Kaminski: EU2020 strategy should have clear focus on completing the single market

Strasbourg, 24th November 2009

Strasbourg, 24th November 2009 -- The launch of the EU's 2020 strategy aimed at building on the EU's Lisbon strategy for jobs and growth has been broadly welcomed today by Michal Kaminski MEP, Chairman of the European Conservatives and Reformists group in the European Parliament.

At today's second Question Time to Jose Manuel Barroso, Mr Kaminski asked the Commission President how he intends to kick-start the Lisbon strategy. In response, Mr Barroso announced that a 2020 vision document had been put out to consultation. It includes proposals such as creating a genuine online single market, strengthening intellectual property rights and promotion of greener technologies to stimulate growth. It also aims to increase access to broadband, to create an EU 'smart grid' for energy and to create new entrepreneurial skills.

Responding to the paper, Mr Kaminski said:

"As we try to overcome the economic crisis, it is crucial that the European Commission asks that governments and MEPs recommit themselves to the principles of the EU's Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs. The commission's 2020 strategy contains some useful ideas as to how the EU can help large and small businesses by creating a fully functioning single market, particularly online.

"There are a number of remote and abstract principles in this paper, and some of the proposals are far too interventionist and dirigiste. There is also a real lack of discussion about creating more open trade around the world, which will be crucial to encouraging global economic growth.

"We will be submitting our own response to this document, which will encourage the commission to build on the positive proposals for creating a fully functioning and competitive single market, but discouraging it in areas where its actions can, albeit with good intentions, hamper economic competitiveness and exacerbate unemployment."

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