Brussels, 26/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - In Brussels on 23 January, the President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Roger Briesch, and the President of the European Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Eurochambers), Christoph Leitl, decided to work more closely together to help achieve the Lisbon objectives, following the publication of the Commission's spring report 2004 highlighting the lack of progress in this area. Eurochambers and the EESC will implement joint measures to strengthen the competitiveness of companies and increase employment across Europe. Roger Briesch said that Eurochambers' activity was very important for the EESC, given its roots in the regions of 141 countries. Christoph Leitl said that they wanted to combine Eurochambers' aims (representing the business world in all its different facets and dimensions) with the EESC's (which brings together representatives of employers, workers and various other interests) in order to cooperate in establishing a joint European strategy based on entrepreneurship.