Brussels, 16/04/2004 (Agence Europe) - Besides a position on Croatia's application to join the European Union (see our previous editions), the European Commission, which will hold its weekly meeting next Tuesday in Strasbourg, should adopt two communications regarding the strengthening of the Lisbon strategy. The two communications are a response to the conclusions from the last European Council in spring regarding competitiveness and innovation. Underlining the persistent "risk of de-industrialisation", the European Council had invited the Commission to provide a "substantial report (...) including concrete steps aimed at increasing the competitiveness of European industry".
The first of the communications submitted for the College's scrutiny will be on the problem of relocation and its consequence, de-industrialisation. Centred on competition, the second will present guidance with a view to rationalising and facilitating the approval of pan-European mergers in an enlarged Union. Furthermore, it will tackle the issue of reducing the administrative costs linked to the monitoring of State aid. Finally, the College should approve the "scoreboard" on the situation regarding 2002 State aid, which confirms the downward trend of aid following EU policies developed in this area.