20/01/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 19 January, at a dinner for European finance ministers, the issue of the European Union's socio-economic strategy for the next 10 years was raised. The acting president of the Ecofin Council declared that “the Lisbon strategy has not met all its objectives”. She pointed out that a new epoque was beginning which was expected to promote “more balanced and lasting growth”. She also called for “a mechanism for carrying out the objectives” which set out socio-economic policy for member states. The Spanish minister of finance believes that countries that have not achieved their objectives should at least explain why they have failed to do so, which would also constitute “a sort of moral sanction”. (M.B./transl.fl)