategy and the objectives and framework accompanying it. The EP, however, called for enhanced economic governance and for agriculture to be included in the strategy.
To fully to address “high and growing” unemployment, the EU must “implement an ambitious social agenda”, including efforts to: - promote longer and healthier lives; - combat poverty and social exclusion; - help workers combine employment with care responsibilities; - reduce early school leaving - foster lifelong learning; - fight discrimination; - and promote gender mainstreaming, gender equality and workers' rights and good working conditions. Member states are urged to tackle unemployment by creating more training opportunities and internships for young people. The EP also calls for schemes designed to “facilitate knowledge migration and prevent a European 'brain drain', promote excellence and develop a network of leading universities at international level”.
Not forgetting agriculture. The EP says it is “disappointed” that no mention was made of the agricultural sector in the original proposals for the EU 2020 strategy, “despite agriculture's potential to make an active contribution to meeting the main challenges ahead”. It is convinced that, “with the right policy framework and adequate budgetary resources, agriculture and forestry can play an important role in the overall European strategy designed to secure economic recovery and achieve climate targets, while at the same time contributing to EU and global food security, growth and job creation”.
Strong European economic governance. The EP calls on the European Council to abandon the open coordination method, based on the exchange of best practice and peer pressure, in the field of economic policy. It encourages the Commission to coordinate member states' economic reforms and action plans and to put forward “possible sanctions for those member states that do not implement the EU 2020 strategy and incentives for those that do”. It takes the view that an interinstitutional agreement needs to be drawn up to ensure that the Council cannot amend the strategy in coming years “without formally consulting Parliament first”.
Protecting the strength of the euro. The EP believes that the failure of several member states in the eurozone to comply with the Stability and Growth Pact shows the need to “strengthen economic coordination among countries in the EMU”. It considers it unfortunate that there are “no mechanisms to safeguard the euro's stability”. It notes that speculative attacks on countries facing economic difficulties “further deepen their economic problems and make it very expensive for them to borrow money”. It stresses the need for a European supervisor to ensure effective oversight of micro- and macro-prudential supervision, thereby preventing future crises.
MEPs take the view that the Commission should place greater emphasis on promoting and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). They believe the current budget “does not sufficiently reflect the financial needs associated with tackling 21st-century challenges” and urges the Commission to put forward “an ambitious proposal to make the EU 2020 strategy a success”. (L.C./transl.rt)