European Union (EU) leaders wrapped up the first day of a summit here Thursday with a plan to reform the economy while divided on the burden-sharing of cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
Slovenian Prime Minister Jansa, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, told reporters after the meeting, which dragged on until midnight that "we all agreed the Lisbon Strategy is functioning well. Because of the Lisbon Strategy, the EU has solid economic foundations."
The Lisbon strategy is the EU's flagship reform strategy for economic growth and jobs. It was first agreed on in 2000 by EU leaders in the Portuguese capital, initially aimed at making the EU "the most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy in the world" by 2010.
However, the bold strategy was later watered down and was re-launched in 2005, with clear focus placed on growth and jobs. It is based on a consensus among member states and organized around a three-year cycle, with the first starting in 2005.
The plan endorsed by EU leaders concerns the implementation of the strategy in the next three years, ending in 2010.
Based on a recommendation from the European Commission, EU leaders earmarked four priority areas for the next three-year cycle, namely knowledge and innovation, unlocking business potential, investing in people and modernizing labor markets, and energy and climate change.
A notable measure is called the "fifth freedom," referring to the free movement of knowledge. Also in the field of knowledge andinnovati on, the plan urged member states to fulfill their commitments by spending three percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) on research and development by 2010.
As far as the business environment is concerned, EU leaders agreed to cut red tape for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
On investing in people and modernizing labor markets, the plan also called on member states to draw up action plans and set targets to substantially reduce early-school leaving and improve basic reading skills.
In this regard, EU leaders said applying "flexicurity" principles is essential to making labor markets more efficient. 'Flexicurity' is a policy strategy aimed at enhancing the flexibility of labor markets on the one hand, and employment security and income security, on the other.
Jansa said the efforts would add a social dimension to the Lisbon Strategy.
On energy and climate change, another hot issue at the summit, Jansa said EU leaders will try to hammer out an implementation roadmap on the agreed overall targets on the second day of their meeting.
"Given the goals that we set ourselves a year ago, we need to take decisions in order to achieve those goals. Only in this way will the EU maintain its leading role in fighting the negative consequences of climate change at the global level," Jansa said.
Source:Xinhua
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