A realistic strategy” “

To reach Lisbon, the Union is changing route. On Wednesday 2 February the Commission presented a halfway-stage review and revision of the Agenda approved in the Portuguese capital in 2000. The Lisbon Agenda then set itself the goal of achieving within ten years “the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, able to pursue sustainable economic growth with new and better jobs and greater social cohesion”. But the objectives and methods then decided by the heads of state and of government of the Fifteen are now being reduced, in order to pursue “a strategy within the real grasp of the EU “. THE LESSON OF THE PAST AND THE NEW OBJECTIVES. The head of the European Executive, José Manuel Durao Barroso, addressing the European Parliament in Brussels, explained that the “Lisbon Strategy has failed in the past, but is destined to work in future because the new agenda represents the right diagnosis and remedies”. Barroso described the failed results since 2000, due – in his view – especially to the deterioration of the general economic trend. “We have drawn many lessons between 2000 and the present day; we have seen very clearly what has not worked and we now know what are the necessary elements to turn Lisbon into a success”. It is essential, according to the President of the Commission, “to involve the states and social partners” and “to create a ‘Mister Lisbon’ in every member country, with the task of monitoring the process to restore competitiveness and drive to the economy” and acting as trait d’union between the 25 capitals and Brussels. AN ENVIRONMENT FAVOURABLE FOR BUSINESSES AND COMPETITIVENESS. The objectives proposed by Barroso seem more modest than those signed five years ago: the new programme, already re-baptized “Lisbon 2”, is born in fact in a climate of economic stagnation. The document, entitled “Working together for growth and employment”, seems to move in three main directions: creation of an environment favourable to the market and to the growth of firms; support for research; flexibility of labour. First, we need, according to Barroso, “to turn Europe into a more attractive place in which to invest and to work”, “ensure open and competitive markets both inside and outside Europe” and “improve European and national legislation to reduce administrative costs”. Moreover, it is more than ever important to “develop infrastructures”, both in the old and in the new member states of the EU. Second, “we need to aim at know-how and innovation at the service of growth”. The objective of 3% of GDP invested in research and development is thus a priority. Equally it is no longer possible to defer “the integration of information and communication technologies and the development of poles of innovation”. The Commission wishes – said Barroso – to “promote projects aimed at energy saving and low emissions and contribute to a strong European industrial base through forms of partnership between the public and private sectors”. Barroso’s ambitions also include that of “establishing a European Institute for Technology”, which would act as an intermediary between research and its productive applications. As far as employment is concerned, “Lisbon 2” suggests “creating better and more numerous jobs”. It is therefore essential, said Barroso, to “boost the reskilling of workers and firms, flexibility of labour markets, and investments in human capital by improving education”. LABOUR AND SOCIAL COHESION IN SECOND PLACE? The date of 2010, hitherto indicated as the point of arrival of the EU strategy to revive economic competitiveness, has in fact vanished from the document that was signed by the new Commission and that will be discussed during the European Council of 22 and 23 March. Moreover, issues linked to the market and to the creation of an environment favourable to the development of firms seem to emerge with greater insistence, while social cohesion, “quality of work” and environmental sustainability are reduced to collateral objectives. One of the main objectives fixed in 2000, for example, was that of raising the average rate of employment in the Union to 70%. Only a few days ago another EU document had pointed out that this percentage has not risen above 63% and that to achieve the 7-point rise needed to meet the target 22 million new jobs would have to be created; but the new agenda of the Union speaks only of 6 million jobs. The issues of ongoing formation, female employment, fiscal harmonization at least in the field of employment, incentives for those who decide to worker longer and the improvement of assistance to families have, moreover, been downgraded to second place. The course set by Barroso will now be submitted to the examination of the other EU institutions; the first reactions to the Barroso plan in the EP were mixed. The vice-president of the Commission, Gunther Verheugen, who accompanied Barroso, declared, however, that “the new agenda is the response of the EU to challenges we can no longer ignore. Europe is caught in a vice and torn between the ageing of its population and de-location. The only possible response is to be always a little bit better than the others, exploiting more than others Europe’s brains, resources and skills”.