Brussels, 17/09/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Eurochambres) will back the EU is its goal of becoming by 2010 the world's most competitive knowledge economy, placing at its disposal all its know-how, technologies, knowledge of the labour market: that is the message that Christoph Leitl, Eurochambres president, handed to President Romano Prodi and his commissioners Michaele Schreyer (Budget) and Frits Bolkestein (Internal Market) last Thursday. The problems that SMIs (small companies) run up against, including in the field of tax, were also raised in these three meetings. Mr. Leitl and Ms. Schreyer especially discussed aid to regions devastated by the floods in Europe, notably Austria. Mr. Leitl assured Romano Prodi that Eurochambres wants the position of the President of the Commission to be strengthened, as well as that of the Commission, and said he was "sure that the Convention will provide solutions". He also placed emphasis on dialogue with the citizens, noting that Eurochambres was a "platform for understanding and dialogue". "Europe needs emotion, otherwise it is boring", declared the Secretary General of Eurochambres, Arnaldo Abruzzini. Mr. Leitl (who hails from inner circle of young European federalists) agreed: "when somebody really has the European spirit, you feel it".
In the evening, Christoph Leitl handed the President of the European Convention, Valery Giscard d'Estaing, his association's contribution to the work of the Convention, confirming that "as representative of European companies, Eurochambres would like to be formally involved in the consultation process on targeted and structured economic aspects of European policy". As regards the Tripartite Summmit, Leitl requested the "enlargement to company representatives of the list of social partner organisations that will take part in it". Ideas that Valery Giscard d'Estaing qualified as "very interesting". In its contribution to the Convention, Eurochambres places emphasis on: - the need to modernise the treaties to reflect a society and economy that is constantly evolving; - the importance of a competitive Europe based on solidarity; - the need to increase the efficiency of institutions by bringing them closer to the citizens and guaranteeing participative democracy (and the role of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry in ensuring this participative democracy).