Brussels, 03/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - In its adoption, on Wednesday 3 October, of the communication entitled “European Interests: Meeting the Challenges of Globalisation”, the European Commission intends to contribute to the debate to be held by the heads of state and government at their informal meeting on 18-19 October, on the Lisbon strategy for growth and employment. This strategy will give the EU the tools it requires to adapt to globalisation and to ensure the well-being of its citizens, the Commission believes. But this permanent challenge requires the growth capacity of the Union and the reality of the values of social inclusion and solidarity which it defends to be strengthened still further within the Union and internationally, the Commission explained. The document adopted by the College of Commissioners comes in response to the request made by the European Council last June, which called for an interim report on the Lisbon strategy, but it goes even further, also looking at external EU action and providing suggestions for improving current policies.
“We must invest in people, in growth and jobs, in energy security, in fighting climate change, in giving consumers a fairer deal, in stepping up cooperation to fight crime and terrorism”, stressed the president of the Commission, José Manuel Barroso, in a press release. “European leaders now need to maintain the vision and redouble their ambition”, stated Mr Barroso, who rejects any idea of either protectionism or too much waiting-and-seeing: “protectionism cannot make Europe wealthier. Protectionism would impoverish, not protect, our citizens. But we are not naïve. We are no soft touch. We can and will require a level playing field. We want others to open more. The challenge is to protect without being protectionist. We showed how to do this only a few weeks ago, with our proposals for completing the internal market for energy”.
First of all, the report makes an inventory of several key political objectives to face globalisation. These include stimulating economic reforms (the Commission will conclude its complete examination of the functioning of the internal market in November - see, amongst others, EUROPE 9494), but also guaranteeing the citizens better access to employment, education, social services, health care and other forms of social protection. The Commission also intends to make legal migration into the EU a driving force behind wealth creation, which will also help to put a stranglehold on illegal migration (proposals will be made to this effect in October), adopt and implement directives to be proposed in December to fulfil the objectives concerning the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the use of renewable energy sources, and to ensure the financial stability of the markets (no legislative proposals in the pipeline as yet). At external level, the EU must keep its openness in place, use its influence in international negotiations to persuade its partners to open up, as well and defend itself against unfair commercial practices.
Aside from this work which has already been launched, it also confirms the need to go into greater depth on reforms in four priority areas: research, development and innovation, business environment, investment in people and energy on climate change. These are concrete initiatives such as the creation of a “Small Business Act” for Europe, with a whole range of proposals, to be presented before the end of 2008, the creation of a “fifth liberty” (a genuine space for research) or the examination of the functioning of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Although, 10 years after its launch, the Euro has already established itself as a pole of stability protecting the economy of the Union as a whole, and not just the economy of the eurozone, the policies, coordination and governments of the zone can be improved, states the Commission, which will make proposals to this effect. The Commission's document is available at: http: //ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/president/press/reports/index_fr.htm (ab)