05/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, the Council adopted conclusions on the quality of public finance, in which it states the need for “increasing the efficiency of public spending and improving the quality of revenue structures”. Comparisons of efficiency in important spending areas “reveal significant differences across member states”, the text reads, adding: “and in many cases policy outcomes could be improved”. The Council invites the Economic Policy Committee (EPC) and the Commission to develop an analysis and appraisal of effectiveness and efficiency of public spending mainly in R&D and education fields, and to explore the possibilities of future work in the health care sectors, as well as certain aspects of social transfers and infrastructure. (ab)