Brussels, 06/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - In its contribution to the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)'s summary report to prepare for the EU's 2008 Spring Council, the French economic and social council (ESC), whose rapporteur is Jacques Duron, has unveiled a list of what it feels should be the main guidelines for the next round of the Lisbon Strategy. Duron was addressing an EESC conference in Brussels on Thursday 7 February on the revised Lisbon Strategy 2008-2010 and the role of organised civil society, as part of the workshop on experiences and prospects for the old and new Lisbon Strategy cycles (see EUROPE 9594).
What are the priorities in the prospects of a new institutional framework? Jacques Duron highlighted, from the French ESC's report, that:
1. Sufficient funding must be earmarked to allow the future EU budget to support the new Lisbon Strategy cycle for growth and employment through appropriate EU policies, particularly in terms of future investment in research, innovation, training and infrastructure. These resources should also make it possible to prepare to implement the EU's commitments on environmental issues and encourage EU solidarity in facing the challenges of globalisation. Duron said that in the programme it will be drawing up, the European Commission should stress the EC aspect and action to boost growth and employment at this level. Industry-specific parts of the Lisbon Strategy (including industrial policy) should also be planned. Duron gave as an example the fact that the Commission will be encouraging the member states to include corporate social and environmental responsibility (CSER) measures in its National Reform Programmes (NRPs).
2. Balance has to be maintained and strengthened among the economic, social and environmental arms of the Lisbon Strategy, noted Duron, adding that these arms working together was the best guarantee of global performance putting EU growth at the service of a humanist vision. The rapporteur said some policies, like energy, population and education policies, would require greater involvement from civil society stakeholders and should receive particular attention from national ESCs. While it does not appear essential to systematically review the integrated guidelines, which are flexible by nature and made it possible to focus on SMEs in 2006 and then on energy and sustainable development in 2007, the French ESC's report comments that they might be updated to adopt to the economic climate by focussing to a greater extent on social issues, shortly before France takes over the Presidency of the Council of the EU in July 2008.
3. It would be a good idea to stress the way EU measures can shore up national measures. Some of the research, development and technological demonstration framework programme (FP7) could, for example, be earmarked for join measures, as the Commission is suggesting. Duron stressed that European Structural Fund aid and EIB loans could be more closely connected with the Lisbon Strategy to serve as incentives, while respecting the solidarity and diversity of the various components of the EU.
To sum up, through its contribution to the EESC's Lisbon Group, the French ESC hopes, together with the EESC and the national ESCs of other member states, to encourage the taking on board of the Lisbon Strategy, boosting the performance of all stakeholders concerned with the Lisbon Strategy and helping improve European citizens' awareness of it. Info: http: //http://www.ces.fr (G.B.)