Strasbourg, 15/02/2007 (Agence Europe) - By adopting the reports of Udo Bullman (PES, Germany) and Jan Andersson (PES, Sweden), the Parliament is calling for the healthy economic situation and strengthening in public finances to be utilised more effectively so that sustainable and qualitative improvements in growth and jobs can be ensured. Mr Bullmann's report on the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines (BEPG) for 2007, adopted by 480 votes in favour, 60 against, with 25 abstentions, examines implementation by member states of the guidelines integrated into the favourable economic context. It also provides a series of recommendations for their revision in 2008. The very brief report by Jan Andersson, which approves the Council's draft proposal on member state employment guidelines, simply requests that the Parliament is given the necessary time, “no less than five months” to ensure its advisory role in the framework of this revision.
MEPs called for “continued implementation of balanced reforms, including support actions for innovation, technological progress and the accumulation of human resources, getting rid of the final barriers to the effective functioning of the internal market by creating a more entrepreneur-friendly environment in member states”. It also calls for a “concomitant and concerted approach from member states at a level of spending from growth and the stimulation of private investment...” The Parliament is also requesting better coordination of economic policy in which it has a more pro-active role to play. Reinforced and structured cooperation for the whole EU is desirable but, also and above all, for the Eurogroup, which, “should seek to better equalise and harmonise, content and calendar, as well as the setting up and implementation of national budgets…” It also proposes that other relevant Council groupings are involved in coordination within the Eurozone. The Parliament would like the Commission to publish annually a score board classifying countries' performances on reform. It also comes up with several national level measures in favour of an intelligent and sustainable economy.
Similarly to parliamentary committee votes (for the Bullmann report EUROPE 9353), the Wednesday plenary debate obtained a broad consensus. Pointing to the encouraging progress achieved, all of the speakers warned against the temptation to reduce their efforts and appealed for productive and quality jobs. Joaquín Almunia affirmed that “getting the message across to citizens according to the efforts agreed since implementation of the Lisbon strategy is beginning to bear fruit”. He said that he wanted a convergence of views between the Commission and Parliament so that they could send “a clear signal indicating the EU's desire and capacity to become a privileged instrument of growth for tackling globalisation”. The Commissioner for economic and monetary affairs said that the good results on growth and increased job creation are, “proof that the European social model is perfectly compatible with globalisation”. Jan Andersson said that “Europe is improving on jobs” but indicated that there are still problems involving young people on the labour market, disparities between men and women, as well as immigrants. He called for “better jobs that are paid correctly” as “we will never be competitive on the labour market if people cannot live on their wages”. Udo Bullmann warned that “We need to be active, train, act and without any doubt, not rest on our laurels”. He said that the internal market was their main advantage. The internal market is “stronger than the US market” because “90% of what we produce in the EU, we buy”. Cristobal Montoro-Romero (EPP-ED, Spain) said that the current situation boded well but that they needed to analyse things realistically and not get carried away because there were differences between member states in terms of growth and exports, as underlined by Harlem Désir (PES, France), who was concerned about the persistence of poverty in the EU. Sophia in't Veld (ALDE, Netherlands) said, “what is missing today, is action” because with 8% unemployment, and the ban on some member states from working freely in other member states, the social model does not mean equal opportunities for all. Shortcomings in terms of jobs and social exclusion were also mentioned by Elisabeth Schroedter (Greens-EFA, Germany) and Sahra Wagenknecht (GUE-NGL, Germany). The latter's point of view differed from those who had voted for the report. She explained that “there is a whole series of elements I support in the report but there are passages that prevent my group from supporting it”. She alluded to the positive reference on the Directive on Services and the demand for liberalisation of the energy sector. Ieke Van den Burg (PES, Netherlands) informed Commissioner Almunia that those that combined structural reforms with investment, presented the best results on growth and jobs. He also underlined the success of those who had proceeded to optimum tax consolidation. Summing up the debates, the German minister for European affairs, Günter Gloser, said that he wanted Europe to be seen as “a response to the problems of globalisation.” (ab)