Brussels, 21/02/2001 (Agence Europe) - The informal meeting of the European industry ministers, held on Monday and Tuesday in Manchester, provided an opportunity to set out a series of priorities to contribute to the realisation of the Lisbon strategy (see EUROPE of 19 and 20 February). In the light of the experience gained in the past year, set out in detail in the Commission's Synthesis Report, the ministers agreed on the need to give greater encouragement to the entrepreneurial spirit and to innovation and to redirect the policies aimed at an economy based on knowledge. The participants, who included businessmen, recognised that progress had been made, such as the adoption of the Charter on SMEs, the multi-annual programme for enterprise and the entrepreneurial spirit (2001-2005), the agreement on the statute of the European Company, the political agreement on the new regulatory framework for electronic communications, and the unbundling of the local loop, providing greater access to high output Internet. The ministers proposed at the European Summit in Stockholm that specific measures should be taken in the seven fields of action mentioned on Tuesday by Lars Rekke, the president of the Industry Council, when he described what he calls the Manchester vision (see EUROPE of 21 February, p;10). These measures include:
- An EU framework for enterprise: to improve statistical information, use quantitative targets in enterprise policy and promote risk taking.
- Improved market functioning and better regulation: continued market liberalisation (transport, gas, electricity); reduced lead time that currently prevails for setting up new firms; full participation in the Commission's strategy for achieving an internal market for services.
- Risk capital and financial services: implementation of the action plan for financial services in 2005, with the establishment by the Commission of a well functioning market for risk capital by 2003.
- Furthering innovation and research: continued creation of a "European research area", and the adoption, in June 2002, of the 6th framework programme for research and development, and encouragement for better cooperation with SMEs.
- Bridging the IT skills gap: promotion of the spirit of enterprise in all groups in society, and abolition of obstacles to the mobility of scientists and researchers.
- Promoting the digital economy: to assure the realisation of eEurope targets for 2002, and adopt before June 2001 the regulatory package on electronic communications.
- Supporting a sustainable development: presentation of a long term strategy by the European Commission to be presented to the European Council in Gothenburg.