14/02/2006 (Agence Europe) - At the Ecofin Council of 14 February, Finance Ministers belonging to the wider family of the Party of European Socialists (PES) and Socialist and Social-Democrat Opposition Spokespersons welcomed the European Commission's recognition, in its communication on the Spring Summit next year, of the need for greater coordination of economic policies in the EU. In a press release, Socialist and Social-Democrat leaders call on the EU Summit to: - launch a “European inter-governmental strategy of coordinated and simultaneous investment in a number of areas including research and development, education and training, child care, social services and renewable and efficient energy” using European funds if appropriate; - encourage the exchange of best practices in key areas such as child care and social services; - ensure a “better macro economic policy mix”.