ECR response to European Commission's 2020 agenda
Strasboug, 9th JFabruary 2010
The European Conservatives and Reformists group in the European Parliament has published its response to the EU's proposed 2020 strategy, which aims to set out a new agenda post the EU's Lisbon Strategy.
The response, collated by ECR internal market committee chairman Malcolm Harbour, expresses concern that the commission's proposal moves away from a long-term and strategic vision for the EU in ten years, and looks more at short term responses to the current financial crisis.
In its submission to the European Commission's consultation, the ECR sets out suggestions on a number of policy areas, including:
• the completion of the Single Market and enforcement of Single Market rules;
• intellectual property and research;
• energy;
• cutting red tape;
• employment and social policy;
• using public procurement to encourage innovation;
• creating a greener economy.
The submission features prominently in the European Commission's preliminary summary of responses, which will be fed into the European Council meeting this week. The ECR has been the only centre-right group to submit a response so far.
Mr Harbour said: "The European Commission needs to understand why the Lisbon strategy did not meet its objectives. Such an understanding will enable the commission to focus its attention on clear goals that assist the EU's economic recovery.
"Instead of a clear commitment to forging a better environment for businesses, the EU 2020 ideas paper is full of contradictory ambitions, which seeks to please everybody. The Commission needs to come forward with clear targets to complete the single market and to make the EU the global centre of innovation. These are objectives which are achievable, which do not require ever-closer-Union, and which will significantly improve the quality of life for all EU citizens."
Contact: James Holtum on +32 473 861762
