Brussels, 01/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - Adopted by the European Parliament's economic and monetary affairs committee, the report by Margarita Starkevickiute (ALDE, Lithuania) sets out a series of recommendations ahead of the new broad economic policy guidelines (BEPGs) for 2008-2010. The recommendations highlight the need to boost growth potential in order to increase employment.
In most cases, consolidation of public finances and the updating of public administrations in the member states should help ensure long-term budget viability, explain the MEPs, adding that increased productivity should go hand-in-land with a fairer division of the fruits of growth and tighter social cohesion. Measures to combat protectionism within and outside the EU are also necessary, along with greater economic openness from the EU. A coordinated approach by member states to boosting growth, along with intensive spending, the encouragement of private investment and public-private partnerships would also help meet the EU's challenges in the field of transport, communication, energy and the environment. The report stresses the need for synergy between environmental protection and economic growth, and the use of market-based instruments to reach European Council energy and renewables targets. Effective public services, accessible to all, have an important role to play in a competitive, dynamic economy, adds the report, noting the necessity of opening up network industries to competition. The report was approved by 28 to 2 with 13 abstentions (by PES MEPs) and will be discussed in plenary on 20 February. (A.B.)