Brussels, 12/04/2005 (Agence Europe) - On 12 April in Strasbourg, further to the Spring Summit on 22 and 23 March, the European Commission adopted its new guidelines for greater growth and more jobs in the European Union. The new Commission proposal for integrated guidelines for 2005 to 2008 aimed at implementing the Lisbon strategy, sets out a single, coherent and simplified text for the Commission's recommendations on the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines (BEPG) and its proposals on Employment Guidelines. Prepared by Commissioners Joaquin Almunia (economy/monetary affairs) and Vladimir Spidla (social affairs/employment/equal opportunities) under the leadership of Commission Vice-President Günther Verheugen (enterprise/industry), the proposal establishes a roadmap for growth and employment and serves as a base for Member States for preparing their “national Lisbon/.Reform programmes”.
Geert-Jan Koopman (from DG Enterprise) told the press that the novelty of the proposal lies in the fact that the guidelines concern three policy areas: macro-economic, micro-economic and employment. The single document allows emphasis to be placed on synergies between the various elements, he explained. These new guidelines are not a complete recasting of the earlier guidelines but the Commission does stress the new roads that the Member States should follow, namely: improved regulation and reports at European level, the development of a sound industrial base and public-private partnerships, investment in poles of innovation, and application of a policy in favour of SMEs. On this basis, the Council will work in the three formations concerned - employment, competitiveness and economy and finance - so that the summit in June may endorse the guidelines. The Commission will visit the Member States to closely monitor the rate at which reform is being conducted and to report on progress end 2005, Mr Koopman added. The aim, he said is to ensure that conditions are stable for greater consumer confidence. He said Member States must above all avoid pro-cyclical budgetary policies. Account should also be taken of the ageing population, Ian Smith (from DG Ecofin) stated, adding that considerable importance has been attached to the specific needs of the countries in the euro zone so that they may improve their ability to adjust to economic shocks.
As far as employment is concerned, the new guidelines are a new departure for the European Employment Strategy (EES) and are designed to spur economic growth and jobs and ensure territorial and social cohesion, James Allen (from DG Employment) said. The Commission's proposal thus, specifically and for the first time, mentions three recommendations of the Employment Task Force (Kok Task Force), to: 1) attract and keep more people on the labour market and modernise social protection systems; 2) improve the adaptability of workers and employers and labour market flexibility; and 3) invest more effectively in human capital through better education and skills. Furthermore, the Commission presents eight new guidelines in this field to: 1) implement employment policies aiming at achieving full employment, improving quality and productivity at work and strengthening social and territorial cohesion; 2) promote a lifecycle approach to work; 3) ensure inclusive labour markets for job-seekers and disadvantaged people; 4) improve matching of labour market needs; 5) promote flexibility combined with employment security and reduce labour market segmentation; 6) ensure employment-friendly wages and other labour cost developments; 7) expand and improve investment in human capital; and 8) adapt education and training systems in response to new competence requirements.
In answer to questions put by journalists, Mr Koopman said the former Lisbon process was a matter for bureaucrats but the new Lisbon process involves not only bureaucrats but also citizens and members of the civil society. He explained that the move is towards a more qualitative approach. At present there are a limited number of priorities.
This, he went on, may be discussed by the European Council. To the question: “Is not the Lisbon process a process for tricksters?”, Koopman replied that, although fingers are no longer pointed at anyone, this does not mean that the Commission will not assess national programmes. The Commissioners, he explained, will be involved. What the Commission wants, he maintained, was dialogue with Member States, this being a far more political engagement than before.