Brussels, 14/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - A PES press statement has indicated that former Danish prime minister (Social Democrat), Poul Nyrup Rasmussen has presented the Irish minister of European Affairs, Dick Roche, with a strategy documents drafted by an international network of experts, put together by the Party of European Socialists (PES) in its "first major contribution to preparations for the summit" of spring 2004 (25-26 March in Brussels). The PES plan aimed to create 5 million jobs in the EU, highlighted the communiqué.
At this event, Mr Rasmussen, who led this network over a twelve month period, once again stressed that, "It is now time to breathe new life into that Lisbon strategy if we are to succeed in our aim of making Europe the world's most competitive economy by 2010 whilst generating worthwhile hobs for our people and protecting our environment". According to the press statement, Mr Rasmussen pointed out that the strategy being proposed included "30 policy innovations" (http://www.pes.org ) . He welcomed the positive response given to his strategy by the Irish presidency, a commitment he interpreted as "reinvigorating the Lisbon Process".