Brussels, 13/12/2001 (Agence Europe) - At the end of the half-yearly meeting of the Board of Presidents of Unice, Georges Jacobs, President of the European employers organisation (Unice) and Gui de Vaucleroy, President of the Belgian Business Federation (FEB), presented a declaration on the priorities and expectations of business circles for the European Council of Laeken. Following a clear slowdown in the economy, the reforms promised at the Lisbon Summit are thus more crucial than ever, say business circles, also calling for all measures to be taken to complete the internal market and avoid distortions to competition. Finally, according to European employers, the imminent introduction of the euro comes at a favourable time and could serve as lever for a recovery by galvanising consumer confidence, as long as "targeted and intensive" awareness-raising and information campaigns are organised Here are the major thrusts of the declaration:
"Revitalising the Lisbon reforms - more liberalisation, better legislation": according to Unice, the process needs revitalising, further structural reforms engaged, legislation needs simplifying and innovation needs promoting (notably through an attractive and competitive Community patent). Regarding employment, Unice warns governments against the temptation to introduce new legislation that would impede restructuring and slow down the resumption of growth. In light of the European Commission's action plan on better regulation, European employers call for impact assessment to be made on the economic, social and environmental consequences that the proposals being envisaged.
"Enlargement - more efforts needed despite progress: Unice is clearly in favour of enlargement and welcomes the efforts already made by applicant countries to meet the accession criteria. Nevertheless, a good preparation makes "good common sense", says Jacobs. Here, Unice backs the Commission's recommendations to the candidate countries, and considers that additional efforts need making in four areas: combating corruption, improving the dialogue between companies and governments, pursuing structural reforms and privatisation, and some particular aspects of the single market (movement of goods, , public procurement, intellectual property and State aid).
"Business' future in Europe depends on quality legislation and political will": Europe is called upon to be more ambitious in the context of an increasingly globalised economy, and encourage the spirit of initiative and free enterprise, and, to do so, provide itself with better quality legislation allowing for decisions with an impact on the world of business to be taken rapidly and effectively.
"We must be more competitive", it's the only response to the globalisation process, concluded Mr. Jacobs. Unice took advantage of the occasion to officially announce the launch of the second "European Business Summit" to be held in Brussels from 6 to 8 June under the theme: "Entrepreneurship and sustainable development in an enlarged Europe", in which representatives of European institutions will take part, as well as European business circles.
Pensions Sustainability: Unice recommendations to the EU
In addition, on 11 December, Unice published a strategy paper on pension sustainability in which it launches an appeal to Heads of State and Government meeting at the Laeken Summit on 14 and 15 December to provide "a strong impetus to pension reforms". For Unice, the fact that the reforms are clearly a national responsibility does not rule out action at European level in the field. This must be spread and complemented by relevant measures at EU level, Unice stipulates, by: a) ensuring co-ordination of macroeconomic, employment and pension reform policies (integrate a clear strategy in the GOPES to respond to the ageing of the population, promoting performing and flexible labour markets through the European employment strategy, following developments of national pension reforms); b) taking the necessary measures to complete the internal market of financial services and resolving the issue of cross-border mobility (liberalise the cross-border supply of supplementary pensions and abolishing obstacles to worker mobility). The paper is available on the site http: //http://www.unice.org