The Work Group of the Commission for the reform of the Lisbon Strategy for employment and the ‘economy of knowledge’, i.e. investing in research, technological innovation and the modernization of production structures, is finally beginning its task. The setting up of the Group, coordinated by former Dutch prime minister and head of the EU task-force on employment Wim Kok, was deliberated by the European Council in March, with the mandate of supporting the Executive in the preparation of the interim Report on the progress of the Lisbon Strategy, which should be presented to the Spring Summit next year. The thirteen members of the Work Group “independent personalities, representative of the various interested parties (trades unions, employers, political authorities, universities) are called to submit to the Commission by 1st November 2004 a report containing reflections and proposals to give new impetus to the Lisbon Strategy”, by evaluating the tools and methods so far used, and by improving the implementation of the measures and the achievement of the objectives through a greater involvement of the parties concerned. For information, consult the website http://europa.eu.int/comm/lisbon_strategy/index_fr.html
