‘A prompt and effective realization of the reforms in the context of the three mainstays economic, social and environmental of the Lisbon strategy’: the heads of State and of Government of the Fifteen, meeting for their Spring summit in Brussels on 21-22 March, pledged to continue the process of social integration begun four years ago in Lisbon. Four main priorities were identified by the Council: first, increasing employment and social cohesion to achieve the objective of raising the employment rate by 70% by 2010; second, prioritizing innovation and entrepreneurship by promoting the access of firms to programmes of technological research and development, by simplifying bureaucratic procedures and by encouraging youth entrepreneurship; third, improving the integration of the European markets by reinforcing the interconnection of such services as energy provision, telecommunications and transport; and fourth, developing the protection of the environment for growth and employment. With a view to the achievement of these four priorities, the Commission has set up a task force chaired by Wim Kok, former Dutch prime minister.
