Brussels, 28/11/2000 (Agence Europe) - On the sidelines of the Ecofin Council on Monday, unfolded the third meeting at political level of the macro-economic dialogue between the EU institutions and social partners. It gathered together the ministerial Troika (France, Sweden and Belgium), Commissioner Solbes, a representative from the European Central Bank and representatives from employers and labour organisations. The talks covered the present economic situation and the medium-term prospects in the light, in particular, of the autumn economic forecasts published by the European Commission last week. The parties brought their respective contribution in view of the implementation of a mixed policy favourable towards growth and on ways to implement it in order to achieve the aims agreed during the European Council in Lisbon.
During the final press conference of the Ecofin Council, its President Laurent Fabius indicated that this exchange of views "useful and interesting" saw all the participants share the conviction that growth would remain "sustained" and that it would translate, at this stage, into "strong job creation", and that it would be apt to continue down the road of structural reforms. However Mr Fabius notes some "different emphasis" between the social partners, without given any details.