Brussels, 15/12/2004 (Agence Europe) - The Heads of State and Government are to reassure President Barroso and his team of their willingness and cooperation in implementing the necessary structural reforms to make the Lisbon Strategy a success. This was the gist of the message the European employers sent out on the eve of the European Summit.
The employers' organisation repeated its expectations as recently voiced by its President, Jürgen Strube, to the Dutch Presidency on the economic situation and competitiveness, the mid-term revision of the Lisbon Strategy and the Kok report, the European approach to climate change, and the financial perspectives (EUROPE of 20 November, p.14). It also stressed that the recommendations and reports published by the European Commission on 6 October "constitute a solid and balanced basis for the European Council's decision on 17 December 2004 as regards the opening of accession negotiations with Turkey". "As there are stable, strong and long-term economic relations between Turkey and the EU, the further strengthening of these relations is important for companies", said the association, which said that both it and its federal members were prepared to contribute to a constructive public debate on the issue.
On security issues, UNICE reiterated its unconditional support to initiatives of public-private cooperation, stating that a platform should be created to this end. This would be made up of representatives of the European institutions and the business world, and would aim to facilitate information exchanges and cooperation on security matters.
Given the fundamental importance of transatlantic relations for the EU, the United States and the rest of the world, UNICE feels that it is high time to launch an ambitious new transatlantic initiative in 2005 "which would reinvigorate, deepen and broaden the existing partnership in a way that would be mutually and globally beneficial".