EU Council: governance but also jobsSovereign debt crisis, economic policy, governance; the next meeting of the G20 in Cannes in early November; climate change and Durban Conference: the order of the day of the European Council of 23 October remains unchanged, despite its postponement for a week to be able to determine a joint response to the various issues on the table. Precisely in preparation for the summit of the 27 heads of state and of government of the Union, the so-called Tripartite Social Summit was held on 17 October, between European Union, representatives of employers’ organizations and trades unions. At the end of the meeting José Manuel Barroso, President of the Commission, commented: “The net growth of unemployment in the EU represents the most painful social symptom of this economic crisis”. On the agenda of the meeting were also an analysis of the crisis and its repercussions on employment and society, measures aimed at tackling them through economic growth, and the development of a real system of European governance. Herman Van Rompuy, President of the EU Council, also attended the meeting. Barroso added: “We feel in particular the message of frustration that is being transmitted by the young”. That’s why the Commission intends to urge member states to promote policies and reforms aimed at economic recovery. “We – added the head of the Executive -will continue to exert pressure in favour of reforms that overcome the structural obstacles to work”.European industry: positive and negative sidesEuropean industry has the potential to restore the EU economy to a path of growth and to challenge global competitors, but to this end it needs a favourable “climate”. The Commission’s Report with the title “Industrial policy: reinforcing competitiveness”, presented in Brussels in recent days, intends to encourage just that. It examines the situation of the sector and evaluates the results of manufacturing in the various member states. “Economic recovery in the EU – says the Report – has been relatively slow and remains fragile. This is reflected in the pessimism that can be encountered in the economic system. There are clear risks, moreover, of a downturn of growth due to the volatility of the financial markets, increases in the prices of energy and raw materials, and need for budget consolidation”. According to the Executive, “member states must therefore implement strong policies coordinated with the needs of industry” and of small and medium enterprises (SME). The Report shows that there are significant differences between one country and another. For example, “the average productivity of labour in manufacturing ranges from almost 125% of gross added value per employed person in Ireland to less than 20% in Bulgaria”. The percentage of innovative firms varies, in turn, from 80% in Germany to 25% in Latvia. “Business-friendly regulations”, aimed at supporting businesses, are most developed in Finland, while Italy is situated at the bottom of the league table. The Executive formulates a series of fields in which the overall environment to support the action of businesses can be improved. The various recommendations made in the Report include: encouraging structural changes in the economy “to help its transition to more innovative and knowledge-based sectors that present greater productivity and less feel the effects of global competition (e.g. eco-industries, the sector of electric and optical equipment)”; encouraging innovation in firms; promoting sustainability and efficiency in the use of resources, “in particular by stimulating innovation and the use of clean technologies, and ensuring fair access to raw materials and energy”; improving the entrepreneurial context; fostering the potential offered by the single market; and supporting SMEs.Efficient use of natural resources”Raising citizens’ awareness about the need to consume depleted natural resources in a rational manner” and “encouraging them to take into account the environmental impact on the planet whenever they decide to purchase something”: these are the main messages of the campaign “Generation Awake. Your choices make a world of difference!”, aimed to encourage consumers to make “a habit of the efficient use of resources”. The campaign was inaugurated by an official launch in Warsaw, in Poland, on 17 October, in the presence of Janez Potocnik, EU Commissioner for the Environment, and Andrzej Kraszewski, Polish Minister for the Environment. Potocnik declared: “In response to the difficulties with which the economy is faced and the decrease in resources, the time has come to stop and reconsider some of our habits”. The materials available for the campaign include a multi-language website www.generationawake.eu, a video clip, and a page on Facebook. After the launch, the campaign – which touches on such issues as water conservation, public transport or energy saving – will tour the EU, with official events planned in the Czech Republic, Hungary and the UK.
