Brussels, 26/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday in Brussels, the European Parliament adopted the report by Christa Randzio-Plath (SPD) on the situation of the European economy, expressing concern about the growing gap between the Lisbon goals and the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines (BEPG) in force. The Parliament insists on the need to strengthen coherence and compatibility between the Lisbon Strategy, the growth initiative, BEPG 2003-2005 and the guidelines for employment. It calls for these instruments to be fully and rapidly implemented at national and local level.
The EP notes with regret that there is a lack of cooperation and coordination in all areas covered by the Lisbon Strategy. In order to better reflect upon and better implement this strategy, it recommends immediate use of the margin of manoeuvre provided in the context of current financial perspectives by making full use of the EU budget and European funds, especially Structural Funds. To improve economic governance, the Commission is above all invited to examine the repercussions of legislative proposals (which, in some cases, may be an obstacle to economic competitiveness) and to work with the Member States in establishing a system of cooperation and standardisation to combat tax fraud, mainly in areas such as VAT. Furthermore, MEPs note with concern that Europe has lost the advance that it has enjoyed over recent years in environmentally friendly technology and renewable energy areas. They also consider it necessary to reduce Europe's dependency on oil imports which, they say, are a "heavy burden from the political point of view", and for price stability.