Noordwijk, 13/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - The informal session of the "Industry" Council in the Netherlands at the end of last week, chaired by Portuguese Minister for the economy Joaquim Pina Moura, led to the observation of a broad consensus on the goals of the Lisbon Summit between ministers who, in the Fifteen Member states, are responsible for industry and business policy. The subject of the meeting was growth and innovation in Europe, and the debate revolved around well known goals: improving the competitiveness of the European economy, developing instruments allowing for growth, strengthening a climate in favour of innovation and the dissemination of knowledge.
Twelve delegations unreservedly backed the documents prepared (by the Council Presidency and the European Commission) in view of the Summit, some placing emphasis on one particular aspect or another. The French delegation made some specific remarks. The Danish delegation placed emphasis on the social aspects (combating exclusion, training, etc.). The Belgian delegation almost exclusively raised aspects relating to research. Observers remarked that the social and research aspects were doubtless essential, in the overall problem of the goals the Lisbon Summit will be turning to, but were not the theme of the meeting in Nordwijk.
Commissioner Erkki Liikanen welcomed the broad consensus observed, and the President drew the conclusions that place emphasis on the goals that are essential for the competitiveness of European industry (which is still substantially below that of the United States): perfecting the single market, speeding-up technological change, dissemination of information technologies, structural adjustments, structural reforms, macroeconomic stability. A Europe favourable to business demands a more pragmatic and concrete approach, encompassing society as a whole: governments, the economic sectors, all citizens (workers, students, school children). Ministers noted the fact that the Commission would soon be presenting a "multi-annual programme for business" covering the 2001-2005 period.
It has been stressed that in the morning Ministers had heard representatives of some large European industrial groups set out their views. For the President, this represented a "good example of public/private partnership".