Brussels, 07/02/2005 (Agence Europe) - Wilfried Martens, president of the European Popular Party, stated in a press release that the strategy for growth and employment presented by president Barroso last week (EUROPE 3 February pp 5-8) is “particularly reassuring”, because it concentrates on key questions. The former Belgian prime minister said that this approach corresponded to the spirit of the proposals of the EPP on the future of the Lisbon strategy and. He also declared that he was confident that, “this strategy will succeed. Needless to say, the EPP will offer is undivided support to president Barroso and our Group in the European Parliament has already given its backing. I would also like to encourage the Party of European Socialists to abandon their reservations and to help achieve our common European goals”.