Neither bombast, nor pessimism

As always on such occasions, there was no shortage of bombast. Indeed, it risks overshadowing the latent problems and obfuscating the results effectively achieved. Leaving aside the empty rhetoric, the skirmishes between leaders and the euro-scepticism expressed by many, we may attempt an overall assessment of the European Council held in Brussels on 23-24 March. RESEARCH AND EMPLOYMENT. A number of economic issues dominated the agenda of the summit, beginning with the Lisbon Strategy approved in 2000, which was supposed to turn the EU, within a single decade, into an economic colossus, able to compete on world markets, with the focus placed on the imperatives of “knowledge”, employment and social cohesion. In March 2005 this Strategy had been revamped after five years of economic recession. “Now that the prospects for a phase of revival are good – explained Austrian Chancellor WOLFGANG SCHÜSSEL , current President of the 25-member Council – we must commit ourselves to creating two million jobs each year from now to 2010. Moreover, investments for research and innovation can and should be increased, until an optimal level is reached”, i.e. 3% of the gross domestic product of each country. LISBON, FROM WORDS TO ACTIONS. More precisely, in terms of “research and development”, the political leaders (by signing a 36-page final document) called for “a rapid approval of the Seventh framework programme for research” and the Programme for competitiveness. At the same time, education and training were confirmed as “critical factors in the improvement of competitiveness and social cohesion”. As requested by the EU Commission and Parliament in the run-up to the summit, the heads of state and of government further underlined the need to unblock the potential of businesses, especially those of small and medium dimensions, in order to increase competitiveness in the manufacturing sector (tax breaks, reduction of red tape, and creation of a favourable “environment” through adequate infrastructures and services). Another indispensable aspect is the promotion of new jobs, with special attention paid to “sensitive categories”: youth, women, elderly workers, disabled people, and legal immigrants. A pledge was also made to “reduce school dropouts” and increase access to secondary schooling. THE ENERGY CHAPTER. One of the most discussed issues at Brussels was that of energy. Recent news stories (clash between Russia and Ukraine over gas, and cross-border company takeovers, opposed by “economic patriotism” which easily slips into neo-protectionism), the growing dependence on foreign supplies, rising costs and pollution are forcing the EU to look to the future: without a single energy market, foreign energy supplies and prices will increase, with a negative impact on families and on the economy. The European Council therefore accepted the priority points contained in the Commission’s Green Paper, aimed at achieving security of supplies, competitiveness and environmental sustainability. “A real European energy policy is essential”, explained the head of the Executive, JOSÉ MANUEL BARROSO . He obtained – at least in words – the approval of EU leaders, who promised effective measures in terms of energy saving and efficiency, “the promotion of renewable sources” and bio-fuels. PROMISES, BUDGET. Some disenchantment was expressed, on the other hand, by JOSEP BORRELL , President of the European Parliament, who took part in the Council deliberations together with – for the very first time – representatives of both sides of industry and the President of the European Central Bank, Jean-Claude Trichet. Underlining the need for Europe to develop a continental energy policy, Borrell did not disguise his misgivings “about the many pledges made by the Council, at a time when the EU budget is being reduced”, especially for research and development, training and business support (evidently referring to the inter-institutional negotiations still underway to define the Financial Perspectives 2007/2013). Other issues were discussed during the summit, some of them placed on the agenda by current events: with regard to the situation in Belarus, sanctions were threatened and “restrictive measures against the country’s political leaders” decided, explained URSULA PLASSNIK , Austrian Foreign Minister. “In a democratic continent, Belarus represents a sad exception”. The truce announced by ETA in Spain, the elections in Ukraine and in Israel, and the situation in Iraq and Iran also found a place on the order of the day. According to Schüssel, the summit was “a real success”; but some leaders went away disappointed. Probably the truth is somewhere in between, but what should be underlined is that, after the stalemate of recent months, the EU has begun to move forward again.