Manchester, 20/02/2001 (Agence Europe) - Lars Rekke, President of the Industry Council, outlined, on Tuesday during the informal meeting of EU Industry Ministers in Manchester a series of priorities to implement the Lisbon strategy, aiming to make the EU the most competitive economy in the world. It outlines the main guidelines of what he calls the "Manchester vision" feeling that, if progress has been achieved since Lisbon, "the time is not for complacency", and underlined Europe's delay in new technologies and venture capital. Basing himself on the summary report by the Commission and the statements made in Manchester by the representatives from the private sector, Mr Rekke identified seven fields where progress is needed to encourage the spirit of enterprise:
Apply "without delay" certain existing frameworks (multiannual programme for enterprises, SME Charter), improve the quality of statistics, continue the benchmarking exercise;
Improve the functioning and the regulation of the market, by progressing, for example, in the reform of product markets and by simplifying the regulations;
Answering the true needs of companies in terms of venture capital;
Support research and innovation, "the key parts of a sustainable competitiveness";
Reabsorb the deficit in terms of competences in information technologies;
Accelerate the use of possibilities from the new economy (eEurope programme);
Ensure sustainable development, by using with care the resources available.