Brussels, 22/03/2010 (Agence Europe) - The General Affairs Council, which met in Brussels on Monday 22 March under the chairmanship of Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos, discussed the draft conclusions on the new European jobs and growth strategy - the EU2020 strategy - which will be put to the European summit at the end of this week. European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Zapatero and Commission President José Manuel Barroso, who together drafted the conclusions, hope that the European Council will agree with the general framework of the new strategy after the Commission communication which advocated enhanced economic governance to lift Europe out of the crisis (see EUROPE 10090 and 10073) and building on the discussions of the various Council formations (including the Employment and Social Affairs Council of 8 March, see EUROPE 10093). The European Council will formally adopt the strategy at its meeting in June 2010.
The draft conclusions put to the General Affairs Council on Monday stresses the need for efforts to be better focused.
(a) To boost Europe's competitiveness, the new strategy must focus on the key areas of knowledge and innovation, a more sustainable economy, high employment and social inclusion, and, in this context, on promoting economic, social and territorial cohesion. Its aim must, in particular, be to ensure the viability of public finances while maintaining investment and social well-being, create efficient labour markets, promote a sustainable economy, further strengthen the EU internal market, and derive the best possible reciprocal benefits from external trade and openness. It must tackle the obstacles which hinder national and European growth, including those that relate to the operation of the internal market and infrastructure. It must also contain a strong external dimension, to ensure that European interests and positions are promoted on the global scene through participation in open and fair markets worldwide.
(b) Member states will set their national targets, taking into account their own starting positions and national circumstances. To do so, they will engage in a dialogue with the Commission in order to ensure consistency with the EU targets. The results of this dialogue will be examined by the Council by June 2010. Member states will produce their own national reform programmes.
(c) EU policies will support the new strategy. The Commission will further develop and submit to the Council the action it proposes to take at EU level, for example, through the flagship initiatives.
The draft conclusions state, too, that efficient monitoring mechanisms are key to the successful implementation of the strategy. Thus, the European Council (1) will meet once a year to make an overall assessment of progress made at both European and national levels in implementing the strategy. Macroeconomic, structural and competitiveness developments will be considered simultaneously, together with the assessment of overall financial stability, based on input from the European Systemic Risk Board; and (2) will regularly hold debates devoted to economic developments and the main priorities of the EU2020 strategy. In October 2010, the Council will discuss research and development, in particular, looking at how to boost Europe's innovation potential, and, in early 2011, it will discuss energy policy, including how it can best support the shift towards an efficient energy-efficient economy and greater security of supply.
Coordination at euro area level must also be strengthened in order to address the challenges this area is facing. The Commission will bring forward proposals on this by June 2010, making use of the new instruments for economic coordination offered by the Lisbon Treaty (Article 136).
The stability and growth pact and country-specific recommendations under the integrated guidelines must be kept clearly separate. The integrity of the stability and growth pact must be fully preserved, as must the specific responsibility of the Ecofin Council in overseeing implementation.
A close dialogue between the Commission and member states will help improve the quality of surveillance and promote the exchange of best practice. Close cooperation with the European Parliament and other EU institutions must also be maintained. National parliaments, social partners, regions and other stakeholders must be involved, in order to increase ownership of the strategy. (G.B./transl.rt)