Brussels, 07/02/2001 (Agence Europe) - On 7 February the European Commission adopted its summary report "Realising the European Union's potential: consolidating and extending the Lisbon strategy", which forms its contribution to the Stockholm European Council on 23 and 24 March. In presenting it to the press, President Romano Prodi underlined that the Commission intends to contribute to playing in this process "a leading role, as since the summit which, he said, gave us "a working method and a final vision", and which "is in the process of changing our economy and our social agenda", said Mr Prodi, who outlined the success notably achieved in the liberalisation of telecommunications, electronic commerce, the statute of European company (after thirty years!), the strategy against social exclusion and for equal opportunities. Though we have also had a series of failures, as some countries have "slowed or blocked" on certain specific points, he admitted, and, "without wanting to blame" anybody, he cited the liberalisation of the gas and electricity markets, the postal services, the public markets, the Community patent (which is of "dramatic importance"), the Galileo satellite navigation system. The economic strength of Europe must not let us "lie back on our laurels", stated Mr Prodi. Thus he summarised the ten fields where, according to the Commission, the Stockholm European Council should take decisions:
1. Employment. The Stockholm Summit, said Mr Prodi, must aim for: (a) more jobs and better jobs. Mr Prodi noted that in three years have been created 2.5 million new jobs in the EU (while there remain 14 million unemployed) and that the aim of full employment in 2010 "can easily be held": "it is no longer a utopia", and it could even be achieved before, if the present pace is maintained, he felt. The other aim is, by 2005, of a global employment rate of 65% and 57% for women; (b) new European employment markets, open to all, men and women, young and not so young, which will require (and "this is part of a major revolution") in particular the full recognition of qualifications and the "transferability" and "portability" of pensions. This means that there will be standardised social security number throughout the EU? Do not worry there will be none of that, it is simply a case of "por-ta-bil-ity", emphasised Mr Prodi.
2. Economic reforms and in particular: (a) reforms in good and services, which means that it will require setting a series of clear priorities and precise deadlines. Mr Prodi cited the liberalisation of electricity in 2003, gas in 2004, the Single Skies in 2003, Galileo (at the latest within this decade, says the Commission report); (b) integrated financial markets, all the more necessary with the arrival of the Euro. The proposals from the Group of Wise lead by Mr Lamfalussy must be approved, said Mr Prodi. Also, questioned over the difficulties presented to the European Parliament by the report that Alexandre Lamfalussy must present to the Stockholm European Council, Mr Prodi asserted that it is the "Commission's duty to defend this report, which he "greatly admired" for its "concrete nature", but also for its "prudence" and its "common sense"; (c) good regulatory environment (the Commission's summary report indicates that it will present, by the end of the year, a coordinated strategy to simplify this environment).
3. Research and innovation in the knowledge-based society. Here Mr Prodi raised in particular: (a) the "eEurope action plan" to be achieved by 2002; (b) the need to overcome the gap in technological qualifications in terms of computing compared to the United States. In this context Mr Prodi raised the need, in particular, for the immigration of qualified labour. We need, according to the general estimates, around 1.6 million high level specialists," he said, while noting that this kind of immigration should not create economic and social problems in the EU (he quoted the experience of the green cards issued last year in Germany); (c) research, by recalling in particular that the 6th R&D framework programme would be ready at the end of the month, or at the latest by the beginning of March; (d) the new technological wave (the Commission report raises in particular biotechnology).
The report also cites an effective social protection fort the ageing population, which Mr Prodi did not mention in the press conference.
In answering questions on enlargement, Mr Prodi said in particular that the candidate countries will have to join the Lisbon process, but that this in no way means presenting them with new conditions. As for the possibility of a significant influx of workers from the EU candidate countries, he noted that the immigration trend tends to fall when a less prosperous country enters into a "process of collective hope" as that offered by accession to the EU.