Brussels, 08/11/2004 (Agence Europe) - Several MEPs commented on the presentation of the Wim Kok report on mid-term review of the Lisbon strategy by urging EU Member States to take the warnings made in the report seriously, even though they do not necessarily agree on all its proposals (see EUROPE of 4 November, p.8, 5 November, p.9, and 6 November, pages 12 and 13).
Thus, Alexander Radwan of the EPP-ED Group believes the Kok Report is a "declaration of bankruptcy" and that it clearly shows the process to achieve the Lisbon aims is flawed. In a press release, Mr Radwan ridicules the "annual celebrations" of the Lisbon strategy, and criticises the "national egoisms" which compromise projects of vital importance, such as the directive on the European patent, that "some Member States have let (…) fail purely on linguistic grounds". The CSU member mainly criticises Chancellor Schröder, whom he reproaches for having been the "willing executioner of the French delaying tactic" on the question of energy market liberalisation, and his Economy Minister, Wolfgang Clement, who "does not even shy away from discarding altogether the demand by an EU directive to liberalise the market for postal services".
Member States should see the report as an "alarm signal", French member of ALDE Bernard Lehideux considers. The Kok report "must not only be a basis and deserves to be gone into much more deeply", the UDF member states in a press release, criticising the "sometimes exaggerated caution of the measures proposed" by the High Level Group. In his view, if one wishes to breathe new life into the Lisbon strategy, it is absolutely necessary to rule out any 1% of GDP ceiling for the EU budget, as several Member States advocate. (Ed.: including his own state, France).