21/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - Reacting to the very criticised report of the European Commission on the Lisbon Strategy (see EUROPE of 15/16 January), the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has called for further effort for an immediate recovery of the European economy. "Member States will have once more to confirm, at the Spring Summit, their commitment in favour of the modernisation of the European economy", stresses the ETUC. According to it, "the fundamental weakness of the Springtime report is that it is essentially directed at the medium-term and that it remains stuck in the conventional wisdom that structural reforms not only increase the potential for growth, but also guarantee that this potential is used". ETUC thus calls on the Commission to "redress its report's weaknesses by presenting the Spring Summit with economic guidelines that aim at growth". For the trade unions, "the Stability and Growth Pact must now be interpreted intelligently and not force Member states to pursue harmful pro-cyclical policies". It then notes that it would be easier to "promote recovery" and "save the Lisbon Strategy" if the European Central Bank reduced its interest rates again without delay".