Brussels, 17/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - Confirming its willingness to breathe new life into the Lisbon Strategy in its conclusions on Friday, the European Council approved the integrated guidelines for growth and employment 2005-2008, which are made up of both the broad economic policy guidelines and the guidelines for employment. At present, the Member States are to adopt ambitious national reform programmes, and the European Commission is to present the community Lisbon programme covering all actions to be taken at community level.
Still on the relaunch of the Lisbon Strategy, the European Council reiterated its support for sustainable development as a key principle for all EU policies, and approved the "Declaration on Guiding Principles for Sustainable Development", which will be used as a basis for the renewed sustainable development strategy, which will be adopted before the end of 2005, if possible.